CURRENT AFFAIRS November Week III & IV

AWARDS AND HONOURS

APPOINTMENT

National Round-Up

• President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the India International Trade Fair inDelhi which will see participation of over 150 companies from 27 countries. 
• This year’s edition of the mega trade fair with“Digital India” theme is being held between November 14 and 27.
• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), launched a revamped version of its Toll-free helpline number: 1947, to help residents get quick access to information about Aadhaar.
• The three day International Conference on Brucellosis, beginning is being organized by the Department of Biotechnology in collaboration with Indian Council for Agriculture Research.
• Jairambati (WB) Amul, a brand owned by Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union in Gujarat, will set up its seventh centralised milk processing plant at Sankrail Food Park in Howrah.
• The Indian Railways is organizing the three-day Shivir from 18 November 2016. The aim of the Shivir is to generate numerous innovative ideas across most critical areas of the railway operations for substantial progress of this sector.
• The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee launched the National Student Startup Policy on the opening day of the second Visitor’s Conference on November 16, 2016 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• India and the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) signed an agreement on making India an associate member state of the research organisation that operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world.
• The 13th World Robot Olympiad will be held in India for the first time. The World Robotic Olympiad is an event for science, technology and education which brings together young people from across the world.
• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2016 for introducing it in the Parliament.
• The Centre announced a new committee, headed by Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, to form a strategy to expedite the process of transforming India into a cashless economy.
• Union culture ministry has released a commemorative non-circulation Rs 500 and Rs 10 coin circulation coin as part of the yearlong celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of Hindu saint and social reformer Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s visit to Vrindavan.
• The International Film Festival of India is showing movies for the visually impaired, with special audio described technology.
• Post-Independence, 51st Annual Conference of Directors General / Inspectors General of Police of States and UTs and Heads of Central Police Organisations will be held on November 25-27, 2016 at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy,
• The Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh launched e-pashuhaat portal (epashuhaat.gov.in) on the occasion of National Milk Day.
• Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016 introduced in Lok Sabha, A scheme namely, ‘Taxation and Investment Regime for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 2016’ (PMGKY) proposed in the Bill.

Snippets from the States

• Chhattisgarh has become the first state to adopt a resolution demonetisation of high-value currency notes, the state Assembly adopted a resolution moved by Chief Minister Raman Singh.
• Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) and Parliamentary Affairs launched the logo of ‘Hunar Haat’. The logo will be used for branding exhibitions.
• Uttar Pradesh has Asia’s first cycle highway. A first-of-its-kind project, the 207-km-long cycle highway runs between Etawah and Agra and was declared open.
• Assam’s picturesque hill station Haflong will host the three-day ‘Judima Festival’ next month.
• The government framed ‘Jharkhand Nizi Niyozan Abhikaran and Gharelu Kamgar (viniyam) vidheyak 2016 (Jharkhand private employment agency and domestic employee bill).
• The Jharkhand government has introduced a strict law against placement agencies to rein in those involved in exploiting people on the pretext of giving employment outside the state.
• The theme of the festival, to be held on December 18-20, will be centered on preservation, promotion and nurturing of ethnic culture, music, dance, craft and folk-art of Dimasa tribals living in Dima Hasao district of the state.
• Maharashtra government has issued a notification naming the new Oshiwara station, which is located between Jogeshwari and Goregaon, Ram Mandir.
• The first-ever International Gita Mahotsav, being organised and celebrated by the Haryana government in Kurukshetra, will offer people a unique spectacle and also make for a nucleus of global attraction.
• Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has launched a new Scheme named as – “Har Ghar Bijli Yojana”. Under this scheme in Current Financial year Electricity Connections will be provided to 20 million homes
• Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani has distributed PAHCHAN identity cards to artisans of five clusters of Gujarat, Jamnagar, Naroda, Surendranagar, Amreli and Kalol.
• Agra-Lucknow expressway is India’s longest expressway inauguration on November 20, Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav hopes to project to the state that his government’s focus is on development.
• The 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2016 began at Panaji in Goa. Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the festival.
• The 5th International Tourism Mart (ITM) was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Manipur Shri Okram Ibobi Singh in presence of Union Tourism Secretary Shri Vinod Zutshi in Imphal Manipur.

