Current Affairs Updates - 5th and 6th November 2017

Current Affairs Updates - 5th and 6th November 2017

Important Days

World Tsunami Awareness Day observed on 5th november in the event of Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction(AMCDRR). Theme: Reduce the number of Affected People

• To commemorate the occasion, an event will be organised with Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Champions at the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) 2016. 

New Appointments: National

Appointment of Shri Nasir Kamal as Additional Director General, Border Security Force (BSF) for a period of four years 

• The competent authority has appointed Shri Nasir Kamal, IPS (UP:86) as Additional Director General, Border Security Force for a period of four years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier. 

New Appointments: International

Top economic expert on India Kenneth Juster’s appointment as US Ambassador to India replacing Richard Verma

• Kenneth Juster, a top economic expert on India, was on Friday unanimously confirmed by the Senate as the next U.S. Ambassador to New Delhi, filling a key position as the two countries push forward their strategic ties.
• Mr. Juster, 62, is an old India hand who played a key role in developing the landmark Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal.
• He will replace Indian-American Richard Verma as the top American diplomat to India. The position has been lying vacant since January 20 after Mr. Verma resigned from the post after the swearing-in of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the U.S.

Banking/Economic Affairs

AU Small Finance gets scheduled commercial bank status by RBI to do borrowing and lending with RBI under Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) and Marginal Standing Facility (MSF)

• AU Small Finance Bank has received Reserved Bank of India (RBI) approval to operate as Scheduled Commercial Bank. This bank's name has now been included in the Second Schedule of Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
• Post acquiring scheduled commercial bank status, AU Small Finance Bank will be able to do borrowing and lending with RBI under Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) and Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) .
• Also, it will help AU Small Finance Bank to acquire business from public sector undertakings (PSUs), corporates, banks, mutual funds, insurance companies and other market participants which can transact with scheduled banks only to comply either regulatory or internal guidelines.

Rankings

India tops domestic air passenger traffic was the highest among major aviation markets at 15.5 per cent in September, China second in the report by The International Air Transport Association (IATA)  

• India's domestic passenger traffic was the highest among major aviation markets at 15.5 per cent in September, followed by China and the Russian Federation, a global airline association said on Friday.
• The International Air Transport Association (IATA), in its global passenger traffic data, revealed that India's domestic demand -- revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) -- was the highest among major aviation markets like Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Russia and the US.
• The IATA data showed that India's domestic RPK -- which measures actual passenger traffic -- rose by 15.5 per cent in September compared with the corresponding month of the previous year.

National Affairs

India sets Guinness world record by cooking 918 kg khichdi  at the global event of 'Great Indian Food Street' 

• India today set a Guinness world record by cooking 918 kg khichdi, a traditional multi-grain dish, at the ongoing global food event organised by the government in the national capital.
• A team of 50 people led by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor and NGO Akshaya Patra supervised the night-long preparations and yoga guru Ramdev Baba put crowning 'tadka' in the dish at the World India Food event that will conclude tomorrow.
• The mega khichadi preparation was part of the 'Great Indian Food Street' at the global event, being organised along with industry body CII, that features traditional food from more than 20 states states. 

ONGC has received the Information Memorandum from the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management for acquiring majority stake of 51.11 percent in fellow public sector undertaking HPCL.

• Newly-appointed ONGC Chairman & MD, Shashi Shankar, said, “This process is on. Only on November 1, we have received this Information Memorandum and that is the stage we are in.”
• Shankar was responding to a query on the status of the ONGC-HPCL deal.
• “The Cabinet approval for the merger came around July, and then we went to our board and took the in-principle approval in the third week of August,” he added.
• ONGC’s acquisition of 51.11 per cent stake in HPCL is in line with the government’s plan to create an integrated energy major with businesses spread.

RBI asks corporate borrowers having total exposures of 50 crore and above to obtain ‘Legal Entity Identifier’ code 

• The Reserve Bank of India on Thursday asked banks to advise their existing large corporate borrowers having total exposures of 50 crore and above to obtain Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) code as per the schedule prescribed by it.
• The RBI warned that borrowers who do not obtain LEI, which is a 20-digit unique code to identify parties to financial transactions worldwide, as per the schedule, are not to be granted renewal/enhancement of credit facilities.
• According to the central bank’s schedule, corporates having exposure totalling 1,000 crore and above to scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) are required to obtain LEI by March 31, 2018.

Modi Govt launched Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana, a scholarship program for school children to increase the reach of Philately. Scholarships will be awarded to student of class VI to IX having good academic record and also pursuing Philately as a hobby.

• The Narendra Modi government on Friday launched Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana, a scholarship program for school children to increase the reach of Philately. Under the scheme of SPARSH (Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude and Research in Stamps as a Hobby), annual scholarships will be awarded to student of class VI to IX having good academic record and also pursuing Philately as a hobby.

Five-time world champion Mary Kom named ambassador of the AIBA Women's Youth World Championship to be held in Guwahati 

• Five-time world champion MC Mary Kom was named ambassador of the AIBA Women's Youth World Championships to be held in Guwahati from November 19 to 26.
• Besides five world titles, Mary Kom also has an Olympic bronze medal to her credit.

