CURRENT AFFAIRS
December16,2014 –January8,2015
All-women contingent of Indian defence to march past for the first time on 2015 Republic Day parade
All-women contingent of Indian army will march for the first time on 2015 Republic Day (RD) parade. The chief guest of 2015 Republic Day will be the US President Barack Obama.
The decision to have all-women contingent was taken by the Indian armed forces in the first week of January 2015 following an order from Prime Minister NarendraModi to displayNari Shaktias a theme for the 2015 RD Parade.
Vaccine RakshaBlu for bluetongue disease launched
To counter the deadly bluetongue disease, RakshaBlu vaccine was launched on 8 January 2015 by Gachibowli facility of Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) in Hyderabad, Telangana.
The vaccine was launched with an aim to minimise the economic loss of the animal farming community that occurs due to bluetongue disease.
This is India’s first vaccine for bluetongue disease. This viral disease has about 24 strains prevalent across the world of which five are mostly prevalent in India.
The vaccine has been developed to protect the animals against five strains of the ‘bluetongue’ virus prevalent in the country. Per dose of the vaccine will be available for farmers at an expense of 5 rupees.
The vaccine is the result of collaborative efforts of IIL, TANUVAS (Tamil Nadu University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences) and ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research). The vaccine was developed in three years.
Commemorative Postage Stamps released to mark 100 Years of Mahatma Gandhi’s Return to India
Prime Minister NarendraModi on 8 January 2014 released Commemorative Postage Stamps to mark 100 Years of Mahatma Gandhi’s Return from South Africa to India. A set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps were released during the 13th PravasiBharatiya Divas in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
The coins are of denomination of 100 rupees and 10 rupees, while the stamps are of value of 25 rupees and 5 rupees.The coins and stamps show two pictures of Gandhi, one when he was a young barrister and another one when he came to be known as Mahatma by people across the globe.
KailashSatayarthi dedicated his Nobel Peace Prize to the Nation
KailashSatayarthi on 7 January 2015 dedicated his Nobel Peace Prize to the Nation.
The medal was presented by Satyarthi to the President at a ceremony held at the RashtrapatiBhavan. The Medal will be put up on display at the RashtrapatiBhavan museum.
Visitors to the RashtrapatiBhavan will now be able to see the Nobel Peace Prize received by child rights activist KailashSatyarthi. The medal is made of 18-carat gold and weighing 196 gram.
He became the second indian to dedicate his noble prize to nation after CV Raman. CV Raman received his Nobel Prize for Physics in 1930
India to provide 69 million rupees assistance to Nepal for goitre control
Indian Government on 8 January 2015 decided to provide 69 million rupees to Nepal as assistance to launch the Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme (IDDCP) for goitre control across the country.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae handed over a cheque of 17.25 million rupees as an advance payment to the secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, Nepal for launching the programme.
PM NarendraModi inaugurated DandiKutir museum
PM NarendraModi on 8 January 2015 inaugurated a state-of-the-art museum DandiKutir opposite Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on the occasion of the 13th PravasiBhartiya Divas (PBD).
The 13th edition of PravasiBhartiya Divas (PBD) is marking the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa.