DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Sept. 7, 2023

SPG Chief Arun Kumar Sinha responsible for PM Modi's security passed away

Tags: Person in news

Arun Kumar Sinha, director of the Special Protection Group (SPG), responsible for the security of Prime Minister Modi, died at the age of 61 in Gurugram.

An Overview of the News

• Arun Kumar Sinha was an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1987 Kerala cadre.

• He assumed the role of Director of SPG in March 2016 and was initially appointed on a contract basis, with a tenure of up to May 31, 2024, in the rank and compensation of Director General of Police.

• His dedication to his responsibilities has resulted in a one-year extension in service till May 31, underlining his commitment to the role.

• Arun Kumar Sinha had a varied career, serving in various positions in his home cadre state Kerala, and in the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Centre.

Role of SPG:-

• The Special Protection Group (SPG) was established in 1985.

• Its primary mission is to protect the Prime Minister of India.

• SPG has a strength of around 3,000 personnel.

• It remains a central force in ensuring the security of the country's highest office.

Hindustani classical singer Malini Rajurkar passed away at the age of 82

Tags: Person in news

Renowned Hindustani classical singer Malini Rajurkar has passed away at the age of 82.

An Overview of the News

• Malini Rajurkar was known for her simplicity and deep artistry in music.

• He was a notable presence in India's major music festivals including Gunidas Sammelan (Mumbai), Tansen Samaroh (Gwalior), Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav (Pune) and Shankar Lal Mahotsav (Delhi).

• Malini Rajurkar was highly regarded for her expertise in Tappa and Tarana styles of music.

• He also ventured into light music and gained popularity for rendering Marathi Natyageet and other compositions.

• Born in 1941 in Ajmer, Rajasthan, she received her musical education at Ajmer Sangeet College under the guidance of Govindrao Rajurkar and Vasantrao Rajurkar, who later became her husband.

• She was an exponent of the Gwalior Gharana and was known for her mastery of the'Khayal' and 'Tappa' styles in Hindustani classical music.

Differences in Classical Music in India: Hindustani and Carnatic Traditions

• In India, there is a historical perspective that music was unified by the 13th century AD.

• After this period, it began to split into two distinct forms: Hindustani and Carnatic classical music.

• The Government of India officially recognizes these two classical music traditions.

• Carnatic classical music is mainly practiced in the southern Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

• Renowned Carnatic singer M.S. Subbalakshmi comes from this tradition.

• In the rest of India, classical music is called Hindustani music.

Indian-American physician Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee nominated for the Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction in London

Tags: Awards

Indian-American physician and cancer researcher Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee has been nominated for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction in London, a prestigious £50,000 prize.

An Overview of the News

• His book "The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human" is one of 13 books selected for the long list.

• The six finalists for the prize are to be announced on 8 October and will be revealed during a live event at England's annual Cheltenham Literature Festival.

• The winner of the prize will be announced at a ceremony at the Science Museum in London on 16 November.

• Established in 1999, the award covers several categories of English non-fiction, including current affairs, history, politics, science, sport, travel, biography, autobiography, and art.

• Last year's recipient of the award was Katherine Rundell, who was recognized for her biography of the poet "Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne".

Book focus and Mukherjee's background:

• The book highlights the transformative impact of cellular research on medicine, leading to breakthroughs in the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer's and AIDS.

• Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, Associate Professor of Medicine at Columbia University and Rhodes Scholar, has authored bestsellers such as "The Gene" and "The Emperor of All Maladies" and has a strong academic and publishing background.

The 48th Toronto International Film Festival begins in Canada

Tags: Awards

The 48th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) began on 7 September in Canada.

An Overview of the News

• India will actively participate in the 48th TIFF, which will run from September 7 to September 17, and highlight its talent, content, and entertainment industry.

• The official Indian delegation participating in TIFF will be led by Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary (Films), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

• India has a comprehensive plan for participation with the intention of showcasing its creative and technological strengths. The country aims to attract international collaboration to co-produce films in India and use Indian locations for shooting.

• This year TIFF has selected six Indian films to be part of its official selection. These films include "Dear Jassi" directed by Tarsem Singh Dhandhwar, "Kill" directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhatt, and "Thank You for Coming" directed by Karan Boolani.

About TIFF

• Established in 1976, TIFF is one of the world's most prestigious and largest publicly attended film festivals. It takes place annually in September in Toronto, Canada.

