1. NTPC sets a record in single-day power generation
i. India’s largest power generator National Thermal Power Corporation
(NTPC) Limited has achieved a record of highest single-day electricity
generation of over 733 million units.
ii. The record generation of electricity on August 27, 2015 was achieved
from NTPC’s 18 coal-based power plants, and 8 solar and hydro power
stations and 7 gas-based units. On the record day, the Declared
Cumulative Capability (DCC) of the stations was 91.10 per cent and Plant
Load Factor (PLF) was of 86.34 per cent.
biii. NTPC limited is a Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU), operational under the aegis of Union Ministry of Power.
iv. During financial year 2014-15, NTPC had contributed 25 per cent of
total electricity generated in the country and accounted for 16 per cent
share of country’s total installed capacity of 45,548 MW (including
6,196 MW through its joint ventures).
2. India losses solar case against US at WTO
i. India has lost solar case against United States at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
ii. Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of WTO has ruled that, India’s
requirement of only domestic solar equipment’s for its ambitious
Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) is inconsistent with the
international trade norms.
iii. In 2014, US had dragged India in DSB of WTO against its JNNSM which
favoured only to use locally manufactured solar equipment. US in its
appeal had alleged that, the state sponsored programme of India has
discriminated importation of solar equipment manufactured in US.
iv. US companies manufacturing solar equipment are looking JNNSM which
has set an ambitious target of generating 20,000 Mega Watts (MW) solar
power by 2022 as a big business potential.
3. India women’s hockey team books 2016 Rio Olympics berth
i. Indian women’s hockey team will return to the Olympics after a long
gap of 36 years as it has qualified on Saturday for next year’s Rio
Games, courtesy England making it to the final of the ongoing EuroHockey
Championships in London.
ii. England’s semifinal victory over Spain, coming after the
Netherlands’ win over Germany in the other semifinal in the European
Championships freed one quota place as both the finalists have already
qualified for the Olympic Games.
iii. India took the quota place on the basis of its fifth-place finish
in the women’s Hockey World League Semifinals in Antwerp, Belgium last
month. International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed that Indian
women’s team has qualified for the Rio Games.
iv. Indian women’s team now join nine other teams, who have already
qualified for 2016 Rio Games — Korea as Asian Games champions, Argentina
as Pan Am Games champions and Great Britain, China, Germany,
Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and the USA through the Hockey World
League Semi-Finals.
4. Gillette India appoints Al Rajwani as managing director
i. FMCG firm Gillette India on Saturday said it has appointed Al Rajwani
as its managing director for a period of five years, effective on
Saturday.
ii. "Al Rajwani has been appointed as managing director of the company
for a period of five years with effect from August 29, 2015," Gillette
India said in a BSE filing.
iii. Besides, Narendra P Sarda has also been appointed as an independent director of the company, it added.
5. PM Narendra Modi pays tribute to Dhyan Chand on National Sports Day
i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to hockey
legend Major Dhyan Chand on his 110th birth anniversary and extended
best wishes to all sports enthusiasts across the country on the occasion
of the National Sports Day.
ii.
A few sportspersons and coaches will be honoured with the National
Sports Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Saturday. National Sports
Day is celebrated on August 29.
iii. Dhyan Chand, born on August 29, 1905 was an Indian field hockey
player, who is widely considered the greatest hockey player of all time.
The legendary hockey player won gold medals for India at the 1928, 1932
and 1936 Olympics.
iv. Known as "The Wizard" for his superb ball control, Dhyan Chand
played his final international match in 1948. He scored over 400 goals
during his international career.
6. Tennis player Sania Mirza gets Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award
i. Tennis star Sania Mirza, who won the Wimbledon women's doubles title
recently, was on Saturday conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
award.
ii. Mirza became the second tennis player to receive the country's highest sporting honour after Leander Paes.
iii. Currently ranked the World No. 1 tennis doubles player in the
women's category, Mirza on Friday expressed her happiness at receiving
the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and dedicated it to her family and to India.
iv. The World No. 1 also extended her gratitude to the Indian government
and the sports ministry for nominating her for the award. Mirza
received a medal, certificate and cash prize of Rs. 7.5 lakh. She had
flown in just to receive the award ahead of the US Open starting in New
York on Monday.
