Current Affairs 21st February 2015

Current Affairs 21st February 2015 - Important Points

• Which Filmmaker has passed away recently - Nirad Mahapatra

• For what did the KVIC and RSETIS signed a MoU - To provide vocational training to unemployed youth

• Who is appointed as the Independent Director on RIL Board - Maheshwar Sahu

• Name the CPI Leader who has passed away - Govind Pansare

• Who has been appointed as the Chief of ISRO's Space Applications Centre - Tapan Misra

• Which Country has passed a law banning commercial surrogacy - Thailand's interim parliament

Current Affairs 21st February 2015 - Details

Which Filmmaker has passed away recently - Nirad Mahapatra

On 19th February 2015, Eminent Odia filmmaker Nirad Mahapatra passed away at the age of 67. Mahapatra was best known for his ecological,industrial and cultural documentaries. From 1972-1974, Mahapatra was a lecturer at FTII and had taught acclaimed directors like Ketan Mehta, Saeed Mirza and Vidhu Vinod Chopra. He was also in the Board of Directors of FTII.

For what did the KVIC and RSETIS signed a MoU - To provide vocational training to unemployed youth

On 20th February 2015, Monitoring Cell for Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) and The Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide vocational training to unemployed youth. RSETI is under the Union Ministry of Rural Development and KVIC is under the Union Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises. The MoU was signed by KN Janardhana, Chief Project Co-ordinator of Monitoring Cell for RSETIs and BH Anil Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Commissioner for KVIC. The MoU was signed to enhance the project-related skills and business skills of the beneficiaries under Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) and improve the growth of the PMEGP project which is being implemented by KVIC.

Who is appointed as the Independent Director on RIL Board - Maheshwar Sahu

On 20th February 2015, Retired IAS officer, Maheshwar Sahu was appointed as an Independent Director on the board of Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). With this appointment, Sahu joins RIL as one of the eight independent directors on its 14-member board. Sahu is famously known as the individual behind the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brainchild event- Vibrant Gujarat Summit. He holds 15 years of practical experience in industries including that of more than 5 years in Union Government and more than 23 years of experience in civil service. Sahu had also served as Additional Chief Secretary (Industries and Mining) in Gujarat government and as Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation.

Name the CPI Leader who has passed away - Govind Pansare

On 20th February 2015, Govind Pansare, leader of Communist Party of India (CPI), passed away at the age 82. On 16 February 2015, Pansare was shot along with his wife Uma by unidentified persons near his house in Kolhapur. He was threatened and abused for speaking against the glorification of Nathuram Godse at a gathering. Pansare was leading a campaign against the collection of toll in Maharashtra. He had written 21 books and most of them were on the wrong practices in the society.

Who has been appointed as the Chief of ISRO's Space Applications Centre - Tapan Misra

On 20th February 2015, Scientist Tapan Misra was appointed as the Chief of ISRO’s Space Applications Centre (SAC). Formerly, Tapan Misra was Deputy Director of Microwave Remote Sensing Area in SAC.

About Tapan Misra

• He is a electronics and telecommunication engineering graduate from Jadavpur University, Kolkata.
• In 1984 he started his career at SAC as a digital hardware engineer.
• He was lead designer for the development of C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) of India’s Radar Imaging Satellite-1 (RISAT-1).
• He was awarded with Hari Om Ashram Prerit Vikram Sarabhai research Award (2004), ISRO Merit award (2008), Sir JC Bose National Talent Search (JBNSTS) Scholarship (1981).

Which Country has passed a law banning commercial surrogacy - Thailand's interim parliament

On 19th February 2015, Parliament of Thailand (National Legislative Assembly) passed a law banning commercial surrogacy for putting a halt on foreign couples seeking to have children through Thai surrogate mothers. The legislation is aimed at ending rent-a-womb industry that made the Southeast Asian country a top destination for fertility tourism.

Main provisions of law banning commercial surrogacy

• Ban on foreign couples seeking to have children through Thai surrogate mothers.
• Only couples with one Thai partner or married Thai couples who have been married at least three years can seek surrogacy.
• Thai couple will only be allowed to seek a surrogate to carry the fetus only if they are able to prove that they and their relatives are infertile.
• Anyone violating this law will have to face a maximum jail sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of 6100 US dollars.