Current Affairs - 12th Feb 2014
New chairman of CBDT
The Central Board of Direct Taxes got its new chairman as R.K.Tiwari. As of now he is a member of legislation and computerization department in CBDT. He will take over reins from the current head Sudha Sharma.
“The Hindus: An Alternative History” withdrawn in India
This book authored by Wendy Doniger was withdrawn from our country by its publishers Penguin Books after a court settlement when a Delhi based NGO objected to a few instances mentioned in the book.
South Central Railway launched a new android based app called HYLITES
HYLITES is assumed to be the first of its type mobile application provided by the Indian Railways. It stands for Hyderabad Light Train Enquiry System. After subscribing to this app, customers can have real time access to the schedule of MMTS trains.
MMTS stands for Multi Model Transport System. The customers will get to know about the location, running time, arrival departure of the MMTS trains.
The Netherlands and India sign pact
Both the countries signed a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) in the field of renewable energy. Under this agreement an Indo-Dutch Joint Working Group will be set up and the exchange of technical and institutional knowledge on clean energy will be made.
The agreement was signed by Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah from India’s behalf. The cooperation will specifically focus on wind and solar energy, biomass and smart grids.
India re-enters in the Olympics after ban revoked
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) revoked the 14 month long ban on Indian Olympic Association (IOA) from participating in Olympics due to the issue of corruption in IOA under which Suresh Kalmadi and other leaders were charged and arrested.
This decision was taken in fresh elections of the IOC headed by N. Ramachandran. He recently took over as the president of IOC.
Gold mining expo in Kolkata
The 5th four-day International Mining Expo (IME) and the three-day 5th Asian Mining Congress will begin in Kolkata. The exhibition will be inaugurated by Sriprakash Jaiswal, Union Minister of Coal, along with Jerzy Witold Pietrewicz, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland and S. K. Srivastava, Coal Secretary.
US FDA commissioner’s India’s visit
US Food and Drug Administration commissioner Margaret Hamburg visited is to reiterate its ties with our nation after the recent actions taken by US FDA against Ranbaxy and other Indian pharmaceutical companies because of their “quality” of drugs.
It is to be noted that India provides generic medicine to almost 200 companies and is the second largest exporter of generic medicines to USA.
