GK and Current Affairs Updates

The Ministry of Railways on 17 July 2016 developed the TRI-NETRA system on locomotives for enhancing the vision of Locomotive Pilots in inclement weather. TRI-NETRA stands for Terrain imaging for diesel drivers Infrared, Enhanced Optical &Radar Assisted system.
TRI-NETRA system is been made up of high-resolution optical video camera, high sensitivity infra-red video camera and additionally a radar-based terrain mapping system. These three components of the system act as three eyes (Tri-Netra) of the Locomotive Pilot. 
•    TRI-NETRA is designed to see the terrain ahead of the running locomotive during inclement weather by combining the images captured by the three sub-systems.
•    It will create a composite video image which shall be displayed in front of the Loco Pilot on a computer monitor. 
•    It will give the locomotive pilot a clear view of the track ahead in bad visibility conditions so that he can apply brakes well in time. 
•    It will also map the terrain ahead so that the driver knows when he is approaching a station or a signal. 

The Commerce Ministry has launched an e-marketplace for online purchase of goods and services by various central government ministries and departments.
•    The move is aimed at bringing in more transparency and streamlining the government procurement of goods and services. 
•    The Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D) has developed the portal for the purpose. The department, which is under the Commerce Ministry, carries out the procurement.
•    The DGS&D has asked the departments that for the success of the marketplace, it is necessary to upload the demands of common user goods and services required by government buyers.
•    This would help aggregate demand which will lead to lower prices, better choices and faster procurement. 
•    E-commerce is a fast growing industry in the country. According to a study, e-commerce market is likely to grow 10-fold in next five years to reach USD 100 billion on the back of increasing penetration of Internet, smartphones and spread of digital network in rural areas

The Netherlands and Uttar Pradesh on 14 July 2016 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up a skill development centre to help farmers.

•    The MoU would ensure that farmers get information on food processing as well as along with use of modern techniques to boost production of sugarcane, potato, dairy development and flowers.
•    Besides, the Dutch government would also help in cleaning the Yamuna in Agra and in sewage treatment. 
•    Under this agreement, it would assist the state in solid waste management, urban development and infrastructure. 
•    It will also assist the state in water management, water supply, and cleanliness of water resources, sewage treatment, transport management and revival of water bodies.
•    Other than this, the Netherlands would also help in land reclamation of 1500 acres in the Ganga basin in Kanpur and development of cultural heritage.
•    As per official release, the MoU will remain operational for the next three years.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has listed Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier’s works among its World Heritage Sites list. 

•    In this regard, announcement was at the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) of UNESCO held in Istanbul in Turkey. 
•    Le Corbusier works were added in the list in recognition of his contribution in spearheading the modern architectural movement after World War I, with an emphasis on functionality, bold lines and materials such as concrete, iron and glass. 
•    His 17 sites across spread across seven countries France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Argentina, Japan and India have been added in the World Heritage Sites list. 
•    He was Swiss-French architect, urban planner, designer, painter, writer, and one of the pioneers of what is now called modern architecture. 
•    Corbusier also had prepared the master plan for the city of Chandigarh in India and contributed specific designs for several buildings including Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex.

The Union Railway Ministry has launched a project to install Solar Panels in all Railway Buildings in order to reduce expenditure on electricity As part of the project, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu laid the foundation stone of one Megawatt (MW) solar power plant at Amritsar Railway station in Punjab. 

•    The power plant at Amritsar Railway station will be set up with a cost of 8 crore Rupees. 
•    It will annually produce 14 lakh units of power. It will save 1.40 crore Rupees for railway. 
•    The Union Railway Ministry is going to install such Solar Panels for harnessing free solar energy in all the Railway Building across the nation. 
•    Union Government is also focusing to produce solar energy from waste materials. This will help to reduce Railways expenditure. 
•    Besides launching the solar power plant project, Union Railway Minister also announced to launch high-speed train service between Amritsar and New Delhi. 
•    It will be initiated following the successful trial run of Spanish-made Talgo, which became the fastest train in the country by clocking a speed of 180 km/hr

To reduce paperwork in the day-to-day functioning of the Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan launched an e-portal enabling online interaction with various branches of the Secretariat. 

