IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JULY 31, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JULY 31, 2016

• 3rd Meeting of the Joint Committee at the Secretary Level under the India-Japan CEPA held in New Delhi
• The Joint Committee meeting at Secretary Level under the India-Japan CEPA(Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) was held in New Delhi. This isthe 3 rd meeting that was called jointly.
• In the meeting India staged many issues pertaining to providing greater market access to Indian Products like sesame seeds, marine products and pharmaceuticals in Japan. The Indian side has demanded the counterpart to address these issues. The side also demanded Indian Organic Standards by their counterpart.
• On the other hand Japan highlighted several issues involving in taxation and investment concerns by the Japanese companies that are investing in India.
• The Indian side was headed by Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia and their counterpart was headed by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Keiichi Katakami,.
• HP govt signs MoU with NTPC, NHPC for hydro engineering college in Bilaspur
• Government of Himachal Pradesh, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and National Hydel Power Corporation signed an MoU to establish first hydro engineering college in Bilaspur to  boost regional development.
• The will help in generation of a technical human resource specialized for specific requirement of this stream Power Production that also create potential employment.
• The move will help identifying the scholars to develop new areas of Potential power development from Hydro Space. This is the first of its kind in the state.
• The state has over 20,000 MW hydropower potential and NTPC and NHPC are involved in development of many projects.
• Himachal Pradesh
•  Capital: Shimla
•  Chief Minister: Virbhadra Singh
•  Governor: Acharya Dev Vrat
• Strategic Forces Command exempted from RTI ambit
• Union government has exempted Strategic Forces Command upon providing information under Right to Information Act -2005 without citing any reason for exempting.
• Actually SFC under National Command Authority (NCA), has been included in the Second Schedule of the RTI that exempts security and intelligence establishments from its purview. The Exemption has been put on the list of 26 intelligence and security agencies.
• Strategic Forces Command that looks after the nuclear arsenal of the India comes under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s control.
• The agency however has to provide allegations of corruption and human rights violations if the RTI has been applied.
• Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu laid foundation stone for Imphal Railway Station at Yurembam, Manipur
• Suresh Prabhu in the presence of Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh laid the foundation stone of new railway station at Yurembam in Manipur
• Outlay: Rs.90 Core
• He also inaugurated the boring works of theTunnel No. 2/12. 
• This is scheduled to be completed next year. The construction of the railway line reaching up to Imphal from Tupul in Tamenglong district is scheduled to be completed in 2020.
• Manipur:
•  Alternative names of Manipur:  Kangleipak or Sanaleibak
•  Governor: V. Shanmuganathan
•  Chief Minister: Okram Ibobi Singh
• MoS I&B Rajyavardhan Rathore inaugurates European Union Film Festival in New Delhi 
• Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Col. Rajyavardhan Rathoreinaugurated the European Union Film festival at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi.
• A delegation of European Union including ambassadors from European Union member states was also present on the occasion.
• The opening film of the festival was famous Danish Film Silent Heart (Stille Hjerte) directed by Bille August.
• Bille August, a Danish film director won the Palme d’Or, Academy Award and Golden Globe and he is one of only eight directors to win the Palme d’Or twice
• 3rd India Education Fair begins in Dhaka
• The Two-Day long 3rd India Education Fair has kicked off in Dhaka that is stagedparticipants with over 35 premier Indian educational institutions including schools, colleges, and technical institutes
• The Event was inaugurated by the Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Sringlaaimed to deliver one roof to provide educational opportunities to Bangladeshi youths.
• The Fair providing information also provide discussions about the facilities and fee structure of participating institutions so as to help them make an informed choice to the students and parents.
• The Fair also provides participants free career aptitude tests also scholarships that offered by the educational institutions.
• Bangladesh
•  Capital: Dhaka
•  Currency: Bangladeshi taka
•  Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina
•  President: Abdul Hamid
•  “Pashudhan Bima Yojana”, Insurance scheme for cattle breeders launched in Haryana
• An insurance Scheme for the cattle breeders has been announced by the BJP led Haryana Government named Jokhim Prabandhan Aur Pashudhan Bima Yojana. The Scheme is the result of recommendations made in Swaminathan Report.
• The scheme insurance would offer a cover encompasses cows, bulls, buffaloes and camel at a premium of Rs 100 and for sheep, goats and pigs at Rs 25 for 3 years. In case death of animal compensation will be provided by insurance players.
• This scheme is free of cost for cattle breeders belonging to the Scheduled Castes. That state also targeting to cover one lakh cattle under Pashudhan Bima Yojana. 
• Railway Board chairman AK Mittal gets two year extension
• The term of the Railway Board Chairman A K Mital was extended by two years.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the re-appointment of Mital as Chairman, Railway Board, for a period of two years, till he attains the age of 62 years, with effect from August 1, 2016.
• AK Mittal
•  Mital, a 1976-batch officer was appointed to the top post in Railways Ministry in place of Arunendra Kumar, who had superannuated on December 31, 2014.
•  He has worked as Member Staff, Railway Board, and ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India.
•  He had also served as General Manager of South Western Railway Headquarters, Hubli.
• Reliance Jio will provide Wi-Fi connectivity to all Government Colleges in Puducherry
• Reliance Jio Company will provide Wi-Fi connectivity to all Government Colleges in Puducherry under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
• It will extend to the tourist hot spot Beach Promenade.
• Points To Remember:
• Reliance Jio has set up high-speed Access Points at 6 stadiums in India during the upcoming T20 World Cup, followed by the IPL.
•  MD: Sanjay Mashruwalla
•  HQ: Mumbai
• IWF bans Russian team from Rio Olympics
• The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) blanket ban on the Russian weightlifters to compete in the Rio Olympics. This is the Second Sports outfit to ban Russians after the track & field team effected ban few days back.
• There were 8 contestants were nominated by the Russian board to compete in the Rio events in the weightlifting games.
• The International Olympic Committee also announced that previously Suspended Russian athletes will not be eligible to take part in the Rio.
• International Day of Friendship – July 30
• The International Day of Friendship was celebrated to promote the role that friendship plays in also making peace in many cultures on July 30 every year across the world.
• The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2011 aimed friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts.
• World Day against Trafficking in Persons – July 30
• The World Day against Trafficking in Persons was observed on 30 July 2016 every year to raise awareness around human trafficking. The Day is witnessed across the world.
• To mark the day United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched the campaign #igivehope to make confidence and hope in victims of human trafficking.