2nd May 2015 Important Daily Current Affairs

1) Delhi's Indira Gandhi International adjudged World's Best Airport:

--> Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has been adjudged the world's best airport for the year 2014, under the category of handling 25 to 40 million passengers per annum, officials said.

--> Airports Council International (ACI) presented the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) award to IGIA at a ceremony of the ACI Asia-Pacific/World Annual General Assembly on April 28 in Jordan.

--> IGIA bettered its ranking from second position for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 to emerge on top in 2014.

--> Delhi International Airport Private is a joint venture between the GMR Group, Airports Authority of India, Fraport and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. 

2) 14th edition of Indo-French naval exercise VARUNA concluded:

--> 14th edition of Indo-French naval exercise Varuna concluded on 2 May 2015 in Goa.

--> The naval exercise concluded in the presence of Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar along with Vice Admiral SPS Cheema, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.

--> The ten day long exercise commenced on 23 April 2015 and included both a harbour and sea phase in Goa. In this edition of exercise, French Navy was represented by the Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle and Indian side was represented by Aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

3) Maharashtra banned 'Horn OK Please' for trucks:

--> Maharashtra government on 30 April 2015 issued a circular banning the use of the phrase “Horn Ok Please” on the rear side of commercial vehicles.

--> The phrase is part and parcel of Indian of commercial vehicles, such as trucks and tempos, across the country.

--> It was coined basically to allow vehicles to overtake on narrow roads.

--> This order was passed by Maharashtra State Transport Department as it is of the view that this phrase (“Horn Ok Please”) gives licence to motorists to honk unnecessarily and there have been numerous complaints of excessive honking in silence zones such as near hospitals, schools and colleges.

4) Journalist Dr. Prannoy Roy awarded RedInk Lifetime Achievement Award 2015:

--> Dr Prannoy Roy, the executive co-chairman of NDTV, was conferred the RedInk Award for lifetime achievement at a function in Mumbai.

--> The award, comprising a trophy and a citation, has been instituted by the Mumbai Press Club.

5) Haryana Government launched seven IT based e-services in state:

--> Haryana Government has launched seven IT based e-services in the State at Panchkula district.

--> The service was launched by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

--> The seven services include e-Stamping, Jeevan Pramaan, Revised State Portal, Aadhaar-enabled biometric Attendance System, Mobile app and Aadhaar-linked registration of birth.