Current Affairs 21st July 2015

• India's 1st indigenously designed and developed High Thrust cryogenic rocket engine tested by - ISRO

India's first indigenously designed and developed High Thrust cryogenic rocket engine generating a nominal thrust of 19 tonnes was successfully tested by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri. 

This was hot tested for duration of 800 seconds which is even 25% more than the engine burn duration in flight.

Now this engine will be used for powering the Cryogenic stage (C25), the upper stage of the next generation GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle of ISRO, capable of launching four tonne class satellites.

Do You Know : 

Cryogenic engine of C25 Stage operates on Gas Generator Cycle using extremely low temperature propellants – Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) at 20 Kelvin (-253 deg C) and Liquid Oxygen (LOX) at 80K (-193 deg C). 

•  new CMD of Hero Motors Group - Pankaj Munjal

Mr. Pankaj Munjal was appointed as new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Hero Motors Group, thus he succeeded O P Munjal. O P Munjal was elevated to the 

position of Chairman Emeritus.

• Name of indigenous Visibility Measuring System installed at IGI Airport - DRISHTI

, DRISHTI which is an indigenously designed and developed Visibility Measuring System was installed at IGI Airport, New Delhi. CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), Bengaluru created this system. This system will be used for reporting the runway visual range, which is a critical parameter for safe landing and take-off of aircraft in poor visibility conditions.

The Drishti field site system is completely designed and fabricated at CSIR-NAL. IMD has established the dual mode Landline and Wi-Fi communication along with multiple displays at Air Traffic Control Room and Approach Radar Room. 

• Chairperson of FSSAI - Bhanu Pratap Sharma

 Bhanu Pratap Sharma was appointed as new Chairperson of FSSAI. Bhanu Pratap Sharma is 1981 batch IAS officer of Bihar Cadre.

Sharma was given this additional charge of FSSAI for three months or till the appointment of a regular incumbent. As of now he is working as Secretary of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

• UNSC adopted resolution endorsing - Iran nuclear deal

 United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted a resolution 2231 (2015). That establishes a monitoring system for Iran's nuclear programme.

The resolution 2231 (2015) was supported by representatives of all 15 countries on the Security Council.  The Council's adoption of the current resolution triggers the JCPOA coming into effect in 90 days.

The agreement with Iran was reached on 14 July 2015 in Vienna, Austria. In the agreement, Iran reaffirmed that it will under no circumstances ever seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons. 

• Winner of Best Documentary Producer award at Madrid International Film Festival - Benoy Behl

Among the Important Awards, Best Documentary Producer award at Madrid International Film Festival was bagged by Film-maker Benoy Behl for producing and directing a documentary film titled Indian Roots of Tibetan Buddhism.

He shot this documentary for XPD Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and this documentary was released by Ministry of External Affairs in February 2014.

The film traces the foundation of Tibetan Buddhism to its roots in ancient India's Nalanda University and the hundreds of year-old spiritual relationship that India share with Tibet.

• Name of the Telugu cartoonist who won Grand Prix World Press Cartoon 2014 Award - Pamarthy Shankar

Among the Important Prizes, On 11th July 2015, Grand Prix World Press Cartoon 2014 Award was awarded to Pamarthy Shankar for sketching Nelson Mandela. He was honoured by this award at Cascais in Portugal by World Press Cartoon Director Antonio Antunes.

Renowned cartoonists like Adriana Mosquera Soto, Rainer Ehrt, Ferruccio Giromini, Antonio Antunes and Jaume Capdevila were the jury members. 

Do You Know :

This award carries cash prize of 10000 Euros (1 Euro is Almost 70 Rupees).

• National Career Counselling portal was launched by - Union Government

 Union Government launched National Career Counselling Portal with an aim to modernize all government-run employment exchanges. Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship's project National Career Service (NCS) launched this portal.