DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 16 NOV 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 16 NOV 2017

(DAILY NEWS INDIA)

SHARED BY: WWW.DAILYGK.IN

1.      IMPORTANT CABINET APPROVALS- 16TH NOVEMBER 2017

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Shri Narendra Modi has given the following set of approvals. The full list of Cabinet Approvals is given as follows.

ii. The Cabinet has approved-

1. The establishment of the National Anti-profiteering Authority under GST.

2. Resolution for adoption of the recommendations of the Railway Convention Committee (2014) as contained in their 6th Report on "Rate of Dividend payable by the Railways to the General Revenues for the year 2016-17 and other ancillary matters".

3. Agreement between India and Belarus on Scientific and Technological Cooperation for mutual benefit in the areas of science, technology, agriculture, etc.

4. MoU between India and Poland for the promotion of Civil Aviation Cooperation.

5. Continuation of sub-schemes under Umbrella Scheme “Integrated Child Development Services” for the period till November 2018.

2.      GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED BHARAT 22 ETF

i. The government launched the ‘Bharat 22’ exchange traded fund managed by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, targeting an initial amount of about Rs8,000 cr.

ii. The ETF is part of the government’s overall disinvestment programme and mirrors the S&P BSE Bharat 22 Index, which comprises select companies from the central public sector enterprises universe, stakes held under the Specified Undertaking of the Unit Trust of India, and state-run banks.

3.      US CONSULATE GENERAL LAUNCHES FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

i. The US Consulate General, Kolkata launched ‘Youth for Business-Y4BIZ’, a support programme for young entrepreneurs in the eastern region of India.

ii. Under ‘Youth for Business-Y4BIZ’ programme, a group of 50 young entrepreneurs will be supported to transform their business ideas from the initial stage to a sustainable business model.

iii. This programme will be launched soon in three other cities of eastern India – Guwahati (Assam), Patna (Bihar), Ranchi (Jharkhand). The 50 entrepreneurs will be selected through a screening process after the programme is launched in all four cities.

iv. This programme is an initiative undertaken by US Consulate General in collaboration with social enterprise Contact Base and is part of a series of activities in the run up to the upcoming 8th Global Entrepreneurship Summit which will be held in Hyderabad from 28th – 30th November, 2017.

4.      RBI REJECTS HDFC BANK'S REQUEST TO DECLASSIFY HDFC AS FII

i. The Reserve Bank of India has reportedly rejected HDFC Bank's plea to declassify its parent Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited as a foreign institutional investor.

ii. The RBI has rejected the request citing current rules which require HDFC to be classified as FII. The move will have an impact on HDFC Bank's fundraising program from qualified institutional placement.

5.      SYRIA SIGNS UP PARIS AGREEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

i. According to the UN report, Syria has officially signed up to the Paris Agreement, leaving the United States as the only country to reject the global climate-rescue pact.

ii. Syria became the 169th of 196 countries that are members of the UN climate convention to take the legal step of ratification. After Nicaragua signed up in October 2017, Syria and USA were the only countries not to have adopted the pact.

6.      INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES SETTING UP 1000 GW OF SOLAR ENERGY BY 2030

i. The International Solar Alliance has announced a target to support setting up 1000GW of solar energy capacity by 2030 across its member countries. It will be met through projects that ISA will support under its various work programmes.

ii. This target does not take into account renewable energy targets or projects that countries are pursuing on their own as part of their national efforts.

iii. This initiative by India to harness the untapped resource of sunshine-rich countries between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn was backed by France, and was launched at the Paris climate talks in 2015. 16 countries have ratified the framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance and it will come into force on 6 December 2017.

7.      AMBANIS TOP FORBES LIST OF ASIA'S RICHEST FAMILIES

i. India’s Ambani family has topped the Forbes list of Asia’s Richest Families for the first time with a net worth of $44.8 billion, up $19 billion from the previous year. The collective wealth of Asia’s 50 richest families on the list is a record $699 billion, according to the Forbes.

ii. Top 3 Families in Asia- India's Ambani Family- $44.8 billion, Korea’s Lee family- $40.8 billion and Hong Kong’s Kwok family- ($40.4 billion).

iii. Top 3 Families in India- India's Ambani Family- $44.8 billion, Premji family (Rank 11; $19.2 billion, Mittal family $17.2 billion.

