1) NASA tests rocket booster for space mission

a) NASA recently tested its most powerful rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), carrying 13 CubeSats and an uncrewed Orion Spacecraft will be launched in 2018.

b) The booster was tested at a cold motor conditioning target of 4.4 degrees Celsius – the colder end of its accepted propellant temperature range. When ignited it reached a temperature of 3,300 degree Celsius.

c) SLS’ first flight, referred to as Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), will provide the rare opportunity for these small experiments to reach deep space destinations, as most launch opportunities for CubeSats are limited to low-Earth orbit.

2) Amul is India’s official sponsor to the Olympics

a) India’s leading food product company, Amul, has declared to officially sponsor the Indian contingent to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

b) During the campaign, the company will launch a series of advertising campaigns for milk and other dairy products. Also, it will sport special branding to boost this association.

c) Amul has embarked upon an ‘Eat Milk with Every Meal’ campaign. It also sponsored the Indian contingent at the London Olympics in 2012.

3) Govt launches web portal to monitor environmental approvals for mining of minerals

a) A new web portal has been launched for online submission and checking of environmental approvals for mining of sand and minor minerals.

b) The portal will ensure empowerment of the project proponent, as it will not only improve transparency of the entire application process, but also enable proponents to track their applications online.

c) The web-based application automates the entire tracking of proposals, which includes online submissions of a new proposal, editing/updating the details of proposals at each stage of the workflow. The system is based on web architecture.

d) Some of the features of the application include- submission of all projects in a single window interface; checking delays in the clearance process; a unique ID for each proposal for future reference; On-the-fly generation of all required reports; automatic mailer notification to take instant action; accessible from any PC having internet facility and different types of privileges/roles for users as per their responsibilities.

4) Maharashtra, Tata Power to ink pact for 1,000 MW for Mumbai

a) With an intent to fulfill power requirements and boost the transmission capacity for Mumbai region, Maharashtra Govt has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Tata Power for sourcing 1,000 MW from the upcoming Dherand Thermal Project.

b) A series of power subsidies have been announced for industries located in Vidarbha, Marathwada, Northern Maharashtra and other areas of the State, which have been classified as D and D-plus industrial areas.

c)The subsidies were announced by a committee after a 13-month study of the power situation in the State. The subsidies are applicable with retrospective effect from April 1, 2016.

d) The subsidies in the backward regions have been provided to make the areas viable.

5) World Bank, ISA sign agreement for collaboration in solar energy

a) World Bank has signed an agreement worth $1 bn to support India’s Solar mission. As a part of the agreement, the World Bank Group will also collaborate with the 121-member International Solar Alliance, headquartered in India, with the aim of attracting $1 trillion in investments by 2030 to promote solar energy worldwide.

b) The projects included under the support of World Bank are solar rooftop technology, infrastructure for solar parks and bringing innovative solar and hybrid technologies to market and transmission lines for solar-rich states.

c) An agreement was signed for a $625-million grid-connected rooftop solar programme. The project will finance the installation of at least 400MW of solar photovoltaic installations that will provide clean, renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by displacing thermal generation.

6) India-Israel co-developed MR-SAM missile successfully test-fired

a) India successfully test fired a new surface-to-air missile, developed jointly with Israel, from a defence base off Odisha coast.

b) This medium range missile (MR-SAM) is a product of joint venture between India and Israel and was successfully test launched from a mobile launcher in the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.

c) Named as Barak-8 missile, it was co-developed by the Defence Research Development Laboratory (DRDL) of DRDO in partnership with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

d) Apart from the missile, the system includes a Multi Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF STAR) for detection, tracking and guidance of the missile.

7) Writer Alvin Toffler dies

a) The Author of ‘Future Shock’, Alvin Toffler, passed away at the age of 87 years in his sleep.

b) One of the most famous futurists, he authored many books including bestsellers like ‘The Third Wave’ and ‘Powershift’.

