General Awareness Updates – February 2010

Persons in News:

Shibu Soren has become the Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the third time. He was administered the oath of office by Governor K. Sankanarayanan. Mr. Soren had staked claim to form the government on December 25 with the support of the BJP-JD(U) combine, AJSU and Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch (JJM) having a total of 44 MLAs in the 81-member Assembly and was invited by the Governor the next day to form the government.

In his first visit to India, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (left) met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and discussed ways to enhance bilateral ties in various fields including security, trade and explore the possibility of cooperation in civil nuclear energy.

The two leaders also gave push to the ambitious Rs.3.6 lakh crore Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project. New Delhi and Tokyo also signed two pacts, including collaboration in developing eco-cities around the project. The project will involve huge investment and initial projection points at a whopping Rs.3,60,000 cr. The DMIC Development Corporation entered into a pact with the Japan External Trade Organisation for collaborating with the environment-related projects and for transfer of Japanese expertise in developing and promoting ‘smart communities’ (eco-cities) around the DMIC project area.

The Japan Bank of International Cooperation also singed a loan agreement totalling up to U.S.$75 million (Rs.330 crore) with India Infrastructure Finance Company to prepare plan for overall DMIC region and developing plans for investment in Phase-1. The DMIC Project Development Fund is envisaged to be set up with equal contribution from India and Japan. The Centre has already approved a grant of Rs.330 crore towards this.

Kannada cinema superstar Vishnuvardhan has died, aged 59, in Mysore after suffering a massive a cardiac arrest. He started his film career in 1970 as Sampath Kumar. He was later rechristened Vishnuvardhan, after the famous Hoysala King. Popularly referred to as the ‘Phoenix of Kannada Cinema’, Vishnuvardhan attained superstardom with his performances in Nagarahaavu, Aaptha Mithra, Bandhana, Suprabhatha, Laali, Muththina Haara, and Maathaad Maathaad Mallige.

In a career spanning nearly three decades, he had acted in 199 films. He won many prestigious awards including seven Best State Actor Awards and five Filmfare Awards. A playback singer in his own right, he had, in the last few years, taken to devotional songs.

E. S. Lakshmi Narasimhan (right) has been sworn-in as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh following N. D. Tiwari’s resignation in the wake of a controversy over a sting operation purportedly showing him in a compromising position with three women. A former Indian Police Service officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, Mr. Narasimhan has also served as chief of the Intelligence Bureau.