Bajaj Allianz rolls out first-ever cyber crime insurance cover for crimes such as online fraud, identity theft, cyber-stalking and extortion, phishing and malware attack.

• As instances of cyber attacks increase all over the world, corporations as well as individuals are now more vulnerable than ever before. In what is a first for India, leading insurance firm Bajaj Allianz would provide cover for individual victims of cyber crime. These crimes could be in the form of online fraud, identity theft, cyber-stalking and extortion, phishing and malware attack, and individuals can shop for an over-the-counter insurance cover as per the the new Cyber Safe policy designed by Bajaj Allianz,

PAN not needed for cash sale of agri produce up to Rs 2 lakh/day 

• The revenue department today said farmers do not need to quote PAN for cash sale of their produce up to Rs 2 lakh a day. 
• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in response to representations from stakeholders regarding the applicability of provisions of Income-tax Act, 1961 to cash sale of agricultural produce by the cultivators/ agriculturists. 

PAN Indian Army Release of Integrated Quarter Master Package (IQMP) Software Application by the Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Sarath Chand in an event organised at South Block to automate various logistics related functions of an Army Unit

• Integrated Quarter Master Package (IQMP) software application was formally released to the Indian Army by the Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Sarath Chand in an event organised at South Block on 02 Nov 2017. IQMP is web based software developed by Army Software Development Centre in association with M/s TCS Ltd. The application automates various logistics related functions of an Army Unit. The application will replace numerous legacy applications such as 'Vastra' and 'Quarter Master Package'.

International Affairs

China unveils massive ‘magic island-maker’ dredging vessel launched at a port in eastern Jiangsu province

• China has shown off its largest and most advanced dredging vessel — which it calls “a magic island-maker” — state-run media reported Saturday.
• The dredger, the same kind of vessel used to create several China-held islets in the disputed South China Sea, was launched Friday at a port in eastern Jiangsu province.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri  resigns, plunging nation into new political crisis

• Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri unexpectedly resigned Saturday during a trip to Saudi Arabia, saying his life was in danger, and creating a leadership vacuum in an already politically fractured country.
• In a televised address from Riyadh, Hariri said he feared an assassination plot and accused Iran of meddling in the region, causing "devastation and chaos."

Visit of H.E. Mr. Serzh Sargsyan, the President of the Republic of Armenia to India to attend the inaugural session of World Food India

• H.E. Mr. Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia is visiting India from November 2 - 4, 2017. He is accompanied by a large delegation including Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Economic Development & Investments Mr. Suren Karayan, and Minister of Education & Science Mr. Levon Mkrtchyan.
• President Sargsyan attended the inaugural session of World Food India along with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and other dignitaries today morning. He then had a detailed bilateral meeting with Prime Minister at Hyderabad House. He met the President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind. Vice President of India Shri Venkaiah Naidu, called on him. 

Science & Technologies

New orangutan species Tapanuli discovered in Indonesia

• Scientists have discovered a new species of orangutan in the remote jungles of Sumatra in Indonesia.
• The researchers say the Tapanuli orangutan has distinct genetic, skeletal and tooth differences to the two other known species of orangutans, Sumatran and Bornean.

Defence & Railway

In a big boost to defence, India successfully test-fired an indigenously-developed, lightweight 'glide bomb' at Chandipur in Odisha. The 'smart anti-airfield weapon' (SAAW), developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation's Research Centre Imarat (RCI).

• India on Friday successfully test-fired an indigenously-developed, lightweight 'glide bomb' at Chandipur in Odisha. The 'smart anti-airfield weapon' (SAAW), developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation's Research Centre Imarat (RCI), other labs and the Indian Air Force, was fired from an air force aircraft. 
• SAAW has been described as a 120 kg smart weapon, which is capable of engaging targets with high precision up to a range of 100 km. The long-range will allow the IAF to easily hit targets across the border without putting the pilot and aircraft at risk. It can be integrated into the varied types of fighter jets with the IAF. The weapon can be used to destroy bunkers, runways, aircraft hangers and other reinforced structures. 

Indian Railways has increased the monthly cap on tickets booked on the ICRTC portal from six to 12 for Aadhaar-verified passengers

• The move, which came into effect on October 26, is believed to be an innovative way for the railways to encourage passengers to link their Aadhar numbers to their online booking accounts on IRCTC.
• If the number goes beyond six, the Aadhaar number of the user and one of the passengers should be updated in the IRCTC portal.

Two Indian naval ships Tir and Sujatha and the Indian Coast Guard ship Sarathi pay goodwill visit to Sri Lanka at the Colombo port

• Two Indian naval ships are on a five-day goodwill visit to Sri Lanka to participate in a number of training exercises in a bid to share professional expertise and strengthen friendship.
• The ships' crews will also take part in a series of friendly sports events and community service activities organised by the Sri Lanka Navy during their stay in the country, Daily Mirror reported.
• indian Naval Ships Tir and Sujatha and the Indian Coast Guard ship Sarathi arrived at the Colombo port on a goodwill and training visit .

