GK and Current Affairs Updates

In a sensational turnaround, Narsingh Yadav was exonerated of doping charges by the National Anti-doping Agency (NADA).
•    youth and sports minister vijay goyal announced this in parliament. He said that the NADA has cleared all allegations on Wrestler Pahalwan Narsingh Yadav under 74 KG category.
•    He said that the NADA has accepted that Narsingh Yadav has been framed in a conspiracy 
•    Members clapped on desk after Goyal’s announcement. Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurian welcomed this announcement 
•    After this clearance from NADA, his path towards Olympic is clear.
•    Earlier He was found positive for taking banned drug Methanadynon but the wrestler had claimed that he has been victim of some conspiracy.

Senior IAS officer Bhaskar Khulbe has been appointed as Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
•    He was Additional Secretary in Prime Minister's Office.
•    The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has approved appointment of Khulbe as Secretary to Prime Minister with effect from Friday, an order issued today by Department of Personnel and Training, said.
•    Khulbe is a 1983 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre.
•    He looks after work related to Cabinet Secretariat and thrust areas of the government, among others. 
•    The Prime Minister of India, is the Head of Government, chief adviser to the President of India, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha. 
•    The Prime Minister leads the executive branch of the Government of India. 
•    The incumbent Prime Minister of India is Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended his greetings and felicitations to the Government and people of the Republic of Macedonia on the eve of their National Day (August 2, 2016). 
•    In a message to His Excellency Mr. Gjorge Ivanov, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, the President has said, “On behalf of the Government, the people of India and on my own behalf, it is with great pleasure that I extend warm greetings and felicitations to Your Excellency and to the people of the Republic of Macedonia on the occasion of your National Day. 
•    The long-standing relations between India and Macedonia have remained warm and friendly – based on the strong foundation of our age-old cultural and economic linkages. 
•    Over the recent years, our bilateral relationship has flourished – strengthened by our mutual understanding and multi-dimensional cooperation. 
•    He said that he is confident that our ties will continue to expand and diversify to the mutual benefit of the peoples of our two countries. 
•    He conveyed his best wishes for Excellency’s good health and well-being and for the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly people of the Republic of Macedonia.

Timely completion of the project and timely delivery of the apartment or plot to the allottee by the promoter is the essence of the Agreement to be signed between the promoter and allottee under the Real Estate (Development & Regulation) Act, 2016. This has been explicitly incorporated in the Draft Agreement for Sale Rules, 2016 under the Real Estate Act approved by the Minister of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu. Allottees on their part would be required to ensure timely payments.
•    Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation has firmed up the Draft Agreement for Sale Rules, 2016 applicable for the five Union Territories of Chandigarh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep. These Draft Rules will now be placed in public domain for comments and suggestions before final notification.
•    The Draft Agreement for Sale Rules,2016 which specify the roles, responsibilities and obligations of promoters and allottees besides a Draft Agreement to be signed under the Act between promoter and allottee clearly stipulate that “The Promoter agrees and understands that timely delivery of possession of the (Apartment/Plot) is the essence of the Agreement”. 
•    Under these Draft Rules, promoter is required to clearly indicate the date of delivery of possession to the allottee in the Agreement itself. However, there is a provision for extension of this date in case of delay caused by due to war, floods, drought, fire, cyclone, earthquake or any other calamity caused by nature.
•    Under these Draft Agreement for Sale Rules,2016, there shall be a clear mention in the Agreement of date of grant of commencement certificate, clear land title giving the area of project and Khasra numbers, number of stories and plots in the project, carpet area and common area,  share of allottee in common area, total price etc.

In another major step towards implementation in Namami Gange in mission mode the empowered steering committee (ESC) of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) today approved various projects worth Rs. 400 crore (approx). 
•    The projects include development of ghats and crematoria in the stretch from Rudraprayag to Guptkashi (Uttrakhand), rehabilitation/development works of ghats and crematoria at Kanpur, interception and diversion of flow of sisamau and other nalas of Kanpur city, development of ghats and crematoria in Bijnor on Ramganga, Uttar Pradesh, development works of ghats and crematorium at Allahabad, modernization/new construction of ghats including public amenities/ crematoria/ river front development work etc in Kahalgaon, Bihar, development of ghats and crematoria in the stretch from Sahibganj to Rajmahal, Jharkhand, construction and upgradation of electric crematoria at Bhatpara and Naihati in West Bengal afforestation programme in the state of West Bengal and development of 13 ghats and five crematoria at Bithoor in UP. 
•    The developments of Ghats and crematoria in the stretch from Rudraprayag to Guptkashi in Uttrakahand will be taken up at Sumari, Tilwara, Silli, Augustmuni and Triveni ghats at a cost of Rs. 26 crore. 
•    The ghats and crematoria at Kanpur will be developed at a cost of Rs. 47.39 crore. Development of ghats and crematoria at Allahabad will be taken up at cost of Rs. 88.03 crore. 
•    An expenditure of Rs. 63.80 crore will be incurred on the interception and diversion of flow of sisamau and other nalas of Kanpur city. 
•    Development of ghats and crematoria in Bijnor on Ramganga in UP will cost Rs. 12.19 crore. Rs. 23.64 crore will be incurred towards modernization/new construction of ghats including public amenities/ crematoria/ river front development work etc in Kahalgaon, Bihar.

