Daily GK Potion – 17th to 19th May 2015

1. 6th edition of National Conference on Nuclear Energy held in New Delhi
   • Sixth edition of National Conference on Nuclear Energy held in New Delhi. The theme of this edition was Nuclear Energy: a Clean Energy option.
   • It was organized by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
2. Centre allocates Rs 5,000 crore for development of AYUSH
   • The government has allocated Rs 5,000 crore for the growth of Department of AYUSH and launched an independent National AYUSH Mission aimed at capacity building for the sector.
   • Unlike other medicinal systems, Ayurveda advocates restoration of health and prevention of disease more than cure of disease.
   • Ayurveda is quite popular, being practised throughout the country, including tribal and remote areas where other modes of therapies are not readily available.
   • India and China are two prominent players in the field of traditional medicines at international level.
3. Vikas Gowda wins bronze in Shanghai IAAF Diamond League
   • Ace India discus thrower Vikas Gowda won a bronze medal in the second leg of the prestigious IAAF Diamond League series.
   • The 31-year-old Gowda hurled the disc to a distance of 63.90m, which he achieved in his fifth and penultimate attempt to finish third behind 2013 World Championships silver medallist Piotr Malachowski (64.65m) of Poland and Robert Urbanek (64.47m), also of Poland.
4. Ethopians create magic at TCS World 10K Bengaluru marathon
   • The Bengaluru city witnessed some of the most accomplished track and field and road runners as the TCS World 10K Bengaluru got underway for the eighth time in the city.
   • Amongst the international category of World 10K for Elite Men, the Ethiopians dominated proceedings as Mosinet Geremew stole the show.
5. Indian-American Wins Prestigious Police Award in Texas
   • Harkeert Singh Saini, an 44-year-old Indian-American policeman has been awarded the prestigious “Top Civilian Supervisor of the Year” award for his efficient services to the Houston Police department in the US state of Texas.
   • Saini, a police records supervisor has been working for the Houston Police department for the last 15 years.
   • Saini, a graduate from Deshbandu College in New Delhi, hails from Hoshiarpur in Punjab. He came to the city in 1998, joined Houston Police Department in March 2000 and was subsequently promoted as an office supervisor in the following years.
6. India and South Korea sign 7 pacts
   • The agreements were signed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with South Korean President Park Geun-hye.
   • The India-South Korea Double Taxation Avoidance Convention signed in 1985 has been revised with a view to avoiding the burden of double taxation on taxpayers in the two countries.
   • The two nations also agreed to cooperate in audio-visual co-production.The agreement in this regard is being signed under the provisions of India-South Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and would enable co-production of films, animation and broadcasting programmes
   • The two nations also signed an MOU for cooperation between the National Security Council Secretariat of India and the Office of National Security of South Korea.
   • An  MOU was signed between the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of South Korea on cooperation in the field of electric power development and new energy industries.
   • The two nations also signed an MoU to strengthen and encourage cooperation on youth matters through participation in events and activities through exchanges, international conferences, seminars, youth camps, festivals etc.
   • The two sides also signed Framework of Cooperation (FOC) in the Field of Road Transport and Highways.
   • The MoU on cooperation between the two countries in the fields of maritime transport and logistics including through sharing of technologies, information and experiences, the training of seafarers, exchange of experts and port operations etc was also signed.
7. India to assume Presidency of 68th World Health Assembly
   • Jagat Prakash Nadda will preside over the 68th Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) at Geneva.
   • Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, will preside over the 68th Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) at Geneva as India assumes the Presidency of the WHA, the high decision making body of the World Health Organisation (WHO), after a gap of 19 years.
   • The 68th World Health Assembly is expected to deliberate on key issues of global interest including anti-microbial resistance, air pollution and health, global health emergency, preparedness and surveillance, global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property, and research and development in neglected tropical diseases.
8. BJP MP Ahluwalia to head joint parliamentary panel on land bill
   • Former Union minister and BJP MP S S Ahluwalia was today appointed chairman of a Joint Committee of Parliament that will go into the provisions of the controversial land acquisition bill.
   • Ahluwalia is a BJP Lok Sabha member from Darjeeling in West Bengal.
   • Almost the entire Opposition and even some allies of the ruling NDA like Shiv Sena and Swabhimani Pakshya, are against various provisions of the amendment bill brought by the government.
   • The 30-member Joint Committee of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha would submit its report on the first day of Monsoon Session on the bill which has already been passed by the Lower House.

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