GK and Current Affairs Updates

The Country’s first cyber security public organisation has been launched by China on 26th March 2016, which consists of academic institutes, individuals and internet companies including Tencent and popular internet Security Company Qihu 360.
•    The Organisation aimed at better safeguarding national cyber security and guiding internet companies in perform their duties.
•    The Cyber Security organisation will focus on promoting self-discipline in the industry, accelerating the establishment of industry standards and cyber security studies and participating in international cooperation.
•    The association could emphasize on safeguarding the country’s internet security and building up China as an internet power, while attracting more cutting-edge cyber security enterprises and talent to enhance the industry’s authority.
•    China launched its first special fund for cyber security with an initial capital of 300 million Yuan($46 million) to realise the nation’s strategic goal of becoming a strong internet power in February this year.
•    An increasing number of high profile data breaches have taught us that how a company looks after their information and manages any incidents can make or break an organisation.
•    Cyber risk is now firmly at the top of the international agenda as high-profile breaches raise fears that hack attacks and other security failures could endanger the global economy.
•    90 % of companies worldwide recognize they are insufficiently prepared to protect themselves against Cyber Attacks.
•    Cybercrime costs the global economy over USD 400 billion per year, according to estimates by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel announced country’s first university exclusively focussing on organic farming. The main objective is to help farmers in switching to unconventional methods of farming.
•    A fund of Rs 10 crore has been earmarked towards the university in the annual 2016-17 budget, presented recently.
•    The place may be chosen near to agriculture Kamdhenu University in Gandhinagar district.
•    For promoting organic farming, state government has taken steps like setting up of a cell to implement its new organic farming policy.
•    Organic food is food that has been grown or processed without synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.
•    The organic food movement began in the 1940s in response to the Green Revolution. The Green Revolution marked a significant increase in food production due to the introduction of high-yield varieties, the use of pesticides, and better management techniques.
•    When farmers spray pesticides, this can leave residue on produce. Organic farmers use insect traps, careful crop selection (disease-resistant varieties), predator insects or beneficial microorganisms instead to control crop-damaging pests.
•    Currently, 800 million people suffer from hunger and malnutrition worldwide. Around 16 million will die from it. 
•    If conventional farming were replaced by organic farming, the number of people suffering would explode to 1.3 billion, assuming farmers use the same amount of land they are using now.

President Rule was imposed in Uttarakhand on 27 March 2016 following the approval of the recommendation of the Union Cabinet by the President of India ,Pranab Mukherjee. The Cabinet recommended president rule in the state citing a constitutional breakdown.
•    President signed the proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution dismissing the Congress government headed by Harish Rawat and placing the Assembly under suspended animation.
•    Under suspended animation, the legislative assembly though is not dissolved but the legislative power of the state is taken over by the parliament from the declaration of the president rule. An assembly remains in this state until further notice from the president.
•    The need of presidential rule in the state arose after 9 congress legislators in leadership of former Chief Minister and leader of the rebel group Vijay Bahuguna rebelled against Harish Rawat government and pulled back their support to it. 
•    Due to this division the government lost majority in the house of 70 seats where it needs support of at least 36 legislators to run the government.
•    Meanwhile, under the Anti-Defection law, 1985 Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal disqualified the nine Congress MLAs whose rebellion and association with the BJP earlier this month had triggered the latest crisis.
•    Consideration of reports received from Governor KK Paul. The governor had described the political situation as volatile and expressed apprehensions over possible pandemonium during the scheduled trial of strength in the State Assembly on Monday.
•    The release of video as part of a sting operation conducted against the Chief Minister in which he was found involved in horse trading by offering allurements like money for support.

