National Voters Day observed on 25th January every year

Every year National Voters’ Day (NVD) is observed on 25th January.
This year i.e. 2015 is Fifth National Voters Day and theme of this year is Easy Registration, Easy Correction.

Functions: On this occasion, awards for best electoral practices are given to Chief Electoral Officers and District Election Officers. Media houses and civil society organisations are also given awards for best campaign in Voters’ Education and Awareness.

Background:

• It was initiated in 2011 to commemorate the foundation day of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

• The ECI’s aim behind National Voters Day is to enhance registration of voters, particularly of the spring chickens, by using this social occasion to make Universal Adult Suffrage a complete reality, and thus increase the worth of Indian democracy.

India, U.S. sign three MoUs on smart cities

India and United States (US) have signed three Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) on smart cities.

These MoUs were signed by the representatives of United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the respective Chief Secretaries of State Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh in the presence of Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu.

These MoU’s seeks to give a boost to Union governments flagship smart cities scheme, by building smart cities in

• Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
• Ajmer in Rajasthan.
• Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh.

US will help each respective state to conduct feasibility studies, finding investors, ways to use the best technology and formulating the plan for building three smart cities.

While, respective state Governments will provide resources like technical information and data related to smart cities planning; staff, logistical and travel support and budgetary resources.

Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament 2015 : Saina Nehwal & Parupalli Kashyap wins

1) Indian ace shuttler Saina Nehwal has clinched the Syed Modi International India Grand Prix Gold badminton title 2015 in the women’s singles category.

In the final match she defeated world champion Carolina Marin (Spain) by score of 19-21, 25-23, 21-16 held at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

With this win she has retained this title which she had won in 2014.

2) India’s Parupalli Kashyap has won $120,000 Syed Modi India Grand Prix Gold badminton title 2015.

In the final match he defeated Kidambi Srikanth to win the men’s singles title held at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Kashyap won the final match by score of 23-21, 23-21.

About Syed Modi International India Open Grand Prix championship:

• It is named after a famous Indian badminton player Syed Modi, an eight-time National Badminton champion.

• After his death, a badminton tournament was constituted in his memory, Syed Modi Memorial and All India Syed Modi badminton championship hosted each year at Lucknow.

Pooja Thakur- first woman officer to lead guard of honour at Rashtrapathi Bhavan

Wing Commander Pooja Thakur has become the first woman officer to lead the ceremonial Guard of Honour at Rashtrapathi Bhavan.

On 25 January 2015, she led the ceremonial Guard of Honour which was inspected by the U.S. President Barack Obama at Rashtrapathi Bhavan.

President Barack Obama is on 3 day visit to India. He is first American President to be Chief Guest of India’s Republic Day celebrations 2015.

Pooja Thakur:

• She hails from Rajasthan.
• She belongs to the administrative branch of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Currently she is posted at Disha- the publicity cell under the Directorate of Personnel Officers at the Air Force Headquarters.
• As a sportsperson she is active in para-jumping and adventure sports.