Sanjay Mitra committee to prepare policy framework for taxi operators

 The Union Government has constituted a three member committee to prepare a policy framework for taxi and other transport operators. 

• The committee will be headed by Sanjay Mitra, Secretary of Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. The committee was constituted after taxi and other transport operators had appraised the situation emerging from Supreme Court’s order and directions of Environment Pollution Control Authority of banning diesel taxis in the National Capital Region (NCR).
•  It will look into these issues and come up with appropriate recommendations to address the same in a time bound manner.

Veteran leader Chennamaneni Rajeswara Rao passes away

 Veteran Communist leader and five-time-MLA Chennamaneni Rajeswara Rao died at a hospital in Hyderabad, following illness. 

• He was 93 and is survived by three daughters and a son Ch. Ramesh, who is the TRS MLA from Vemulawada constituency in Karimnagar district.

Shashank Manohar resigns as BCCI president

 Shashank Manohar has resigned as the president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the chairman of International Cricket Council (ICC).

•  The move has come in anticipation of Mr. Manohar set to be re-nominated as ICC chief during the governing body’s annual board meeting scheduled for next month. 
• However, with the ICC set to revert to its old rule of not allowing its chief to hold a post in his/her home board, Mr. Manohar has stepped down. 
• The deadline for filing the nomination for the ICC chief’s post is May 23.
•  The BCCI will have to propose Mr. Manohar as its ICC presidential candidate.

Atma Ram Nadkarni appointed as Additional Solicitor General

Senior advocate of Bombay High Court Atma Ram Nadkarni on 9 May 2016 was appointed as Additional Solicitor General (ASG). 

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Nadkarni as Additional Solicitor General in Supreme Court for a period of three years.

Sadiq Khan elected first Muslim Mayor of London

 

Sadiq Khan became London’s first Muslim mayor, as voters rejected attempts to taint him with links to extremism and handed a decisive victory to the bus driver’s son from south London.

•  Khan hailed his victory as the triumph of “hope over fear and unity over division.” Labour Party candidate Khan received more than 1.3 million votes – 57 per cent of the total – to Conservative rival Zac Goldsmith’s 43 per cent, after voters’ first and second preferences were allocated.

Mickey Arthur appointed as Pakistan cricket team’s head coach

Former South African cricketer Mickey Arthur has been appointed as Pakistan cricket team’s head coach.

•  It was announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). 
• With this appointment he fills the role vacated by Waqar Younis’ resignation in April 2016 following Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup.

Somnath Ghosh named as next Ambassador to Tajikistan

 Somnath Ghosh has been named as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Tajikistan.

•  Presently he is serving as Ambassador of India to Mangolia. 
• He will succeed Biraja Prasad who passed away in February this year.

Tajikistan :

• Capital: Dushanbe
• Currency- Somoni 
•  President - Imomali Rakhmon
• Prime minister: Kokhir Rasulzoda

Shashi Kapoor’s Biography ‘Shashi Kapoor – the Householder, the Star’ releases

Veteran actor Shashi Kapoor’s autobiography titled ‘Shashi Kapoor – the Householder, the Star’ was released recently. 

• The biography has been authored by film journalist Aseem Chhabra and with foreword by Karan Johar.
•  It unveils the chapters of actor’s personal and professional life.

About Shashi Kapoor :

•  Born as Balbir Raj Prithviraj Kapoor on March 18, 1938 in Kolkata, West Bengal.

Enda Kenny wins second term as Ireland’s prime minister

 Enda Kenny has been re-elected as prime minister of Ireland after 10 weeks of deadlock that followed an inconclusive general election in February. 

• Kenny is the first Fine Gael PM to win re-election in Irish history, though his triumph is marred by a minority administration that is propped up by independent MPs and, more crucially, by Fianna Fáil.
•  The party, which will remain on the opposition benches, has agreed to support the Fine Gael government for a period of two years in an unprecedented political ceasefire between the rivals.
• Kenny received 59 votes, with 49 against, in the 158-member parliament – by far the fewest votes ever received for a winning premier in Ireland.

President Pranab Mukherjee confers 2015-16 Niryat Shree and Niryat Bandhu Awards

 President Pranab Mukherjee has conferred the 15th set of Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Niryat Shree and Niryat Bandhu Awards in New Delhi.

•  The awards were bestowed upon the companies from various sectors of exports during the year 2015-16. 
• It also covered service providers, banks, and various facilitating agencies which are promoting exports.
•  Besides, President also unveiled the new Logo of FIEO representing growth, vibrancy, innovation and entrepreneurship on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of FIEO.
•  FIEO was established in 1965 under the aegis of Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

 Award recipients :

• Reliance Industry: It was awarded as the top foreign exchange earner and leading exporter of last 50 years. 
• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): It won the Gold Award in IT services. 
• State Bank of India (SBI): It won the Gold award among the supporting institutions.

President Pranab Mukherjee presents 63rd National Film Awards 2015

President Pranab Mukherjee has conferred 63rd National Film Awards for the year 2015 in various categories at the function held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

•  Legendry actor Manoj Kumar was conferred 2015 Dada Saheb Phalke Award, highest official recognition (award) in Indian cinema.
•  Baahubali: The Beginning (Tamil, Telugu film) directed by S. S. Rajamouli was bestowed with the Best feature film award.
•  Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Hindi) directed by Kabir Khan was awarded as the Best Popular film providing wholesome entertainment. 

The 63rd National Film Awards in the various categories :

•  Best Actor: Amitabh Bachchan (Piku).
•  Best Actress: Kangana Ranaut (Tanu Weds Manu Returns).
•  Best Direction: Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Bajirao Mastani). 
• Best Film on Social Issues: Niranayakam (Malayalam) directed by V. K. Prakash.
•  Best Supporting Actor: Samuthirakani for the film Visaranai (Tamil). 

Govt. constitutes Ashok Dalwai committee for doubling farmers’ income

   The Union Govt. has recently constituted 8-member inter-ministerial committee to prepare a blueprint for doubling farmer’s income by 2022.

• The committee will be headed by Ashok Dalwai, Additional secretary at the Union Agriculture Ministry and is expected to submit the report in two months.
• Earlier,  Govt. had announced in the Union Budget 2016-17, to double farm incomes by 2022.
• "The committee will chalk out a plan to shift farm policies from being production-oriented to based on incomes,"
• The eight-member panel will identify potential areas of agriculture where more investment should happen and suggest ways to reduce the risk of farming by diversifying to horticulture and allied activities like livestock and fisheries to boost income .

Kapil Dev to be inducted into CCI's Legends Club

India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain and one of the greatest all-rounders the game has seen, Kapil Dev, will be the sixth member to be inducted into the Cricket Club of India's Legends Club. This was announced by Legends Club president and former India batsman Madhav Apte.

Cricket Club of India's Legends Club :

• It was established in 2003.
• Legends Club is the brainchild of former Board of Control for Cricket in India president, Dungarpur.
•  It was formed along the lines of England's Master's Club started by famous cricket commentator John Arlott in memory of Jack Hobbs when cricketers and cricket lovers got together and spoke on different topics of the game.
•  The Legends Club honours famous Indian cricketers like Vijay Merchant, Vijay Hazare, Vinoo Mankad, Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar.

Jeetendra, Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Leela Bhansali conferred Dinanath Mangeshkar Awards

Veteran actor Jeetendra, filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Bollywood star Ranveer Singh were today honoured with '74th Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Awards'.

• Jeetendra got the Lifetime Achievement Award while Bhansali and Ranveer got special award for direction and acting for their  'Bajirao Mastani.'
• The top honour was given by legendary singer Asha Bhosle.

Deenanath Mangeshkar :

• Deenanath Mangeshkar (29 December 1900 – 24 April 1942) was a well-known Marathi theatre actor, a renowned Natya Sangeet musician and a Hindustani classical vocalist.
• He is also the father of well-known singers Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, and Usha Mangeshkar as well as composers Hridayanath Mangeshkar and Meena Khadikar.

Rafael Nadal beats Kei Nishikori to win Barcelona Open for ninth time

    Ace tennis player Rafael Nadal( Spain ) beat the defending champion, Kei Nishikori( Japan ), 6-4, 7-5 to win the Barcelona Open for the ninth time ;equalling  Guillermo Vilas’s record of 49 career clay-court titles.

• He also has now won his first 10 matches of the European clay-court 2016 season.
• Nadal added this title to his trophy from Monte Carlo last week as the 14-time grand slam winner regains form on his favourite surface before next month’s French Open.

Rafael Nadal :

• Rafael "Rafa" Nadal ( born 3 June 1986) is a Spanish professional tennis player currently ranked world No. 5.
•  He is widely regarded as the greatest clay-court player in history; due to his dominance and success on the surface, he has been titled "The King of Clay".
•  His evolution into an all-court threat has established him as one of the greatest players in tennis history.

Salman Khan to be Goodwill Ambassador for Rio Olympics 2016

   

  Bollywood actor Salman Khan will be the goodwill ambassador for the Indian contingent at the Rio Olympics 2016.

•  The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had to choose between two to three candidates including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. 

 IOA have chosen Salman Khan considering he is more connected with youth and sport persons. 

Salman Khan will be the face and mascot of the Indian Rio Olympics contingent in Rio Olympics.

•  He will be part of the some of the promotional events.  
• This is the first time when a Bollywood superstar will be a goodwill ambassador for the national squad for such a big event like summer Olympics.

Rio Olympics 2016 :

• Host city  - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Motto- Live your passion

President nominated six members to Rajya Sabha

The President of India has nominated Shri Swapan Das Gupta, Shri Navjot Singh Sidhu, Dr. Subramanian Swamy, Shri Narendra Jadhav, Sh. Suresh Gopi and Ms. Mary Kom to the Rajya Sabha.

12 people can be recommended to the Upper House. As of now, there are seven vacancies among these 12, for which six names have been announced, and one kept in abeyance.

Nominations to the Upper House:

• The government recommends names of people having “special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art and social service”.
• As per Article 80 of the Indian constitution, members are nominated by the President to the Upper House on the recommendation of the government.
• The government recommends members in this category at anytime and it is not bound to an electoral cycle like the other seats.