Gujar Mal Modi Award for Vinod Prakash Sharma

The Gujar Mal Modi Award for Innovative Science and Technology 2013 was awarded to renowned scientist Vinod Prakash Sharma for his achievements in malaria research, control and prevention, including other vector borne diseases.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs 201,000, a scroll of honour and a silver shield. It was given away by physicist M G K Menon.

Sharma is known for his work and contribution in the field of basic and applied research of malaria and vector biology.

He is spearheading the safe water campaign of the National Academy of Sciences and his work on popularization of science, creating awareness and science education programmes of NASI are widely appreciated including in very remote areas.

Turkey conducted the trial Run through rail tunnel under Bosphorus Strait

Turkey has successfully completed a trial run of a rail tunnel connecting Istanbul's European and Asian sides, the first of several planned mega-projects in the country's largest city.

The 13.6km (8.5-mile) tunnel, including a 1.4km immersed tube – the deepest of its kind in the world at 56 metres – passes under the Bosphorus strait, the busy shipping channel linking the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea.

The 13.6 km (8.5 mile) tunnel, including a 1.4 km immersed tube tunnel is the deepest of its kind in the world at 56 metres. It passes under Turkey's Bosphorus Strait, the busy shipping channel linking the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea. The tunnel is part of a larger 5 billion US dollars Marmaray project which also includes an upgrade of existing suburban rail lines to create a 76 km line that according to the government will carry 1.5 million people a day across the city's two sides. - See more at: http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/turkey-completed-a-trial-run-of-worlds-deepest-rail-tunnel-1375784152-1#sthash.T1OQSInS.dpuf

The 13.6 km (8.5 mile) tunnel, including a 1.4 km immersed tube tunnel is the deepest of its kind in the world at 56 metres. It passes under Turkey's Bosphorus Strait, the busy shipping channel linking the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea. The tunnel is part of a larger 5 billion US dollars Marmaray project which also includes an upgrade of existing suburban rail lines to create a 76 km line that according to the government will carry 1.5 million people a day across the city's two sides. - See more at: http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/turkey-completed-a-trial-run-of-worlds-deepest-rail-tunnel-1375784152-1#sthash.T1OQSInS.dpuf

The 13.6 km (8.5 mile) tunnel, including a 1.4 km immersed tube tunnel is the deepest of its kind in the world at 56 metres. It passes under Turkey's Bosphorus Strait, the busy shipping channel linking the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea. The tunnel is part of a larger 5 billion US dollars Marmaray project which also includes an upgrade of existing suburban rail lines to create a 76 km line that according to the government will carry 1.5 million people a day across the city's two sides. - See more at: http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/turkey-completed-a-trial-run-of-worlds-deepest-rail-tunnel-1375784152-1#sthash.T1OQSInS.dpuf

Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi lifts Denmark's Politiken Cup

Parimarjan Negi, the 20-year-old youngest international Grandmaster in chess,  won Politiken Cup 2013 after emerging with a fine score of nine out of a maximum possible 10 points, in Copenhagen, Denmark

The youngest international Grandmaster in chess won the same tournament in 2009, but this time around he finished a full point clear of the field, which included top seed Ivan Cheparinov, who has also been a second for former World champion Veselin Topalov. 

This was Negi’s second title in the last three outings. Last month in the US, Parimarjan won the DC International Open and tied for the top place in the World Open.

USA topped in the 15th FINA World Championship at Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona 2013 15th FINA World Championship that was held from 19 July – 4 August 2013 concluded on 4 August 2013 in Barcelona, Spain.  USA topped in the Championship with an overall haul of 33 medals that included 15 gold, 9 silver and 9 Bronze. It was followed by China and Russia at second and third spot respectively.

Barcelona 2013 15th FINA World Championship that was held from 19 July – 4 August 2013 concluded on 4 August 2013 in Barcelona, Spain.  USA topped in the Championship with an overall haul of 33 medals that included 15 gold, 9 silver and 9 Bronze. It was followed by China and Russia at second and third spot respectively.

Food Security Replacement Bill Introduced in Loksabha

 Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister, Shri K.V.Thomas today introduced National Food Security Bill in Loksabha today to replace the National Food Security Ordinance, 2013 which was promulgated on 5th July, 2013.”

The National Food Security Bill is a historic initiative for ensuring food and nutritional security to the people. It gives right to the people to receive adequate quantity of foodgrains at affordable prices. The Bill has special focus on nutritional support to poorest of the poor, women and children. In case of non-supply of foodgrains now people will get Food Security Allowance. The bill provides for grievance redressal mechanism and penalty for non compliance by public servant or authority. 

Other features of the Bill are as follows:

Raghuram Govind Rajan Appointed as the 23rd Governor of RBI

 Raghuram Govind Rajan, chief economic adviser in the finance ministry on 6 August 2013 named the next governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He will take over from D. Subbarao who demits office on September 4. Rajan will also be among the youngest to occupy the high office at Mint Street in Mumbai and has a tenure of three years.

Rajan is also a visiting professor for the World Bank, Federal Reserve Board, and Swedish Parliamentary Commission. He formerly served as the president of the American Finance Association and was the chief economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Rajan's previous work with the Indian government includes his helmsmanship of a Planning Commission-appointed committee on financial reforms, and as honorary economic adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

New Exoplanet Spotted with Earth-based Telescope

Astronomers have discovered a new exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star 57 light years away. The pink planet is around four times more massive than Jupiter and orbits the star GJ 504 as part of the young 160-million-year-old star system The planet, named GJ 504b, is the lowest mass exoplanet ever to be detected using direct, or visible, imaging techniques. Most exoplanets (planets outside our solar system )- are discovered using indirect methods in which the exoplanet’s existence is inferred, but not actually seen It was discovered by direct imaging using 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope of Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii