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Dipika Pallikal wins Australian Open Squash 2016 title

India's top squash player Dipika Pallikal on 13 August 2016 won the Australian Open Squash women’s singles title in Melbourne.
•    To win the title, the top seed Dipika defeated eighth seed Mayar Hany of Egypt 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 in the 40-minute final.
•    For Dipika, this was the first title win in 2016. Earlier, in February 2015, she won the Winnipeg Winter Open in Canada.
•    She is the first Indian to break into the top 10 in the PSA Women's rankings.
•    Dipika came to prominence in 2011, when she won three WISPA tour titles to attain a career-best ranking of 13th.
•    In the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, she won the women’s doubles titles pairing with Joshna Chinappa.
•    She became the first squash player to receive prestigious Arjuna Award in 2012. In 2014, she won Padma Shri honour.

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Spiritual guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj passes away

Pramukh Swami Maharaj, head of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) of Swaminarayan sect, passed away on 13 August 2016 at Sarangpur, Gujarat. He was 95.
•    Pramukh Swami Maharaj was an Indian spiritual guru.
•    BAPS regards him as the fifth spiritual successor of Swaminarayan, following Gunatitanand Swami, Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj.
•    He was believed by his followers to be in constant communion with Swaminarayan.
•    Pramukh Swami Maharaj received initiation as a Hindu Swami in 1940 from Shastriji Maharaj, the founder of BAPS.
•    He built more than 1100 Hindu temples, including the Swaminarayan Akshardham temples in New Delhi and Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
•    He had also spearheaded the efforts of BAPS Charities, which is the charitable service organization affiliated with BAPS.
•    Pramukh Swami Maharaj was an Indian guru and Pramukh, or president, of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, an international Hindu socio-spiritual organization. 
 

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Microsoft appoints Sriram Rajamani as MD of India Research Lab

Microsoft on 11 August 2016 announced the appointment of Sriram Rajamani as the new Managing Director (MD) of its India Research Lab.
•    The appointment is effective from 1 August 2016.
•    Rajamani replaced Chandu Thekkath, who previously worked as Managing Director of the lab for two years.
•    Rajamani is a renowned computer scientist.
•    He holds a proven research and managerial track record spanning 17 years in Microsoft's research organisation.
•    He has expertise in programming language design, security and privacy, cloud security and probabilistic programming.
•    Prior to joining the India lab, he headed the software productivity tools group within Microsoft's Redmond research lab.
•    He is a PhD holder in Computer science from University of California.
•    Microsoft Research Lab India was founded in January 2005.
•    It is located in Bengaluru.
•    The lab conducts long-term basic and applied research in different areas, such as cryptography, security, and algorithms etc.
•    Microsoft Research India also collaborates extensively with research institutions and universities in India and abroad to support scientific progress and innovation.
 

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Prime Minister addresses nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 70th Independence Day

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 70th Independence Day. 
•    Shri Narendra Modi paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and countless people, who sacrificed their lives so that Swarajya could be attained. 
•    125 crore Indians have now resolved to complete the journey from Swarajya to “Suraj.” He said the achievement of Suraj will require sacrifice, hard work, discipline, dedication and courage, and added that every institution from Panchayat to Parliament must work unitedly towards this goal. 
•    The Prime Minister said that there was a time when allegations engulfed the Government. He said that this Government, instead, is surrounded by expectations. He said that when hope gives rise to expectations, it gives us energy to move faster towards Suraj. 
•    The Prime Minister defined various attributes of Suraj, such as Sensitivity, Responsibility, Accountability, Transparency, Efficiency and Good Governance. He illustrated each of these attributes through examples of the working of the Union Government, in areas such as online registration in major hospitals, promptness of income tax refunds, speeding up the process of passport delivery, faster company registrations, and ending interviews for Group C and Group D positions in the Government. 
•    The Prime Minister announced some new initiatives. He said the pension for freedom fighters would be enhanced from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 per month. He said the Government would work towards creation of museums and memorials dedicated to the Adivasi freedom fighters across the country. Government would bear expenses upto one lakh rupees for the poor, towards meeting the cost of hospitalization.
 

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Bolt becomes 1st to win 100m Olympic title thrice

Usain Bolt became the first man in history to win the Olympic gold medal thrice in men’s 100m as he surged to the win in Rio 2016 Olympics.
•    Bolt won his third gold medal in 100m final after winning the race in 9.81 seconds beating USA’s Justin Gatlin who finished second with 9.89 seconds.
•    Canada’s 21-year-old prodigy Andre de Grasse won the bronze medal in 9.91 seconds. Jamaica’s Yohan Blake finished fourth with 9.93 seconds.
•    The win in Rio also means he successfully completes first step towards the ‘triple-triple’ bid. Bolt has already announced that this will be his last Olympics.
•    He now has seven gold medals in seven events at the Olympics Games. 
•    Other than the two 100m gold medals, He has won two gold medals in 200m and two more in 4x100m men’s relay with Jamaica. 
•    Bolt began the 100m race with slow start and was at fourth position after 40 meters but then surged ahead of his competitors in the last 20 meters

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Murray 1st to retain Olympic tennis gold

Great Britain’s Andy Murray has created history at the Rio Olympics, becoming the first man or woman to win multiple singles gold medals back-to-back by defeating Juan Martin del Potro.
•    Murray defeated Roger Federer to win his first gold medal in London four years ago.
•    Not only did the 27-year-old defeat both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, he also defeated Nadal and Roger Federer in succession to win his lone major title at the US Open in 2009.
•    He also reached a career-high ranking of world number four in January 2010.
•    And just recently during, contesting his first Grand Slam tournament in two-and-a-half years, upset two-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in the second round at Wimbledon last month.
•    Thus, the stage was set for a potential battle of attrition, where the mindsets of Murray and del Potro would be tested both physically and mentally as either player attempted to make history in Rio.
•    The Scot broke early for a 2-0 lead in the opening set and eventually took it 7-5.
 

