Kerala Government declares state as ‘Digital State’

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on 15th August, 2015 declared Kerala as the ‘complete digital state’. According to him, the state has achieved 100 per cent mobile density, 75 per cent e-literacy,highest digital banking rate and broadband connection up to panchayat level.

Govt launches mission ‘Indradhanush’ to revamp PSU banks

Finance minister Arun Jaitley launched a seven pronged plan– Indradhanush–to revamp functioning of public sector banks. The seven elements include appointments, board of bureau, capitalization, de-stressing,empowerment, framework of accountability and governance reforms. Banks board of bureau will replace existing appointments board. Its members would be appointed in the next six months to be headed by the RBI governor.

Shri Om Prakash Rawat Appointed as New Election Commissioner

The President has appointed Shri Om Prakash Rawat, as the Election Commissioner in the Election Commission with effect from the date he assumes the office. Rawat is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1977 batch from Madhya Pradesh cadre. With Rawat’s appointment, the sole vacancy in the three-member poll body has been filled.

Saina settles for silver at Badminton World Championship 2015

Saina Nehwal lost to  world number one Carolina Marin in the final of the World Badminton Championship in Jakarta. Saina Nehwal, the world number two, was outclassed despite a brave fight, by world number one Carolina Marin of Spain. The Indian lost 16-21, 19-21.

It was the second successive loss in a major final for Saina even though the silver medal she settled for is the best performance by an Indian in the showpiece. Saina had incidentally lost to the same opponent in the All England Championships final earlier this year.

Anirban creates history by finishing tied 5th in PGA

Anirban Lahiri scaled a new high for Indian golf by finishing tied for fifth at the PGA Championship, the first time an Indian golfer has finished in the top-five of one of golf’s four Majors. The 28-year-old, who hit the global golf headlines with stunning wins in the Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open in a span of three weeks, will return to top-50 in the new rankings and is also a near-certainty for the International Team for the President’s Cup in Incheon, Korea in October.

 Current Affairs One-liners

  • Pratyaksha Hastaantarit Laabh (PAHAL) scheme is selected as the world’s largest cash transfer program by the Guinness Book of World Records. As on date, 13.9 crore LPG consumers have joined the PAHAL scheme.
  • Ajinkya Rahane became the first non-wicket-keeper to take eight catches in a single Test match. No outfielder had managed to take more than 7 catches in a match and the 27-year-old walked into the record books when he caught Rangana Herath at slip off Amit Mishra in Sri Lanka’s second innings.
  • 12th of August has been celebrated as the International Youth Day. The first International Youth Day was observed on 12th August 2000 by the United Nations to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth. The theme of International Youth Day 2015 : Youth Civic Engagement.