First Lokpal of India - PC Ghose

Retired Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose is the country's first Lokpal, or the anti-corruption ombudsman. His appointment has been cleared by President Ram Nath Kovind. The other members of the Lokpal include four former High Court judges, including a woman judge, and four former civil servants. The selection was made weeks after the February-end deadline set by the Supreme Court. Justice Ghose's name was finalised and recommended by the Selection Committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week.

The panel to choose the candidates -- headed by the prime minister -- includes the Lok Sabha speaker, leader of the opposition in the lower house, the Chief Justice of India or any judge of the Supreme court he nominates, and an eminent jurist who could be nominated by the President or any other member. President Ram Nath Kovind nominated Mukul Rohatgi, a former Attorney General, as the ''eminent jurist''. Justice Ghose was appointed as the judge of the Calcutta High Court in 1997 and elevated to the Supreme Court in 2013. As the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, he had convicted Sasikala, the live-in companion of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, in a corruption case.

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ISRO launches its 100th satellite

ISRO successfully launches its 100th satellite Cartosat-2, along with 30 others in single mission from Sriharikota on 12th January 2018. The launch of 31 satellites, including three of India and 28 of six other countries including United States, by the space agency took place at 9.29 am from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre located about 80 km northeast of Chennai off the Bay of Bengal coast.

The 31 satellites with a combined weight of 1,323 kg have been integrated with the PSLV-C40 for deploying them in the earth's lower orbit after lift off. Of the 31 satellites, three are Indian and 28 are from six countries: Canada, Finland, France, South Korea, UK and the US. The Indian satellites are 710 kg Cartosat-2 series for Earth observation, a 100 kg micro satellite and a five kg nano satellite. The first space mission in 2018 onboard the PSLV-C40 comes four months after a similar rocket failed to deliver the country's eighth navigation satellite in the earth's lower orbit on August 31, 2017.

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PM inaugurated 5th Global Conference on Cyberspace in Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 23rd November inaugurated the fifth edition of the Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS) in New Delhi. The two-day summit is being attended by delegates of nearly 120 countries. The Information Technology Ministry is expecting over 10,000 delegates to participate in it. 

GCCS is a prestigious international conference that aims at encouraging dialogue among stakeholders of cyberspace, which has been taking place since 2011. Four conferences have been held in London, Budapest, Seoul and the Hague. The theme this year focuses on inclusive and sustainable development using cyber technology. This is also the core philosophy of PM Modi's Digital India initiative. The theme this year is 'Cyber4All: An Inclusive, Sustainable, Developmental, Safe and Secure Cyberspace'.

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PM Modi flags off Bandhan Express between India and Bangladesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off a passenger train between India and Bangladesh on 9th November 2017. The fully air-conditioned weekly ‘Bandhan Express’ will run every Thursday between Kolkata and Khulna. “I believe that relations between leaders of neighbouring countries should be like neighbours. We should not be in restrictions of protocols for visits or talks,” Modi said in a video. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were also present for the flagging off ceremony, which was done via video conferencing.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the launch as a remarkable day for India and Bangladesh. “The relations between the two countries will strengthen in the future,” she said. Immigration and customs facilities were also inaugurated at Kolkata station.

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SAAW - Glide Bomb Successfully Tested

Government on 3rd November said that an indigenously developed light weight 'Glide' bomb has been successfully tested in Chandipur in Odisha, marking a major milestone in developing such weapons. The bomb -- SAAW (Smart Anti Airfield Weapon) -- was dropped from an Indian Air Force aircraft at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur. "The guided bomb released from the aircraft and guided through precision navigation system, reached the targets at greater than 70 km range, with high accuracies," the defence ministry said in a statement.

The guided bombs have been developed by the Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad along with the DARE, Bengaluru; TBRL, Chandigarh and ARDE, Pune all laboratories under the DRDO (Defence Research Development Organisation) and the Indian Air Force. During the trials on Friday, the guided bomb which were released from the aircraft and guided through precision navigation system, reached the targets at greater than 70 km range, with high accuracies, according to DRDO scientists.

