DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 21 NOV 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 21 NOV 2017

(DAILY NEWS INDIA)

SHARED BY: WWW.DAILYGK.IN

1.      MAHARASHTRA CM LAUNCHES INITIATIVE TO CURB CHILDHOOD OBESITY

i. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched a new initiative against childhood obesity in Pune. Under this initiative, schools will be given Body Mass Index dialler, through which children will be able to know their BMI.

ii. This initiative has been taken by Rotary Club of Koregaon Park with JT Foundation. With the help of BMI dialler and a supporting documentary, not only school children, but their parents and teachers will also be given information about childhood obesity.

iii. According to the World Health Organisation, India is projected to be the second-largest country with childhood obesity by 2025.

iv. Around 6000 children in Pune will benefit from this campaign by gaining information about BMI. It is to be noted that Pune is among the top five Indian cities having high prevalence of obesity.

2.      NAGALAND, ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS, DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI AND DAMAN & DIU SIGN MOU WITH GOI under UDAY Scheme

i. On the 2nd Anniversary of Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana, the Government of India signed four MoUs under the Scheme with the State of Nagaland and with Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu for operational improvements.

ii. An overall net benefit of approximately Rs. 551 crores, Rs. 18 crores, Rs. 13 crores and Rs. 10 crores respectively would accrue to the State of Nagaland & UTs of Andaman & Nicobar, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.

3.      HARYANA GOVERNMENT’S NEW SCHEME OFFERS DOMESTIC POWER CONNECTIONS ON EMI

i. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar announced a new scheme offering Domestic Power Connections in rural areas On Equated Monthly Instalment.

ii. Currently it costs between Rs. 3000/- to Rs. 4000/- to get a domestic power connection. Under this new scheme, households in rural areas can pay just Rs. 200 and get a domestic power connection. The remaining amount can be paid in easy instalments of Rs. 100 to Rs. 200.

iii. Haryana State Government has initiated several schemes aimed at reducing losses of State Power Department. In certain villages, where line losses have been reduced by 20% are now getting 24-hour power supply. Mr Khattar has stated that his government would fulfil its promise to provide 24-hour power supply all over Haryana in the next two years.

4.      JAMMU & KASHMIR CELEBRATES ‘HERITAGE WEEK’ TO PRESERVE, PROTECT ITS CULTURE

i. Jammu and Kashmir Education and Tourism Minister Priya Sethi inaugurated ‘Heritage Week’ to generate awareness on preservation of the state’s ancient culture and environment, in Jammu & Kashmir.

ii. Heritage Week is celebrated throughout Jammu and Kashmir from November 19 to 25, 2017. Special programmes are held showcasing the cultural heritage and rich biodiversity of the state. Illumination of heritage sites, heritage walks and special cleanliness drives are undertaken by involving tourism, culture, education, urban development and other concerned departments.

5.      INDIA SIGNS LOAN AGREEMENT WITH WORLD BANK FOR “SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SOLAR PARKS PROJECT”

i. A Guarantee Agreement for IBRD/CTF loan of USD 98 million and Grant Agreement for USD 2 million for the “Shared Infrastructure for Solar Parks Project” was signed with the World Bank.

ii. The project consists of two components viz. 1. Shared Infrastructure for Solar Parks (estimated total project cost of USD 100 million, including USD 75 million in IBRD loan and USD 23 million in CTF Loan) and 2. Technical Assistance (USD 2 million in CTF Grant).

iii. The objective of the project is to increase solar generation capacity through establishment of large-scale parks in the country.

6.      GOVT. SETS RS 10000 MIN BALANCE IN BANK ACCOUNTS AS RURAL POVERTY MEASURE

i. Central Government has set Rs 10000 minimum balance in bank account as one of the 21 parameters to assess poverty in gram panchayats under ‘Mission Antyodaya’.

ii. Union Rural Development Ministry’s ‘Mission Antyodaya’ aims to create 50000 poverty-freegram panchayats. The goal is to converge, all existing government initiatives and schemes in these 50000 gram panchayats so that every household within these panchayats is benefited which shall consequentially lead to elimination of poverty.