8.      UN PEACEKEEPING DEFENCE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 2017 HELD IN CANADA

i. Canada hosted the 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference in Vancouver, Canada. This conference is the largest gathering of Defence ministers dedicated to UN Peacekeeping.

ii. The goals of this conference are- to measure the progress made since the 2016 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial;

iii. To encourage new pledges from the Member States, particularly in areas where the UN faces gaps, such as rapid deployment, helicopters, and francophone units.

9.      US APPROVES FIRST PILL WITH DIGITAL TRACKING DEVICE

i. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug in the United States with a digital ingestion tracking system, in an unprecedented move to ensure that patients with mental illness take the medicine prescribed for them.

ii. The drug Abilify MyCite, developed by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, was first approved by the FDA in 2002 to treat schizophrenia.

10.  R.K. SINGH LAUNCHES ‘SAUBHAGYA’ WEB-PORTAL

i. Shri R.K. Singh, Minister of State (I/C) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – ‘Saubhagya’ Web Portal.

ii. The portal can be accessed at http://saubhagya.gov.in. ‘Saubhagya’ scheme was launched by PM of India, Shri Narendra Modi on 25th September 2017 with an outlay of Rs. 16,320 Crores including Budgetary Support of Rs. 12,320 Crores.

11.  ABU DHABI AWARD FOR APMDC

i. The Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation has bagged an international award from Abu Dhabi.

ii. The ADI PEC (Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference) Excellence in Energy Awards 2017 had adjudged the APMDC as the winner for the second position in the category of “social contribution in country value.”

12.  BSE APPOINTS S RAVI AS ITS NEW CHAIRMAN

i. Eminent chartered accountant Sethurathnam Ravi has been appointed as the chairman of the leading Bombay Stock Exchange.

ii. Ravi, who was a public interest director at the BSE, replaced Dhirendra Swarup.

13.  NATIONAL PRESS DAY: 16 NOVEMBER

i. National Press Day is celebrated on November 16 to commemorate the establishment of the Press Council of India.

ii. Formed in 1966, the Press Council keeps a check on the quality of reportage provided by the Indian press.

14.  VETERAN VOCALIST JAGDISH MOHAN PASSES AWAY

i. Renowned Hindustani vocalist of Kirana Gharana, Jagdish Mohan has passed away. He aged 87. He was from Haridwar.

ii. Mohan was honored with the Sangeet Sartaj award by Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh for his vast contribution to Indian classical music.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 15 NOV 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 15 NOV 2017

(DAILY NEWS INDIA)

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1.      FIRST EVER APCERT CONFERENCE IN NEW DELHI

i. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team under the aegis of Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology organized the Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team Conference in New Delhi.

ii. This is the 15th Conference of APCERT and first ever conference in India and South Asia. The conference theme is "Building Trust in the Digital Economy". This was inaugurated by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon'ble Minister of Electronics & Information Technology.

2.      INTERNATIONAL LAVI FAIR BEGINS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

i. Traditional International ‘Lavi fair’ was held from 11th -14th November, 2017 in Rampur, Himachal Pradesh.

ii. The fair was inaugurated by Himachal Pradesh Governor, Acharya Dev Vrat. The governor also inaugurated the ‘Kinnauri market’ and exhibition put up by various Government departments.

iii. Lavi Fair has been an important point of trade between India and Tibet for centuries. The fair is visited by tourist and traders from distant places. It provides a good opportunity for promotion and sale of woolens, dry fruits and other traditional crafts and products.

iv. Currently, it also provides a platform for social and cultural events.

3.      VIJAY PRASAD DIMRI APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF 36TH INTL GEOLOGICAL CONGRESS

i. Scientist Vijay Prasad Dimri has been appointed as the president of the 36th International Geological Congress, a global platform for the advancement of earth science, to be held in 2020.

ii. He has replaced Shailesh Nayak. India, along with its co-host neighboring countries Bangladesh, Nepal, Srilanka, and Pakistan won the bid to host the 36th IGC in the National Capital Region from March 2 -8, 2020.

4.      4TH INDIA-CANADA ANNUAL MINISTERIAL DIALOGUE IN NEW DELHI

i. 4th India-Canada Annual Ministerial Dialogue begun in New Delhi. Canadian delegation was led by the Canadian International Trade Minister, François-Philippe Champagne, whereas Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Suresh Prabhu led the Indian side.

ii. Discussions at the Dialogue focused on some of the key commercial drivers to enhance the India-Canada partnership. Considering the high potential for bilateral trade between India and Canada, efforts were made to work towards the expeditious conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.

iii. Besides, both the sides also explored options to address India’s concerns for Temporary Foreign Workers Programme of Canada, which is affecting the movement of Indian professionals seeking short term visas to Canada.