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India sends 1st wheat shipment to Afghanistan via Chabahar port

India on 29th October began shipment of wheat to Afghanistan through the Iranian port of Chabahar. A press release from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that the consignment would be the first to use the new route via Chabahar to access Afghanistan, even as India plans similar transfers in the coming months.

The operationalisation of Chabahar will also boost India's efforts to conenct with resource-rich Central Asia and Russia.  The shipment is a part of commitment made by India to supply 1.1 million tonnes of wheat for the people of Afghanistan on grant basis, according to a MEA statement.  Six more wheat shipments will be sent to Afghanistan over the next few months. 

The use of Chabahar for wheat transhipment indicates the firming up of an alternative route to extend necessary support to Afghanistan, in the absence of overland transit rights by Pakistan. The move also indicates that Chahbahar that India has been developing for some years, will soon be fully operational. India had earlier sent goods through the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas in 2003 as Pakistan had not eased land access to Afghanistan.

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Pooja Kadian wins first ever gold medal for India at Wushu World Championships

Pooja Kadian became the first ever Indian sportsperson to win a gold medal at the Wushu World Championship in Kazan, Russia on 5th October 2017. Apart from her, four other members of the Indian contingent – Rameshchandra Singh Moirangthem, Bhanu Pratap Singh, Rajinder Singh, and Arunpama Devi Keisham – won bronze medals in the tournament held at Kazan, Russia.

Kadian had defeated Egypt’s Heba Abdelkader 2-0 in the semifinals on the road to the finals. Rameshchandra Singh Moirangthem won a bronze in men’s Sanda 48 kg category while Bhanu Pratap Singh came in the men’s Sanda 60 kg category. Rajinder Singh won his bronze in the men’s 90 kg category.

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Soumya Swaminathan appointed WHO deputy DG

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), was appointed the deputy director general for programmes (DDP) of World Health Organisation (WHO). This announcement was made on 3 October 2017 by WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Dr. Swaminathan, a pediatrician by speciality, has more than 30 years of experience in clinical care, research and translating those findings into programs. She is a globally recognized researcher on tuberculosis and HIV. She holds an MBBS degree from Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in India, MD degree from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The new WHO leadership team was announced by the director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was elected to the post in May 2017. The team represents 14 countries, including all WHO regions, and is more than 60% women. Every WHO member state gets a chance to nominate a candidate for the deputy’s post and it was India’s turn this year. Dr Swaminathan was India’s nominee. Dr Swaminathan will replace Dr Anarfi Asamoa-Baah from Ghana, who joined WHO as a senior policy adviser to the director-general and had served as the assistant director-general of the communicable disease programme and the HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria programme.

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Meenakshi Temple named best ‘Swachh Iconic Place’ in India

Madurai’s Meenakshi Temple named best ‘Swachh Iconic Place’ in India. The Madurai City Corporation is set to receive a special award from the Centre as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple has been adjudged best ‘Swachh Iconic Place’ in India as on October 1, 2017. Ten spots were identified by the Central Government as part of the ‘Swachh Iconic Places’ initiative earlier this year. Madurai Corporation has placed several bins at a distance of 50 metres along the Chithirai streets. A total of 63 compact bins (for biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste) have been placed and four compactor trucks do the rounds around the temple premises. There are 25 e-toilets and 15 water ATMs for tourists to use. There are two road sweepers and battery operated vehicles specifically purchased to clean this stretch.

About Meenakshi Temple: 

• Meenakshi Temple is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. 
• It is dedicated to Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareswar, a form of Shiva.
• The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2,500-year-old city of Madurai.
• Although most of the present structure was built between 1623 and 1655 CE. In the 14th century, the Sultanate Muslim Commander Malik Kafur plundered the temple and looted it of its valuables. It was rebuilt by the Nayak ruler Vishwanatha Nayakar around the 16th century. It was Vishwanatha Nayaka who rebuilt the temple in accordance to shilpa shastra. 
• It houses 14 gopurams (gateway towers), ranging from 45–50m in height. The tallest is the southern tower, 51.9 metres (170 ft) high, and two golden sculptured vimanas, the shrines over the garbhagrihas (sanctums) of the main deities.
• There are an estimated 33,000 sculptures in the temple. It was on the list of top 30 nominees for the "New Seven Wonders of the World". 
• The temple attracts 15,000 visitors a day, around 25,000 on Fridays, and receives an annual revenue of Rs. 60 million.
• The annual 10-day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival, celebrated during April and May, attracts 1 million visitors.

