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Category: All Current Affairs

Government appoints Nripendra Misra as the chairman of NMML

January 20, 2020

Nripendra Misra, former principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been appointed the chairman of the Executive Council of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, the highest decision making body of the institution.

The eight-member council has also been reconstituted, with Prasar Bharati Chairman, A Surya Prakash as the new the vice chairman, replacing MJ Akbar, former minister and BJP member who resigned from the cabinet.

Indian Council for Cultural Relations Chairman Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, academic Kapil Kapoor who is also chairperson of Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) and Rajya Sabha member and writer Swapan Dasgupta are among the other members of the EC.

Arjun Munda elected as new president of Archery Association of India

January 20, 2020

Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda has become the new President of the suspended Archery Association of India (AAI) after the elections held as per the Delhi High Court order. He was elected to the position during elections conducted on January 18, 2020.

The much-delayed elections were conducted smoothly, as it was conducted in the presence of three observers, one each from World Archery, Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association. Arjun Munda won a clear majority over his rival BVP Rao with 34-18 votes. He will now serve a full term of four years.

A three-time Jharkhand Chief Minister, the 51-year-old Munda is a hugely popular tribal leader who also runs an archery academy which was instrumental in the rise of former world number one Deepika Kumari. Maharashtra’s Pramod Chandurkar has won the election for the post of Secretary.

Visakhapatnam to be executive Capital of Andhra Pradesh

January 20, 2020

The Andhra Pradesh cabinet, on Monday, approved the high-power committee’s report to set up executive capital in Visakhapatnam. To this effect, the State Government will be shifting the Secretariat, Raj Bhavan, and Heads of Department (HoD) offices to the port city. The State cabinet was to take a final call on the reports of the GN Rao panel and Boston Consulting Group, on the new capital.

While Amaravati will be the legislative capital and hold the Assembly sessions, Kurnool will be established as the judiciary capital with High Court. The authorities even mooted on the appointment of a “super collector” to monitor the development of different regions in the State.

Winners of 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards announced

January 20, 2020

The winners of the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced at an event held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, USA. The award honours the year’s biggest achievements in TV and film

The list of winners of the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards:

  • Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries – Sam Rockwell (Fosse/Verdon)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries – Michelle Williams (Fosse/Verdon)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series – Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series – Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series – Tony Shalhoub (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series – Phoebe Waller-Bridg (Fleabag)
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series – The Crown
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
  • Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series – Game of Thrones
  • Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role – Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) 
  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role – Renee Zellweger (Judy)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role – Laura Dern (Marriage Story)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture – Parasite
  • Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture – Avengers: Endgame

Telangana State Election Commission to use face recognition app

January 20, 2020

In a first of its kind in India, the Telangana State Election Commission will be using facial recognition app in a bid to counter impersonation by voters on a pilot basis in 10 selected polling stations. The initiative will be implemented in Kompally Municipality of Medchal Malkajgiri district.

The application uses latest technologies like artificial intelligence, big data and machine learning. The face recognition is digitally verifiable and quick as it will be possible to identify a person through a photograph, even if there are certain changes in the profile over a period of time of even 20 years.

Polling for 120 municipalities and nine municipal corporations will be held on January 22nd and results will be declared on January 25th. Karimnagar Municipal Corporation, however, will go for polls on January 25th and results will be declared on the 27th.

Iranian Film ‘Castle of Dreams’ gets Best Film Award at DIFF

January 20, 2020

A total of 220 films from 74 countries were shown during the nine-day long Asian Competition section of the 18th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) which began on 11th of this month. The theme of this year’s festival was ‘better film, better audience, better society.’ The Iranian film ‘Castle of Dreams’ directed by Reza Mirakarimi won the Best Film Award. The film also won the Best Director Award.

Indian film ‘Finally Love’ directed by Anjan Dutt has won the Best Audience Award in Cinema of the World Category while ‘Children of the Sun’ directed by Sri Lankan director Prasanna Vithanage has won the Special Jury Award in the 18th Dhaka International Film Festival. In Bangladesh Panorama Section, ‘No Dorai’ directed by Taneem Rahman Angshu bagged the Best Film Award.

Best Actress Award went to Arezoo Ariapoor, Ferestha Afshar and Hasiba Ebrahimi for their acting in Afghanistan-Iran-France joint venture film ‘Hava, Maryamk, Ayesha’ while the Best Actor Award went to Lousie Abuel for his acting in the film ‘Edward’. Information Minister of Bangladesh Hasan Mahmud gave away the award carrying prize money of Tk 1 lakh, a citation and crest in the closing ceremony held in Dhaka.

Tamil Nadu sets up single window for building clearances

January 20, 2020

To bring relief to people in getting clearances and approvals for construction of buildings, the Tamil Nadu government is bringing in a single window clearance system through which people can apply online for different building approvals.

The Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency has been roped in to develop the portal. The agency will also be maintaining it and tenders will be called for the project. After creation of the special software, people can submit their application online for different services like obtaining planning permission, building permission application, completion certificate and occupancy certificate.

The website will be a one stop for a range of services from building permits, occupancy certificate or completion certificate, said an official spokesperson, adding that the applications will be processed online and initiatives will be taken to dispose off the applications in a time-bound manner.

Mizoram to celebrate ‘Chapchar kut’ festival on March 6

January 20, 2020

Mizoram will celebrate ‘Chapchar Kut‘, the biggest and most important festival of the Mizos, on March 6. Chapchar Kut is a spring festival celebrated usually in March after completion of the Jhum cultivation, also known as the slash and burn agriculture. The festival will be a two-day event. ‘Promotion of Mizos culture and moral code‘ has been chosen as the theme for this year Chapchar Kut.

While March 5 will be celebrated as pre-festival, which would be graced by Art and Culture Minister R Lalzirliana as “Kut Pa” or the “father of the festival”, the grand celebration will take place on March 6, where that place would be taken by Zoramthanga. Exhibition of painting, photo, handloom and handicraft will be held in different places in Aizawl as part of the celebration while a food court will be set up at the venue of the main celebration.

Prakash Javadekar inaugurates ELECRAMA 2020 in Greater Noida

January 20, 2020

Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar and R K Singh inaugurated ELECRAMA at the Indian Expo Mart in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. It was organised by industry body IEEMA which is targeting businesses worth Rs 30,000 crore during the five-day event here. ELECRAMA is a platform  for the Indian industry to be connected with the world in respect of technology, new trends and innovation for the future energy transition.

The focus of this year’s event is on e-mobility, energy storage, start-ups, grid transformation, revenue security with special attention on small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Over 1,300 exhibitors are participating in the event. Out of these about 450 are exhibitors from 120 nations.

WEF’s Global Social Mobility Index: India ranks 76th, Denmark tops

January 20, 2020

India ranked 76th among 82 countries on the social mobility index of the World Economic Forum (WEF) while Denmark tops the list. The Nordic countries—Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland—occupied the top five positions. They all scored more than 82 points, with Finland scoring almost double India’s score of 42.7.

Among the G7 economies, Germany (11) was the most socially mobile with 78 points, followed by France (12). Canada was placed 14th, while Japan, 15th. Among large emerging economies, the Russian Federation was the most socially mobile, ranking 39th with 64 points. China and Brazil were at 45 and 60, respectively.

The WEF’s Global Social Mobility Report 2020 said despite a significant decrease in the number of people living in absolute poverty, India has a lot of room for improvement in providing equal shared opportunity. The WEF assessed countries on parameters such as health, education, technology, work, and social protection and inclusive institutions.