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to the proposal for submitting guarantees sought by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) from the Government of India for their bid to host the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Under 17 World Cup Football Tournament in 2017 in India. 
•    The FIFA Under 17 World Cup is a prestigious event and would be held in India for the first time.
•    The AIFF have proposed holding of matches in five States, namely Delhi, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka and one among the States of Assam, Goa and Kerala. 
•    While the expenditure for upgradation of stadium (Rs.95 crore) will be provided as additional central assistance to the State Governments, a sum of Rs. 25 crore is kept as a contingency to ensure smooth conduct of the tournament. 
•    AIFF and FIFA have agreed to bear the entire expenditure of hosting the tournament. The amounts required are to be raised through sponsorships and other commercial agreements. 
•    The proposed Under-17 World Cup would encourage more youngsters to participate in sports and also help develop the sport of football in the country. 
•    It will also promote tourism in the country. The event also has a lot of importance from the point of view of playing technique, training, coaching and competition exposure, etc., especially at under-17 level, and thus would be good for the future of football in India.
•    The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the following decisions with regard to holding of Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Under-17 World Cup to be held in India in 2017: -
(a)The venues are as under: 
1.JLN Stadium, New Delhi
2.D.Y. Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
3.JLN Stadium, Kochi    
4.Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata    
5.JLN Stadium, Fatorda Goa    
6.I.G. Stadium Guwahati 
A Committee comprising of Secretary, Department of Sports, DG, SAI and Financial Adviser, Dept. of Sports has been authorized to make necessary adjustments for any changes in venues to remove difficulties in consultation with All India Football Federation (AIFF) /FIFA. 
Expenditure towards overlays and equipment including display boards, etc. may be incurred. The total cost, however, will be within Rs.95 crore as approved earlier. 
In the eventuality of any additional requirement of funds, Department of Sports will take up the matter with the Department of Expenditure. 
The Sports Ministry has been authorized to constitute Organizing Committee, for conduct of the event.

Late Capt. Shankar Laxman was posthumously chosen for the 2016 Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award. 
•    The award carrying purse of Rs. 30 lakh was accepted by his son Manohar Singh Shekhawat during the 2016 Hockey India Annual Awards held in Bengaluru. 
•    Late Capt. Shankar Laxman was one of legendary hockey player in India. 
•    He was a goalkeeper and was part of the Olympic medal-winning teams of 1956 (Melbourne, Gold), 1960 (Rome, Silver), and 1964 (Tokyo, Gold). 
•    Dhruv Batra Player of the Year Award: P.R Sreejesh (male), Deepika (female). 
•    Baljit Singh Goalkeeper of the Year Award: Savita. 
•    Pargat Singh Defender of the Year Award: Kothajit Singh. 
•    Ajit Pal Singh Midfielder of the Year Award: Ritu Rani. 
•    Dhanraj Pillay Forward of the Year Award: Rani. 
•    Asunta Lakra Upcoming Player of the Year Award: Harjeet Singh (male), Preeti Dubey (female). 
•    Jaman Lal Sharma Award for Invaluable Contribution: Baldev Singh. 
•    President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement: Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy.

On 26-March-2016 Shri J P Nadda launched Rotavirus vaccine as part of Universal Immunization Programme.In an attempt to bring down child mortality in the country, Union health minister J.P. Nadda on 26-March-2016launched rotavirus vaccine in Bhubaneshwar. 
•    In the first phase, the vaccine has been launched in four states – Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. It will subsequently be extended to the entire country.
•    Rotavirus is highly contagious and spreads fast once the infection breaks out in an area.
•    The vaccine, developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research, has been available in the private sector for many years. 
•    Its introduction in government’s immunization programme will extend its reach to rural and poor areas.
•    According to data from the Union health ministry, rotavirus infection causes 78 thousand deaths annually among children under-5 years of age in India. It accounts for 8.7 lakh hospitalisations yearly.
•    Three doses of vaccine are to be given within the gap of one month each starting at age one-and-a-half months. Nearly 50% of rotavirus associated deaths occur within first year of life. 
•    Rotavirus is one of the leading causes of severe diarrhoea and death among children less than five years of age, and that every year nearly 80,000 to one lakh children die in the country due to Rotavirus diarrhoea.
•    The vaccine is being introduced initially in four states Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha and will be expanded to the entire country in a phased manner.
•    Universal Immunization Programme is a vaccination program launched by the Government of India in 1985. 
•    It became a part of Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme in 1992 and is currently one of the key areas under National Rural Health Mission(NRHM) since 2005.
•    The program consists of vaccination for nine diseases- tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles,Hepatitis B, Diarrhoea,Japanese Encephalitis andPneumonia. Hepatitis B was added to the UIP in 2007. 
•    Thus, UIP has 9 vaccine preventable diseases in the program.
•    In 2014 it was announced that four vaccines will be added to the program, namely rotavirus, rubella and Japanese encephalitis, as well as the inject table polio vaccine.

