1. PSLV Successfully Launches India's Multi Wavelength Space Observatory ASTROSAT
i. Isro on Monday successfully launched India's first astronomy satellite Astrosat, eleven years after the government cleared the project.
ii. A Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C30) carrying Astrosat and six other satellites lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 10am.
iii. In around 25 minutes after liftoff, PSLV-C30 injected Astrosat and other satellites -- four US nano satellites, a microsatellite from Indonesia a nanosatellite from Canada - into their respective orbits. This is the first time India is launching a US satellite.
iv. Astrosat was placed in an orbit 644.651km from earth, as desired. The satellite achieved an expected inclination of 6.002 degree.
2. S K Sharma appointed as Chairman of Bhakra Beas Management Board
i. S K Sharma was appointed as the Chairman of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) with effect from 25 September 2015. Sharma succeeded A B Agrawal, who was Chairman for a period of about five years.
ii. A civil engineering graduate from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, Sharma joined Haryana irrigation and water resources department in 1980 as sub divisional officer.
iii. While working in Haryana Irrigation & Water Resources Department, he has monitored various canal regulation related hydraulic structures, pump houses, canal and drainage network, NABARD projects etc. He has also handled training works on the river Yamuna.
iv. During working as Chief Engineer of Beas Satluj Link (BSL) project, he has been instrumental in successfully running of dredger and other allied works, besides running and maintenance of BSL Water Conductor System.
3. Dr. Jacob Tsimerman wins 2015 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize
i. Mathematician Dr. Jacob Tsimerman from Canada has been chosen for the prestigious 2015 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize.
ii. Presently he is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, Canada and his mathematics research work is primarily in the field of Number Theory and surrounding topics.
iii. He will be conferred with the prize during the International Conference on Number Theory to be held at SASTRA University in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.
iv. The award has been named after great Indian Mathematician autodidact Srinivasa Ramanujan. It was established in 2005 by Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) University.
v. It is an annual award bestowed on young mathematicians for his outstanding contributions to areas of mathematics influenced by the Srinivasa Ramanujan.
4. Union Government formed B S Baswan committee to revisit civil services examination pattern
i. Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in the fourth week of September revealed that an expert committee was constituted to revisit the civil services examination pattern.
ii. The seven member committee was constituted on 12 August 2015 and is headed by B S Baswan. Also, the committee was mandated to submit report within six months from the date of its constitution.
iii. The committee has to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing scheme of the civil services examination in selecting suitable candidates keeping in view various factors such as inclusiveness, fair mix of candidates from different disciplines, etc.
iv. It has to examine the time frame in which the examination is conducted and suggest suitable changes to reduce the time taken for selection of candidates by utilizing information and communication technologies, etc.
5. G-4 countries issue Joint Statement on UNSC Reforms
i. G-4 countries viz Brazil, Germany, India and Japan have issued a Joint Statement on United Nations Security Council Reforms (UNSC).
ii. It was issued after G-4 meeting held in New York,US which was called by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe.
iii. The leaders stressed on more legitimate, representative and effective UNSC reforms to address the global conflicts and crises which have spiralled in recent years. They also shared the view that global conflicts and crises of the international community in the 21st century which can be solved by more Member States representing UNSC.
iv. They unanimously supported the early reforms of the Security Council as an essential element of the overall effort to reform UN with regard to maintenance of international peace and security. They strongly emphasized that the reform of the Security Council should be conducted in a fixed time frame given its urgency.
6. Manipur Governor Dr. Syed Ahmad passes away
i. Manipur Governor Dr Syed Ahmad passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was 75.
ii. He was sworn in as the 16th Governor of Manipur in May 2015. Prior to this he had served as the eighth Governor of Jharkhand from August 2011.
iii. Dr. Ahmad was a senior Congress leader. He had served as the cabinet minister on two occasions during the Congress regime in Maharashtra.
iv. He was elected to Vidhan Sabha (state legislative assembly) for five times from the Nagpada constituency in Mumbai. He also served as a state minister in Maharashtra.
v. Dr. Ahmad was also a writer and has authored Maktal se Manzil, Kafas se Chaman and Jange-Azaadi Me Urdu Shayari. His autobiography is Pagdandi se Shahar Tak.
7. Lewis Hamilton wins 2015 Japanese Grand Prix title of Formula One
i. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain won 2015 Japanese Grand Prix title of Formula One. This was his overall eight victory of the season.
ii. He has won Australia, China, Bahrain, Canada, United Kingdom, Belgium and Italy 2015 Grand Prix titles of Formula One.
iii. It should be noted Lewis Hamilton has won highest number as compared to any other British driver in the history of Formula One. He is currently 5th on the all-time list of F1 with 41 wins.
iv. It is the 66th season of the Formula One World Championship which is a motor racing championship for Formula One cars. The championship has been recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the sport’s governing body as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars.
v. 2015 season began in March 2015 starting in Australia with participation 22 drivers representing ten teams. The season is going to end in Abu Dhabi on 29 November 2015.
8. Pankaj Advani wins 2015 IBSF World Billiards Championship
i. India’s ace cueist Pankaj Advani has won 2015 IBSF World Billiards Championship (Time Format) in Adelaide, Australia. It was his overall 14th World title.
ii. He won 2015 IBSF World title by defeating Peter Gilchrist of Singapore by 1168 points.
iii. Advani is 14-time World Billiards and Snooker Champion. He is only player in the world to win world titles in all formats of both, Billiards and Snooker.
iv. He is the first cueist in the world to win the Grand double three times in 2005 and 2008 respectively.
v. In recognition of his achievements in sports, Union Government has bestowed several awards upon him including Arjuna Award (2004), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2006), Padma Shri (2009).
9. September 27: World Tourism Day
i. Every year World Tourism Day (WTD) is observed on September 27 to raise awareness about the importance of tourism.
ii. To mark 2015 WTD, Union Ministry of State for Tourism and Culture established a Medical Tourism and Wellness Board. The board will give a new shape to medical tourism keeping in view its importance in the country.
iii. Union Government also had declared free entry for tourists to nearly 200 ticketed monuments and museums across India except in Bihar as a part of celebrations of 2015 WTD.
iv. United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is flagship initiative of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). It is observed annually since 1980.
v. United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is flagship initiative of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). It is observed annually since 1980. The day marks adaptation of Statutes of the UNWTO on September 27, 1970. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community.
10. Abhinav Bindra wins Gold in Asian Air Gun Championships
i. Ace Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra has clinched gold medal in the men’s 10 metre Air Rifle event of the Asian Air Gun Championships held in New Delhi.
ii. Bindra shot 208.3 points to settle at first position ahead of Kazakhstan’s Yurkov Yuriy (206.6) who is current world number eight and Yu Jaechul (185.3) of South Korea.
iii. In this event, India’s Gagan Narang was placed at fourth position with a score of 164.5 points. While another Indian, Chain Singh placed at seventh position of after notching up 122.7 points.
iv. It should be noted that, Abhinav Bindra had won gold in 2008 Beijing Olympics in 10 metre Air Rifle event becoming first Indian to win individual gold in the prestigious games. Gagan Narang had won a bronze in the same event in 2012 London Olympics.