• It is headquartered at the TIFF Bell Lightbox Cultural Center in downtown Toronto.

• The People's Choice Award at TIFF, determined by audience voting, is considered a strong predictor of success during awards season, including the Academy Awards.

• Past recipients of the People's Choice Award include Oscar-winning films such as "Life Is Beautiful," "American Beauty," "Slumdog Millionaire," and "Nomadland."

• In 2022, the festival took place from 8 to 18 September, with Cameron Bailey as executive director.

"International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies" - 7 September

Tags: Important Days

“International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies” is observed annually on 7 September.

An Overview of the News

• The day is dedicated to recognizing the vital importance of clean air for people's well-being and daily life.

The theme of 2023:

• The theme of the fourth annual International Day of Clean Air for blue skies in 2023 is "Together for Clean Air".

• This theme serves multiple objectives: strengthening partnerships, increasing investment, shared responsibility, impacts on health and ecosystems, protecting the environment, ensuring healthy air for all

History of "International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies"

• Resolution 74/212 of January 22, 2020, established September 7 as the "International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies".

• The Second Committee of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly passed the resolution on November 26, 2019.

• The purpose of this day is to promote awareness and actions to improve air quality.

• Its central focus is on reducing air pollution to protect human health.

Japan's 'Moon Sniper' Lander SLIM Launched Successfully, Aims to Land on the Moon Next Year

Tags: International News

Japan has successfully launched its lunar exploration spacecraft, known as the "Moon Sniper", using the domestically developed H-IIA rocket.

An Overview of the News

• The achievement puts Japan in contention to become the world's fifth country to land on the moon, with the landing planned for early next year.

• The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said the rocket's launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan went as scheduled. It also successfully deployed the lunar lander, Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM).

• Japan's ambitious goal is to land SLIM on the lunar surface within 100 meters of its intended target site. The $100 million mission is expected to reach the moon by February.

• Notably, the launch follows India's recent achievement of becoming the fourth nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon through its Chandrayaan-3 mission, which specifically aimed to explore the uncharted lunar south pole.

• This achievement by Japan comes after two previous lunar landing attempts by the country failed within the last year.

Japan's Lunar Landing Challenges: Loss of Contact, Lunar Lander Accident, and Collaborative Satellite Mission:

• In November, JAXA suffered a setback when they lost contact with the OMOTENASHI lander, leading to the cancellation of their lunar landing attempt.

• In April, the Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander, developed by a Japanese startup called iSpace, crashed while landing on the lunar surface.

• Additionally, the H-IIA rocket was tasked with carrying the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) satellite. The satellite is part of a collaborative effort by JAXA, NASA, and the European Space Agency.

About JAXA

Founded -1 October 2003

President - Yamakawa Hiroshi;

Headquarters - Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan.

Neeraj Mittal appointed as Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT)

Tags: Person in news

Neeraj Mittal was appointed as Secretary in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

An Overview of the News

• Neeraj Mittal is a 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.

• He is currently serving as the Principal Secretary in the Department of Information Technology, Tamil Nadu.

• Prior to this, he worked as Senior Advisor in the World Bank Group and as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

• He is replacing K Rajaraman, who is now the chairman of the International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) in Gujarat.

S Krishnan will head the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

• S Krishnan, a 1989 batch IAS officer, was appointed as the new Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

• Krishnan currently holds the post of Industries Secretary in the Tamil Nadu State Government.

• His appointment comes after the retirement of the previous secretary Alkesh Kumar Sharma on August 31.

Important appointments and changes in the Ministries and Departments of the Government of India

• VL Kantha Rao, who was earlier holding the post of Additional Secretary in the Department of Telecommunications, has been selected as the Secretary in the Ministry of Mines.

• Former Secretary, the Ministry of Mines, Vivek Bhardwaj will now hold the role of Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

• Umang Narula has been designated Secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, bringing his broad administrative experience to this vital portfolio.

• Arunish Chawla, a 1992 Bihar cadre IAS officer, is set to take charge as the secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals within the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers from November 1, 2023.

• Chanchal Kumar of the 1992 batch and Bihar cadre has been appointed as Secretary in the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region.

• Vumlunmang Vualnam, a 1992 Manipur cadre IAS officer, has been assigned the role of Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation. He previously served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance.