1st March 2016

Indira Gandhi International Airport wins three international awards

1.Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has won three international awards for 2015 year given by the Airports Council International (ACI). 

2.In the ACI’s Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey, IGAI has scored 4.96 on a scale of 1 to 5. IGIA has won Retained World’s number one airport for consecutive second year in 25 to 40 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) category. 

3.Best airport by size & region Asia Pacific (25-40 MPPA). Second best airport by region (Asia Pacific). 

4.ASQ is the key to understanding how to increase passenger satisfaction and improve business performance. 

5.The ACI is a trade association of the world’s airports and was founded in 1991 that aims at providing the public with a secure, safe, efficient and environmentally responsible air transport system.

6. IGIA is run by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a joint venture between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and GMR Group-led consortium which include Fraport and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad.


Rahul Sachdev wins 1st All India Open Invitational Snooker Championship 2016

1.Rahul Sachdev has won the first All India Open Invitational Snooker Championship 2016 held at Aurangabad in Maharashtra. 

2.In the final match, Rahul defeated Pushpender Singh of Indian Railways by 5-3 score. 

3.It was his maiden title and is considered as major breakthrough in his career after winning this title. 

4.To reach final, Rahul had defeated Laxman Rawat of Indian Railways by 5-1 score whereas Pushpender Singh had defeated Kamal Chawla of Indian Railways by 5-1 score in the semifinals. 

5.All India Open Invitational Snooker Championship 2016 was organized by Billiards and Snooker Association of Aurangabad and was not having any relation with Cue Sports India.

Mahesh Kumar Singla committee constituted to consider ST status to 6 communities of Assam

1.The Union Government has constituted a committee to consider Scheduled Tribe status to six Communities of Assam. 

2.These six Communities are Koch Rajbongshi, Moran, Matak, Tai Ahom, Chutia and Adivasi (Tea Tribes).

3. It will be headed by Mahesh Kumar Singla, Special Secretary (Internal Security) Ministry of Home Affairs. 

Key facts 

1.The committee has been constituted by Union Home Ministry in consultation with the Government of Assam. 

2.It has been tasked to recommend the modalities for granting of Scheduled Tribe status for the required reservations to the 6 Communities in Assam. 

3.It will also look into modalities for shifting the existing reservation for these communities from Other Back Class (OBC) status to ST for protecting their interests to ensure fairness of reservations.


7th India-Seychelles Joint Training ‘Ex Lamitye’ concludes

1.The 7th edition of India, Seychelles joint military exercise LAMITYE 2016 concluded in Victoria, Mahe Island, Seychelles. The fourteen day exercise was conducted at Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA), Victoria from February 15 to 28, 2016. 

Key facts 

1.The aim of joint bilateral military exercise was to improve interoperability between armies of both countries in jointly fighting Counter Terrorism/ Counter Insurgency. 

2.Indian contingent was represented by an infantry platoon and representatives from the Special Forces. Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) was represented by the Tazar (Special Forces Unit) and Seychelles Infantry. 

3.This edition mainly focused on interoperability in drills related to Counter Insurgency/ Terrorism, along with number of training activities and exercises Exercise Sea Hunt was also conducted which was culmination of cordon & Search operations in anti-piracy setting enmeshed with hostage rescue operations. 

Background

1.India and Seychelles are conducting joint military drill ‘Exercise Lamitye’ since 2001. Lamitye in Creole (local dialect of Seychelles) means friendship. 

2.The exercise is conducted biennially with the aim of enhancing military cooperation and interoperability between the Armed Forces of two countries.

Former CJI HL Dattu takes over as Chairman of NHRC

1.Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) HL Dattu took charge as the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). 

2.With this, he becomes the seventh Chairman of the NHRC, highest government institution protecting human rights of citizens. 

About H L Dattu 

1.Born as Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu on 3 December 1950 in Chikmagalur in then Mysore State. 

2.He had started his legal career in 1975 after enrolling as an advocate in Bangalore and dealt with all types of matters like criminal, civil, tax and Constitutional cases. 

3.1983 onwards he had appeared in various capacities before the Karnataka High Court including as government pleader for sales tax department etc. 

4.He was designated as a senior standing counsel for I-T department. Later in 1995, he was elevated as a judge of the Karnataka High Court. In 2007, he was elevated as the Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court and later was shifted in the same capacity to the Kerala High Court. 

5.He was 42nd Chief Justice of India from September 28, 2014 to December 2, 2015. He has several landmark judgments to his credit dealing with protection of Fundamental Rights of citizens and principles of law. 

About National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) 

1.NHRC is apex statutory watchdog of human rights in the country, i.e. the rights related to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the international convents. Formed as per the statutory provisions of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. 

2.It is multimember body consisting of Chairman and four members. President appoints the Chairman and members of the NHRC on the recommendation of the high-powered committee headed by the Prime Minister. 

3.The committee includes Prime Minister (Head), Lok Sabha Speaker, Union Home Minister, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.