•    The members can put questions and give notices online as well. 
•    By this, the government is not only preserving the environment but also saving money
•    Members will have to keep in mind the time. If a member has to sent a notice for zero hour. Then the time for it is 8.30 am to 9.30 am. The portal will not take submissions after that.
•    The portal also provides ready information regarding Bills, committee meeting schedules, agenda and reports, verbatim debates and other parliamentary information.
•    Every member will be given a login id and password. 
•    Using that the members will be able to access the portal. It can be used for issuing notices, calling adjournment motion, calling attention motion. 
•    The portal will be available in Hindi and English

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa launched the free bus pass scheme for school and college students for 2016-17. 

•    She gave away smart cards to five students while launching the scheme, a press release said. Under the scheme, 31.11 lakh  school and college students will get free bus passes. 
•    The scheme would cost the State Rs. 504 crore for the year. 
•    In 2015-16, the government spent Rs. 480 crore to provide nearly 28 lakh students with free bus passes.
•    Jayaraman Jayalalithaa commonly referred to as Amma by members in her party and is an Indian politician and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, in office since 2015. 
•    Previously she served as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996, in 2001, from 2002 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2014. 
•    She was an actress before her entry into politics and appeared in 140 films which includes Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films. 
•    As a leading actress in films from 1961 to 1980, she was considered as one of the most prolific and most versatile actress having appeared in films of different genres and for performing wide variety of characters. 

The Indian Army conducts an annual trek to Siachen glacier for civilians, between August to September every year. The expedition for civilians was started for the first time in 2007 and is organized by the Army Adventure Wing. About 30-40 civilians are selected.

•    The length of the trek is 60 kilometres both ways and at altitudes ranging between 12,000 feet and 16,000 feet.
•    Those interested have to send a signed application to HQ Northern High Command, Indian Army by July 20, 2016. The participants will be decided on a first-come-first -serve basis. 
•    Applicants should preferably be below 45 years of age.
•    Everyone selected for the trek has the required fitness to go on the high-altitude trek in extreme conditions. 
•    The documents to be sent with the complete application form include indemnity bond and medical certificate. Download the form here.
•    Organisations associated with defence forces, media persons, Rashtriya Indian Military College and Rashtriya Military School cadets, and adventure lovers participate in the trek every year. 

To promote anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela's vision of education for all children through using technology, a series of affordable mobiles and tablets pre-embedded with content on the life and times of the former South African President have been launched in the country.

•    The project by AG Media in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Foundation is a Mandela Day initiative as millions of South Africans are preparing to a 67-minute community service tomorrow in memory of the globally-revered leader's 98th birth anniversary.
•    All devices feature exclusive educational content and approved content never seen before about Mandela in the form of pictures, wallpapers, quotes and more.
•    In schools, where the Mandela Library project has already built a library, the devices will be donated on merit basis, like how many children attend the school and their needs.
•    AG Mobile's CEO Anthony Goodman said that encouraging learning and education among the children is the cornerstone of the Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Education Project.

Ms Patel will be in charge of the Department for International Development (DfID) which leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty, building a safer, healthier, more prosperous world for all of us which is firmly in the UK’s national interest. 

•    But despite accepting the new role, it emerged Ms Patel floated the idea of replacing her new department with a department for international trade and development in 2013.
•    Ms Patel suggested the Government should consider abolishing the department in an interview with the Daily Telegraph three years ago. 
•    She suggested aid reforms could include scrapping the DfID and replacing it with a trade body. 
•    It is possible to bring more prosperity to the developing world and enable greater wealth transfers to be made from the UK by fostering greater trade and private sector investment opportunities.
•    As the Cabinet reshuffle continues Brexiteer Liam Fox is now in charge of a brand new department, similar to the idea that Ms Patel suggested in 2013.
•    He has been appointed Secretary of State for International Trade. 
•    Ms Patel follows in the footsteps of Justine Greening who has been handed the Education Minister post.