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Mary Kom to be AIBA representative at IOC athletes' forum

Five-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist M C Mary Kom has become the first Indian to be picked as the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) representative for the IOC Athletes' Forum scheduled in November. The 33-year-old, who is also an active parliamentarian, has been invited to attend the 8th International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Athletes' Forum in Lausanne from November 11 to 13, 2017. "This bi-annual forum brings together athlete representatives from across the Olympic Movement and provides an in-person community where athletes can exchange and discuss their viewpoint," the AIBA wrote in its invitation letter to the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) President Ajay Singh. "In this respect, we would like to designate Ms Mary Kom to attend the forum as AIBA representative," the letter stated.

The event, however, overlaps with the Asian Championship in Vietnam, which is scheduled from November 2 to 12. If Mary Kom is selected for the tournament after trials later this month, her participation at the IOC event would become uncertain. Among the most decorated athletes in Indian sports, Mary Kom is an Asian Games gold-medallist besides being a multiple-time Asian champion. She was conferred the AIBA Legends award at annual gala of the world body last year.

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Navika Sagar Parikrama by All-Women Officers on INSV Tarini begins

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has conveyed his best wishes to the 6 women officers of the Navika Sagar Parikrama, who will begin their journey of circumnavigating the globe on board INSV Tarini, on 10th September 2017.  

This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. They will begin their voyage today from Goa, and expect to return to Goa in March 2018, after completing the circumnavigation. The expedition has been titled Navika Sagar Parikrama. The Parikrama will be covered in five legs, with stop-overs at 4 ports: Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands), and Cape Town (South Africa). 

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Andhra Pradesh to get India's First Hyperloop

Andhra Pradesh government has signed an MoU with the US-based Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) to build India's first Hyperloop system.  Under the MoU, a six-month feasibility study would be conducted from October 2017. Hyperloop is proposed to be introduced between the city centres of Vijayawada and Amaravati. It will supposedly cover the distance of over 35 km only in five minutes.

The project will be taken up in the public-private- partnership mode with the funding coming primarily from private investors. The AP Economic Development Board (AP-EDB) and HTT signed an memorandum of understanding (MoU). But an official release on the MoU did not disclose the probable cost of the project.

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Mithali Raj beomes highest Run scorer in women’s ODI

India captain Mithali Raj scripted history on 12th July 2017 as she became the all-time leading run-getter in women's one-day internationals. Mithali, who is leading India at the ICC Women's World Cup in England, overtook Charlotte Edwards (5992) after scoring her 34th run against Australia in Bristol. The 34-year-old reached the landmark in her 183rd ODI, taking 164 innings - 16 less than Charlotte. Coincidentally, the top run scorers in one-day internationals in both men’s and women’s cricket happen to be Indians. Sachin Tendulkar tops the list with 18,426 runs.

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Ahmedabad declared India's first heritage city by UNESCO

The historic walled-city of Ahmedabad, that has 26 ASI-protected structures, was declared as a World Heritage City at the 41st session of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee meet in Karkow in Poland on 8 July 2017. It thus became the first Indian city to get this prestigious recognition. Close to 20 countries, including Poland, host country of the UNESCO meet Poland, unanimously supported Ahmedabad citing a secular co-existence of Islamic, Hindu and Jain communities along with exemplary architecture of intricately carved wooden havelis dating back hundreds of years. The countries also recognized that the city was a cradle for India’s non-violent freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi. Ahmedabad will now join the likes of Paris, Cairo and Edinburgh. 

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PM Modi inaugurated 1st phase of Kochi Metro

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kerala's first metro on 17th June 2017, following which he travelled on a Kochi metro train on Saturday with other officials present for the event. India’s ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the state’s Governor P Sathasivam were present during the inauguration of the metro. 

