1. 150th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo
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On the occasion of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Maharshi Aurobindo and the 75th Year of Independence, the Union Ministry of Culture is commemorating the life and philosophy of Shri Aurobindo by undertaking Spiritual Programmes in 75 prisons across the nation from 12 to 15th August.
Important facts
These programs aim to transform the lives of inmates by imbibing Aurobindo's philosophy and adopting yoga and meditation.
The ministry has partnered with notable spiritual leaders and organizations to carry out these programs.
Mainly keeping in mind the association with the national freedom struggle, the Ministry of Culture has identified 75 prisons across the country where these events will be held.
Five organizations including Ramakrishna Mission, Patanjali, Art of Living, Isha Foundation and Satsang Foundation have been roped in to organize the programme.
Who was Maharshi Aurobindo?
He was born in Calcutta on 15th August 1872.
He was a yogi, seer, philosopher, poet and Indian nationalist.
He propounded the principle of divine life philosophy on earth through spiritual development.
His education began at a Christian convent school in Darjeeling.
He entered the University of Cambridge, where he mastered two classical and several modern European languages.
He cleared the ICS exam securing 11th rank out of 250 candidates.
He also studied yoga and Indian languages, including classical Sanskrit.
Role in Indian Revolutionary Movement
He participated in the struggle to free India from the British from the year 1902 to 1910.
He was imprisoned by the British in the year 1908 in the Alipore Bomb Case.
Two years later he fled British India and took refuge in the French colony of Pondicherry.
He converted his entire life in Pondicherry into a complete and spiritual form and devoted himself to the development of yoga.
In Pondicherry he founded a community of spiritual seekers which took shape in the year 1926 as Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
His literary works
Bhagavad Gita and Its Message
Bases of Yoga
The Future Evolution of Man
Rebirth and Karma
Hour of God
2. Argentine Rear Admiral Guillermo Pablo Ríos appointed Chief Military Observer of UNMOGIP
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed a veteran Argentine naval officer as Head of Mission and Chief Military Observer for the United Nations Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) in India and Pakistan.
Important facts
Rear Admiral Guillermo Pablo Ríos of Argentina has replaced Major General Jose Eladio Alcán of Uruguay.
After graduating as a Middle Shipman from the Naval Academy, Rear Admiral Ríos has had a distinguished career in the Argentine Navy since 1988.
He, most recently, served as the General Director of Education, Training and Doctrine of the Joint Staff (2022).
Prior to this, he was Marine Infantry Commander (Core Commander) (2020-2021).
He has also served as Marine Infantry Fleet Commander (Brigade Commander) (2019), Head of Education, Navy Warfare School (2018) and Defence, Military, Navy and Air Force in Russia (2016-2018).
He has also been a training officer in the United States Marine Corps Regiment under the United States and Argentina Marine Exchange Program (2002–2003).
Ríos has served in two peacekeeping missions, including the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in 1993 and 1994, and the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in 2007.
He has also served as a Humanitarian Mining Observer with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Angola (1997–1998).
He holds a master's degree from the Naval University Institute and E-Salad University in Argentina.
About UNMOGIP
UNMOGIP was established in January 1949.
Following the Indo-Pakistani War and the Armistice Agreement in 1971, UNMOGIP's main tasks are to oversee developments related to strict adherence to the ceasefire.
It has 44 military observers, 25 international civilian personnel from 10 countries and 47 local civilian staff.
India has maintained that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the establishment of the Line of Control (LoC).
The last report of the Secretary-General of the Security Council on UNMOGIP was published in 1972.
The group is financed by the United Nations.
Simla Agreement
It was signed by India and Pakistan in July 1972.
It established the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, which was similar to the ceasefire line established by the Karachi Accords.
Under this, India and Pakistan mutually agreed on certain principles.
They emphasised respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, not interfering in each other's internal affairs.
3. Justice Uday Umesh Lalit appointed as 49th Chief Justice of India
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Justice Uday Umesh Lalit was appointed as the 49th Chief Justice of India on 10 August after President Draupadi Murmu signed the warrant of appointment.
Important facts
Justice Lalit will take over as the 49th Chief Justice of India on 27th August 2022.
NV Ramana is currently the Chief Justice of India.
He was appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court of India in August 2014 from the Bar Association.
Justice Lalit would become the second Chief Justice of India to be directly elevated from the Bar to the Supreme Court, after Justice SM Sikri, who served as the 13th Chief Justice in 1971.
Justice Lalit has twice served as a member of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.
About Justice Uday Umesh Lalit
He was born on 9th November, 1957 at Solapur, Maharashtra.
Justice Lalit was enrolled as an Advocate by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa in June, 1983.
He practised in the Bombay High Court until December 1985, before moving to Delhi in January 1986.
He worked in Soli Sorabji's chamber from October 1986 to 1992 and was on the panel of lawyers for the Union of India during the period when Soli Sorabji was the Attorney General of India.
From 1992 to 2002 he served as Advocate on Record and was designated as Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court in April 2004.
He was also appointed amicus curiae in many important matters like forest matters, vehicular pollution, pollution of Yamuna etc.
Landmark Judgments
In August 2017, a five-judge Constitution Bench, which also included him, declared the practice of instant divorce through 'triple talaq' as "void", "illegal" and "unconstitutional" by a 3-2 majority.
In another important judgement, a bench headed by Justice Lalit had empowered the then royal family of Travancore to manage the historic Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala, which is one of the richest temples.
A bench headed by Justice UU Lalit had ruled that touching the sexual parts of a child's body or any act involving physical contact with 'sexual intent' is punishable under Section 7 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.
4. Gustavo Petro sworn in as Colombia's first leftist President
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Gustavo Petro was sworn in as the first leftist president of Colombia on 7 August.
Important facts
He has promised to fight inequality in the country and bring about a significant change in the history of a country ravaged by a prolonged war between the government and guerrilla groups.
Petro (62) has promised to address Colombia's social and economic inequalities by increasing spending money on poverty alleviation programs and investing in rural areas.
Gustavo Petro, a former member of Colombia's M-19 guerrilla group, won the presidential election in June by defeating conservative parties by a huge margin.
The victory of former rebel Petro was an extraordinary event for the country Colombia, as voters in the country did not support leftist leaders.
Left leaders are often accused of being soft on crimes or sympathising with the guerrillas.
He has described US-led anti narcotics policies, such as the forced elimination of illegal coca crops, as a major failure.
About Colombia
Capital - Bogota
Name - Republic of Colombia
Official Language - Spanish
Currency - Colombian peso
5. Jagdeep Dhankhar to take oath as 14th Vice President of India
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National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar has been elected as the 14th Vice President of India.
Important facts
He will take the oath of office on 11 August, a day after the term of the incumbent Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu ends.
He will also be appointed the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anoop Chandra Pandey signed the certificate of election of Dhankhar.
Dhankhar won with a vote share of 74.36 per cent, the highest in the last six vice-presidential elections, receiving 528 votes against Alva's 182 votes.
Vice President of India
It is the second highest constitutional office in India.
The term of the Vice President is five years, but he can continue in office even after the expiry of the term.
The Vice President can resign from his office by giving his resignation to the President of India.
The Vice-President can be removed from office by a resolution of the Council of State (Rajya Sabha), which is passed by a majority of its members and with the concurrence of the Lok Sabha (Lok Sabha).
The office of the Indian Vice President is modeled on the lines of the US Vice President.
Article 63 to Article 71 of the Constitution of India give the procedure for the election, qualification and removal of the Vice President of India.
Eligibility
Must be a citizen of India.
Must have completed 35 years of age.
Must be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Must not hold any office of profit under the Union government or any state government or any local authority or any other public authority.
Electoral College
According to Article 66 of the Constitution of India, the Vice President is elected by the members of the Electoral College.
The Electoral College consists of elected members of Rajya Sabha, nominated members of Rajya Sabha and elected members of Lok Sabha.
6. Nallathambi Kalaiseelvi became the first woman Director General of CSIR
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Senior electrochemical scientist Nallathamby Kalaiselvi has become the first woman director general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Important facts
She will succeed Shekhar Mande, who retired in April.
After Mande's retirement, Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, the Department of Biotechnology, was given additional charge of CSIR.
Known for her work in the field of Li-ion batteries, Kalaiseelvi is the Director of CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu.
She will also take over as the Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Kalaiseelvi begins her job at CSIR and built a good reputation at the institute and became the first woman to head CSIR-CECRI in February 2019.
Kalaiselvi's research work for more than 25 years has focused primarily on the development of electrochemical power systems, especially electrodes.
She is currently working on the development of sodium-ion/lithium-sulphur batteries and supercapacitors.
Hailing from the town of Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu, Kalaiseelvi did her schooling in Tamil medium.
What are Lithium Ion Batteries?
It is also called as Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery.
These are commonly used for portable electronics and electric vehicles and are growing in popularity for military and aerospace applications.
It is also used in handy consumer electronics goods such as mobile phones, laptops, cameras and many other portable consumer gadgets apart from industrial applications and aerospace.
China dominates the Li-ion battery market.
The majority of current domestic demand is met by imported batteries from China, South Korea and Taiwan.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
It is the largest research and development organisation in India in the field of science and technology.
It has a dynamic network of 37 national laboratories, 39 outreach centres, 3 innovation complexes and 5 units.
It is ranked 37th out of 1587 government institutions around the world.
The Chairman (ex-officio) of CSIR is the Prime Minister and the Union Minister of Science and Technology is the Vice President (ex-officio).