8) Researcher develops non-invasive method to kill cancer cells in two hours

a) Researchers have recently developed a non-invasive method to destroy cancer cells in a span as less as two hours which can prove beneficial in cases of inoperable or hard to reach tumors.

b) The process involves injecting of nitrobenzaldehyde, which diffuses in the cell. A beam of light is then aimed at the tissue causing it to become acidic and essentially commit suicide.

c) This process destroys almost 90% of target cells. The research findings of this study were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

9) Italian film actor Bud Spencer dies

a) Italian film actor Bud Spencer, the good giant, passed away at the age of 86.

b) Born in Naples as Carlo Pedersoli, he adopted the stage name Bud Spencer, the first name inspired by a beer and the last to honour his favourite star, Spencer Tracy.

c) In his youth, Spencer was the first Italian to swim the 100-meter freestyle in under a minute. He later abandoned his swimming career after the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

d) Italian director Mario Monicelli gave him his first big role in the 1955 film Un eroe dei nostri tempi (A hero of our times).

10) RBI to study Blockchain technology to curtail paper currency

a) The Reserve Bank of India has decided to to set up a committee to study the use of ‘Blockchain’ technology. This technology helps to reduce the use of paper currency.

b) The blockchain is the technical innovation of Bitcoin. The blockchain database is consist of blocks which holds the time stamped batches of valid transactions. The blocks are linked to form a chain with each additional block reinforcing those before it, thus giving the technology its name.

c) The linked block make hacking very tricky and difficult as they have to get access to every copy of database. If the original document or transaction were altered, it will produce a different digital signature.

11) SCO Summit 2016 concludes in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

a) The 2016 Shanghai Cooperation organization Summit was successfully concluded in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

b) This 2 day summit was concluded under the presidentship of Pakistan.

c) In this summit India & Pakistan have signed the Memorandum of Obligation. This memorandum was signed by India & Pakistan to become full member of SCO.

d) India & Pakistan are expected to become full members by the next meeting at Astana, 2017.

12) Malaysia gets 2 women Shariah HC judges

a) Two women, Noor Huda Roslan, 40, and Nenney Syuhaidah Shamsuddin, 41, have been appointed as the Judges of Malaysia’s Islamic Shariah High Court.

b) Shariah High Court, also known as Syriah High Court, refers to Sharia law in Islamic religious law and deals with exclusively Islamic laws, having jurisdiction upon every Muslim in Malaysia.

c) This is the first time in the history of the judiciary of the Muslim-majority country where muslim women have been appointed to the post and marks a positive development for the judiciary.

13) Sameer emerges fastest athlete of 56th National Inter-state Athletics

a) India’s sprinter Sameer Mon emerged as the fastest male athlete in 100m dash in 10.60secs on the third day of 56th National Inter State Senior Championship.

b) Sameer has previously won the inter state titles in 2008 & 2011. He was also the member of the bronze winning Indian 4x100m relay quartet in Delhi Commonwealth Games six years ago.

14) India Post opens ‘My Stamp’ scheme for individuals and corporate

a) India Post has opened up the ongoing scheme of customized printing of ‘My Stamp’ for individuals and corporate also.

b) Under the scheme, an individual or a corporate entity can get their photo or logo printed inside the postage stamp at a price of 12 lakh rupees.

c) As per reports, this time there will be 5000 sheets comprising 60000 postage stamps. These stamps can be used for general postal mail.

d) The plan to go ahead with the scheme of ‘My Stamp’ was reached on specific demands of several like Western Union, SNDT Women’s University, Allahabad High Court and others. So far, My Stamp have been issued for Amazon India and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

e) The scheme was first introduced in India during the World Philatelic Exhibition, ‘INDIPEX-2011’

15) Viswanathan Anand honoured with ‘Honoris Causa’ Doctor of Science degree

a) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) has conferred the Honoris Causa Doctor of Science was conferred on 5 time world champion Viswanathan Anand. He was conferred with this honour during IIT’s 49th convocation ceremony.

b) NITI aayog chairman Arvind Panagariya bestowed the degree to Viswanathan Anand.

16) Royal Enfield announces collaboration with Flipkart to sell its accessories

a) E Commerce giant has joined hands with bike maker Royal Enfield to sell its branded gears and accessories.

b) This is for the first time Royal Enfield has partnered with a third-party for sale of its accessories. Earlier, it used to sell within its own authorised retail network and website.