Considered the fastest completed metro project in the country, Kochi Metro, the flagship transportation infrastructure project of Kerala, will start its regular operations from June 19. The estimated completed cost of the metro touched Rs 5,181.79 crore. A long-cherished project of Keralites, the foundation of Kochi Metro was laid by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on September 13, 2012. It will improve regional connectivity and reduce traffic congestion

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India, Pakistan becomes full member of SCO

India and Pakistan became full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on 9 June 2017, thus ending an administrative process that began two years ago. With the inclusion of India and Pakistan, SCO now represents over 40% of world population and nearly 20% of the global GDP.

SCO summit 2017 was based on the theme “Future Energy”. The document was signed at Astana, Kazakhstan during the SCO Summit. (SCO) member-states viz. China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The SCO was founded at a Summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the Presidents of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. SCO is regarded as a counterweight to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Prime Minister Modi also said that India's membership will take cooperation between member countries to new heights in multiple spheres, from energy to combating climate change. He even stressed on the need for respecting each-others' sovereignty & territorial integrity while addressing all member country leaders including China's Xi Jingping & Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif.

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India’s first post office Passport Seva Kendra at Vidisha

India’s First Post Office Passport Seva Kendra has started functioning in Vidisha district headquarters of Madhya Pradesh. State’s Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated it last evening. Now residents of Vidisha and adjoining districts Raisen, Guna, Ashoknagar, Sagar and Damoh will not need to go Bhopal to get a passport. 

The Vidisha’s Post Office Passport Seva Kendra will work as Laghu Passport Seva Kandra. Officials said that efforts will be made to examine applications and approve them in a single day itself. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj represents Vidisha in Lok Sabha. A Passport Laghu Seva Kendra was inaugurated in Indore a few days ago. Laghu passport kendras will also be opened in Jabalpur, Gwalior and Satna of the state.

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Jharkhand becomes first state to launch Direct Benefit Transfer in Kerosene

Jharkhand has become the first state in the country to implement Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Kerosene in four identified districts namely, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Khunti and Jantara from 1st October, 2016. Under the DBTK Scheme, PDS kerosene is being sold at non-subsidised price, and, subsidy, as admissible, is being transferred to consumers directly into their bank accounts. This initiative of the governments is aimed at rationalising subsidy, based on the approach to cut subsidy leakages.

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Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia wins gold at Paralympics

Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia became the first Indian to clinch two gold medals at the Paralympics after he broke his own world record to clinch the top honours at the Rio Games. Devendra, who won his previous gold in the 2004 Athens Games, bettered his own world record to finish on top in the men’s F46 event. Devendra, whose previous best was 62.15 metres (achieved in the 2004 Games), improved the mark with an attempt of 63.97 metres at the Olympic Stadium (Engenhao). India now have two gold, one silver and one bronze in the ongoing edition of the Games.

The 35-year-old who is now employed by the Sports Authority of India as coach hails from a remote village in Churu district of Rajasthan. Now 2-time gold medallist lost his left arm when he was nine in an electric shock. He was awarded the Arjuna award in 2004 and the Padma Shri in 2012, becoming the first Paralympian to receive the honour. He last participated in the Paralympics 12 years ago. The F46 event did not feature in the 2008 and the 2012 editions. 

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PV Sindhu wins Silver Medal in Rio Olympics 2016

PV sindhu has created history by winning silver medal in Rio Olympics 2016. PV Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win a silver medal in the Olympics. Spain's Carolina Marin beat her 21-19, 12-21, 21-15 at the badminton final on Thursday. She has come a long way - from a 16-year-old watching Saina Nehwal win the 2012 London Olympics bronze to being India's lone badminton medal hope in the 2016 Games. Sindhu scripted a stellar 22-20, 21-19 win against former World No. 1 and London Games silver medallist Wang Yihan to enter the women’s semifinals. Her fierce strokeplay and aggressive cross-court returns have been the highlights of her game so far. She rated her win over the London Olympics silver medallist as one of the best moments of her career.

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