Current Affairs News of 8th July,2014

Granville Austin,renowned scholar of the Indian Constitution and Constitutional assembly debates passed away in Washington on Sunday. His works on our Constitution are �The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a nation �,�Working a Democratic Constitution : The Indian Experience� are said to be authentic and much better than some of the books on our Constitution. His writings have sometimes been cited by the India Supreme court and are said to have profound effects on the legal thinking thus leading to evolution of the Indian Constitutional Law. In 2011, in recognition for his writing on the framing and working of the Indian Constitution, Professor Austin was awarded a Padma Shri Award,the fourth highest civilian honour of India. Note: A brief about the civilian honours of India Bharat Ratna- highest civilian award of India instituted on 2nd jan,1954 Padma Vibhushan-Second highest civilian award in India,established on 2nd jan 1954,awarded by the President Of India Padma Bhushan- third highest civilian award Padma Shri- fourth highest civilian award. Redefining the poverty line The expert group headed by Dr.Rangarajan former PMEAC Chairman,dismissed the Suresh Tendulkar Committee methodology on estimating poverty. As per the report submitted by Mr.Rangarajan,persons spending Rs 47 a day and Rs 1407 (a month) in cities would be considered poor in cities against the Rs 33 a day and 1000 a month suggested by suresh tendulkar committee. A brief note : Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister(PMEAC) is a non constitutional ,non permanent and independent body constituted to give economic advice to Indian govt specifically the Prime Minister. Dr.Rangarajan has been the chairman of the PMEAC since 2005.Also served at Reserve Bank as its Governor from 1992-97. Suresh Tendulkar was an Indian economist and former chief of National Statiscal Commission.Suresh Tendulkar head committee named as Suresh Tendulkar Committee to look into the people living under poverty line in India. Another Milestone achieved :NASA NASA builds the World�s first flying observatory by fitting a 17 tonne telescope with an effective diameter of eight feet on a modified boeing 747 jetliner to study stars. The Infrared telescope called as �Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy �; is mounted behind a sliding door that opens it to the skies. A brief note: NASA- National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the US govt that is responsible for nation�s civilian space programme and for aerospace research.