The PDP and the BJP on 26th March 2016 called on Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra and staked claim to form the new government under Mehbooba Mufti. 
•    The date for the swearing in has not been decided yet.
•    Ms Mufti will be the first woman Chief Minister of the state.
•    It was Ms Mufti's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday that broke the deadlock that had persisted for well over two months.
•    PDP legislature party had elected her its leader and named her the party chief ministerial candidate. 
•    BJP legislators in Jammu elected Nirmal Singh as its leader. He will again be the Deputy Chief Minister in the new cabinet, a post he had under Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who died in January.
•    The state has been under Governor's Rule since early January after the death of former chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.
•    The PDP chief had refused to succeed her father as the chief minister, demanding that the BJP honour the conditions laid down in the Agenda of Alliance, a blueprint crafted when the two parties decided on co-governing the state.
•    BJP has been strongly against  PDP because of its ideology.

SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus Baahubali was declared the Best Film at 63rd National Film Awards announced on March 28. 
•    Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan won the Best Actor award for his role in ‘Piku’ while actress Kangana Ranaut won Best Actress for her role in ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns.”
•    Kangana Ranaut, 28, won the award for her role in romantic comedy drama “Tanu Weds Manu Returns” for her endearing dual turn as Tanu, a troublesome wife and Haryanvi sportsperson Datto.
•    This is the third trophy for Ranaut at the National Awards, having won best actress for “Queen” last year and earlier for best supporting actress for 2008 film “Fashion”.
•    Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has won Best Director for his magrnum opus ‘Bajirao Mastani.’
•    This is Amitabh Bachchan’s fourth national award. The actor first won a national award for best actor for Agneepath in 1990. His next two national award wins happened in 2005 and 2009 for Black and Paa respectively.
•    Salman Khan’s ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ was named Best Popular Film at the 63rd National Film Awards.
•    Last year’s much appreciated “Masaan” had to contend itself with just a Best Debut director award for Neeraj Ghaywan.
•    Best adapted screenplay honour went to Vishal Bhardwaj for real-life inspired crime drama ‘Talvar’, while the Best Original Screenplay and dialogue was shared between Juhi  Chaturvedi (Piku) and Himanshu Sharma (Tanu Weds Manu Returns)
•    Singer Monali Thakur won Best singer for her song Moh Moh Ke Dhage, Dum Laga Ke Haisha. While Best Cinematography was won by Sudeep Chaterjee for Bajirao Mastani.
•    Remo D’Souza won Best Choreographer for his song Deewani Mastani from Bajirao Mastani.
•    Best Screenplay – Dialogues: Juhi Chaturvedi (Piku) and Himanshu Sharma (Tanu Weds Manu Returns)
•    Bajirao Mastani has won three National Awards this year.
•    Actress Kalki Koechlin’s stint as a girl affected with cerebral palsy in Shonali Bose’s “Margarita with a Straw” got a special jury mention.
•    Tamil star Samuthirakani bagged the best supporting actor award for his role in thriller, “Visaranai”, based on M Chandrakumar’s novel “Lock Up”. The movie also won the best Tamil film and best editing awards.
•    “Baahubali”, which won best feature film honour, also scored the best special effects award for CGI-laden screenplay.