5.      INDIA’S 1ST TRIBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMIT BEGINS IN CHHATTISGARH

i. India’s first Tribal Entrepreneurship Summit began in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh. The event has been organized by NITI Aayog in partnership with the government of United States of America.

ii. The event is a part of 8th Global Entrepreneurship Summit being held in India.

6.      INDIA TO BECOME 3RD LARGEST ECONOMY BY 2028- BOFA ML REPORT

i. A report by Bank of America-Merrill Lynch has stated that in the next decade, India will overtake Japan to become the third-largest economy.

ii. The report also adds that India is likely to become the world’s fifth largest economy by 2019. As per data available in the report, India is likely to cross Germany and Japan in nominal GDP by 2028, assuming that the nation witnesses a 10% growth every year for the next 10 years.

iii. There are three factors that will enable India to achieve this goal-

1. Reduced dependency ratios are expected to raise saving and investment rates. This is likely to fund 7% real growth.

2. Financial maturity, due to financial liberalization and inclusion, should continue to lower lending rates structurally.

3. Increasing incomes and affordability will likely underpin the emergence of mass markets, supporting an expected 7% real GDP growth.

7.      FOUNDING CEREMONY OF INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE HELD IN GERMANY

i. A Curtain Raiser Event for the Founding Ceremony of the International Solar Alliance was held in Bonn, Germany.

ii. Shri Anand Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy was present at the event from the Indian side. The ISA was jointly launched by PM of India, Narendra Modi, and then-President of France, H.E. Francois Hollande, on the sidelines of the UNFCCC Conference of Parties 21 at Paris, France. The ISA is a treaty-based alliance of 121 prospective solar-rich Member Nations.

8.      INDIA, US, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA HOLD FIRST QUAD TALKS ON INDO-PACIFIC COOPERATION

i. India, the United States, Japan and Australia held their first official-level talks in Manila, Philippines with a focus on keeping the India-Pacific region "free and open".

ii. After the meeting, India, Australia and Japan issued separate statements listing the Indo-Pacific as the major area of the deliberations and resolved to expand cooperation to uphold a rules-based order and respect for international law in the strategically important region.

9.      CHINA LAUNCHES WORLD'S FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC SHIP

i. China has launched world's first all-electric ship that can travel up to 80 km with 2000-tonnes cargo after a two-hour charge.

ii. The 70.5-metre-long ship, which weighs about 600 tonnes, was launched in Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong Province. The vessel, manufactured by the Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Ltd, is powered by a 26-tonne lithium battery.

iii. It can cruise at the top speed of 12.8 km per hour.

10.  INDIA'S FIRST WAVE-POWERED NAVIGATIONAL BUOY LAUNCHED IN CHENNAI

i. India's first wave-powered navigational buoy, developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology, to guide ships in and out of ports, was launched in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The buoy, deployed at Ennore Kamarajar Port, will help ships, moving in and out of the harbour, navigate through a designated channel.

ii. According to the NIOT, the buoy's beacon, for guiding ships, is powered by wave energy while conventional ones use solar power. The buoy stores energy generated by waves in a battery.

11.  VIRTUAL NATION ASGARDIA LAUNCHED ITS FIRST SATELLITE ‘ASGARDIA-1’ INTO SPACE

i. The Space Kingdom of Asgardia has launched its first satellite. This so-called ‘virtual nation’ is the pet project of Russian scientist and billionaire Igor Ashurbeyli.

ii. The Asgardia-1 satellite, which is about the size of a loaf of bread, and contains half a terabyte of data. It was launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia aboard a Cygnus spacecraft on an Orbital ATK Antares rocket.

12.  ADITI, FIRST INDIAN TO QUALIFY FOR LPGA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS

i. Aditi Ashok has qualified for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship on the LPGA, becoming the first from the country to play in the prestigious meet.

ii. The 19-year-old prodigy from Bengaluru is one of the eight rookies to make it to the Tour Championships in what is one of the strongest fields in women's golf.

13.  SEBASTIAN VETTEL WINS BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX

i. Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel took his first victory since July at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton battled from the back to finish fourth.

ii. Vettel controlled the race after taking the lead from pole position man Valtteri Bottas' Mercedes at the start.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 14 NOV 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 14 NOV 2017

(DAILY NEWS INDIA)

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1.      37TH INDIA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR BEGINS IN NEW DELHI

i. 37th India International Trade Fair has begun at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The 14-day annual event has been organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation. It was inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind.

ii. This year the theme of the fair is “Startup India Standup India”. Vietnam is the Partner Country, while Kyrgyzstan is the Focus Country. Jharkhand is participating as a Partner State in the event.

