IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF AUGUST 15th, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF AUGUST 15th, 2017

1. Nation celebrates its 71st Independence Day on 15th August 2017

i. The nation celebrates its 71st Independence Day today (15th August 2017) and the main function was held at the Red Fort of the national capital where Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the National Flag. 

ii. The unfurling of the Tricolour was synchronized with the 21 Gun Salute fired by the valiant gunners of the elite 2281 Field Regiment (Ceremonial). 

2. 112 Gallantry Awards to Armed Forces Personnel, members of Paramilitary Forces

i. On the occasion of 71st Independence Day, 112 Gallantry Awards have been approved by the President Ram Nath Kovind for the Armed Forces and Paramilitary Forces. It includes five Kirti Chakras, 17 Shaurya Chakras, 85 Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and two Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). Havaldar Giris Gurung from first Gorkha Rifles who was martyred during a major counter-infiltration operation along the Line of Control in Naugam sector of Kashmir has been awarded Kirti Chakra posthumously. 

ii. Major David Manlun, who was martyred during an encounter with militants in Mon district of Nagaland, CRPF commandant Pramod Kumar who was martyred in a terror attack in Srinagar's Nowhatta hours before last Independence Day has also been awarded Kirti Chakra Posthumously. 

iii. CRPF commandant Chetan Kumar Cheetah who miraculously recovered from the deep coma after being hit by at least nine bullets during a gun battle with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir has been awarded Kirti Chakra, the 2nd highest peacetime gallantry award.

3. Home Minister launches live twitter wall on ‘Bharat Ke Veer’

i. Home Minister Rajnath Singh has launched the live twitter wall for promoting Bharat Ke Veer portal on the eve of 71st Independence Day. On the occasion, Mr Singh and Ministers of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Kiren Rijiju contributed their one month salary for Bharat Ke Veer corpus. 

ii. Mr Singh has handed over a cheque of 1.59 lakh rupees to the Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi in New Delhi. 

4. PM launches website to honour gallantry award winners

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a website to honour all the gallantry award winners since Independence. The portal will preserve and tell the stories of bravest men and women, civilians as well as armed forces personnel.

ii. In remembrance of heroes who have been awarded gallantry awards since Independence, launched the site http://gallantryawards.gov.in. PM also welcomed citizens’ participation in the process.

5. Indian export grows nearly 4 percent in July

i. The country's exports grew three point nine percent in July this year (2017), on a yearly basis to 22 (point) 5 billion dollars. Exports rose due to an increase in shipments of petroleum, chemicals and marine products. Official data released today showed that imports rose 15.4 per cent in July, to 34 billion dollars, due to a rise in inward shipments of crude oil and gold. 

ii. The country's trade deficit widened to 11.4 billion dollars during the month under review, from 7.8 billion dollars in July last year (2016). Gold import spurted 95 per cent, to 2.1 billion dollars in July. Oil imports increased 15 per cent in July.

6. Lalit Modi resigns from Rajasthan Cricket Association

i. Lalit Modi has resigned as president of the Nagaur District Association, marking an end to his presence in the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), which was banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for allowing him in its fold.

ii. The 50-year-old, who left India after being charged with money laundering, sent his resignation to both the RCA as well as BCCI CEO Rahul Johri.

7. Sankara Rao to be IFCI Chief Executive

i. IFCI Ltd, a government company, is set to have a new Managing Director & CEO in E Sankara Rao, who is currently Chief General Manager at India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL).

ii. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has given its nod for the Department of Financial Services (DFS) proposal to appoint Emandi Sankara Rao as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of IFCI Ltd. Rao’s appointment will be valid for three years. Rao is also currently a director and chief executive officer at IIFCL Asset Management Company Ltd.

8. Santosh Sharma appointed CMD of Hindustan Copper Limited 

i. Santosh Sharma has appointed as Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Coper Limited (HCL). He is at present Director (Operations) in the HCL. 

ii. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment to the post for a period of five years, an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). 

9. Indian Government asks Internet Giants and others to Remove Blue Whale links

i. The government has directed internet majors- Google, Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Microsoft and Yahoo - to immediately remove the links of dangerous online game Blue Whale Challenge, which has led to the suicide of children in India and other countries. Mumbai and West Midnapore district have reported deaths linked to this game.

ii. Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) instructed the internet majors in a letter to ensure that any such link of this deadly game in its own name or similar game is immediately removed from their platform.The letter was issued following instructions from Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

10. Nation Tribute to Sri Aurobindo on 145th Birth Anniversary

i. India paid tributes to Sri Aurobindo on his 145th Birth Anniversary. Sri Aurobindo's rich thoughts and grand vision for India continue to be a great source of inspiration.

ii. A spiritual reformer and philosopher, Sri Aurobindo had a major contribution in the Indian freedom struggle.

11. 10-yr-old Indian youngest to climb 6,153m mountain

i. A 10-year-old mountaineer from Visakhapatnam, Kaamya Karthikeyan, successfully summited one of the highest peaks in the Himalayas, making her one of the youngest people in the world to achieve this feat.

ii. Kaamya completed the expedition three days before she turned 10, on August 7, thereby conquering Mount Stok Kangri. At a height of 6,153 metres (20,187 ft), Stok Kangri is not recommended for beginners and is considered ideal for advanced trekkers.

12.  Cristiano Ronaldo hit with five-match ban

i. World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo was banned for five-match by the Spanish football federation. He has been banned for pushing the referee after being sent-off in Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Barcelona in the First Leg of Spanish Super Cup. 

ii. Ronaldo received an automatic one-match ban for his dismissal and an extra four games for his reaction towards referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea. He has also been fined 4,500 US dollars and has 10 days to appeal the ban.

13. Indian boxers clinch 10 medals at Serbian tourney

i. India bagged two gold in the 6th Golden Glove Women's Boxing Tournament at Vojvodina, Serbia. While Jyoti won Gold in 51 kg category, and Vanlalharitpuii bagged it 60 kg category. In all, India won two gold, four silver and four bronze medals in the tournament. 

ii. The silver medals were clinched by Anjali in 48kg, Sakshi in 54kg, Ashtha in 69kg and Anupama in 81kg categories. Mandeep in 57kg, Nisha in 64kg, Shruti in 75kg and Neha in 81+kg category settled for bronze medals.