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Click here to try Current Affairs Quiz : November 2 2016
INDIAN AFFAIRS
PM Narendra Modi launches ‘Saur Sujala Yojana’ in Chhattisgarh
i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chhattisgarh to marks the state’s 16th foundation day on November 1, 2016. He launched the Saur Sujala Yojana in Chhattisgarh in order to provide solar powered irrigation pumps to farmers at a subsidized price. He also inaugurates jungle safari, statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and Naya Raipur BRTS project in Chhattisgarh
ii. Chhattisgarh was the first state to implement the Saur Sujala Yojana .Under the scheme, solar powered irrigation pumps of 3HP and 5HP capacity worth Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh respectively would be distributed to the farmers by March 31, 2019.
iii. PM Narendra Modi also inaugurated Asia’s largest man-made jungle safari of about 800-acre Nandanvan Zoo and Safari, at Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh.
Govt to launch equity fund of up to $2 billion.
i. The Indian government and three state-run firms would jointly prepared an equity fund of up to $2 billion for renewable energy companies to help New Delhi meet its clean energy goals.
ii. Private and public companies would be able to immerse into an initial amount of more than $1 billion starting next fiscal year.. India’s government hopes the Clean Energy Equity Fund (CEEF) would attract pension and insurance funds from Canada and Europe.
iii. Around $600 million of the initial pool would come from the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, under the finance ministry, and the rest from state entities NTPC Ltd, Rural Electrification Corp and the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency.
iv. The program would depend on getting as much as $175 billion in funding with 70 percent of that apparently in bank loans and the rest as equity.
I & B Ministry prepared promotional funds for India’s entry to Oscars ,other festivals.
i. Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu, Minister of Information & Broadcasting announced that the Government has taken a new initiative to create a Film Promotion Fund to promote Indian cinema in the International Film Festivals.
ii. The announcement was made at the press conference of 47th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI).The financial support would be provided to the filmmakers to promote their films at international film festivals across the world.
iii. The proposed fund value for films being selected to represent India at Oscars is Rs.50,00,000 to Rs.1,00,00,000.
iv. The step is a part of Government’s efforts towards promotion of Indian cinema in the international arena and especially help the independent producers to promote their work.This initiative would help independent producers to promote their work across the globe
MoU signed for enabling online submission of applications under PMAY
i. Ministry of HUPA and Common Services Centre e-Governance Services India Limited of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for enabling online submission of applications under PMAY(Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana)
ii. The MoU was signed by Shri Amrit Abhijat, Joint Secretary, Ministry of HUPA and Shri Dinesh Tyagi, CEO of CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd.
iii. It will enable online submission of applications by the urban poor for affordable houses under PMAY from November 3, 2016 at a nominal cost of Rs.25/- per application.
iv. Ministry of Urban Development and CSCs signed naother MoU to enabled 15 lakh transactions helping beneficiaries apply on line for construction of toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission in urban areas.
PMAY :
♦ Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana was launched in June 2015 to provide affordable housing to urban poor
♦ It is proposed to build 2 crore houses for urban poor including Economically Weaker Sections and Low Income Groups in urban areas by the year 2022
10th Command Level Navy Coast Guard (COMNAVGUARD) held in Visakhapatnam
i. The 10th Command Level Navy Coast Guard (COMNAVGUARD) meeting was held in Visakhapatnam on November 2, 2016 to discuss inter-operatability issues between Navy and Coast Guard.
ii. The meeting was co-chaired by Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain and Inspector General Rajan Bargotra, Commander, Coast Guard Region (East) and Inspector General K R Nautiyal, Commander Coast Guard Region (North East), along with senior officers of Navy and Coast Guard.
iii. They are also discussed to enhance synergy of operation, sharing of resources and futuristic plans to enhance effectiveness of the Naval and Coast Guard operations on the east coast.
Delhi govt launches Rs.200Cr Yamuna riverfront project at Sonia Vihar
i. The Delhi government has launched the Yamuna riverfront Project at the second annual ‘Yamuna Aarti’ event aarti at the Dhai Pusta, in Sonia Vihar in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on November 1, 2016
ii. Objective : To beautify the riverfront in the next one-and-a-half years
iii. Outlay of the project : Rs. 200-crore
iv. It has plans to re-imagine the river banks at Sonia Vihar and Geeta ghat also will be revamped.
v. A ‘Nakshatra Vatika’ (garden as per Vedic astrology) and a medicinal garden are being built at Sonia Vihar.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
RCEP members worry greater market access to china.
i. RCEP is the proposed big-regional Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between 16 Asia-Pacific countries including India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the 10-member ASEAN.
ii.The concerns of 15 Asia-Pacific nations including India, over agreeing to give larger market access to Chinese goods without gaining similarly in return, are apparently to take centre-stage in the forthcoming ministerial meeting on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
iii. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and the six states with which ASEAN has existing FTAs (Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand)
iv. RCEP negotiations were formally launched in November 2012 at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia. RCEP is viewed as an alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which includes the United States but excludes India and China.
Austarlia announced 19 grants worth $6.3 million for projects with India.
i. The Australian government announced 19 grants worth $6,30,000 dollars for several projects in the field of education, science, sports, arts and culture.
ii. The successful grants included an exchange between TAFE NSW and India’s Centurion University to share expertise for training individual learners, jointly between University of New South Wales and Indian scientists to develop effective new water purification systems for the country’s water supply.
iii. It also included development of a website by Women’s Legal Service Tasmania and TRS Law Offices in India to provide young Indian women with details about their rights.
iv. Sports programme would also be undertaken jointly in India by Hockey Australia and Dabang Mumbai Hockey Club to share expertise in hockey training.
