Current Affairs - 5th Feb 2014
Moulaye Laghdaf, Mauritania’s new PM
Moulaye Laghdaf has been reappointed as Mauritania's PM after the ruling party's emphatic victory in elections last year. He had disbanded his cabinet just a day ago - in a routine step after every parliamentary elections so as to form government afresh.
National mission on libraries
It will work to modernise and digitally link nearly 9,000 libraries across India to provide readers access to books and information. The project, an initiative of the Ministry of Culture, is worth 1000 crores. Kolkata-based Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) is the nodal agency for the implementation of NML.
NML is a 10-member body headed by Prof. Deepak Pental, former Vice Chancellor of Delhi University. Approved by the government in November last year, NML was set up in pursuance of a report of the National Knowledge Commission, which recommended a total revamp of the Library and Information Service sector to serve the changing needs and expectations of the users and give a fillip to the library movement in the country.
101th science congress
101st Indian Science Congress (ISC), which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is being organized at – Jammu University, Jammu .The theme of ISC 2014 is “Innovations in Science and Technology for Inclusive Development”.
The Congress would conclude on 7 February 2014.
New rules for sports award
According to the new rules, for Khel Ratna and Dronacharya awards, medals won in Olympic Games (Summer, Winter and Paralympics), Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cup, World Championships (held once in four years) would get 90 per cent weightage.
For the Dhyan Chand award, such a medal would stand to gain 70 per cent weightage.
The Ministry has stipulated that only one sportsperson will be chosen for Khel Ratna in a year. Five will be selected for Dronacharya and three for Dhyan Chand.
4th Feb, World cancer day
World Cancer Day 2014 observed across the world on February 4th. This year campaign focuses on Target 5 of the World Cancer Declaration that is to reduce stigma and dispel myths about cancer with the tagline of "Debunk the myths".
Satya Nadella, New CEO of Microsoft
Microsoft named Hyderabad based Satya Nadella as its new Chief Executive Officer, replacing Steve Ballmer. Formerly Executive Vice President of the Cloud and Enterprise Group at the software giant, Nadella was leading the development of one of the largest cloud infrastructures in the world.
4 new states for aadhaar enrollment
Aadhaar enrolment in four States — Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand — will be carried out in addition to enrolment by the Registrar General of India (RGI). A decision to this effect was taken on by the Cabinet Committee on Unique Identification Authority of India (CC UIDAI), which approved reallocation of States for Aadhaar enrolment.
7th central pay commission
The UPA Government the the Seventh Central Pay Commission, paving the way for revision of salaries of over 50 lakh Central government employees, including the Railways and Defence. The panel will also revise the remuneration for 30 lakh pensioners.
The Commission will be headed by former Supreme Court Judge Ashok Kumar Mathur. The other members of the panel are Petroleum Secretary Vivek Rae (full-time member), National Institute of Public Finance and Policy Director Rathin Roy (part-time member) and Officer on Special Duty in the Expenditure Department Meena Agarwal (Secretary).
