ISRO successfully launches 7th navigation satellite IRNSS-1G

The seventh and final satellite of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, the IRNSS 1G, was launched into a sub geosynchronous transfer orbit with a perigree (nearest point to earth) of 284 km and an apogee (farthest point to earth) of 20,657 km. The satellite was launched on board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which took off from the Sriharikota launch pad.

With this launch, the IRNSS constellation of seven satellites is now complete. 

• This will allow the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to focus on the process of designing front end chips which will receive the navigational signals sent out by the satellites.
•  The system will be similar to the Global Positioning System (GPS) operated by the United States with 24 satellites and the Glonass, Galileo and BeiDou systems of Russia, Europe and China respectively.
• All satellites will undergo stabilisation testing and verification of their performance over the next few months before being pushed into use.
• An area of 1,500 km from Indian boundaries will be covered under the navigational system. 
• The Prime Minister invited other countries to make use of this system as well. “We have seven neighbours who rely on technology provided by other countries. 

28 April: World Day for Safety and Health at Work

2016 theme  'Workplace Stress: a collective challenge'

The day 28 April  is being observed worldwide and promotes a safe and healthy work environment for employees across the world. It  is the brainchild of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

• Every year, as per United Nations reports, two million men and women lose their lives through accidents and diseases linked to their work. Fatalities, accidents and illness at work are highly preventable and this initiative aims to spread awareness on that.
•  This year's theme is 'Workplace Stress: a collective challenge', to tackle the stress levels in today's stress induced environment

In addition to those deaths, there are:

• Over 270 million occupational accidents
• 160 million occupational diseases each year
• US$ 2.8 trillion in costs is lost worldwide in terms of working time and expenses for treatment, compensation and rehabilitation

International Labour Organisation (ILO) :

• Headquarter - Geneva, Switzerland
• Head-  Guy Ryder
• The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency dealing with labour issues, particularly international labour standards, social protection, and work opportunities for all.

ICC suspends Cricket Association of Nepal

The ICC has suspended the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) in view of government interference in the board.

• In December, Nepal's National Sports Council (NSC) had formed an ad-hoc committee to run the CAN.
•  This happened soon after Chatur Bahadur Chand was elected the CAN's president in controversial annual general meeting - which was not attended by its then president Tanka Angbuhang - without the NSC's permission. 
• The Chand-led CAN faction then filed a court case, which is still pending, challenging the NSC's decision.
• In light of the ongoing court case involving the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and the Ad hoc Committee established by the Nepalese National Sports Council (NSC), which has led to a vacuum of cricket leadership in Nepal, the Board suspended the Membership of CAN for breach of Article 2.9 of the ICC's Articles of Association, which prohibits government interference and requires free and fair elections.

China successfully launches Kunpeng-1B sounding rocket

China has successfully launched the Kunpeng-1B sounding rocket from a launch pad in Danzhou City in the southern Chinese Hainan Province.

• The research rocket, which is due to take measurements in the upper atmosphere and help with high-speed flight and space tourism research, was launched  by China's National Space Science Center (NSSC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
• The rocket reached a maximum height of 316 kilometers , with the total flight time coming to 10 minutes.

Sounding rocket :

Sounding rockets are low-cost launch vehicles designed to carry scientific instruments that take measurements during the rocket's sub-orbital flight. 

A sounding rocket, sometimes called a research rocket.

• China first launched a Kunpeng-1 rocket in April 2013.

Renowned Kerala cartoonist V T Thomas passes away

V. T. Thomas (1929 – April 28, 2016), also known as Toms, was a cartoonist from Kerala, India.
He was the creator of the cartoon characters Boban and Molly  ( the 12-year-old cartoon siblings who endeared one and all with their childish pranks and became household names in the state for nearly 40 years ).

• Toms began his career as cartoonist with Malayala Manorama in 1961 and continued till his retirement in 1987.
• The comic strip used to appear in the last page of the Malayala Manorama weekly. 
• After his retirement in 1987, there was a legal dispute with the newspaper over copyright over the cartoon characters Though Manorama finally won the case in the Supreme Court, they returned the copyright to Toms and the cartoons started appearing in a comic magazine run by him. 
• The cartoon characters were so famous that Toms later launched a magazine titled ‘Boban and Molliyum.

Naval detachment set up at Lakshadweep’s Androth Island

A naval detachment aimed at enhancing the Navy's reach and surveillance of Arabian Sea waters was inaugurated in the island of Lakshadweep.

• The setting up of a naval detachment will extend Indian naval presence at Androth Island, provide communication network connectivity with mainland, enable Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC) monitoring and function as an Observance and reporting organisation, besides radar surveillance.
• Lakshadweep and Mnicoy Islands occupy a strategic location in the Arabian Sea. A number of shipping lanes pass close to these islands. Setting up of a naval detachment at Androth Island will enhance the Navy's reach and surveillance, and contribute significantly to strengthen maritime security and stability.
• A number of infrastructure facilities at naval units located on Kavaratti, Minicoy, Agatti and Androth islands are also being progressively upgraded.
• The naval detachment at Kavaratti was commissioned as a naval establishment, INS Dweeprakshak in 2012. Suitable ships are also being based at the islands to provide enhanced surveillance and immediate response capability.

Lakshadweep :
Capital - Kavaratti
Lakshadweep , formerly known as the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Aminidivi Islands is a group of islands in the Laccadive Sea, 200 to 440 kilometres  off the south western coast of India. The archipelago is a Union Territory and is governed by the Union Government of India.

Union Railway Ministry to set up Rs 1 lakh crore Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh

The Union Railway Ministry has decided to create a 1 lakh crore rupees safety fund named Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh to strengthen safety measures on the rail network to prevent accidents

• It was announced by Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in the Lok Sabha while replying to a debate on Demands for Grants for Railways for 2016-17.
• In this regard Union Railway Ministry has forwarded a proposal to the Union Finance Ministry for approval.

Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh :

• The Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh will be a non-lapsable fund which will be utilised for safety measures.
• The fund will help Indian Railways to accomplish its zero-accident mission by strengthening the safety measures on the rail network in a comprehensive way.