GK and Current Affairs Updates

Gujarati writer Raghuveer Chaudhary hounoured with 51st Jnanpith award for his contribution to Indian literature.
Other achievements of Raghuveer Chaudhary
- recipient of Sahitya Academi Award for his novel, "Trilogy Uparvaas" in 1977.
- authored more than 80 books and received numerous literary awards for his significant contributions in Gujarati. 
About Jnanpith Award 
- It is given every year for the best creative writing by an Indian citizen in any of the languages included in Schedule VIII of the Indian constitution.
- The award is sponsered by Bhartiya Jnanpith,a literary and cultural organisation set up in 1944.
- It was instituted in 1961.

The Strategy aims to establish India as a world-class bio-manufacturing hub.
The envisaged mission is:
•Provide impetus to utilising the knowledge and tools to the advantage of Humanity•Launch a major well directed mission backed with significant investment for generation of new Biotech Products•Empower scientifically and technologically India’s incomparable Human Resource •Create a strong Infrastructure for R&D and Commercialisation•Establish India as a world class Bio-manufacturing Hub

The Key elements of the Strategy are:
•Building a Skilled Workforce and  Leadership•Revitalizing the knowledge environment at par with the growing bio-economy•Enhance Research opportunities in basic, disciplinary and inter-disciplinary sciences•Encourage use-inspired discovery research•Focus on biotechnology tools for inclusive development•Nurturing innovation, translational capacity and entrepreneurship•Ensuring a transparent,  efficient and globally best Regulatory system and communication strategy•Biotechnology cooperation- Fostering global and national alliances•Strengthen Institutional Capacity with redesigned governance models •Create a matrix of measurement of processes as well as outcome

What is Biotechnology?
Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products, or "any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use".

Status of Biotechnology Industry in India
- Third biggest biotech industry in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Second highest number of USFDA–approved plants.
- USD 3.7 Billion to be spent on biotechnology from 2012-17.
- No. 1 producer of Hepatitis B vaccine recombinant.
- USD 100 Billion industry by 2025.

FDI Policy in Biotechnology
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100% is permitted through the automatic route for Greenfield and through the government route for brownfield, for pharmaceuticals.

Agencies of Biotechnology in India
- Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India
- Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology,Government of India
- Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
- Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises
- Confederation of Indian Industry
- Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Mr R K Mathur has been appointed as Chief Information Commissioner (CIC). He is a former Defence Sectretary. He is preceded by Vijai Sharma.
Who is Mr R K Mathur ?
- Has done graduation from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and post graduation from IIT, Delhi. Is a retired IAS officer of Tripura cadre.He has been Secretary to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Defence Production and Supplies. 
About Appointment of Chief Information Commissioner
- appointed by the President 
- Appointed on the recommendation of the committee consisting of:
1. The Prime Minister, as the Chairperson of the committee;
2. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha; and
3. A Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
Functions of Central Information Commission:
The body is headed by Chief Information Commissioner who hears appeals from information-seekers who have not been satisfied by the public authority, and also addresses major issues concerning the RTI Act. 

India was able to secure its interest and that of other developing countries in the Paris Agreement.The Paris Agreement has unequivocally acknowledged the imperative of climate justice and has based itself on the principles of equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities.

1.The Agreement acknowledges the development imperatives of India and other developing countries.

2.India Pavilion set up by the Government highlighted the initiatives taken by various Ministries, State Governments, Missions under National Action Plan on Climate Change, Industries, Civil Societies, NGOs etc. The Prime Minister inaugurated the Indian Pavilion and released “PARAMPARA”, a book on India’s culture and climate-friendly sustainable practices.

3 Comprehensive and balanced INDC submitted, which includes Adaptation, Mitigation, requirement of Finance, Technology transfer and Capacity Building.

4.To put forward and further propagate a healthy and sustainable way of living based on traditions and values of conservation and moderation.

5.To adopt a climate-friendly and a cleaner path than the one followed hitherto by others at corresponding level of economic development.

6.To reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 percent by 2030 from 2005 level.

7.To achieve about 40 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030 with the help of transfer of technology and low-cost international finance including from Green Climate Fund (GCF).

