Assam Current Affairs – August 15-21, 2018
( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of August 15-21, 2018 )
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August 15
India celebrates 72nd Independence Day
Every year India celebrates 15th of August as Independence Day to commemorate the day India got independence from British rule, after the UK Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act 1947 transferring legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly. India still retained King George VI as head of state until its transition to full republican constitution.
India attained independence following the Independence Movement noted for largely non-violent resistance and civil disobedience led by the Indian National Congress (INC). Independence coincided with the partition of India, in which the British India was divided along religious lines into the Dominions of India and Pakistan; the partition was accompanied by violent riots and mass casualties, and the displacement of nearly 15 million people due to religious violence.
On 15 August 1947, the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru raised the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi. On each subsequent Independence Day, the incumbent Prime Minister customarily raises the flag and gives an address to the nation.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launches Biju Swasthya Yojana
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched a new health scheme, the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, on 15th Aug on the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day.
The Odisha government had rejected the National Health Protection scheme, widely called the Modicare scheme, as it covered much lesser number of people in Odisha by adopting the 2011 census.
The Odisha government has gone ahead with its own Biju Swasthya Yojana with an extended coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per year. The amount is Rs 7 lakh for women.
FACTFILE – The Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana or BKKY
- It is a health insurance scheme for the farmers in the state of Odisha, India.
- The Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana (BKKY) was launched in Angul district of Odisha to provide people financial support through health and accident insurance.
- There are many hospitals, Community Health Centre (CHCs) in each district of Odisha under Biju Krushak Kalya Yojana (BKKY) to provide people health care with low cost.
Smitha Crishna tops the list of India’s richest women list
Kotak Wealth-Hurun, for the first time, has compiled a list of India’s wealthiest women, which features the heir of the Godrej empire, Smitha Crishna, as India’s richest woman.
Kotak Wealth-Hurun used multiple parameters including industry parameters like price-to-earnings, price-to-sales etc. to calculate wealth and prepare the list. The ranking recognizes India’s leading women, viz. entrepreneurs, businesswomen, investors and inheritors. The report acknowledges the Indian woman’s role in creating wealth in one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Smitha Crishna’s top-ranked net worth of Rs. 37,570cr is followed by HCL CEO and Executive Director Roshni Nadar’s Rs. 30,200cr. Occupying the third spot is Times Group chairperson, Indu Jain, with a net worth Rs. 26,240cr. Fourth is the Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw with a net worth of Rs. 24,790cr, the only self-made woman in the list. Fifth is HCL’s Kiran Nadar (Rs. 20,120cr).
The youngest woman in the rankings is Outcome Health co-founder Shradha Agarwal, with a net worth of Rs. 8,200cr. In a sector-wise breakdown, 22% of India’s top 100 wealthiest women come from the pharmaceutical sector, while 18% hail from the software services sector.
August 16
Former Indian Test captain Ajit Wadekar passed away
Former Indian captain Ajit Wadekar passed away on 15th Aug in Mumbai, at the age of 77.
Born in Mumbai, Wadekar made his international debut in 1966 against West Indies. Ajit Wadekar was the captain of the Indian side that won the series in England and West Indies. Wadekar was India’s first ODI captain, although he appeared in just two matches.
Wadekar also served as India’s manager in the ’90s during Mohammed Azharuddin’s tenure as captain. He later went on to become the chairman of selectors as well.
In 1967, the Government of India bestowed Wadekar with the Arjuna Award. He received the Padma Shri Award, the country’s fourth highest civilian honour. He was also awarded with CK Nayudu Lifetime achievement award, Sportsperson of the Year, and the Castrol Lifetime Achievement award.
All-women SWAT team guards Red Fort
India’s first all-women SWAT team from the north-east beamed with pride as guarded the historic Red Fort on the Independence Day. The SWAT unit was formed in 2009 in the wake of 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai, to counter terror operations in highly complicated situations.
The 36-member all-women Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team has been trained by the NSG for anti-terrorism duty under the Delhi Police’s Special Cell.
They are equipped with AK-47 rifles, MP5 machine guns, Glock 17 or 26 pistols and corner shot devices for enhanced night vision.
The women commandos were also trained in Krav Maga, which is a self-defence system developed for the Israel Defence Forces.
The women commandos were trained to undertake complex operations during terrorist attacks at crowded markets, residential complexes or government premises.
The commandos are further equipped with a pencil torch, bulletproof helmet, bulletproof jacket, a cutter and a commando dagger. They also wear special knee and elbow pads for protection during covert operations.
Anandiben Patel takes oath as Governor of Chhattisgarh
Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, who has been given the additional charge of Chhattisgarh following the death of governor Balramji Dass Tandon, was sworn in at a ceremony. Chhattisgarh High Court Chief Justice Ajay Kumar Tripathi administered the oath of office to Patel during a simple function at the Raj Bhawan.
President Ram Nath Kovind gave Patel the additional charge of Chhattisgarh following the demise of Tandon, Patel will discharge the additional duties until regular arrangements for the office of the governor of Chhattisgarh are made.
Term of Governor– The governors and lieutenant-governors are appointed by the president for a term of five years.
Qualifications – Article 157 and Article 158 of the Constitution of India specify eligibility requirements for the post of governor. They are as follows:
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- be a citizen of India.
- be at least 35 years of age.
- not be a member of the either house of the parliament or house of the state legislature.
- not hold any office of profit.
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