Current Affairs : 20-AUG-2009

1. Why was the M.S. Swaminathan Expert Committee set up?
To report on the Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) Notification. Ministry has accepted the recommendations and is planning amendments to the CMZ while drafting a Fishermen Rights Bill.

2. Is it just to place a political party's ideology before individual's fundamental right to freedom of expression?
If your answer is 'Yes' then probably you would support the ouster of Jaswant singh from BJP. Personally, I do not support such oligarchic dictatorship.

3. News from Berlin, World Atheletics Championship :
1) Sanya Richards of the United States claimed her first individual world 400m title.
2) American Kerron Clement retained his men’s 400m hurdles.
3) Steffi Nerius of Germany won the women’s javelin gold.
4) Kenyan Ezekiel Kemboi won the men’s 3000m steeplechase title.
5) Phillips Idowu of Britain won the men’s triple jump gold.

4. One's helplessness is another's opportunity. Well, if you don't agree, ask the private hospitals.
In bangalore, about 80 pvt. hospitals which have agreed to screen for H1N1, are charging about 5 times the actual fee required for the nasal/throat swab test. Read this.

5. Who received the 42nd Jnanpith award?
Eminent Sanskrit poet Satya Vrat Shastri was presented the prestigious 42nd Jnanpith Award by the Princess of Thailand, Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, at a function at the Parliament House in New Delhi for his “outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Indian literature.”

6. Why are the Rajiv Gandhi Awards given and who got the awards this time?
The awards are an annual tribute to the former Prime Minister by Charan Singh Sapra. They are presesnted on the eve of Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary.

In the 12th edition of the award ceremony, the following personalities were felicitated:
1)Nineteen-year-old Krushnaa Patil(19), the youngest Indian girl (2nd youngest worldwide) to scale Mount Everest in the woman achiever category.

Any idea who's the youngest girl to do so? Ming Kipa Sherpais(15) in 2006.

Any guess about the other names of Mount Everest?
Ofcourse SaagarMaathaa is one, that's the Nepali name. Any other?
The Tibetan name is Chomolungma.

2)Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman G. Madhavan Nair in Super achiever Category.
3) Planning Commission member Narendra Jadhav in the Education Category.
4) social entrepreneurship award went to Supernani Rajshree Birla whose Mumbai Orpanage has imparted vocational training to over 1500 underprivileged children.
5) Law Firm owner Rohit Kochhar received the young entrepreneur award.
6) Sam Pitroda, who started the “Yellow Revolution” in India in 1980 with the now-ubiquitous STD and PCO booths, received the global Indian award.
7) Abhinav Bindra won the sports award for being the first individual to win an Olympics gold for India.
8) 13-year-old Avika Gor won the young prodigy award for her much acclaimed role in the serial ‘Balika Vadhu’
9) Ramesh Chandra Agarwal, chairman of the Dainik Bhaskar group of newspapers, won the award in the journalism category.
10) Vineet Jain, owner of the Times Group, received the award in the industrialist category.
11) Katrina Kaif received the award in the best actress category.
12) Shahid Kapoor in the best actor category.

7. Bravery Awards given away by Madhya Pradesh State Police to three for apprehending looters. Who form this courageous trio?
Suman Yadav(25), Gagan Shukla (21) and Rajendra Kumar Shivhare (45).

8. Which day is celebrated as the World Photography day?
I know that's a tough because thanks to the Archies group, every day is some special day now-a-days like mother's day, father's day, brother-in-law's day,'neighbour's day, servant's day and what not.

Well, the Photography day is celebrated on the 19th of Aug.
Ok, a tougher question this time. Who received the lifetime achievement award for photography in India this year?
Renowned photographer Anil Risal Singh was awarded in Lucknow.

9. FATA. What does this stand for ?
Federally Administered Tribal Areas. These are the Afpak border areas.

10. New book to be released : Al Qaeda Connection . Who's the author?
Senior Pakistani journalist Imitiaz Gul

11. Which country will host the African Union (AU) special summit on refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa in October this year?
Uganda

12. Smart Infocomm, a leading multinational engaged in the field of IT hardware and mobile accessories has signed up their Brand Ambassador. Any idea, who's the guy?
Oscar winner, Resul pookutty

Enough for the day, I suppose. C u tomorrow :-)