June 9th 2014 - Daily Current Affairs

KV Chowdary appointed as new Central Vigilance Commissioner

• President Pranab Mukherjee has appointed KV Chowdary new Central Vigilance Commissioner.
• He was appointed by President on the recommendation of Select committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprising of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh as well as Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge.
•  He is 1978-batch IRS officer of the Income Tax cadre. He also had served as Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), an apex authority of the Indian Income Tax department.
• Prior to this appointment Mr. Chowdary was working as the adviser to the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team which is probing black money cases.

About Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)

• CVC was set up by the Union Government in February 1964 on the recommendations of the K. Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption.
• The CVC is an apex body of Union Government formed to address governmental corruption.
• It has the status of statutory autonomous body and free of control from any executive authority as per the provisions of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act, 2003.
• The CVC is headed by a Central Vigilance Commissioner and has two Vigilance Commissioners.

Appointment: Central Vigilance Commissioner and has two Vigilance Commissioners are appointed by President on the recommendations of select committee comprising of Prime Minister as Chairperson, Union Minister of Home Affairs and Leader of the second largest party in the Lok Sabha or majority group leader in parliament.

 Functions: To monitor all vigilance activity under the Union Government and advise various authorities in Union Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work. Nittoor Srinivasa Rau was the first Chief Vigilance Commissioner of India.

Indian Railways ink MoU with IIT-BHU for research work

• Indian Railways has inked Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi for research and development work.
• This MOU is part of Malaviya Chair for Railway Technology, Varanasi. The MoU was been signed by Railway Board Advisior R K Verma and IIT (BHU)- Director, Professor Rajeev Sangal in the presence of Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.
• The pact envisages for upgradation of Railway tracks for High speed trains and developing indigenous raw material for the industry in lines with Make India Programme.
• Apart from singing MoU it was also announced to set up Malaviya Chair Committee to supervise research work. The chair is being named after freedom fighter and Bharat Ratna recipient Madan Mohan Malaviya who was the founder of Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
•  Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu also dedicated 1500th rail engine “Gaurav” for public services from Diesel locomotive works (DLW) at Maduadeeh, Varanasi

World’s first ‘feeling’ prosthetic leg fitted in Austria

• World’s first prosthetic (artificial) leg capable of simulating the feelings of a real limb and fighting phantom pain was unveiled by researchers in Vienna, Austria.
• The first of its kind medical innovation is the result of a two-fold process which is developed by Professor Hubert Egger at the University of Linz, Austria.
• This prosthetic leg was fitted on Wolfgang Rangger who had lost his right leg in 2007.

 Key facts

• The new feeling prosthetic leg was rewired to remaining foot nerve endings from Rangger’s stump to healthy tissue in the thigh by surgeons.
• Six sensors are fitted to the foot sole of prosthesis which are relayed to a micro-controller and linked to stimulators inside the shaft where the stump sits.
• These small sensor devices measure the pressure of heel, toe and foot movement and send these signals to the brain every time Rangger takes a step or applies pressure.
• The sensors also tell the brain there is a foot and the wearer has the impression that it rolls off the ground when he walks.
• The prosthesis also provides another remarkable function i.e. eradicate the excruciating phantom pain Mr Rangger had experienced for years following his amputation.
• This pain occurs because the brain gets increasingly sensitive as it seeks information about the missing limb.
• Earlier in 2010, Austrian scientist he presented a mind-controlled prosthetic arm or bionic hand which allowed the amputee to feel sensations from their fingers.

Cyclonic Storm Ashobaa: First Tropical storm of the season

• Cyclonic storm Ashobaa in Arabian Sea is the first tropical storm of the pre-monsoon season in the Indian seas.
• The cyclonic storm was formed after intensified deep depression (low pressure zone) was developed over east central Arabian Sea about 590 km west southwest of Mumbai, 470 km southwest of Veraval (Gujarat) and 960 km east-southeast of Masirah Island (Oman).
• After its formation the cyclonic storm has moved northwestwards. The system has potential to intensify further. But this cyclonic storm will not hit Indian states severely as it has further moved north-northwesterly direction towards Oman.
•  Northwestern coastal states of India such as Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Karnatakawill only face strong winds along with showers. Naming
• The name Ashobaa to this tropical storm was given by Sri Lanka which is one of eight countries that are naming tropical cyclones in North Indian Ocean region on rotational basis.
• The series of naming by countries is Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The last cyclone called Nilofer (2014) was suggested by Pakistan. Next cyclone formed in future will have name Komen, suggested by Thailand. Advantages of naming cyclones/ storms: Provide easy communication between forecasters and the general public regarding forecasts and warnings. Since the storms occur in the same basin at the same time, names can reduce the confusion about what storm is being described.

Vijai Sharma appointed as new Chief Information Commissioner

• President Pranab Mukherjee has appointed Vijai Sharma as Chief Information Commissioner. He will have tenure of for 5 years or till they attain the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
• Vijai Sharma is a 1974 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh Cadre. Prior to this appointment he was serving as information commissioner in Central Information Commission since 2012.
• He has rich work experience in Administration & Governance and Law & Policy in Central and State Governments and United Nations.
•  He also had served as Environment secretary. Background Vijai Sharma’s name for Chief Information Commissioner was finalized on June 1, 2015 by selection committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprising Union minister Arun Jaitley as well as Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge.

About Central Information Commission

• The Right To Information (RTI) Act, 2005 provides for establishment of Central and State information commissioner as a designated statutory authority to receive and inquire into a complaint from any person.
• The general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the Commission are vested in the Chief Information Commissioner, who is assisted by the Information Commissioners.
• Under the CIC, the Chief Information Commissioner enjoys complete financial and administrative powers of a Department of the Government of India except in matters relating to the creation of posts, re-appropriation and writing-off losses for which it needs the specific concurrence of the Ministry of Finance.

 Appointment: The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a selection committee comprising of Prime Minister as Chairperson, the leader of single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.

Tenure: Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioner hold office for a term of 5 years or till he attains the age of 65 years.

The Chief Information Commissioner is not eligible for reappointment. Wajahat Habibullah was India’s first Chief Information Commissioner. He was appointed on 26 October 2005.