2.      PM MODI INAUGURATED RICE FIELD LABORATORY IN MANILA NAMED AFTER HIM

i. PM Narendra Modi visited the International Rice Research Institute in Los Banos, Philippines and inaugurated ‘Shri Narendra Modi Resilient Rice Field Laboratory’ named after him.

ii. Narendra Modi unveiled a plaque to mark the inauguration of the ‘Shri Narendra Modi Resilient Rice Field Laboratory’. He also undertook a symbolic ground breaking for a new plot for submergence tolerant rice varieties and presented two Indian rice seed varieties to the International Rice Research Institute gene bank.

iii. He interacted with several Indian scientists working at IRRI. He also reviewed a photo exhibit showcasing flood tolerant rice varieties, drought tolerant rice varieties, salinity tolerant rice varieties and IRRI’s work with women farming cooperatives.

3.      INDIA, PHILIPPINES INKS FOUR AGREEMENTS IN VARIOUS FIELDS

i. Four agreements were signed by India and Philippines in areas including Defence Cooperation and Logistics, agriculture, Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises-MSME and forging closer relations between the Indian Council of World Affairs and the Philippines Foreign Service Institute.

ii. The bilateral meeting was held between PM Modi and the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 13 NOV 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 13 NOV 2017

(DAILY NEWS INDIA)

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1.      PM MODI IN PHILIPPINES ON 3-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT

i. PM Narendra Modi has reached the Philippines capital Manila on a 3-day official visit. He will be attending the 31st ASEAN, the East Asia and the India-ASEAN annual Summits.

ii. During the visit to the Philippines, his first bilateral visit to the country, the Prime Minister will also participate in special celebrations of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Leaders’ Meeting and ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

iii. ASEAN's theme for 2017 is 'Partnering for Change, Engaging the World'.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 12 NOV 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 12 NOV 2017

(DAILY NEWS INDIA)

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1.      FIRST EVER INTERNATIONAL AYUSH CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION HELD IN DUBAI

i. The International AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) Conference and Exhibition 2017 is held in Dubai. Minister for AYUSH Sripad Naik is on a 3-day visit to UAE to participate in the first ever International Ayush Conference and Exhibition in Dubai.

ii. This is the first ever conglomeration of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy practitioners, policy makers, industrialists, researchers and students across the world. Indian government has committed to provide 100 non-Indian students full scholarship if they study AYUSH in any of the public deemed universities across India.

iii. AYUSH ministry is also in touch with the UAE Ministry of Health to set up an AYUSH chair in Dubai.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 11 NOV 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 11 NOV 2017

(DAILY NEWS INDIA)

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1.      23RD GST COUNCIL MEET HELD IN GUWAHATI, 28% TAX ONLY FOR 50 ITEMS

i. 23rd meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council headed by Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley was held in Guwahati, Assam. Decisions taken during this meeting of GST council has brought in a comprehensive overhaul of GST rates. Besides return filing has been eased and more relief has been provided to small and medium enterprises.

ii. GST rate on 177 items has been reduced from 28% to 18%. Now only 50 items, mostly demerit, sin and luxury goods will attract 28% GST rate. This decision will have a revenue implication of Rs 20000 cr annually.

iii. Some of the items for which GST rate has been reduced from 28% to 18% include chewing gum, dental hygiene products, chocolate, aftershave, detergent, marble, custard powder, deodorant, nail polishes and creams.

iv. Besides, 13 items have been moved from 18% to 12% slab, 6 items from 18% to 5% slab, 8 items from 12% to 5% slab and 6 items from 5% to nil. The new tax rates will come into effect from November 15, 2017.

v. All restaurants across India (Air conditioned and non-Air conditioned restaurants), except those in five-star hotels will be levied GST of 5%, without input tax credit benefits. The GST Council has also raised the threshold for the composition scheme to 1.5 cr from 1 cr. Under the composition scheme, traders are allowed to pay a fixed rate to avoid GST paperwork. For nil liability tax filers, fine for late filing of returns has been cut to 20 per day from Rs. 200.

2.      INDIA RE-ELECTED MEMBER OF UNESCO’S EXECUTIVE BOARD

i. India has been re-elected as the member of the UNESCO’s executive board, its top decision-making body. The election was held at the 39th session of the General Conference of the UNESCO in Paris, France.

ii. The General Conference consists of the representatives of the States Members of the organisation. Each country has one vote, irrespective of its size or the extent of its contribution to the budget.

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