8.To create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.

9.To better adapt to climate change by enhancing investments in development programmes in sectors vulnerable to climate change, particularly agriculture, water resources, Himalayan region, coastal regions, health and disaster management.

10.To mobilise domestic and new & additional funds from developed countries to implement the above mitigation and adaptation actions in view of the resource required and the resource gap.

11.To build capacities, create domestic framework and international architecture for quick diffusion of cutting edge climate technology in India and for joint collaborative R&D for such future technologies.

12.Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS) flagged off; to contribute towards increasing the understanding of the science of Climate Change; the train will halt at 64 locations in about 

This committee is headed by RBI executive director Deepak Mohanty.

Some Recommendations:1. Government should transfer cash directly to persons instead of giving subsidies, and should replace interest subvention on agriculture loans with affordable universal crop insurance scheme.2.Suggested banks to open more accounts for females.3 Proposes a new welfare scheme for girl child — Sukanya Shiksha 4.Suggests stepping up financial inclusion in north-eastern, eastern and central states5.Aadhaar to be linked with each individual credit account 6.Use of low-cost solution based on mobile technology for ‘last mile’ delivery7.Recommended ‘Gold KCC’ scheme for good borrowers8.Commercial banks to open specialised interest-free windows with simple products.9.RBI to take lead in creating a geographical information system to map banking access points.10.More bank credit to the MFI sector.11.Suggested more ATMs in rural centres.

WHO declared Guinea Ebola free thereby ending two-year long plague in West Africa. This declaration came on a strong base which is the passing of 42 days since the last person confirmed to have Ebola virus disease tested negative for the second time.Guinea is first among the 3 countries which are the source for outbreak of Ebola. Other 2 are Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Ebola Facts

- Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.

- The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.

- The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.

- The first EVD outbreaks occurred in remote villages in Central Africa, near tropical rainforests, but the most recent outbreak in West Africa has involved major urban as well as rural areas.

- Community engagement is the key to successfully controlling outbreaks. Good outbreak control relies on applying a package of interventions, namely case management, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, safe burials and social mobilisation.

On 27th December, 2015, India's National Anthem completed 104 years of its existence.  It was sung for the first time on December 27, 1911, at the 27th annual session of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta.
About National Anthem "Jana Gana Mana"
- 'Jana Gana Mana'is the national anthem of India.It was composed by Rabindranath Tagore and was adopted as the Indian national anthem on 24 January 1950. The anthem is written in highly Sanskritized Bengali and is part of a Brahmo poem.It takes 52 seconds to sing the entire National Anthem. A shorter version of it takes around 20 seconds and is played on certain specific occasions. 

Seychelles government has provided India a plot of land in its Assumption Island to build its first naval base in the Indian Ocean region. This is a joint project between India and Seychelles.
India's benefit:
1. Seychelles will help India exercise greater control over the Indian Ocean’s western region all the way to the piracy-prone eastern African coastline.
2. Crucial post for managing maritime security with different Indian ocean countries.
About Seychelles
The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off East Africa, known for its beaches, coral reefs, diving, nature reserves and rare wildlife such as giant Aldabra tortoises. Mahé island, with an international airport, is a key transport hub, home to capital Victoria

Pranab Mukherjee, inaugrated the 98th Annual Conference of the Indian Economic Association. He addressed the conference with a speech.
About Indian Economic Assosiation
- Established- 1957
- It is a registered body of Indian Economic Professionals.
- Objective: to provide a Forum for debate and discussion of theoretical and policy oriented Issues of Economic Science.
- It is a member of the International Economic Association.
- It has currently more than 3000 members – both Individual and Institutional.

Alathur will soon become the first block panchayat in Kerala to achieve self-sufficiency in production and consumption of organically grown vegetables. By the end of the next economic year, the block will produce all fruits and vegetables for its residents based on the requirement. There is a plan to setup farmers’ market without the involvement of middlemen. The priority is to achieve self sufficiency, thereon retail outlets will be started in other parts of the State to sell the excess quantity of fruits and vegetables so produced. Hill Area Development Authority, Integrated Watershed Development Programme and Swachh Bharat Mission are the implementing agencies of the project.