Agreements (MoU)

Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) signs MoU with Singapore-based ITE Education Services (ITEES) for skill development

• Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) and Singapore-based ITE Education Services (ITEES) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for skill development in the state.
• ITEES is a subsidiary of Singapore's prestigious Institute of Technical Education(ITE).
• According to Chief Minister Navin Patnaik, 100 ITI teachers will be trained at Singapore at the ITE in 2018 as per the provision of the MoU.
• "The initiative will certainly step up the quality of our skilled youths. I thank ITEES for helping us with knowledge, collaboration and international linkage."

Yes Bank signs MoU with government for Rs 1,000 crore financing for food processing projects

• Private sector lender Yes Bank on Friday signed an agreement with the government to provide Rs 1,000 crore financing for food processing projects. The funding will be provided to around 100 food processing projects with an average ticket size of Rs 10 crore each, the bank said in a statement.

Summit /Conference / Events / Host

Goa government executed a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Bio-Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India (GoI) and Nobel Media, Sweden to hold the ‘Nobel Prize Series — India 2018 (Science Impacts Life)’ to be held from February 1-28 next year along with a month-long exhibition brought from Nobel Museum, Sweden. The Nobel series has earlier been organised in Gujarat.

• The Goa government on Friday executed a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Bio-Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India (GoI) and Nobel Media, Sweden to hold the ‘Nobel Prize Series — India 2018 (Science Impacts Life)’ to be held from February 1-28 next year along with a month-long exhibition brought from Nobel Museum, Sweden. The Nobel series has earlier been organised in Gujarat.
• The event will be jointly organised by Department of Bio-Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India in collaboration with Nobel Media, Sweden and Department of Science and Technology. Vijay Raghavan, Director, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, GoI, said the Ministry is very excited to host the event in Goa.

International Conference on "Ramayan Circuit and Mithila-Awadh Relations" begins in Janakpur in Nepal to strengthen the cultural bonding between the two nations

• An international Conference on "Ramayan Circuit and Mithila-Awadh Relations" started at Janakpur in Nepal today. Eminent experts from India and Nepal participating in the two day event.
• Inaugurating the conference Culture Minister of Nepal Jitendra Naryan Dev said that cultural and language have stronger bonding than political relations. He said that India and Nepal have unique relationship and such programmes will further strengthen it. Highlighting age old ties between both the countries Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh said that it is necessary to carry forward this relationship as per the requirements of modern time.

Awards & Honours

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam wins UNESCO Asia Pacific Award of Merit 2017 for cultural heritage conservation.

• Following the massive renovation and restoration work which was carried out at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, the sacred shrine temple has won the UNESCO Asia Pacific Award of Merit 2017 for cultural heritage conservation.
• It has become the first temple in Tamil Nadu to be given the prestigious award from the UN body. The Times of India reported that the use of traditional methods in renovating temple structures and re-establishment of rainwater harvesting and historic drainage system, to augment water and prevent flooding, were the main reasons for the temple to achieve the award.

Air New Zealand wins Airline Excellence Award by international aviation website AirlineRatings.com. for the 5th time

• Holding on to the top Airline Excellence Award for the last 4 years, Air New Zealand has done it again. They have been crowned the 2018 Airline of the Year by international aviation website AirlineRatings.com.
• The winner is judged by a panel of six judges who in conjunction have 180 years’ experience in aviation. The criteria for the award includes passenger reviews, in-flight product offerings, safety, profitability, feet age and environmental policies.
• This is Air NZ’s fifth consecutive year winning this top award and Chief Marketing and Customer Officer Mike Tod says, the Airline of the year accolade will be celebrated by the 11,800 staff members and as well as being a proud moment for them all.

Renowned Hindi writer Krishna Sobti chosen for Jnanpith Award

• Renowned Hindi littérateur Krishna Sobti has been chosen for this year’s Jnanpith Award, the Jnanpith Selection Board announced on Friday.
• Born in 1925 in Gujrat in Pakistan’s Punjab Province, Sobti (92) is known for experimenting with new writing styles and creating “bold” and “daring” characters in her stories who were ready to accept all challenges. Her language was highly influenced by the intermingling of Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi cultures.

Tata Power Solar bags ‘Dun & Bradstreet - Everest Infra Awards 2017’ under Infrastructure Project category for commissioning India's largest solar project under Domestic Content Requirement for NTPC at Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh

• Tata Power Solar has won ‘Dun & Bradstreet - Everest Infra Awards 2017’ under Infrastructure Project category for commissioning India's largest solar project under Domestic Content Requirement for NTPC at Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh.
• The 100-MW project is expected to generate nearly 160 million units (kWh) of energy per year and help offset approximately 110,000 tonnes of CO2 in the first year.
• Spread over 500-acre site and using high quality TIER-1 module and cells manufactured in-house, the project was delivered within 80 per cent of the stipulated timeline and three months ahead of the stringent schedule.