15 July: World Youth Skills Day
- The World Youth Skills Day has been observed globally with the theme Skills Development to Improve Youth Employment.
- On the occasion, United Nations organised the event facilitated by the UN Envoy on Youth Ahmad Alhendawi.
- The day is observed to create more awareness and a discussion on training and the development of skills for the youth of today,in hopes of creating a better opportunity for them when it comes to employment.
- The government has appointed IAS officer Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi (1987-batch) Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for 5 year term.
- His appointment was made by the Prime Minister-headed Appointment Committee of the Cabinet.
- The post was lying vacant since December 2014.
- The CBSE is a Board of Education for public and private schools, under the Union Government.
- It affiliates all Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), all Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), private schools and most of the schools approved by Union Government.
- It conducts the final examinations for Class 10 and Class 12 every year in the month ofMarch and also declares the results.
SIT on black money recommends ban on cash transactions above 3 lakhs
- The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money headed by retired Justice M B Shahhas recommended the ban on cash transactions of above 3 lakh rupees in a day and a separate law to declare such transactions as illegal and punishable.
- It has also suggested upper ceiling of cash holding at 15 lakh rupees to curb illegal wealth in the economy.
- The SIT felt that the cash transaction limit can only succeed if there is a limitation oncash holding.
- If any person or industry required holding more cash, it may obtain necessary permission from the Commissioner of Income Tax of the area.
RBI asks banks to exchange upto 20 soiled notes free of charge
- In an effort to improve customer service, the RBI has asked banks to exchange up to 20 pieces of soiled currency notes with a maximum value of Rs 5,000 over the counter,free of charge.
- If the number of notes to be exchanged is more than 20, banks can levy service charge.
Emirates named world’s best airline in 2016 Skytrax awards
- The international airline Emirates based in Dubai has won the top honors at Skytrax World Airline Awards ceremony at the Farnborough International Airshow in England.
- According to a survey conducted by Skytrax, Emirates is the world’s best airline for theyear 2016.
- The survey underscores the consistency of the quality service among the world’s top carriers.
Note:-
The top 5 best airlines: 1. Emirates , 2. Qatar Airways, 3. Singapore Airlines, 4. Cathay Pacific, 5. ANA All Nippon Airways.
Hockey Olympian Joe Antic passes away
- Hockey Olympian Joe Antic (90-year) has passed away in Mumbai.
- He represented the country in the Rome Games where Pakistan won the final.
- He was one of the coaches in the Indian team’s World Cup camp in 1973.
- Later, he became the national coach of the Oman team that took part in the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi.
India first country to become YAWS-free
- India has been acknowledged as the first country in the world to become YAWS-free.
- YAWS is a kind of bacterial infection that affects skin, bones and joints, while tetanus, another bacterial infection, leads to muscle spasms that can be fatal.
- Union Health Minister JP Nadda received an official citation from the World Health Organisation and the UNICEF for Elimination of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus and for being YAWS-free.
- According to the WHO, 19 countries have still not reached the MNTE status.
- India has achieved the milestone of being YAWS-free much before the WHO global target year of 2020.
Kerala launches online incubator for student start-ups
- Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has launched SV.CO, purportedly world’s first digital student incubator, as a digital makeover of the Startup Village in Kochi.
- SV.CO will constitute the second phase of development of Startup Village and is designed to help thousands of college-goers make an early start in entrepreneurship.
Note:-
- Startup Village is India’s first PPP model technology incubator and has supported more than 500 start-ups and helped create 3,000 jobs during its first phase 2012-15.
- It will provide them a completely digital incubation framework, ranging from application for admission to teaching, mentoring and graduation.
DRDO successfully tests advanced artillery gun system
- India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducting the proof firing of Armament system for 155 mm x 52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS).
- Recently, the technical trials conducted at Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE), Balasore, Odisha.
- The ATAGS is being developed to supplement the endogenously designed and manufactured 155 millimeter/45 caliber artillery gun, Dhanush.
- It is an improved version of the FH-77B 155 mm/39 caliber towed howitzer manufactured by the Swedish defense contractor Bofors (now BAE Systems) and of which India acquired 414 between 1987 and 1991.
GM Harika Dronavalli wins Fide Women’s Grand Prix trophy in China
- India’s Grand Master Harika Dronavalli has won the Fide women’s Grand Prix trophy in Chedu in China.
- She finished on 7 points in the round robin tournament featuring the world’s top 12 players to be crowned the champion.
- India’s Grand Master Koneru Humpy too rounded off her campaign with a victory to also finish on 7 points.
- She was declared winner for finishing with a better tie-break record in the tournament.
