Dear Readers, We cover some important news in Current Affairs Today Section, which are not covered in Daily Detailed News, More Current Affairs coverage will help you to Score Good Marks in Competitive Exam.
INDIAN AFFAIRS
- CCEA hikes MSP for major Rabi crops including wheat, gram and pulses
- President launches IMPRINT India initiative of IITs and IISC
- 17 MoUs for Academia –Industry Linkages signed between NIPERs and Pharma Industry
Union Cabinet gives nod to MoU between India and Belgium in the field of energy
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has backed a Memorandum of Understanding signed between India and Belgium.
Objective of the Memorandum
To provide the ground for a cooperative institutional relationship to promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy affairs on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and mutuality.
- Areas of cooperation will target on reinforcement of new and renewable energy technologies in wind energy, biomass, solar (thermal and photovoltaic), smart grids, geothermal energy, marine energy, contribution of renewables to diversification of supply and energy security, and any other mutually agreed areas.
Key points
- Belgium Capital,currency: Brussels,Euro
- PM: Charles Michel
- Monarch: Philippe, King of the Belgians
Cabinet approves double taxation treaty between India and Turkmenistan
The union cabinet gave its assent to amend a double taxation avoidance deal signed with the central Asian country of Turkmenistan in 1997 through a protocol and for the prevention of fiscal evasion as per taxes on income and on capital.
- For internationally accepted axioms for active exchange of information on tax matters plus bank information details and the information received from Turkmenistan in the matter of a resident of India can be shared with other law enforcement agencies with authorisation of a competent authority of Turkmenistan and vice versa.
- For ‘Limitation of Benefits’ article as an anti-abuse provision marked at preventing misuse of the convention.
Double taxation:
Double taxation occurs when an individual is required to pay two or more taxes for the same income, asset, or financial transaction in different countries. It occurs basically due to overlapping tax laws and regulations of the countries where an individual operates his business.
Key points :
- Turkmenistan Capital,currency: Ashgabat, Manat
- President: Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
Prime Minister to Inaugurate Delhi Economics Conclave 2015
Theme: Realizing India’s JAM (Jan-Dhan Aadhar Mobile) Vision
Members who will participate:
Minister of State for Finance Shri Jayant Sinha and Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser(CEA)
Highlights :
- Opening plenary session on International and Indian Experience and Future
- Second plenary session on benefits and risks of biometric authentication-evidence
- Third session on ‘Beneficiaries’ experiences with technology-based targeting’
- Fourth plenary session on ‘Financial Inclusion and DBT-the uncovered territory’
- Fifth plenary session on the theme ‘Political economy and States’ perspectives and preparedness
- First post- tea plenary session will have Conversation on ‘JAM+Vision for Future’. The participants will be Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser, and Nandan Nilekani, former Chairman, UIDAI.
- Closing session will have panel discussion on the theme of ‘JAM Vision – Challenges and Way Forward’ and will be moderated by the Union Finance Minister
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
France to deploy its largest warship against IS in Syria and Iraq
France will deploy its aircraft carrier to support operations against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq said by President Francois Hollande .The carrier is usually accompanied by an attack submarine, several frigates, refuelling ships, as well as fighter jets and surveillance aircraft.
Key facts :
The aircraft carrier will enable us to be more efficient in coordination with our allies French warplanes struck their first targets in Syria at the end of September.
- It was the first country to join the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq and has also provided limited logistical support to Syrian rebels it considers moderate, including Kurds.
- France has also been one of the main backers of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, one of the main parties in international discussions to end the four-year-old civil war.
Key points :
- France Capital : Paris
- France Currency : Euro
- France PM : Nicholas Sarkozy
BANKING & FINANCE
RBI imposes Rs 1 crore penalty on Dhanlaxmi Bank
Reserve Bank of India imposed a Rs 1-crore penalty on Dhanlaxmi Bank for non-adherence to KYC (know your customer) and anti-money laundering guidelines.
- The RBI had issued a show cause notice to the bank for not having complied with KYC and AML guidelines. It pertained to a current account that is under investigation by the economic offences wing of Mumbai police.
Key points :
- Dhanlaxmi Bank Headquarters : Thrissur, Kerala,
- Dhanlaxmi Bank CEO : G. Sreeram.
RBI includes Bandhan Bank in second schedule list
Reserve Bank announced that that Bandhan Bank has been included in the second schedule list to making it eligible for loans from the central bank at bank rate under the Reserve Bank of India Act.
- A scheduled bank is eligible for loans from the RBI at bank rate. They are also given membership to clearing houses.
- Bandhan Bank is the first instance of a micro-finance entity in India transforming into a universal bank.Besides, Industrial Bank of Korea and Korea Exchange Bank Co Ltd have been included in the second schedule.
Bandhan Bank :
It received an in-principle approval from the RBI in April 2014 and the banking regulator’s final nod on June 17, 2015.
- Bandhan Bank Headquarters : Kolkata, West Bengal
- Bandhan Bank CEO : Chandra Shekhar Ghosh
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS
Navtej Singh Sarna to be new High Commissioner to UK
Navtej Singh Sarna an Indian Foreign Service officer of 1980 batch, will be India’s next high commissioner to UK announced by the external affairs ministry .
