20th April 2016

A.Union Government releases commemorative coin to mark Tatya Tope martyrdom day

1.The Union Government has leased a commemorative coin of 200 rupees and a circulation coin of 10 rupees on freedom fighter Tatya Tope. 

2.It was released by the Union Culture Minister Dr. Mahesh on the occasion of the Martyrdom Day of Tatya Tope in New Delhi. 

3.The Union Ministry of Culture has been celebrating the 200th Birth Anniversary of Tatya Tope during 2015-16 in association with State Government of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. 

About Tatya Tope 
1.Tatya Tope was one of the notable generals in India’s First War of Independence (1857-58) i.e. Revolt of 1857. 

2.He was born as Ramachandra Pandurang Tope in Yeola in Nashik District of Maharashtra. He was most intimate friend of Nana Dhundu Pant (also known as Nana Saheb) of Bithur who was adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao-II. 

3.Tatya Tope had revolted against British after Nana Saheb was deprived of his father’s pension by then Governor General Lord Dalhousie under the Doctrine of Lapse in 1851. 

4.In May 1857, after the rebellion political storm had gained momentum he had won over the Indian troops of the East India Company stationed at Kanpur.

B.Deepak Mishra appointed as ADG of CRPF

1.Senior IPS officer Deepak Mishra has been appointed as Additional Director General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). 

2.His appointment was cleared by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).  He will have tenure till November 2018 with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post. 

3.Deepak Mishra is IPS officer of the 1984 batch of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre. 

About Central Reserve Police Force (CRFP) 
1.CRPF is the largest statutory Central Armed Police Forces in India. 

2.It functions and operates under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It was established in 1939, under Crown Representative’s Police but after independence it was made statutory Central Reserve Police Force after the enactment of the CRPF Act, 1949. 

3.At present CRPF is the world’s largest paramilitary force with 228 battalions and over three lakh personnel. 

4.Its primary role is to assist States/Union Territories (UTs) in police operations to maintain law and order and contain insurgency.

C.RIC Forum pitches to deepen cooperation in combating terrorism

1.The 14th meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Russia, India and China (RIC) Forum have vowed to deepen cooperation in combating terrorism. 

2.The meeting was held in Moscow, Russia and was attended Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Union Minister of Foreign Affairs Sushma Swaraj, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi took. 

Key highlights of 2016 
1.RIC Forum The Ministers discussed various aspects of trilateral cooperation on global and regional issues. 

2.They pitched for progress in strengthening the international legal framework underlying the modern world order and neutralisation of common challenges. 

3.They also have pitched for setting up of a broad counter-terrorist front with the UN playing a central role and stepping up efforts to combat global drug threat. 

4.They also discussed on creating a new security and cooperation architecture in the Asia-Pacific region. 

5.They also exchanged views to the situation in the North Africa, Middle East including Syria, and the situation in Afghanistan and Ukraine.

D.2016 Laureus World Sports Awards

1.World No 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic from Serbia has won the 2016 Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award. 


2.He has won it for second time after winning it in 2012. US tennis legend Serene Williams has won the 2016 Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Award. 

3.It was her fourth Laureus Awards after she won it in 2003, 2007 and 2010. 

4.The 2016 Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony for the first time was held in Berlin, Germany. 

5.The awards are dubbed as Oscar of the sports and are bestowed on sportspersons in different categories. 2016 Laureus World Sports Awardees Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic (Tennis), Serbia. 

6.Sportswoman of the Year: Serena Williams (Tennis), United States. Team of the Year: New Zealand National Rugby team. Comeback of the Year: Dan Carter (Rugby), New Zealand. Breakthrough of the Year: Jordan Spieth (Golf), United States. Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Daniel Dias (Paralympic swimmer), Brazil.