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First 'Arunachal Ratna' award for slain DSP

Arunachal Pradesh government conferred the first 'Arunachal Ratna' award to Deputy Superintendent of Police Bomto Kamdak posthumously, who lost his life during exchange of fire with criminals in East Kameng district.
•    The special award instituted on the occasion of Independence Day this year will carry a cash amount of Rs one lakh along with a gold medal and a roll of honour.
•    The DSP and a civilian were killed in a firefight between police and anti-socials near Chayangtajo in East Kameng district on. 
•    An ex-gratia payment of Rs 50 lakh would be given to the next of kin of Kamdak besides a suitable government job for his wife, he said.
•    Khandu also announced a state government policy for all the police personnel irrespective of ranks who sacrificed their lives while fighting terrorists, criminals or underground elements.
•    As per the policy, they would be awarded a payment of Rs 50 lakh and their kin would be given a suitable job in the government.
•    The state government also announced a state award to various personalities in their respective fields by awarding 10 gold medals, 11 silver medals and 10 commendation certificates.
 

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India’s first BIO-CNG plant inaugurated in Pune


India’s first ever BIO-CNG plant producing CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) from agricultural residue was inaugurated in Pune, Maharashtra. 
•    It was jointly inaugurated by Union Minister of surface Transport Nitin Gadkari and Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. 
•    The plant was commissioned by Pune-based Primove Engineering Private Limited. It has been set up as a Proof of Concept (PoC) which can be replicated elsewhere. 
•    It uses special bacterial solution for treating agricultural waste in the process of generation of CNG. The gas generated is cleaned and compressed for use in vehicles. 
•    The bio-fuel will help in reducing the import of diesel up to 50% and therefore the huge amount of foreign exchange can be saved. 
•    This energy source is also cost effective and pollution free. 
•    This project is remarkable step in Make In India and also will help reduce problem of disposal of agricultural waste was a major concern in the country.

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President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Police Medal for Meritorious Services

On the occasion of Independence Day, 2016 the Hon’ble President of India has awarded President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services and Police Medal for Meritorious Services to the following RPF/RPSF personnel- 
President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service :
•    Shri G.V.Sanjeeva Rayudu, Inspector/RPF/SCR
Police Medal for Meritorious Services:
•    Shri Ajoy Sadany, DIG-cum-Addl. CSC/NWR
•    Shri Vijay Kumar Khatarkar, DIG-cum-Addl. CSC/NER
•    Shri R.P.Tomar, ASC/NCR
•    Shri Farid Ahmed, Inspector/RPF/ER
•    Shri Vishwambhar Nath Dwivedi, Inspector/RPF/NCR
•    Shri Bonoda Bihari Samantara, SI(M)/10BN/RPSF
•    Shri R.Suresh, SI(M)/7 BN/ RPSF
•    Shri Satyanarayana Vadiyala, SI/RPF/SCR
•    Shri Madan Lal, SI/RPF/NWR
•    Shri Subhasis Gupta, ASI/RPF/ER
•    Shri Rajaram, ASI/RPF/NER 
•    Shri Balmik Prasad Patel, ASI/RPF/WCR
•    Shri Jayanta Kolay, Head Constable/RPF/ER
•    Shri Suresh Mahto, CT(SW)/6BN/RPSF

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President Confers Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) to Squadron Leader Bhavesh Kumar Dubey

Squadron Leader Bhavesh Kumar Dubey Administration/Air Traffic Controller is the Commanding Officer of an Indian Air Force Special Forces Unit since 06 May 2013.
•    On 02 Jan 2016, he was leading a Squad of IAF Special Forces for a search operation at Air Force Station, Pathankot. UAV Contact with four suspects was reported to him at about 0245 hrs inside MES Yard. Squadron Leader Bhavesh Kumar Dubey showed keen situational awareness in estimating that the terrorists were in close proximity to the residential area. He immediately deployed his forces to lay a cordon. While searching the area, his team came under intense hostile fire from the terrorists, in which one of his team members was grievously injured. Maintaining his composure, he effectively marshalled his troops, spreading them out in the area to contain the terrorists within a designated area.
•    Despite a gunshot wound on the right thigh, he led from the front and along with his buddies, continued to fight with four terrorists at extremely close range. He was able to contain them at the same spot for 25 minutes till arrival of reinforcements, thereby preventing them from entering residential area and creating a possible hostage situation. He was singularly responsible for wrenching the initiative from the terrorists, thwarting their plan and forcing them on the defensive. He evacuated his injured buddy and returned to action immediately. He continued to lead his troops till the conclusion of the operation on 07 Jan 16.
•    The steadfast leadership and raw courage displayed by the officer was inspirational. His decision to aggressively engage the terrorists at the outset and confine them to a specific area proved to be the game changer in the containing the terrorists to a very limited area.
•    For this act of exceptional courage, Squadron Leader Bhavesh Kumar Dubey is awarded of Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry)

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