DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 15 OCT 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 15 OCT 2017

(DAILY NEWS INDIA)

SHARED BY: WWW.DAILYGK.IN

1.      MITRA SHAKTI 2017: INDIA-SRI LANKA JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE HELD IN PUNE

i. Mitra Shakti 2017, a joint exercise between India and Sri Lanka for military co-operation and interoperability, is conducted at the Aundh Military Camp, in Pune. The Mitra Shakthi training exercises started in India’s response to China’s growing influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region.

ii. Its aim is to exchange the best military practices of the two countries and build a strong military-to-military relation between the two armies and develop joint strategies mainly in the counter-insurgency and counter terrorism environment.

iii. The training module includes weapons training, basic military tactics and complex battle strategies.  The Mitra Shakti series started in 2012. Senior military observers of both countries will attend the Final Tactical Exercise to be held at the Aundh Military Station, on 25th October 2017.

2.      NITI AAYOG WORKING WITH STATES FOR AGRI MARKET REFORMS

i. NITI Aayog said that, it is working with states to adopt first set of agri market reforms, like contract farming, online spot and futures trading, encouraging private investment.

ii. NITI Aayog Member, Ramesh Chand said that, regarding agri reforms, main emphasis is given on bringing marketing reforms to facilitate and encourage the private sector to invest in agri logistics, cold chains etc. In the first set of reforms, contract farming is to be promoted. Regarding this a model law has been framed both by NITI Aayog and the Agriculture Ministry.

iii. To promote derivative trading in farm commodities, the Finance Ministry has set up a panel. The NITI Aayog has also proposed discarding of the ‘Essential Commodities Act’ that is destabilising prices instead of keeping them stable.

3.      48TH CONFERENCE OF GOVERNORS CONCLUDES AT RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN

i. 48th Conference of Governors was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. During the Conference, Governors shared useful experiences about issues pertaining to cleanliness, environment, conservation of energy and cutting down of wasteful expenditure in their respective states.

ii. Sessions on ‘Infrastructure for New India 2022’, ‘Public Services for New India 2022’ and ‘Higher Education in States and Skill Development’ were also held during this two-day conference.

iii. Besides President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, PM Narendra Modi and other Cabinet Ministers also addressed the conference.

iv. Tradition of holding Conference of Governors dates back to 1949, when first such conference was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. At that time it was presided over by the Governor General of India, C. Rajagopalachari.

4.      IWAI RAISES RS. 660 CRORE THROUGH BONDS

i. Union Shipping Ministry stated that Inland Waterways Authority of India has raised Rs 660 cr through bonds. Funds raised through these bonds will be deployed as capital expenditure for development of National Waterways under the National Waterway Act, 2016 during 2017-18.

ii. E-bidding for these bonds was held on Bombay Stock Exchange portal. The bonds carry a coupon rate of 7.47%.  Interest will be paid on semi-annual basis.

iii. It is to be noted that the fund raised through these bonds is in addition to the budgetary support from the Government of India and interest obligation on these bonds too shall be financed by GOI.

5.      BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS ACT 2016 CAME INTO FORCE

i. A new Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016 which was notified on March 22, 2016 has been brought into force with effect from October 12, 2017.

ii. As per this act, any goods/article/product of any scheduled industry and any process/system/service can be brought under compulsory certification regime by the government if it considers it necessary in the public interest or for the protection of human, animal, plant health, environment, or in order to prevent unfair trade practices and in the interest of national security.

iii. Hallmarking of the precious metal articles has been made mandatory under this new act.

6.      DIRECT TAX COLLECTIONS IN FIRST HALF OF CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR RISE 15.8 PERCENT

i. The Direct Tax Collections in the first half (April-September) of the current fiscal (2017-18) shows growth of 15.8%. According to the Finance Ministry, the provisional figures of Direct Tax collections up to September 2017 show that net collections are at 3.86 lakh crore rupees which is higher than the corresponding period of last year. Net Direct Tax collections represent 39.4 percent of the total budget estimates of Direct Taxes for the financial year 2017-18.

ii. An amount of 1.77 lakh cr rupees has been received as Advance Tax up to 30th of September this year, reflecting a growth of 11.5% over the corresponding period of last year.

7.      PM LAYS FOUNDATION STONE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN BIHAR

i. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone for four sewerage projects under the Namami Gange programme; and four National Highway projects, at Mokama in Bihar. The total outlay of these projects is over Rs. 3700 crore.

ii. The four sewerage projects include Sewage Treatment Plant at Beur, Sewerage System with Sewer Network at Beur, Sewage Treatment Plant at Karmalichak and STP and Sewer Network at Saidpur. These projects together will create new STP capacity of 120 MLD and upgrade the existing 20 MLD for Beur.

8.      ROGER FEDERER CRUISES TO SHANGHAI MASTERS TITLE

i. Roger Federer has brushed aside world number one Rafael Nadal to win the Shanghai Masters and register his fourth victory of the year over his Spanish rival. The Swiss world number two beat Nadal in the finals of the Australian Open and Miami Masters and in the last 16 at Indian Wells earlier this year, and never looked like losing to his long-time rival in Shanghai, firing 10 aces as he cruised to victory.

ii. Federer, the only man who can still stop Nadal ending the year as number one, took an hour and 12 minutes to claim his sixth title of the year and his second Shanghai crown with a clinical performance.

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS BASED ON TODAY’S NEWS

Q1. MITRA SHAKTI 2017, A JOINT EXERCISE FOR MILITARY CO-OPERATION AND INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN INDIA AND WHICH NEIGHBOUR COUNTRY?

A)  BHUTAN

B)  PAKISTAN

C)  MYANMAR

D) SRI LANKA

Q2. WHEN WAS THE “CONFERENCE OF GOVERNORS” HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME AT RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN?

A)  1949

B)  1920

C)  1999

D)  1957

Q3. WHICH ACT WAS DISCARDED BYTHE NITI AAYOG AS IT WAS DESTABILIZING THE PRICES INSTEAD OF KEEPING THEM STABLE?

A)  QUARTERING ACT

B)  ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT

C)  GST ACT

D)  STAMP ACT

Q4. NAME THE TWO INDIAN STATES WITH 100 % VOTER-VERIFIED PAPER AUDIT TRAIL COVERAGE?

A)  PUDUCHERRY & GOA

B)  GOA & ARUNACHAL PRADESH

C)  HIMACHAL PRADESH & GOA

D)  HIMACHEL PRADESH &TAMILNADU

Q5. INLAND WATERWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA HAS RAISED RS 660 CRORE THROUGH BONDSFOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL WATERWAYS AND THIS BOND CARRIES A COUPON RATE OF _____ %?

A)  7.47

B)  10.50

C)  9.0

D)  12

ANSWERS: 

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