Interational Current News February, 2016
SOFIA- stands for Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy which is flying telescope of NASA in a heavily modified Boeing 74SP jetliner. It carries a 100 inch telescope to altitudes between 39,000 and 45,000 feet, giving astronomers the ability to study celestial objects at infrared wavelengths that cannot be seen from observatories on Earth.
EDF- stands for Electronics Development Fund which was recently launched by Department of Electronics and Information Technology with a corpus of Rs.10,000 crore. The fund has been set up in collaboration with Canbank Venture Capital Fund to encourage innovation in the electronics sector.
NCGP- stands for National Capital Goods Policy, India’s first ever policy for capital goods that aims to triple the sector’s production by 2025 was recently announced by government. The clear objective of this policy is to increase production of capital goods from Rs.2, 30,000 crore in 2014-15 to 7, 50,000 crore in 2025.
8.8%- the revised interest rates on provident fund for 2015-16 from the existing rate of 8.75% as announced by Employees Provident Fund Organisation.
My Shake- the new app developed by the University of California, Berkley to give early warning of an earthquake.
LIGO-stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory facility in Louisiana, USA which captured the first ever glimpse of the gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are ripples in the space-time fabric triggered by colliding black holes or neutron star (that is formed by the explosive death of another star).
Sec 377- this section of the Indian Penal code (IPC) which calls gay sex against the order of nature and makes it punishable was in news recently after the Supreme Court agreed to reexamine it and referred the curative petition to five-judge constitutional bench.
Tata Motors- they were in news recently when they decided to rename its soon-to-be launched hatchback ‘ZICA’ in view of the outbreak of the Zika virus that has caused hardships across many nations.
National Current News
Humsafar- the new AC 3 trains introduced in Railway Budget 2016 which was announced recently by Rail minister Suresh Prabhu.
Tejas- the new premium super-fast train travelling at 130kmph which was announced in Railway Budget 2016 recently by Rail minister Suresh Prabhu.
UDAY- stands for Utkrisht Double Decker AC Yatri Express which was announced in Railway Budget 2016 recently by Rail minister Suresh Prabhu.
Antyodaya Express- the unreserved super fast trains which was announced in Railway Budget 2016 recently by Rail minister Suresh Prabhu.
EDF- stands for Electronics Development Fund which was recently launched by Department of Electronics and Information Technology with a corpus of Rs.10,000 crore. The fund has been set up in collaboration with Canbank Venture Capital Fund to encourage innovation in the electronics sector.
NCGP- stands for National Capital Goods Policy, India’s first ever policy for capital goods that aims to triple the sector’s production by 2025 was recently announced by government. The clear objective of this policy is to increase production of capital goods from Rs.2, 30,000 crore in 2014-15 to 7, 50,000 crore in 2025.
8.8%- the revised interest rates on provident fund for 2015-16 from the existing rate of 8.75% as announced by Employees Provident Fund Organisation.
TRAI- stands for The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India which was in the news recently after it upheld uninhibited access to the internet and rejected differential pricing on data which dealt a strong blow to Airtel Zero and Facebook Free Basic platform.
Sec 377- this section of the Indian Penal code (IPC) which calls gay sex against the order of nature and makes it punishable was in news recently after the Supreme Court agreed to reexamine it and referred the curative petition to five-judge constitutional bench.
Tata Motors- they were in news recently when they decided to rename its soon-to-be launched hatchback ‘ZICA’ in view of the outbreak of the Zika virus that has caused hardships across many nations.
Sports Updates
Australia- they reached the top Test rankings with a 2-0 series victory over New Zealand recently.
Rohit Sharma- he was awarded Man of the Match for his 83 off balls in the first match of Asia Cup in which India defeated Bangladesh by 45 runs at Mirpur, Bangladesh.
India- they stood second in the ICC Test championship while South Africa and Pakistan came third and fourth respectively.
Mumbai- they defeated Saurashtra by an innings and 21 runs to win their 41st Ranji Trophy cricket title.
Virat Kohli-he was awarded Man of the Match in the Asia cup match against Pakistan at Mirpur which India won by 5 wickets.
Mohd.Shami- the Indian pacer who was recently ruled out of India's squad for the upcoming Asia Cup in order to give him more time to recover from injury. Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been named as replacement for him.
Punjab Warriors- they defeated Kalinga Lancers to win their maiden title of the Hockey India League in the fourth edition of the tournament.
Brendon McCullum- the New Zealand captain who while playing his last international match hit the fastest century in Tests- off 54 balls- against Australia at Christchurch recently. He surpassed the 56 ball century record of West Indies Vivian Richards achieved against England in 1985-86.
Mehedi Hasan Miraz- the Bangladesh captain who was adjudged Man of the Series in the U-19 Cricket World Cup 2016 played at Mirpur, Bangladesh.
Kasun Rajitha- the Sri Lankan fast bowler who was awarded man of the match in the first T20 match at Pune in which they defeated India by five wickets.
Shikhar Dhawan- he smashed his maiden fifty in T20 internationals to help India win the second T20 match against Sri Lanka at Ranchi.
Pakistan- they defeated India in the summit clash of men’s hockey at the 12th South Asian Games at Guwahati recently.
West Indies- they defeated India to win their maiden U-19 Cricket World Cup played at Mirpur, Bangladesh.
R.Ashwin- he was adjudged Man of the Match as well as Man of the Series for his impressive form in the recent T20 series against Sri Lanka which India won 2-1.
Virat Kohli- he climbed to the top of ICC rankings list for Twenty20 batsman replacing Australian captain Aaron Finch.
Pawan Negi- the uncapped Delhi all-rounder who was surprised inclusion in the Indian squad for the cricket Asia Cup and WT20 squad.
Guwahati- the place where the South Asian Games were inaugurated recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Around 2600 athletes from eight countries- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka besides India-will be vying for top honours in the games to be co-hosted by Shillong.
Paradip- the place in Odisha where Prime Minister recently inaugurated the Indian Oil Corporation’s (IOC) refinery. This refinery has helped IOC overtake Reliance Industries as the country’s top refiner, has a capacity of 15 million tonnes and is touted to be among one of the most modern refineries in the world that can process cheaper high sulphur content crude oils.
