India takes first step towards manned space mission
(ii). This suborbital experimental mission was intended to test the vehicle performance during the critical atmospheric phase of its flight and this carried passive (non functional) cryogenic upper stage.
(iii). This new launch vehicle performed very well and is a great success. We had an unmanned crew module to understand re-entry characteristics. That also went off successfully and it has touched down in the Bay of Bengal," said ISRO’s chief K. Radhakrishnan.
U.S.-Cuba ties: From revolution and Bay of Pigs to rapprochement
(i). U.S. President Barack Obama's call for an end to the economic embargo against Cuba drew resistance from the Republicans.
(ii). The United States and Cuba plan to restore diplomatic relations and end more than five decades of fierce animosity that at one point took the world to the edge of nuclear conflict.
(iii). Here is a summary of U.S.-Cuba relations since Fidel Castro seized power in a 1959 revolution:
New technologies can add to India’s GDP: McKinsey Global
(i). McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) has identified 12 new age technologies that could have a bigger impact on India’s economic growth and efforts to reduce poverty.
(ii). According to the firm, the new technologies (ranging from mobile Internet to cloud computing to advanced genomics) can add $550 billion to $1 trillion a year of economic value by 2025.
(iii). In a report titled India’s technology opportunity: transforming work, empowering people, MGI said these technologies could account for 20-30 per cent of India’s GDP growth between 2012 and 2025, and help millions achieve a better quality of life.
Rajya Sabha disrupted for the fourth day
(i). The Opposition refused to let go of its demand for a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on religious conversions in the country, forcing the Rajya Sabha to adjourn twice before lunch on Thursday.
(ii). The stalemate continued for the fourth day, even as Mr. Modi made an appearance in the House of Elders. Despite the clamour from the Opposition led by the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, demanding a statement from the Prime Minister, senior BJP leaders M. Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitley were unwavering in their resolve that the reply to the discussion on conversions will be given by the Union Home Minister.
(iii). They were resolute that the Opposition cannot set the terms for the discussion.
Ghanta Chakrapani is first Chairman of TSPSC
(i). Academician, journalist and political commentator Ghanta Chakrapani has been appointed as the
first Chairman of the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC).
(ii). Three other members were also appointed while the Governor is said to have rejected the names of few other members. Prof. Chakrapani, who is presently the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) is a well-known intellectual face of the Telangana movement strongly arguing its case at the State and national level.
(iii). Born in Yaswada village, which was submerged in the Lower Maneru Dam construction, he did his post-graduation in Sociology and Communication and Journalism from Osmania University.
Isro successfully tests its heaviest space launch vehicle, eyes global market
(i). India's space agency successfully tested on Thursday its most powerful satellite launch vehicle that can put heavier payloads into space, and, it hopes, win India a bigger slice of the $300 billion global space industry.
(ii). The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) also checked the working of an unmanned crew module on the vehicle, which could give the agency the option of manned missions.
(iii). Once operational, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III will be able to put satellites weighing about 4 tonnes into orbit, almost doubling India's current capability.
Coal India to get new chairman ahead of key meeting: Sources
(i). Coal India Ltd will get a new chairman in the next few days, two officials with direct knowledge of the matter said, as the state-owned miner readies a plan to double its output in four years amid a severe shortage that has crippled power plants.
(ii). Career bureaucrat Sutirtha Bhattacharya, chairman of India's second-largest coal producer Singareni Collieries, will take over as the head of its bigger rival ahead of a key meeting at Coal India's headquarters on December 30, the officials said.
Navi Mumbai international airport set to start operations from 2019
(ii). "The process of getting permits from various departments shall be completed by January 2015 and the first phase of this airport will start functioning from 2019.
(iii). Fadnavis said replying to a calling attention motion brought by members Sanjay Datta, Bhai Jagtap, Husnabai Khalife, Sharad Ranpise and Dipti Choudhary.
0 comments:
Post a Comment