On 28th March Padma Awards were given by the president of India.
Padma Awards - one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. 
•    The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. 
•    ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.
•    These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan every year. 
•    This year the President of India has approved conferment of Padma Awards to 112. The list comprises of 10 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 83 Padma Shri Awardees.  19 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons from the category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs (include one posthumous) and 4 Posthumous awardees.
PADMA VIBHUSHAN :
•    Ms. Yamini Krishnamurthi - Art- Classical dance
•    Shri Rajinikanth - Art-Cinema
•    Smt. Girija Devi - Art-Classical Vocal         
•    Shri Ramoji Rao - Literature & Education-Journalism
•    Dr. Viswanathan Shanta - Medicine- Oncology
•    Shri Shri Ravi Shankar - Others-Spiritualism               
•    Shri Jagmohan - Public Affairs                
•    Dr.Vasudev Kalkunte Aatre - Science & Engineering
•    Shri Avinash Dixit - Literature & Education,USA
•    Late Shri Dhiru Bhai Ambani (Posthumous) - Trade & Industry
PADMA BHUSHAN

•    Shri Anupam Kher - Art-Cinema
•    Shri Udit Narayan Jha - Art-Playback Singing
•    Shri Ram V.  Sutar - Art-Sculpture
•    Shri Heisnam Kanhailal - Art-Theatre
•    Shri Vinod Rai - Civil Service
•    Dr. Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad - Literature & Education
•    Prof. N. S. Ramanuja Tatacharya - Literature & Education
•    Dr. Barjinder Singh Hamdard - Literature & Education - Journalism
•    Prof. D. Nageshwar Reddy - Medicine-Gastroenterology
•    Swami Tejomayananda - Other-Spiritualism
•    Shri Hafeez Contractor - Others-Architecture
•    Shri  Ravindra Chandra Bhargava - Public Affairs
•    Dr.Venkata Rama Rao Alla - Science & Engineering
•    Ms. Saina Nehwal - Sports-Badminton
•    Ms. Sania Mirza - Sports-Tennis
•    Ms. Indu Jain - Trade & Industry
•    Late Swami Dayanand Sarawasati (Posthumous) - Others-Spiritualism
•    Shri Robert Blackwill  - Public Affairs, USA
•    Shri Pallonji Shapoorji  Mistry (NRI/PIO) - Trade & Industry, Ireland

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 21 March 2016 established the Gadanki Ionosphere Radar Interferometer (GIRI) near Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.
•    It was set up at the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) which is an autonomous research institute of the Department of Space.
•    It is a 30 MHz radar system that will be engaged in meteor and space weather research in a comprehensive way.
•    It consists of a rectangular antenna array of 160 two-element Yagi-antenna, arranged in a 20x8 matrix, 20 transmitter units, 6 digital receivers including data processing systems, a radar controller, and a host computer.
•    Its primary objective is to carry out unattended observations towards studying the forcing from the sun like variation in solar flux, solar flare and magnetic storm on the ionosphere irregularities.
•    It also seeks to study unattended observations from the underneath atmosphere (e.g., waves generated by weather phenomena) on the ionosphere irregularities.
•    It will provide important information on the angular location of plasma irregularities during the onset phase and its relationship to background ionosphere state parameters and sunset terminator.
•    Investigations made using this facility are expected to improve the skill in Equatorial Plasma Bubble (EPB) forecasting which is detrimental for satellite based navigation/communication applications.
•    It is an autonomous society supported by Department of Space and is located at Gadanki near Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.
•    It is one of the specialized atmospheric research in the country to conduct basic atmospheric research, indigenous technology development for atmospheric probing and weather and climate modeling.
•    It regularly operates state-of-the-art MST radar, Rayleigh / Mie Lidar, Boundary Layer Lidar, Sodium Lidar, Lower Atmospheric Wind Profiler, Sodar and Dual frequency GPS receiver.
•    Its facilities are available for national and international scientists to conduct atmospheric research.
•    The proposed up-gradation of the upcoming active array MST radar into Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) will provide a unique opportunity for scientists from both home and abroad to conduct frontline atmospheric and ionosphere research.
•    With the ISR upgrade, NARL will become the first comprehensive low latitude observatory in the world.