A panda-themed train made its debut on Sunday in southwest China's Sichuan province, home of the beloved black and white bears.
•    The train departed this morning with its first passengers, marking the opening of the fourth subway line in the provincial capital of Chengdu.
•    The carriages have handles shaped like panda heads, while the pole grips are painted to resemble bamboo.
•    The panda train also features announcements in the voice of a child for ‘maximum cuteness’.
•    The subway line, which runs from the southwest to the northeast of the city, is about 20 kilometres long and has 17 stops, passing through major tourist destinations, including the Chengdu Giant Panda Base
•    Chengdu is accelerating its subway construction, with five new lines scheduled to begin construction this year, Rao Yong, general manager of Chengdu Subway Service Co said.

Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) today announced raising of USD 1 billion (about Rs 6,700 crore) by selling bonds to overseas investors.
•    Initially announced for USD 500 million, the issue was upsized to USD 1 billion based on strong demand from the investors.
•    The issue attracted a total order book in excess of USD 2.50 billion from over 157 investors. 
•    The funds thus raised will be used by the bank to support Indian project exports, overseas investment by way of long term credit and its lines of credit portfolio, Exim Bank Chairman and Managing Director Yaduvendra Mathur said.
•    Yield achieved on the bonds is the lowest on a USD 500 million deal by an Indian entity since 2000, he claimed.
•    Exim Bank aims to promote India’s international trade and investment.
•    The bank supports Indian exporting companies, especially medium-sized enterprises, in their globalisation efforts through a variety of lending programmes.

Rookie Ricky Donison jumped his start for the second race in succession to squander the chance of winning and handed a double victory to Nayan Chatterjee in the premier Euro JK 16 class at the JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship here on Sunday.
•    Donison was the first to cross the chequered flag in the 15-lap before being handed a 10-second penalty for a jump start in the third race of the opening weekend of the Championship.
•    The 18-year-old was not threatened thereafter and cruised to the chequered only to face the disappointment of a time penalty.
•    Donison was eventually classified third behind Chatterjee and Mahadik, who were classified first and second respectively.
•    Results (All provisional): Euro JK 16 Race 3: 1) Nayan Chatterjee, 2) Krishnaraaj Mahadik, 3) Ricky Donison. 

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended his greetings and felicitations to the Government and people of the Swiss Confederation on the eve of their National Day (August 1, 2016). 
•    In a message to His Excellency Mr. Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, the President of the Swiss Confederation, the President has said, “On behalf of the Government, the people of India and on my own behalf, it is with great pleasure that I extend warm greetings and felicitations to Your Excellency and to the people of the Swiss Confederation on the occasion of your National Day. 
•    Historically India and Switzerland have shared warm and cordial relations, and the recent visit to Switzerland of India’s Prime Minister underlines that friendship. 
•    Governments will strive to work together to advance our friendly ties to the mutual benefit of our two peoples. 
•    He conveyed his Excellency’s good health and well-being and for the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly people of the Swiss Confederation.”

One day Conference on HAL supported airborne platforms and systems was held at Headquarters, Western Air Command, Subroto Park, New Delhi on Friday, 29 Jul 16. 

•    The conference was co-chaired by Shri T Suvarna Raju, Chairman & Managing Director, HAL and Air Marshal SB Deo PVSM AVSM VM VSM ADC, Air Officer Commanding- in-Chief, WAC. 
•    Heads of all HAL Divisions and Senior Operational and Maintenance Staff Officers at HQ WAC attended the Conference. 
•    Issues relating to Quality, Reliability, Production, Field Support, Supply Chain Management, Ground Support Equipment etc affecting operational exploitation of the HAL supplied assets in WAC, were deliberated during the conference
•    The IAF currently has five operational commands, each of which is headed by an Air Officer Commander-in-Chief with the rank of Air Marshal.