GK and Current Affairs Updates

The World Toilet Day (WTD) was observed on 19 November 2015 across the world with the theme Sanitation and Nutrition. The aim of World Toilet Day (WTD) is to raise awareness about the people in the world who don’t have access to a toilet, despite the fact that it is a human right to have clean water and sanitation.The effort of the WTD in 2015 was to draw the world’s attention to the importance of toilets in supporting better nutrition and improved health.

Started from-WTD has been celebrated by the World Toilet Organisation since 2001. It later became an official UN day on 24 July 2013 as the 67^th session of UN General Assembly approved it through the Sanitation For All resolution. 

Signaling its strong commitment to the implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with the WHO Country Office for India has organized a national consultation on strengthening intersectoral coordination for IHR (2005) and Points of Entry, at Goa on 18-19 November 2015.  Speaking on the occasion, Dr (Prof) Jagdish Prasad, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) highlighted the critical role various sectors play in IHR and called for greater attention on building capacities at state level, particularly for hospital preparedness, infection control and surge capacity for IHR. 

The Ambassador of Delegation of the European Union to India Shri Tomasz KOZLOWSKI called on the Union Minister for Science & Technology & Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan in New Delhi today.
Previous valuable agreements between India and European Union
1. Free Trade Agreement
- signed in 2007
- Benefits for India: Will help India to integrate better with the world. will enhance bilateral trade and now its results are coming up as EU is one of the leading importer of Indian goods.
2. Strategic Partnership Agreement
- signed in 2005
- Aim: To realise the potential of Defense services.
- This was the testment to show the integration of EU with Asian partners.

In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Justice Tirath Singh Thakur, Judge of the Supreme Court, to be the Chief Justice of India with effect from 3rd December, 2015. Born on 4th January, 1952, 

About Chief Justice of India

The Chief Justice of India is the highest-ranking judge in the Supreme Court of India, and thus holds the highest judicial position in India As well as presiding in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice also heads its administrative functions.

Appointment- Article 124 of the Constitution of India provides for the manner of appointing judges to the Supreme Court. 
However, no specific provision is made as to the appointment of the Chief Justice; as a result, the Chief Justice is appointed in the same manner as for the other judges to the Supreme Court.Generally, the most senior (i.e. earliest appointed) judge in the Supreme Court is appointed by the President.

Removal-  Article 124(4) of Constitution of India lays down the procedure for removal of a Judge of Supreme Court which is applicable to Chief Justice as well. 
Once appointed, the Chief Justice remains in office until his retirement age of 65 years or death.  He can be removed only through a process of impeachment by Parliament 

First CJI after Independence - Justice HJ Kania 

A Parliamentary delegation from Germany led by Dr. Simone Raatz, the Chairman of the German Parliamentary Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment called on the Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan in New Delhi today to discuss issues relating to mutual cooperation.  

Both sides agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the field of Science & Technology with continued funding for the projects already in progress.  Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that India is committed to collaborations with Germany, which India considers to be its strong partner in the field of Science & Technology.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Vietnam for cooperation in the field of Animal Health. 

The MoU aims to promote mutual cooperation between India and Vietnam through joint activities in the areas of Animal Health and has agreed to: 

i.Exchange special information on animal health in general and particularly information on status of animal diseases of common concern, standards and procedures for animal quarantine and inspection status and progress of surveillance and monitoring programmes in place for animal diseases and food borne pathogens; ii.Exchange of special information on meat processing, meat products and slaughter houses/abattoirs; iii.Set up Mutual Recognition Agreement on Veterinary hygiene, health certificate between competent authorities of the two Parties. iv.Cooperate in the training and upgrading human resources in the field of animal health. 

Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal (89), passed away at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday following multi-organ dysfunction and sepsis.
About Ashok Singhal
1. was an international working president of the Hindu organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for over 20 years.
2. Education: Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Benaras Hindu University Institute of Technology in 1950.
3. Other qualifications: a trained vocalist in Hindustani music.
4. Professional Life: full-time pracharak after graduation in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since 1942.
5. Works: solved the main greivance of the Dalit communities in the area as being access to temple attracted hundreds of sadhus and Hindu notables to discuss the issues of rejuvenating Hinduism in  Dharma Sansad in 1984 held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Then he became the chief architect of the Ramjanmabhoomi movement.

In this regard State Food supplies and Consumer Welfare department has issued directives to the district administration to monitor the implementation of the NFSA and rectify irregularities. 14 districts in the first phase are: Angul, Bargarh, Boudh, Balangir, Deogarh, Gajapati, Jharsuguda, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Sonepur. Under the NFSA, beneficiaries are entitled to get 5 kg of rice at Rs 3 or 5 kg of wheat at Rs 2 from Public Distribution System (PDS) Centres. The second phase of the NFSA will be implemented in remaining 16 other districts of the State from 1st December 2015.
About National Food Security Act(NFSA)
- Act was passed in 2013.
- Objectives:
1. Union is responsible for the allotment of foodgrains to states as per their requirement,and if if stock insufficient, then give food allowance to states.
2. State is responsible for identifying the eligible households and then deliver it to beneficiaries and if can’t deliver foodgrains to beneficiaries, pay them food allowance.
3. 67% of Indian population covered.
4. to provide essential foodgrains in cheap price as compared to the market price, in that Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)i.e. bottom strata of BPL population will get 35kg and Priority household will get 5kg of foodgrains.
- For grievence redressal:
1. State Food commission
2. District grievance Redressal officer.
- Previous schemes like NFSA:
1. Targeted Public distribution system  (TPDS) in 1997
2. Antyoday Anna Yojana in 2000.

Siril Varma wins silver medal at 2015 World Junior badminton Championships Siril lost to Taipei’s Chia Hung Lu Chia by 21-17, 10-21, 7-21 score. By winning silver medal, Siril has joined the elite list of Indians shuttlers such as Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, RMV Gurusaidutt, HS Prannoy and Sameer Verma who have won medals for India in the Junior World Championships.
About Siril Varma
-He is currently India No.2 in U-15 singles.
-Trained from Pullela Gopichand academy in Hyderabad
-He is supported by the non-profit organisation, Olympic Gold Quest.
-He became the first Indian player to win the Badminton Asia Youth Championships in 2013.
About World Junior badminton Championships
- It is a tournament organized by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) 
- Objective: to crown the best junior badminton players (under-19) in the world.
- Host City in 2015: Lima (Peru)

Syed Akbaruddin appointed as India’s Permanent Representative to UN Senior Indian diplomat He will succeed Asoke Kumar Mukerji who will be retiring soon. Akbaruddin is 1985 batch officer of Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Prior to this appointment he was serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
About United Nations(UN)
Established: 1945
Headquater: New York
Members: 193 (last member is South Sudan)
Main organs:
1.  General Assembly, 
2. Security Council, 
3. Economic and Social Council, 
4. Trusteeship Council, (inactive)
5. International Court of Justice, and 
6. UN Secretariat.
Functions:
1. can take action on the issues confronting humanity such as peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, human rights, disarmament, terrorism, humanitarian and health emergencies, gender equality,etc.
2. Helps to find areas of agreement and solve problems together by enabling dialogue between its members, and by hosting negotiations.

Role of India's Permanent Representative-He is the head of a diplomatic mission to the United Nations (UN).He is known as an UN Ambassador. Mr Samarendra nath Sen was the first person for that position from India side but he was an US citizen.