7.      GOVT SEEKS RS 13,000-CR SURPLUS FROM RBI

i. Economic Affairs Secretary, Subhash Chandra Garg, stated that Central Government has only sought Rs 13,000 cr of surplus which Reserve Bank of India has and has not asked it to pay any ‘special dividend’. The fiscal year for RBI is June-July. For 2016-17 fiscal, ending in June 2017, RBI’s profit was about Rs 44,000 cr.

ii. Out of this 44000 cr, in August 2017, it had paid a dividend of Rs 30659 cr and retained remaining amount of profit to contain risks and build reserves. As clarified by Mr. Garg, the government is seeking Rs. 13000 cr surplus which has been retained and is not asking for any additional amount over it as special dividend.

iii. This clarification comes in wake of media reports that government has asked for a special dividend from RBI (in addition to the surplus) to fund a part of its Rs 2.11-lakh cr plan to recapitalise public sector banks.

8.      NABANEETA DEV SEN PRESENTED BIG LITTLE BOOK AWARD 2017

i. Sahitya Akademi awardee Bengali writer Nabaneeta Dev Sen has been declared winner of the Big Little Book Award for year 2017 in the "Author in Bengali Language" category for her contribution to the children's literature.

ii. The award, given out by Parag initiative of Tata Trusts to recognise and honour authors and illustrators of children's literature, focused on the writers in Bengali language in its second edition. Chennai-based illustrator Proiti Roy received the award in the illustrator category.

9.      VETERAN JOURNALIST MANIK BANERJEE GETS IMF AWARD

i. Veteran journalist Manik Banerjee, who is also an acclaimed mountaineer was presented with the 'Life Time Achievement Award' by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation.

ii. Banerjee was presented the award in recognition of his achievements in mountaineering over a period of four decades.

10.  INDIA’S NOMINEE DALVEER BHANDARI RE-ELECTED TO ICJ

i. India’s nominee to the International Court of Justice Dalveer Bhandari was re-elected to the fifth and the last seat of the world court after Britain withdrew its candidate from the election.

ii. Mr. Bhandari received 183-193 votes in the General Assembly and secured all the 15 votes in the Security Council after separate and simultaneous elections were held at the UN headquarters in New York.

11.  RADHA MOHAN SINGH INAUGURATED WORLD FISHERIES DAY CELEBRATIONS 2017

i. On 21st November 1997, the working fishermen and women representing World Forum of Fish Harvesters & Fish Workers from 18 countries met at New Delhi.

ii. To commemorate this occasion, every year 21st November is celebrated all over the world as World Fisheries Day.  Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare inaugurated the World Fisheries Day Celebrations. This year’s theme is “2022 Ka Hai Sapna … Kisan Ki Aay Ho Dugna - Sankalp Se Siddhi”.

12.  INDIA-RUSSIA SIGNED PACT FOR VISA FREE ENTRY OF FLIGHT CREW

i. India and Russia have agreed to implement the general declaration for visa free entry of the crew of chartered and scheduled flights between the two countries.

ii. The agreement will facilitate visa free entry, stay and exit of crew of aircraft of the designated airlines as well as other aircraft companies operating chartered and special flights in the respective territories on reciprocal basis.

13.  UNIVERSAL CHILDREN'S DAY: 20 NOVEMBER

i. The United Nations Universal Children's Day is celebrated every year on November 20 to promote international togetherness and improve children's welfare around the world.

ii. The theme of UCD 2017 is 'Kids Take Over'.  The special day established in the year 1954, offers an opportunity for communities around the globe to promote children's rights in order to create a better world for kids.

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS BASED ON TODAY’S NEWS

Q1. WHICH STATE GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE AGAINST CHILDHOOD OBESITY?

a)  Uttar Pradesh

b)  Maharashtra

c)  Kerala

d)  Karnataka

Q2. WHICH STATE CELEBRATES ‘HERITAGE WEEK’ TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT ITS CULTURE?

a)  Goa

b)  Tripura

c)  Jammu & Kashmir

d)  Uttarkhand

Q3. WHO RECEIVED INDIAN MOUNTAINEERING FOUNDATION LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD?

a)  Bee Gees

b)  Diana Ross

c)  Wayne Shorter

d)  Manik Banerjee

Q4. WHO WAS HONOURED WITH BIG LITTLE BOOK AWARD 2017

a)  Nabaneeta Dev Sen

b)  Madhuri Purandare

c)  Shieshendu Mukhopadhyay

d)  Amarendra Chakravarthy

Q5. WHEN IS UNIVERSAL CHILDREN’S DAY OBSERVED ALL OVER THE WORLD?

a)  November 22

b)  November 20

c)  November 24

d)  November 23

ANSWERS: 

1 - B   2 - C    3 - D    4 - A    5 - B