2 August 2016

Wrestler Narsingh Yadav gets NADA’s clean chit in doping case

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has given clean chit to wrestler Narsingh Yadav in the doping case. With this he can participate in 2016 Rio Olympics. Narsingh Yadav was given clean chit after the NADA disciplinary panel exonerated him from charges of violating anti-doping rules of NADA. It was found that the wrestler was a victim of sabotage done by a competitor and there is no fault and negligence on Narsingh Yadav’s part in case of doping.

Background 

• Narsingh Yadav had tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid methandienone in the out-of-competition doping tests conducted by NADA. 
• Both of his test samples were tested positive for methandienone after they were collected at the National camp in Sonepat, Haryana. 
• After this incident, he was replaced by Parveen Rana to save India’s quota in 2016 Olympics in the 74kg freestyle category of Wrestling.

Novak Djokovic wins 2016 ATP Toronto Masters

Novak Djokovic (World no 1) from Serbia has won the 2016 ATP Toronto Masters also known as the Rogers club title in the men’s single category. In the final match, he defeated Kei Nishikori (World no 6) of Japan by 6-3, 7-5 score. It was Djokovic’s his 66th career title and fourth Canadian title (won in 2007, 2011 and 2012).

About Rogers Cup

•  The Rogers Cup is also known as Canadian Open/Masters. It is held in Toronto (for men) and Montreal (for women). 
• The men’s competition is a Masters 1000 event on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour.
•  The women’s competition is a Premier 5 tournament on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour. The competition is played on hard courts

Parliament passes NIT, Science Education & Research (Amendment) Bill, 2016

The Parliament has passed the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The bill was first passed in Lok Sabha in July 2016 and later in Rajya Sabha in August 2016. Now the bill will go for presidential assent as per Article 111 of Constitution. 

Key Facts 

• The Bill seeks to establish the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Andhra Pradesh as an institute of national importance. 
• The NIT, Andhra Pradesh will be established under the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (NITSER) Act, 2007. 
• The NIT will be deemed as an institute of national importance status as on August 20, 2015, the day on which the Union government approved its establishment.

Anant Maheshwari appointed as President of Microsoft India

Technocrat Anant Maheshwari was appointed as the President of Microsoft India, a subsidiary of US based software giant Microsoft Inc. He will join Microsoft India in September 2016 and will take over operations of the company from January 2017. 

He will succeed Bhaskar Pramanik who retires in March 2017. In his new role in Microsoft India, Maheshwari will be responsible for all of Microsoft’s product, service and support offerings across India.

 About Anant Maheshwari

•  He holds electrical & electronics engineering degree and a master’s degree in economics from Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani. 
• Prior to this appointment he was working as the President of Honeywell India. He was responsible for Honeywell India’s operations in three strategic business groups viz. automation and control solutions and aerospace. 
• In last 12 years, he had held various business leadership roles in Honeywell including that of managing director.