GK and Current Affairs Updates

 In it's partnership with the International Cricket Council Japanese car manufacturer Nissan on Wednesday announced Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma as their new global ambassador.
•    Nissan also named West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell and New Zealand women's team captain Suzie Bates as its ambassadors.
•    Nissan corporate vice-president Roel de Vriessaid. Nissan is absolutely delighted to welcome this illustrious line-up to the Nissan team as ambassadors. As genuine performers in the shorter form of the game, these players consistently deliver on the big stage. 

•    In 1928, Yoshisuke Aikawa founded the holding company Nihon Sangyo
•    The name 'Nissan' originated during the 1930s as an abbreviationused on the Tokyo stock market for Nihon Sangyo. 
•    This company was the famous Nissan "Zaibatsu" which included Tobata Casting and Hitachi.

Key Points:
•    In Motor car industry Bear Grylls represents Land Rover.
•    Michael Schumacher is brand ambassador of Mercedes-Benz.
•    David Beckham is brand ambassador of Jaguar.
•    Alex Zanardiis brand ambassador of BMW.

 Karnataka government has announced housing scheme for transgenders.
•    Transgender generally face social boycott, in India. 
•    Scheme was announced by K J George,Bengaluru Development Minister.
•    This will benefit over 600 transgender living in the city and facing social exclusion. 
•    The scheme will come up on 50 acres land on the outskirts of the city.
•    Governmentis building a township for the economically weaker sections of society in this zone.
•    George said that he would guide the Bengaluru Urban district administration for a blueprint of the housing for the transgender. 
•    He also assured social security for the transgender on behalf of the government.

 Adele won British female solo artist, British single, British global success award and British album of the year award.
•    In 2011 and 2012, Billboard named Adele Artist of the Year. 
•    In 2012, she was listed at number five on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Music.
•    Time magazine named her one of the most influential people in the world. 
•    British Male Solo Artist award -James Bay
•    British Group artist award – Coldplay
•    British Breakthrough Act award - Catfish and the Bottlemen
•    British Producer of the Year award - Charlie Andrew
•    British Artist Video of the Year award -  One Direction - Drag Me Down
•    International Male Solo Artist award-Justin Bieber
•    International Female Solo Artist award – Bjork
•    International Group award - Tame Impala

 In the India Sports Awards 2015,Lalita Babar was announced as the Sportsperson of the Year.
•    The Indian Sports Award was organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) with the support of the Sports Ministry.
•    She has recently qualified for Rio Olympics in the 3000m steepelchase event 
•    She is the current Indian national record holder in steepelchase. 
•    She is also the current Asian champion and won a bronze medal in 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
•    Gymnast Dipa Karmakar got announced as the Breakthrough Sportsperson of the Year 
•    Legendary Hockey Player Balbir Singh got the Lifetime Achievement award.
•    Best National Sports Federation award went to Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India.
•    Best award for NGO for Promoting Sports went to STAIRS

 On 25 February 2016,Bangladeshi cricketer Mashrafe Bin Mortazagot appointed as National Goodwill Ambassador For Youth by the United National Development Programme.
•    Bangladesh Resident Representative Robert Watkins gave the official appointment in Dhaka.
•    He is the first one to be appointed as a goodwill ambassador for youth development in Bangladesh.
•    Mortaza, is leading the national cricket team in ODI and T20 formats.
•    He will work for youth employment in Bangladesh 
•    He will also work in the field of improvement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
•    This appointment has been done to propagate united nation’s efforts to include prominent people from various fields to promote the ideals enshrined in its Charter.
•    Around 55 percentage of Bangladesh’s total population are in working age group.
•    Only 17 percent of employed youths are in regular paid employment.

On 23 February 2016Honda Motor Company announced Yoichiro Ueno as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its car operations in India.
•    Yoichiro will replace Katsushi Inoue on 1 April 2016. 
•    Katsushi has been appointed as Operating Officer of Honda Motor and Chief Operating Officer for Europe region.
•    Yoichiro Ueno has been the CEO  and MD of Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. since January 2011.
•    Before that he was Assistant Vice President of Automobile Sales of American Honda Motor Co. Inc.
•    He has been with Honda Motor Co. Ltd. for over 30 years
•    He has also served in New Zealand and Thailand 
•    He has also worked with overseas division and countries such as Asia and Oceania, China and North America.

The Union Government appointed three Information Commissioners at the Central Information Commission (CIC). He took the oath of office by Chief Information Commissioner Radha Krishna Mathur. 
•    For the first time CIC has got full strength & the total number of Information Commissioners has become 11. 
•    These positions have been appointed for five years or till they turn 65. 
•    These Appointees are Amitava Bhattacharya, BimalJulka, Divya Prakash Sinha.
•    Amitava is a retired IAS officer who has been Chairman of the Staff Selection Commission 
•    BimalJulka is retired IAS officer who has served as Information & Broadcasting Secretary. 
•    Divya Prakash Sinha is retired IPS officer and have served as Secretary at the Cabinet Secretariat. 
•    CIC is a statutory authority to receive and inquire into a complaint from any person who have not been able to submit information. 
•    CIC was established in 2005.
•    It was founded as per the RTI Act, 2005.
•    The CIC and Information Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a selection committee headed by Prime Minister.

 
On 25 February 2016 The Union Government appointed Rajendra Singh as the Director General (DG) of Indian Coast Guard.
•    He is the first Non-Navy officer to head Indian Coast Guard.
•    He will replace Vice Admiral HCS Bisht.
•    Vice Admiral HCS Bisht has been promoted as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command.
•    Rajendra Singh joined the Coast Guard in 1980.
•    Currently he is the Additional Director General.
•    On 15 August 1990 he got Tatrakshak Medal (TM) by the President 
•    On 15 August 2002, he was awarded President’s Tatrakshak Medal (PTM).
•    The Indian Coast Guard was formally established on 18 August 1978 
•    It was established under Coast Guard Act, 1978 
•    The Indian Coast Guard works closely with the Indian Navy and other intelligence agencies of India.
 

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on 25 February 2016 presented the Railway Budget 2016-17. Railway Budget 2016 – 17 showcased many initiatives and schemes with a budget of 121000 crore rupees.
•    Antyodaya Express will provide unreserved and superfast service
•    DeenDayalu Coaches Are Unreserved coaches with potable water and mobile charging points
•    Humsafar is going to be Fully air-conditioned third AC service with meals
•    Tejas will showcase the future of train travel in India and operate at speeds of 130 kmph and above. 
•    Tejas will also offer services such as entertainment, local cuisine, Wi-Fi, etc.
•    Utkrisht Double-Decker Air-conditioned Yatri Express (UDAY) will be overnight double-decker express and will run on the busiest routes. 
•    Specially Modified Aesthetic Refreshing Travel Coaches will be introduced with automatic doors,accessible dustbins, bar-code readers, bio-vacuum toilets, ergonomic seating,water-level indicators, facilities.
•    50 crore rupees will be allotted for providing innovation grants to employees, startups and small businesses.
 

On 25 February 2016, The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare decided have decided to provide birth companions during delivery in public health facilities. This is to reduce Maternal Mortality Ratio and Infant Mortality Rate in India.
•    The presence of a female relative during labour is said to be beneficial to the women in labour. 
•    The birth companion will be female relative who has undergone the process of labour.
•    She should not have any communicable diseases.
•    She must wear clean clothes.
•    She must be willing to stay with the pregnant woman during the process of labour.
•    Birth Companion will not interfere in the treatment procedures.
•    Birth companions are the ones who have experienced the process of labour.
•    World Health Organization supportslabour companionship for improving maternal and infant health (WHO 2002).