Monthly Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2017

Notes:
The Sahitya Akademi has recently declared its 2016 Translation Prize in English language to Sri Aniruddhan Vasudevan for his book titled “One Part Woman”. The book is the English translation of Perumal Murugan’s controversial Tamil novel ‘Maadhorubaagan’. Vasudevan will be felicitated with the award along with other winners of the Sahitya Akademi award in 23 languages in a ceremony in June 2016. The prize consists of a casket containing an engraved copper-plaque and a cheque of Rs. 50,000.

Notes:
Prafulla Samantra, an iconic leader of social justice movements in India, the Goldman Environmental Prize for his historic 12-year legal battle that affirmed the indigenous Dongria Kondh’s land rights and protected the Niyamgiri Hills from a massive, open-pit aluminum ore mine. In this battle, Prafulla has been kidnapped, assaulted and attacked several times by the mining company for his activism and continues to receive threats for his ‘anti-development’ stance. The other 2017 recepients are: Mark Lopez (United States), Uros Macerl (Slovenia), Rodrigo Tot (Guatemala), Rodrigue Mugaruka Katembo (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Wendy Bowman (Australia).

Notes:
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has made a provision enabling people to apply online for passports in Hindi. The move comes after President Pranab Mukherjee recently accepted recommendations made in this regard by the Committee of Parliament on Official Language via its 9th report. The report was submitted in 2011. People can download the application form available in Hindi, fill it in and upload it while applying for the passport. The information regarding passport and visa will also be now made available in Hindi on the official website of the Ministry.

Notes:
Srishti Kaur from India has been crowned Miss Teen Universe 2017 at the Ruben Dario National Theater in Managua, the capital of Central American country Nicaragua. She also won the Best National Costume Award at the prestigious pageant, which featured a peacock – the Indian national bird. The youngster has studied from Lotus Valley International in Noida and is currently pursuing her education at London School of Fashion. Kaur succeeded Nieveles Gonzalez from Puerto Rico as the Miss Teen Universe. Apart from her, Xirelle Agustin from the Philippines won in the Teen Popularity category, while Nicole Obando from Costa Rica won the award for Teen Charm. The pageant is organized by the Miss Universe organization for teens aged 15 to 19.

Notes:
India will give Rs 35 crore to children of freedom fighters in Bangladesh during the next five years under the new ‘Muktijodha scholarship’ scheme. As per the scheme, all freedom fighters are eligible for five years multiple entry Indian visa and 100 of them will be provided free medical treatment in Indian hospitals every year. Apart from this, the students at higher secondary level will get a onetime grant of Taka 20,000 (Rs 15, 3700) and those at under graduate level will get Taka 50,000 (Rs 38,430). Students are selected on the basis of merit from every district for the scheme. India initiated the Muktijodha Scholarship Scheme in 2006 for descendants of the 1971 Freedom Fighters. Up to now, more than 10,000 scholarships worth Tk150 million have been disbursed.

Notes:
Padma Venkataraman, the chairperson of Women’s Indian Association (WIA) and daughter of former President R Venkataraman, has been bestowed with the 2017 Avvaiyar Award by the Tamil Nadu government for her efforts in the areas of women’s welfare and rehabilitation of leprosy-affected persons for the past 30 years. The award which has been instituted to encourage women excel in social reforms, women’s development, communal harmony, arts, science, culture, journalism and administration, carries `1 lakh, a gold medal and a citation.

Notes:
The China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved $160 million loan for Andhra Pradesh – 24×7 Power for All project with an objective to strengthen power transmission and distribution system in the state. It is the first credit from the AIIB for an Indian project. The power project is co-financed by the World Bank (WB). The project is part of the Government of India’s Power for All Program that was launched in 2014 to provide an efficient, reliable and affordable electricity supply to all consumers across selected states within five years from the start of implementation of the program in each state.

Notes:
The Vansda National Park (VNP) is a protected area which represents the thick woodlands of the Dangs and southern Gujarat, and is situated in the Navsari District of Gujarat. It is home to an array of wild animals viz. Indian leopard, rhesus macaque, common palm civet, Hanuman langur, small Indian civet, four-horned antelope, wild boar, Indian porcupine, barking deer, etc. The best time to visit is post-monsoon season till winter when the forests are lush green and streams are full.

Notes:
Adolph Gustav Kiefer (98), the oldest-living Olympic champion, has recently passed away in Wadsworth, Illinois. He was the first man in the world to swim 100-yard backstroke in under one minute. Kiefer was also an inventor and innovator of new products related to aquatics competition.

Notes:
The 7th edition of multinational military exercise “Eager Lion” has started in Jordon from May 8, 2017. Approx 7,400 troops from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Arab Gulf region are taking part in the exercises which run to May 18th, including from United States, Britain, Japan, Kenya, Pakistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The man oeuvres would include border security, cyber defence, and “command and control” exercises, to bolster coordination in response to threats including terrorism. Jordan is a key recipient of US financial aid and a partner in the US-led coalition battling Islamic State group jihadists in Syria and Iraq.