About Navtej Singh Sarna
- Sarna, an author of many fiction and non-fiction books, is currently serving as secretary (west) in the ministry. He will succeed Ranjan Mathai, a former foreign secretary, as India’s envoy in the UK.
- Sarna was the longest-serving spokesperson of the ministry and its most visible face from 2002 to 2008. He served as India’s ambassador to Israel from 2008 to 2012.
- For two years from August 2012, Sarna served as additional secretary in-charge of international organisations.
- Sarna is also well-versed in Russian and Polish languages and has served in various Indian missions, including Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva, Thimphu and Washington.
Key points :
- UK Capital :London
- UK currency : Pound Sterling
- UK PM : David Cameroon
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
World’s 3rd Sanskrit film to open IFFI in Goa
Priyamanasam the third Sanskrit feature film to be made in India, has been selected to open at the 46th edition of the 10-day International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, which will begin from November 20.
Inspiration :
To realise his “childhood dream” came from his love and familiarity with Kathakali, a classical form of dance drama from Kerala that celebrates the beauty of Sanskrit verses.
Highlights :
- Priyamanasamis the third feature film ever made in Sanskrit and is based on the life of a 17th century poet-scholar Unnayi Warrier who lived in Kerala.
- The much-popular and award winning Konkani musical film Nachom-ia-Kumpasar by Bardoy Barretto, depicting Goan jazz musicians in Mumbai during the 1970s, has also been chosen for the section.
- The segment will also feature the Bollywood hit Bajrangi Bhaijaan starring Salman Khan, among the 26 feature films selected for the category.
- Other interesting entries include The Head Hunterin Wancho language from Arunachal Pradesh directed by Nilanjan Datta, and Dau Huduni Methai in Bodo language directed by Manju Borah.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Australian scientists identify way to target neuroblastoma cancer
Australian scientists have identified a critical molecular ‘feedback loop‘ that helps initiate and drive neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system in children that is triggered in embryonal nerve cells.
The authors showed in laboratory models of neuroblastoma that the drug could block the very start of this embryonal cancer, paving the way to possible prevention strategies in the future.
New way to Cure neuroblastoma cancer :
The new study, from the Institute, found that the drug known as CBL01371.
- It is used in combination with traditional DNA damaging chemotherapy agents was much more effective than either drug alone because CBL0137 created a ‘synthetic lethal‘ state by preventing the cancer cells from repairing DNA damage induced by chemotherapy, and so ensuring cell death.
Highlights :
- These important findings were published in the international journal Science Translational Medicine.
- Michelle Haber AM and Glenn Marshall AM, respective leaders of the Experimental Therapeutics and Molecular Carcinogenesis laboratories at the Institute, worked on two very different aspects of the study.
Scientists develop 3-D printing method to make embryonic stem cells
Scientists from China and United States have developed a 3-D printing method to produce highly uniform ‘blocks’ of embryonic stem cells. The new method used extrusion-deposition based 3-D printing technology to produce a grid-like 3-D (three dimensional) cell structure to grow embryoid body.
Developer :
The researchers from Beijing based Tsinghua University (China) and Philadelphia based Drexel University (US).
Applications:
These cells are capable of generating all cell types in the body which could be used as the ‘Lego bricks’ to build larger structures of tissues , tissue constructs and even micro-organs.
About 3D printing technology
- 3D printing is a process of making 3-D (three dimensional) solid objects from a digital file with extreme precision.
- This technology is also termed additive manufacturing as the 3D printed object is created us additive processes.
SPORTS
Deepika and Jayanta wins bronze at Asian Archery Championship
Deepika Kumari and Jayanta Talukdar clinched the bronze in the Recurve Mixed team event after beating Chian 5-3 at the Asian Archery Championships
- Indian archery with Abhishek Verma becoming the first Indian to win a medalat the Archery World Cup final in Mexico when he won the silver medal.
- Deepika Kumari won yet another silver in the Women’s Singles event.
Venue : Bangkok, Thailand
Asian Archery Championship :
- Asian Archery Championshipsis the Archery Asian Championship organized by the Asian Archery Federation.
- It has been held biannually, and since 2001 has included both the recurve and compound The tournament began in 1980 and it was first hosted in India.
- Countries such as South Korea, China, Japan and India compete, with many of the world’s leading archers representing them
OBITUARY
French intellectual Rene Girard passed away
French intellectual Rene Girard, an academic fascinated in the causes of conflict who earned the nickname “the new Darwin“, died Wednesday in the US, Stanford University said. He was 91.
About Rene Girard :
- Girard was an emeritus professor at Stanford University’s French and Italian department, where he taught for more than 30 years.
- Girard was especially interested in the causes of conflict and violence and the role of imitation in human behaviour.
- Girard was the author of nearly 30 books, which have been widely translated.
- They include “Deceit, Desire and the Novel” (1961), “Violence and the Sacred” (1972), and “Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World” (1978).
- His last major work was “Achever Clausewitz” (2007), which Stanford said was cited by then French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is observed annually on November 6.
- The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict was established on November 5, 2001 by the United Nations General Assembly, during Kofi Atta Annan’s tenure as Secretary-General.
Objective :
To highlight the environmental consequences of war and to stress the importance of neither exploiting nor heedlessly damaging ecosystems, simply in the name of pursuing military objectives.