Banking and Economy

• Global payments & technology company MasterCard has introduced Masterpass QR, a safe and secure ‘quick response’ (QR) mobile payments solution in India.
• The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has allowed foreign investors to buy securitised debt,which refers to securities such as mortgages structured by issuers, as part of efforts to attract more flows into debt markets.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed opening of “Islamic window” in conventional banks for “gradual” introduction of Sharia-compliant or interest-free banking in the country.
• Airtel has launched India’s first live payments bank aimed at testing systems and processes ahead of a full-scale pan-India launch, Airtel Payments Bank has rolled out a pilot of its banking services in Rajasthan
• State Bank of India (SBI) has to facilitate this transaction at the nearest INOX multiplex using a debit card. Citizens can simply swipe their debit cards, enter their PIN number and take up to Rs 2,000 in cash per card per day
• South Indian Bank has announced the launch of its contactless debit card. The Near Field Communication (NFC) technology makes the contactless cards very secure, as the card does not leave the cardholder’s possession.
• The Reserve Bank introduced an incremental Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) of 100 per cent. CRR is the portion of the deposits which banks are required to park to the RBI. Currently it is at 4 per cent.
• E-commerce operators like Flipkart and Snapdeal will have to deduct TCS (tax collected at source) while making payments to their suppliers, according to the new model GST law, which has done away with the definition of ‘aggregator’.
• RBL Bank has collaborated with Bajaj Finance to launch a series of co-branded credit cards for the customers in the country.
• The operational framework for insolvency and bankruptcy law, IBBI is being assisted by two advisory panels with inputs on various aspects, including on service providers and corporate liquidation.
• State-owned lender Canara Bank and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, a private sector general insurer, have signed corporate agency agreement for the distribution of Bajaj Allianz’s general insurance products through Canara Bank’s extensive network of 5,920 branches across the country.

International Round-Up

• Sweden aims to decide on whether to issue a digital currency called “ekrona” within two years. Cecilia Skingsley, deputy governor of Sweden’s central bank Riksbank
• Thailand celebrated the festival of lights called Loi Krathong, which is celebrated to pay homage to Lord Buddha.
• The Philippine economy is the fastest growing in Asia, at 7.1% on-year July –September, announced by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
• President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order removing Russia’s signature from the International Criminal Court’s founding treaty.
• The supercomputer called Sunway-TaihuLight developed by the National Research Centre of Parallel Computer Engineering and Technology (NRCPC) is named the world’s most powerful supercomputer.
• The world’s first Bollywood Park has just been opened in Dubai.
• Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos signed a revised peace agreement with the country’s largest rebel movement, making a second attempt within months to end a half century of hostilities.
• Pakistan has approved Russia’s request to use the strategic Gwadar Port for its exports, signaling a new alignment in bilateral relations after decades’ of sour ties during the Cold War era.
• Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and his Turkmenistan counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow officially inaugurated the Imamnazar (Turkmenistan) and Aqina (Afghanistan) Railway Line between the two countries.

India and the World

• The European Union has offered its best technical expertise to help India combat deteriorating air quality.
• India and Cyprus have signed a new double tax avoidance pact under which capital gains tax will be levied on sale of shares on investments made after April 1, 2017.
• Global travel Search Company Sky scanner drew comparisons between travel searches from 2015 and 2016, highlighting the places where Indian travellers will be ushering in 2017.
• Australia and New Zealandhave emerged as favourite destinations amongst Indian travellers.
• Online marketplace Amazon India products from leading dairy brand Amul will be available in nine countries, starting with the US on 25 November.

Science and Technology

• Rustom-II, India’s indigenously developed long-endurance combat-capable drone successfully completed its maiden-flight, giving a boost to India’s development programme for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).
• The DRDO successfully carried out the maiden-flight of TAPAS 201 (RUSTOM–II), a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV.
• India successfully test-fired its indigenously built nuclear capable Agni-I ballistic missile, which can hit a target 700 km away, as part of a user trial by Army from a test range off Odisha coast.
• Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar commissioned the newest indigenously-built destroyer INS Chennai into the force.
• The upgraded Jaguar DARIN III twin-seat aircraft has received Initial Operation Clearance (IOC).
• Railways may soon get an advanced system, called “Tri-Netra”, on its trains which will help reduce train accidents by keeping a record of the track maintenance and will also provide better visibility during foggy days.
• The seventh ship of LCU MK IV project is launched on 24 November 2016 at an impressive ceremony at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd, Kolkata. 
• MobiKwik has announced the launch of MobiKwik Lite, a light mobile wallet app that is easy to download and works even on basic Internet connection.

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Telecom operator Bharti Airtel has announced completion of the merger of its subsidiary Bangladesh telecommunication with Robi Axiata Limited.

Art and Culture

• Technology giant Google has through its cultural arm Google Arts & Culture,unveiled a virtual collection of artworks and exhibitions . Women in India: Unheard Stories,’ is a collection of over fifty virtual exhibitions

Sports

Obituary

Important Days

India ranks in Various Index