Top 5 Current Affairs: 28 August 2019

Article 370: 5-judge constitution bench to hear Article 370 petitions in October; SC sends notice to centre

The Supreme Court has referred cases challenging the scrapping of Article 370 to a five-judge constitution bench. Article 370 petitions will now be heard in the first week of October. The Supreme Court also issued notices to the centre on all petitions related to the scrapping of Article 370 and the restrictions imposed on the media in the state and has sought reply within 7 days.

IPS officer Aparna Kumar to be conferred Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2018

IPS Officer Aparna Kumar will be honoured with the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2018 in the ‘Land adventure’ category. Aparna Kumar is a 2002 batch IPS officer from the Uttar Pradesh Cadre. She is currently posted as DIG in the Indo Tibetan Police Force at Dehradun. Aparna Kumar is the first IPS officer to be honoured with the prestigious Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2018.

Government sets up 5-member GoM for Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh

The Union Government has constituted a 5-member Group of Ministers (GoM) to look into issues concerning the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The GoM will look into the development, economic and social issues of the two UTs and suggest ways to improve the situation. The two UTs will come into existence on October 31.

National Sports Day 2019 (29 August): List of Government Schemes & Initiatives to promote Sports in India

National Sports Day 2019 (Rashtriya Khel Divas) will be observed tomorrow on 29 August across India.  The Day marks the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, the legendary hockey player who was born on August 29 in the year 1905. The Day is observed every year to spread awareness about the importance of sports and games in the life of every individual.

What is meant by Pakistan closing its airspace for India? How many times it has happened?

Pakistan is considering a complete closure of Air Space to India for some days in protest against arbitrary abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35-A in Jammu & Kashmir.  India already faced a similar situation in February 2019 for four months right after India attacked and destroyed the terrorist camp in Balakot. Pakistan had completely closed its air space then not only for India but for other countries too. The nation had later opened up its air space to all civilian aircraft on July 16.