11 February 2017 - Current Affairs

Ajay Tyagi appointed as chairman of SEBI

• Senior IAS (1984 batch of HP cadre) officer Ajay Tyagi (58-year) will be the new Charmian of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• He will succeed Upendra Kumar Sinha, whose extended tenure ends on 1st
• Tyagi is currently Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.
• He will hold the office for a maximum period five years or till he attains the age of 65 years.

Note:

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is the regulator for the securities market in India.
• It was established in the year 1988 and given statutory powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992.

Hemant Bhargava appointed as LIC's MD

• The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has approved the appointed of Hemant Bhargava as Managing Director (MD)of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India.
• Prior to this, he is LIC's zonal manager, Delhi.
• He has been appointed till July 31, 2019
• The insurance corporation can have four MDs, apart from the Chairman, as part of its top management.

Note:

• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is an Indian state-owned insurance group and investment company headquartered in Mumbai.
• The Life Insurance Corporation of India was founded in 1956 when the Parliament of India passed the Life Insurance of India Act that nationalised the private insurance industry in India.

Ananth Kumar inaugurates Orientation Programme for launching of 1000 PMBJKs

• The union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananth Kumar has inaugurated orientation programme for launching of one thousand Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras in New Delhi.
• The workshop was targeted to educate and channelize youth to synergize their efforts for taking ahead the mission to open three thousand kendras by March 2017.
• Representatives from 24 States and 106 districts from across the country attended the programme.
• These Janaushadhi Kendras will provide affordable quality medicine to all citizens.

Haryana: CM Manohar Lal lays foundation stones of 21 govt colleges

• The chief minister of Haryana Manohar Lal has laid the foundation stones of 21 government colleges to be set up in 13 districts of the state from Chandigarh through video conferencing.
• The government has made provision of 276 crore rupees for these colleges.
• Haryana Government is to exploring the possibility to introduce two courses of skill development in each college so that students could learn skills before they pass out of the college.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi inaugurates 2nd edition of 'Hunar Haat' in New Delhi

• Today, the union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has inaugurated the second edition of 'Hunar Haat' in New Delhi
• The ‘Haat’ will encourage, promote and provide national and international market to master artisans and craftsmen belonging to minority communities.
• The theme is 'Crafts Aur Cuisine Ka Sangam' and remain open till 26th of this month
• The Hunar Haat is unique in the sense that it is show cassing crafts and traditional cuisines brought from different parts of the country.
• 100 artisans and 30 culinary experts from about 24 states and UTs are participating at about 130 stalls in it.

Sudarsan Pattnaik creates Guinness World Record by creating 48.8 feet tall sand castle

• Sand artist ‘Sudarsan Pattnaik’ has created a ‘Guinness World Record’ by creating a 48.8 feet tall sand castle at Puri beach in Odisha in four days.
• The previous record holder is an American who completed his art of 45.10 feet in seven days.
• The sculpture was built with a message of world peace and featured sculptures of Mahatma Gandhi, Gautama Buddha and Nelson Mandela.
• The castle will be exhibited on the Puri beach for two more days.

India successfully test-fired home-grown AAD interceptor missile

• Today, India successfully test-fired its home-grown Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile from launching complex-IV of Dhamara Abdul Kalam defence base off Odisha coast.
• The interceptor is a 7.5-metre-long single stage solid rocket propelled guided missile equipped with a navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an electro-mechanical activator would intercept a target, mimicking an incoming enemy missile, mid-air.
• The Advanced Air Defence interceptor will destroy the incoming missile in the endo-atmospheric region at a low altitude of less than 30 kilometres.

Official mascot of FIFA U-17 World Cup 'Kheleao' unveiled

• The official mascot of the tournament 'Kheleao' was unveiled in a ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.
• A clouded leopard called Kheleao was introduced by Sports Minister Vijay Goel and All India Football Federation President Praful Patel.
• The clouded leopard is an endangered wild cat whose habitat extends from the Himalayan foothills to mainland Southeast Asia.
• Kheleao will participate in numerous activities in the run-up to the first-ever FIFA tournament to be hosted by India.

Note:

• FIFA Under-17 World Cup India 2017will be played from October 06th to 28th 2017.

India storms into final of Blind T20 World Cup Cricket tournament

• India entered the final of the Blind Twenty20 World Cup Cricket tournament, defeating Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the first semi-final in Bengaluru.
• In reply to Island nation's score of 174 in 19.2 overs, India went past the target in 13 overs without any loss of wickets.
• Prakash scored unbeaten 115 for India.
• Now, Defending champions India reached the final for the second time.

I&B Team win inter-ministry Hockey tournament 2016-17

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Hockey Team has won the inter-ministry Hockey tournament 2016-17 at the Central Secretariat Ground Vinay Marg, New Delhi.
• I&B Team Defeated Ministry of Health by three goals.
• All the Ministry teams participated in the race for the cup.
• Most entertaining player Chandan Singh was declared “Player of the match”.