It is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Established - September 1942
Located - New Delhi
7. Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba’s tenure extended by another year
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The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on 6 August extended the tenure of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba for a period of one year beyond August 30, 2022.
Important facts
Gauba, a 1982-batch Jharkhand cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was first appointed cabinet secretary in 2019 for a period of two years.
He got an extension in service in 2021.
His predecessor PK Sinha, a 1977-batch IAS officer who had got thrice extension, was one of the longest-serving cabinet secretaries.
Sinha replaced Ajit Kumar Seth in June 2015. Ajit Kumar Seth, appointed in 2011 during the Congress-led UPA government regime, completed his tenure in 2013 but was given a year’s extension.
After Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, Seth was given two extensions.
Gauba had served as the Union Home Secretary before being appointed as the Cabinet Secretary in 2019.
He has also served as Secretary in the Union Ministry of Urban Development and as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He served as the Chief Secretary in Jharkhand for 15 months before joining the Central Government in 2016.
About Cabinet Secretary
The Cabinet Secretary is the highest executive officer and senior most civil servant of the Government of India.
He is the ex-officio head of the Civil Services Board, the Cabinet Secretariat, the IAS and all civil services under the rules of the government.
He is directly in charge under the Prime Minister and appointed for a fixed term of two years.
Function of Cabinet Secretary
One of the main functions of the Cabinet Secretary is to preside over the meeting of the Committee of Secretaries on Administrative Affairs.
He also presides over the Conference of Chief Secretaries.
Management of major crisis situations in the country and coordinating the activities of various ministries in such situations is also included in the functions of the Cabinet Secretariat.
8. Suresh N. Patel sworn in as Central Vigilance Commissioner
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Suresh N. Patel took oath as the Central Vigilance Commissioner in the presence of President Draupadi Murmu at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Important facts
He replaces former Central Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari.
Suresh N Patel was appointed Vigilance Commissioner in April 2020.
The Central Vigilance Commission is headed by the Central Vigilance Commissioner and may consist of two Vigilance Commissioners.
About Central Vigilance Commission
CVC is an apex vigilance institution, which is free from any executive authority.
It is an independent body whose accountability is only to the Parliament.
It was established in February 1964 on the basis of the recommendations of the Anti-Corruption Committee constituted under the chairmanship of K. Santhanam.
The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 (CVC Act) has been enacted by the Parliament conferring statutory status on CVC.
It submits its report to the President of India.
Appointment of commissioners
The Central Vigilance Commissioner and Vigilance Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Prime Minister (Chairman), the Home Minister (Member) and the Leader of the Opposition (Member) in the Lok Sabha.
Tenure
Their tenure is for 4 years or 65 years (whichever is earlier).
9. ITBP DG Sanjay Arora appointed as Delhi Police Commissioner
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The central government on 31 July appointed Sanjay Arora, a 1988-batch Tamil Nadu cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, as the new Commissioner of the Delhi Police.
Important facts
Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal SL Thosen took over the additional charge of Indo-Tibetan Border Police from his batchmate Sanjay Arora on 1 August.
Sanjay Arora will replace Rakesh Asthana as the Delhi Police Commissioner. Rakesh Asthana, a 1984 batch IPS officer, was appointed in July 2021.
Sanjay Arora was the Superintendent of Police (SP) of the Special Task Force, where he achieved significant success against the Veerappan gang, for which he was awarded the Chief Minister's Gallantry Medal for this gallant action.
After being trained by the NSG in 1991, Arora was instrumental in forming a special security group to provide security to the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu during the days of LTTE activity.
Arora, who holds a bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Malaviya National Institute of Technology in Jaipur, served ITBP on deputation as Commandant from 1997 to 2002.
He commanded a battalion of ITBP in Matli, Uttarakhand from 1997 to 2000.
He has been awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2004, President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2014, Police Special Duty Medal, Antrik Suraksha Padak and UN Peacekeeping Medal.
The Delhi Police works under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
10. Ex- Philippines President Fidel Ramos dies at 94
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Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos died on 31 July at the age of 94 due to complications of COVID-19.
Important facts
Ramos, the 12th President of the Republic of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998, was said to be the driving force behind investor confidence in the country.
It was during his time that the Philippines was recognized as an emerging economy.
It was during his time that the Philippines was identified as a booming "tiger economy", The Manila Times reported.
Prior to becoming president, Fidel Ramos also served as Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the government of then-President Corazon Aquino.
Apart from this, he was also the Defence Secretary.
Ramos, a former military general, trained in the US, also participated in the Korea and Vietnam Wars.
Ramos led a national police force and was instrumental in bringing down the notorious Marcos regime.
About Philippines
The Philippines is a country located in Southeast Asia.
It got complete independence on 4 July 1946 after the Second World War.
It is the country with the fifth longest coastline in the world.
The Philippines is the second largest producer of geothermal energy in the world, after the United States.
Capital - Manila
Currency - peso
