UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH/24/2015

 CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH/24/2015

1. 'AMARAVATI' TO BE THE NEW CAPITAL OF ANDHRA PRADESH. 

The town, some 32 km from the ancient Buddhist centre of Amravati, is situated at the banks of river Krishna.

The historical town attracts attention for a famous Buddhist Stupa and a temple of Lord Shiva among many other sites worth visiting.

As per historical data, Amaravati and nearby locations including Dharanikota served as capital of Satavahanas and later to other rulers.

2. TO REIN IN TOUTS, RAILWAYS RESTRICT SALE OF E-TICKETS DURING PEAK HOURS. 

One user login can now generate just one booking before its forced out of the session.

This restriction will be applicable while booking of e-ticket between 8 AM to 12 PM (4 hours).

The new rule - however - excludes defence booking under warrant, and the cases of booking onward journey/ return journey through e-tickets.

3. INDIAN ECOLOGIST 'MADHAV GADGIL' IS HONOURED WITH PRESTIGIOUS 'TYLER PRIZE' FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT 2015. 

He will share the $200,000 cash prize with American marine ecologist Dr Jane Lubchenco.

Both have been recognized for their significant contributions in the development of conservation and sustainability policies with their efforts.

The 'Tyler Prize' is awarded for work in the areas of environmental science, environmental health, and energy.

The prize is administered by the University of Southern California and was established by John and Alice Tyler in 1973.

Prof Gadgil has served as the Chairman of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP).

4. MAHARASHTRA TO MAKE SELLING GUTKA A NON-BAILABLE OFFENCE. 

The Sale & Manufacture of gutka is already banned in Maharashtra, but the administration is struggling to enforce it in the face of rampant smuggling from the neighbouring state where its legal.

The new law will render possessing or selling 'gutkha' (including scented beetle nuts, tobacco or lime paste) a non-bailable offense with a provision to send offender into 3-5 years of rigorous imprisonment coupled with cancellation of license.

6. INDIAN NAVY LAUNCHES ITS 4TH LANDING CRAFT UTILITY (LCU) SHIP - IN A SERIES OF 8 - AT THE GARDEN REACH SHIPBUILDERS AND ENGINEERS LTD (GRSE), KOLKATA. 

The ship is called 'Yard 2095' and has been constructed under the Mk IV project.

These ships will play significant role in transportation of main battle tanks, armoured vehicles and troops of the Indian Army during amphibious operations.

The ship can be deployed for maritime roles like maritime security, beaching and un-beaching operations, humanitarian relief operations and evacuation from distant islands, search and rescue operations besides peacekeeping missions

7. CLRI DEVELOPS A "GREEN" TECHNOLOGY FOR LEATHER TANNING; WILL SAVE MASSIVE AMOUNT OFWATER. 

This biodegradable dispersing agent enables the chrome tanning of leather with just half the normal usage of water.

This ensures the saving of water by 15 million litres per day in the Indian leather sector alone - and an estimated 200 million litres per day if this revolutionary technology is applied globally.

Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) is a unit of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)