Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 20 May 2015

::National:

Indian Navy launch Fourth Anti Submarine Warfare Kavaratti in Kolkata

The Indian Navy launched its Fourth Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette of Project-28, christened ‘Kavaratti’. The four ships of Project-28 built by GRSE, Kolkata have been designed indigenously by the Directorate of Naval Design, New Delhi and bear testimony to the acclaimed legacy of Naval Designers.
The ships have been constructed using high grade steel (DMR 249A) produced in India. With a displacement of 3300 tonnes, the sleek and magnificent ASW Corvettes span 109.1 meters in length and 13.7 meters at the beam. They are propelled by four diesel engines to achieve speeds in excess of 25 knots and have an endurance of more than 3000 Nm.
The P-28 corvettes also boast of "firsts" such as the revolutionary Rail-less Helo Traversing System, Foldable Hangar Door, use of Personnel Locator System and use of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) Superstructure integrated with the Steel Hull in the third and fourth ships of the Class. These ships have common raft mounted Gear Box and Diesel Engines, which give the vessels very low radiated underwater noise. This is well complemented with an efficient propeller with very high cavitation inception speed.
The P-28 Ships also have Total Atmospheric Control System (TACS) and an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) which include Integrated Bridge System as well as Battle Damage Control System. The ASW Corvettes also incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, sea keeping, stealth and manoeuvrability. Enhanced stealth features have been achieved by including Low Radar Cross Section (RCS) signature through full beam superstructure, inclined ship sides and reduced Infra Red (IR) signature by use of ‘Infra Red Suppression System (IRSS) device’ for cooling the Engine and Diesel Alternator exhausts. The ships are also equipped to carry and operate one multiple role helicopter.
Kavaratti will also be packed with an array of state of art weapons and sensors, including a Medium Range Gun (from M/s Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd), Torpedo Tube Launchers as well as Rocket Launchers (from M/s Larsen & Tubro), Close-In Weapon System (from M/s Gun and Shell Factory) and Chaff System (from M/s Machine Tool Prototype Factory).
With significant indigenous content, the Ship is a true hall mark of self reliance attained by our country in warship design and ship building.

Shri J P Nadda addresses NAM Health Ministers

Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and the President of 68th World Health Assembly addressed the NAM Health Ministers’ meeting, organized on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly, at Geneva on 19th May.
The Health Minister stressed on the importance of Yoga as one which provides holistic health and wellbeing. He also emphasized on adopting healthy lifestyles and avoiding excesses. In this context, Shri J P Nadda said that the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, gave a call in the United Nations General Assembly in September last year to recognize Yoga as a provider of holistic approach to health and well-being. We are happy to note that the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, with co-sponsorship from 177 countries, to observe 21st June as the International day of Yoga, he added. Shri Nadda informed the Ministers of the voluntary contribution made by India to WHO, that includes-
(i) One million US Dollars for the proposed WHO contingency fund.
(ii) Another One million US Dollars for the implementation of the identified demonstration projects under the Consultative Expert Working Group (CEWG) framework, and
(iii) One hundred thousand US Dollars for the Member State Mechanism on SSFFC medical products.

::Economy:

Union Govt. to do away with RBI mandatory approval for FDI

With the aim to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI), Union government is planning to do away with mandatory approval of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) which currently is needed after an investment proposal has been approved by the foreign investment promotion board (FIPB). Till now, the government and RBI shared oversight over direct and indirect foreign investments.
To delete the requirement of RBI consent for cross-border transactions and acquisition or transfer of immovable property to foreigners, Union Government earlier in this month has amended the Section 6 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) has been amended in the Finance Bill 2015 which was approved the Parliament.
Under the proposed mechanism, all foreign investment proposals requiring government approval will only need FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) nod. The regulation under FEMA that required foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals to be examined by RBI, is being done away with, they said.
Currently, foreign investment is permitted either through the automatic route or the government approval route. The proposals under the approval route envisaging investment up to Rs 3,000 crore are cleared by FIPB and beyond that require Cabinet nod. The foreign investment is also subject to sectoral caps which are specified in the FDI policy.
The move is aimed at making it easier for doing business in India. India currently ranks 142 out of the 189 countries on Ease of Doing Business list.

::Sports:

BCCI technical committee submits its report

BCCI technical committee headed Anil Kumble has submitted its report to BCCI. In their report, the committee has recommended changes in the Ranji Trophy points system, group system for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in place of zonals and new format for Deodhar Trophy. The other following measures recommended by the committee are

One bonus point will be awarded to the team scoring 300 runs in 85 overs and one bonus point for the team taking seven wickets in 85 overs. The current system of awarding six points for an outright win and a bonus point (for an innings win or a 10-wicket win) will continue.
Tournaments format changes: The committee proposed to revamp the Deodhar Trophy by having three teams taking part (Vijay Hazare Trophy champion and two teams chosen by national selectors). In place of the current zonal system, it was proposed to change the format of the inter-State one-day seniors’ tournament and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament by forming four groups from across the country.
Other observations: The committee recommended that the ICC protocols be followed in toto, which would further strengthen the current process in case of suspect bowling actions and remedial steps.
Wicket preparation: The committee expressed concern on the wicket preparation undertaken at some of the venues and suggested various measures to improve the reporting process.

Yuki Bhambri No. 1 among Indian Man

It is a fruitful moment for the Indian tennis fans as their favorite Yuki Bhambri first time ever played the final of a court Challenger. The effort helped him reach 158 in the latest world rankings, the best for an Indian at the moment, ahead of Somdev Devvarman (172) and Saketh Myneni (196). Also, Yuki is inching closer to his career-best rank of 143 that he had reached in February last year.
This is a rare occasion that three players figure in the top-200 of world rankings. This projects a healthy image of Indian tennis, especially in the light of the Davis Cup tie scheduled against New Zealand in Christchurch in July.
Qualifying for the Australian Open and playing a good match against Olympic champion Andy Murray had set the tempo for Yuki this season and he did well to notch the big points from the two finals of Challengers in Delhi and Samarkand.