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

No Sand mining without approval : Green Tribunal

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 05 August 2013 ordered a nationwide stay on sand mining on river beds without Environment Ministry clearance.

The interim order came on a petition filed by the NGT Bar Association as a reaction to the suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, who had been overseeing a drive against illegal sand mining in Gautam Budh Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh.

National Green Tribunal Act, 2010  is a federal legislation enacted by the Parliament of India, under India's constitutional provision of Article 21, which assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy environment. The tribunal itself is a special fast-track court to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues

India claimed their first-ever medal Junior Women Hockey World Cup 2013

The Netherlands win the ERGO Hockey Junior World Cup, Argentina take Silver, India claim Bronze in Mönchengladbach,Germany

The reigning champions from the Netherlands defended their title at the ERGO Hockey Junior World Cup. The Dutch girls won the final against Argentina 4-2 in the shoot-out clinching the trophy for a record third time in women’s Junior World Cup history. India claimed their first-ever medal when winning the Bronze medal match against England.

Hassan Rouhani sworn in as president of Iran

Hassan Rouhani, Iran's seventh president since the 1979 Islamic revolution, formally began his four-year presidential term on 3 August 2013.

In a seperate ceremony Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, endorsed his sensational victory in June's presidential election.

Samantha Power sworn in as new US ambassador to UN

Samantha Power on 2 August 2013 took oath to the office of US ambassador to United Nations. Vice-President, Joe Biden administered her, the oath to the office in a ceremony at the White House. Samantha Power succeeded Susan Rice, now the President Barack Obama’s National Security Adviser.

Robert Mugabe declared Winner in Zimbabwe Parliamentary Election 2013.

The incumbent President, Robert Mugabe, was re-elected, whilst his Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front party won a two-thirds majority in the House of Assembly.Robert Mugabe won 61 percent of the vote to claim a seventh term as president. Morgan Tsvangirai finished second with 34 percent of the vote. Mugabe's Zanu-PF party also dominated the parliamentary election winning 160 seats. Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change party won 49 seats

Indian Police Team Bags 11gold, 6 Silver and 4 Bronze Medals at the World Police Games

   At the XV World Police & Fire Games 2013 being held at Belfast Indian Police Team has  displayed a strong performance by winning 8 Gold , 4 Silver  and 4 Bronze Medals so far.

Japan launches talking humanoid robot 'astronaut' Kirobo into space

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the first talking humanoid robot   Kirobo "robot astronaut" into orbit from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan as part of nearly 3.5 tons of supplies and equipment to resupply the space station's six-person crew.  Kirobo was put through a series of zero-gravity and other safety tests prior to sending him into space. Kirobo is 34 centimetres tall and can speak Japanese. It will provide emotional support for people in space.

Kirobo — derived from the Japanese words for hope and robot

Malayalam poetess Sugathakumari gets Saraswati Samman 2012

Renowned Malayalam poetess and social activist Sugathakumari was conferred with prestigious Saraswati Samman award for 2012, instituted by KK Birla Foundation. Sugathakumari was honoured for her collection of poems in Malayalam entitled Manalezhuthu (the writings on the sand) published in 2006.


Sugathakumari social and environmental activist, who has been at the forefront of environmental and feminist movements in Kerala, South India.

Music director V Dakshinamurthy passes away at 94

Venkateswaran Dakshinamoorthy, the veteran  veteran carnatic musician and music director died on 2 August 2013 at his residence in Mylapore, Chennai. He was 94. He has set scores for the songs in over 125 films. He has to his credit as many as 859 songs composed over a period of 50 years. He dominated Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi films, predominantly in Malayalam films.

Russia Granted Asylum to Edward J. Snowden

 Russia granted temporary asylum to Edward Joseph Snowden , an American computer specialist, who worked for the CIA and the NSA and leaked details of several top-secret United States and British government mass surveillance programs to the press.

He left  the United States prior to the publication of his disclosures to Hong Kong. Mean time,

United States federal prosecutors charged Snowden with espionage and theft of government property.  He later moved to Russia where he was given temporary asylum and moved to undisclosed location