Current Affairs April 15, 2015

Janta family merged 

Leaders of six political parties on Wednesday announced the formation of a new party to defeat the BJP and combat communal forces in the country. Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh will lead the new party formed after the merger of the Janata Parivar comprising the SP, the Janata Dal (United), the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Janata Dal (Secular), the Samajwadi Janata Party and the Indian National Lok Dal.

A six-member committee including former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Lalu Prasad, Sharad Yadav and Ramgopal Yadav will decide on issues such as the name and flag of the new party.

Visa on Arrival Scheme rename to e - Tourist Visa

Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has renamed Tourist Visa on Arrival-Electronic Travel Authorization scheme (TVoA-ETA) to e-Tourist Visa with effect from 15 April 2015. With this ambiguities faced by foreign tourists especially by scheme's nomenclature VoA, presuming that they would be granted visa on arrival upon landing will be removed. A committee of officers from the External Affairs Ministry, MHA and Bureau of Immigration also had suggested renaming the scheme. Foreign tourists were confused with Visa on Arrival (VoA) scheme as other countries allowed tourist to land and then get visa.

Renowned Assamese film director,Bidyut Chakraborty passed away

Bidyut Chakraborty, renowned Assamese film director, actor passed away today in Guwahati, Assam. He was 55. He had directed several Assamese movies including Goon Goon Gaane Gaane, Dwaar and Raag-Biraag.

Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai became first lady judge of Sikkim HC

Meenakshi Madan Rai was sworn in as the first lady judge of the Sikkim High Court. This appointment of Rai as the judge of the Sikkim High Court has helped the state to get its full strength of three judges after a gap of about one year.

B N Navalawala will head task force on inter-linking of rivers

Government constituted a task force on interlinking of rivers in the country. The Task Force will be headed by former Secretary of Ministry of Water Resources B N Navalawala and comprises experts and senior officials.

India retain No.2 in ODI rankings

India has retained its second position in the ODI ranking. India with 116 points, placed just behind world champions Australia (122 points). India is followed by South Africa (112), Sri Lanka (108), New Zealand (107, England (101), Pakistan (95). 

Source: The Hindu, PIB