1) Centre notifies Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016
a) The Union government has notified the (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 and operationalised some of its provisions, giving a legal shape to UIDAI.
b) The government has also notified that UIDAI has received a legal standing to carry out the appointment of its chairperson and members.
c) A search-cum-selection committee headed by the cabinet secretary and comprising secretaries of DoPT, finance and DEITY, and two experts to be nominated by the communications and IT minister, would recommend names for the chairperson and members for selection by the Government of India.
2) Union cabinet approves disinvestment of 15% in NBCC
a) The cabinet committee on Economic Affairs approved the disinvestment of 15% paid-up equity in NBCC India Ltd. out of government’s 90% share-holding.
b) The disinvestment will be through the offer for sale which is expected to raise Rs. 1,706 crores.
c) It has also been decided to allot additional shares to the eligible and willing NBCC employees at a discount of 5 per cent to the issue/discovered (lowest cut off) price of OFS.
d) Currently, the administrative ministry of Urban Development controls NBCC India. NBCC has interests in construction, engineering and project management consultancy services.
3) Harika Dronavalli wins Fide Women’s Grand Prix trophy in China
a) Indian chess player Harika Dronavalli has won the Fide Women’s Grand Prix in China by defeating Russia’s Olga Girya.
b) Harika finished on seven points in the round robin tournament featuring the world’s top 12 players to be crowned the chess queen in Chengdu.
c) It is her first-ever GP title in her career.
4) Theresa May appointed Prime Minister of United Kingdom
a) After the abrupt resignation of Britain’s former PM David Cameron, Theresa May, a Conservative politician has become Britain’s prime minister.
b) May, the former Interior Minister, has become Britain’s second female leader after Margaret Thatcher.
5) Union Cabinet approves revival of defunct fertilizer units in Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni
a) The Union cabinet has approved the revival of closed urea units of the Fertilizer Corporation India(FCIL) at Sindri in Jharkhand and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, as well as the Barauni unit in Bihar of Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation (HFCL).
b) These units will provide fertilizers in the mentioned regions and also help to save in subsidy on freight otherwise being incurred for transporting urea from distant western and central regions.
c) The fertiliser units were lying defunct since their closure during 1990-2002.
6) Operation ‘Sankat Mochan’ launched to evacuate Indian citizens from South Sudan
a) To evacuate over 300 people stranded in South Sudan, Indian government has started Operation Sankat Mochan.
b) India Minister of state for external affairs VK Singh is leading this rescue operation. Till now, India has sent two C-17 military transport aircraft to south sudan.
c) The South Sudan is witnessing heavy military war between former rebels and government soldiers in several parts of the city. According to the ministry, there are around 600 Indians in South Sudan, of them 450 are in Juba and nearly 150 are outside the capital.
7) Kendrapara sheep gets registered breed status
a) The National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources has formally accorded registered breed status on Kendrapara sheep, an indigenous variety mainly found in Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts of the State.
b) The Kendrapara breed was identified as the second in India and sixth in the world to carry FecB mutation gene responsible for multiple births such as twins and triplets.
c) The research had recorded more than 80 per cent multiple births, 71 per cent twinning, nine per cent triplet and one per cent quadruplets in a period of 12 months.
d) It is the 42nd sheep breed to have been registered in India. In the past, four cattle and two buffalo breeds, all native to Odisha, were registered.
8) Ringside With Vijender authored by Rudraneil Sengupta released
a) Book titled ‘Ringside With Vijender’ authored by Rudraneil Sengupta and published by Juggernaut Books has released.
b) The book describes about the Beijing Olympics bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh’s life post his transition to the world of pro boxing. The book also offers an insight into his struggles, changes in his boxing style, training, and his personal life.
c) Vijender Singh is an Indian professional boxer, born in Haryana. He has won the bronze at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha and also in 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. In 2009 also he has won the bronze medal at the World Amateur Boxing Championships.