www.gktoday.

in
Current Affairs : July 9, 2011
2011-07-20 14:07:49 GKToday

South Sudan: An Independent Nation now South Sudan emerged as the an Independent Nation 54th nation of Africa 193rd country recognized by the UN and the 54th UN member state in Africa Born out of referendum in January, 2011 (Referendum: A popular vote by the electorate whether to approve a specific legislative act) In the referendum nearly 99% of mainly Christian and Animist in South Sudan voted for independence from the Muslim and Arab majority, ending years of civil war This Historic moment was witnessed by Honorable Vice President of India Mohd. Hamid Ansari (*This indicates Indias support for the nation) Formal proclamation of independence made today by Sudans President Omar alBashir and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Food Bill sent by the NAC to the Government The NAC (National Advisory Committee) headed by Ms Sonia Gandhi sent the draft Food Security Bill to the Union Government Draft Bill attempts for legal food entitlements to 90% Rural and 50% Urban households via formation of priority and general categories of ration card holders Bill also suggests the establishment of a National Food Commission and State Food Commissions to supervise the implementation of the Act The a National Food Commission and State Food Commissions to have powers of a civil court to hold enquiries The 5th Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians The 5th Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians commences in New Delhi Almost 130 delegates, observers and additional persons from the eight SAARC countries to attend the four day Conference Afghanistan, which joined SAARC in 2007 as its eighth member, joins the Conference formally for the first time Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the Conference President of the Conference: Ms Meira Kumar (The Speaker of Lok Sabha) Ms Meira Kumar to deliver the Welcome Address in her capacity as the President of the Conference Bill concerning Sports Bodies to be introduced in the

Monsoon Session Government to bring in a Bill in Parliament concerning Sports Bodies in India Some provisions of the proposed Bill:1. To declare all sports federations (including BCCI) as Public Authorities 2. Federations will be open to RTI queries 3. Sports Ombudsman / Lokpal will be there to hear all types of complaints 4. Anti-Doping norms would get legislative sanctions via this Bill 5. To check sexual harassment cases in sporting bodies provision will be there 6. In BCCI, One-fourth of the Executive bodys members to be exCricketers (at National Level) 7. Tenure and age norms for BCCI, no person above 70 Years will head the BCCI 8. Tenure for President: 12 years and other members: NOT more than 8 years Union Sports Minister: Ajay Maken New Antrix Chief: Dr. V S Hegde ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) announced Dr. V S Hegde as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director for Antrix Dr. V S Hegde: Veteran remote-sensing applications scientist. Served Bangalore-headquartered ISRO as its Scientific Secretary since January 2010, and had previously played a key role for several years in ISROs Earth Observation Satellite Programmes Appointment, announced by ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan in Banglore This declaration is a part of plans to reform Antrix in altering times so that it can take advantage of commercial opportunities emanating out of the space agencys programmes Antrix: A Miniratna Company, it provides space products and services to customers worldwide Antrix Corporation Limited: ISROs marketing arm

Books: Mans Fate and Gods Choice Mans Fate and Gods Choice: A Book by Mr. Bhimeswara Challa The Book was released by Honorable Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari As per Shri Ansari, the book is an intellectual journey in a classical sense and while congratulating the author for such a valuable book he opined that the book addresses a perennial theme-The man, his environment and his creature About the Book:The book put forward that any improvement in human behavior needs a cathartic change at the deepest levels which call for diluting the authority of the mind and resurgence the long-dormant intelligence of the human heart.To meet that confront, we need minimum numbers, a critical mass to create self-sustained momentum for transformation through consciousness chang.And every single human of this generation should behave in such a way that he or she is that single person whose transformation could make the decisive species-scale difference.The book offers a menu of ideas and an agenda of action