BANKING & FINANCE
SEBI granted in-principle approval to BSE for global exchange.
i. BSE aimed to operationalise the international exchange by early next year. Mock trading for the same commenced from October 3.
ii. The BSE board at its meeting held on May 5, 2016, had approved creation of two fully-owned subsidiary companies for the purpose of setting up the first international exchange and clearing corporations.
iii. BSE in August had announced that its international stock exchange would provide a platform to trade on equity, commodity and currency and interest rate derivatives for Indian and foreign investors.
iv. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is the regulator for the securities market in India. It was established in the year 1992 and given required powers on 12 April 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992
BSE revised transaction charges for currency derivatives.
i. Top stock exchange Bombay Stock Exchange(BSE) has decided to impose transaction charge in a phase manner from this month on trades done in currency futures and options contracts.
ii. The exchange has increased the transaction charge to Rs.12 per Rs.1 crore of return on both active and passive trades done on its currency future contracts. Earlier, Rs.10 per crore transaction fee was imposed on such contracts.
iii. BSE had launched its currency derivatives platform in November 2013 and did not impose any transaction charges for trades done on this segment for almost a year. However, since December 2014 it began charging for currency derivatives.
iv. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) is an Indian stock exchange located at Dalal Street, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Maharashtra, India. Established in 1875, the BSE is Asia’s first stock exchange.
State Bank of India cuts home loan interest rates to lowest
i. State Bank of India has slashed its home loan rate to a six-year low to 9.10%.
ii. Under this scheme woman borrowers will be able to get home loans at 9.10% while other borrowers will be able to get loans at 9.15%.
iii. These rates will be applicable top loans up to Rs 75 lakh with effective from 1st November. There will be a reduction in interest rate by 0.15% on Home Loan of Rs 50 lakh.
ICICI Bank launches overdraft facility for salaried home loan borrowers
i. ICICI Bank has launched home loan overdraft facility for salaried customers against their home loans.
ii. Under the ‘ICICI Bank Home Overdraft’ scheme a salaried customer can avail loans from Rs 5 lakh to Rs. 1 crore for personal needs against his/her property.
iii. The minimum and maximum loan over the Home Overdraft facility is Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 1 crore, respectively.
iv. Customers can avail themselves of minimum 10 per cent of the total amount as term loan and maximum 90 per cent as overdraft
ATM Manufacture NCR bags largest ATM order from SBI for over 7,000 machines
i. US-based ATM manufacturer NCR Corporation has bagged the single largest order from SBI to install over 7,000 cash-vending machines said by SBI Deputy Managing Director and Chief Information Officer Mrutyunjay Mahapatra
ii. It is the single largest ATM order in the country and it will worth Rs 334 crore
iii. It has to be executed over the next seven years, and it will deploy 7,070 cash-vending machines, software solutions and provide services support.
iv. Its new ATMs are equipped with the latest anti-fraud security solutions.
NCR Corporation :
NCR is the largest player in the domestic ATM market with over 1 lakh cash-vending machines running.
BUSINESS
Russia wants to team up with India on fast-neutron reactor project
i. Russia’s state atomic energy corporation Rosatom has invited India to join in developing next-generation nuclear reactors and to participate in its
ii. A fast neutron reactor, also known simply as a fast reactor, is a type in which nuclear fission chain reaction is sustained by fast neutrons.
iii. The multipurpose fast research reactor project, also known as MBIR, is coming up at the International Research Center in Dimitrovgrad, located in the Ulyanovsk region.
iv. MBIR could become world’s most powerful facility by 2025. And given that such a unique institution with the high neutron flux cannot be realized on a small scale, a high cost is inevitable.
LinkedIn Inks MoU With Govt To Create More Jobs For Students
i. US based LinkedIn has signed an agreement with Ministry of Human Resource Development to create more job opportunities in India.
ii. According to the MoU, LinkedIn’s ‘Placements’ product which was launched in September 2016 will be adopted by all colleges affiliated with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
iii. More than two lakh students will be registered for the product and there were over 1.2 
million job applications.
LinkedIn :
♦ It is a business and employment-oriented social networking service that operates via websites.
♦ The site has ranked 14th in an Alexa Internet ranking
♦ Headquarters: California, United States
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Indian actor Rekha to get Lifetime Achievement Award at Dubai film fest
i. Indian actor Rekha will be honoured by the upcoming Dubai International Film Festival with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The festival runs from December 7 to 14, and is now arguably the leading cinematic event in the region of both Doha and Abu Dhabi
ii. Rekha Ganesan better known by her stage name Rekha, is an Indian film Noted for her versatility and acknowledged as one of the finest actresses in Hindi cinema.
iii. Rekha has acted in over 180 films in a career spanning over 40 years. Throughout her career, she has often played strong female characters and, apart from mainstream cinema, appeared in arthouse films, known in India as parallel cinema.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS
Sanjiv Arora appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Lebanon
An Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Sanjiv Arora has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Lebanon by Ministry of External Affairs.
Lebanon :
♦ Capital: Beirut
♦ Currency: Lebanese pound
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
China unveiled J – 20 Stealth jet fighters.
i. China displayed its Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter in public for the first time on the function of opening the country’s biggest meeting of aircraft makers and buyers with a show of its military power.
ii. The J-20 fighter is called Beijing’s answer to the US F-22 stealth fighter and the F-35 that would be soon bring into the action in the Pacific by the United States and Japan.
iii. The J-20, a long-range, radar-avoiding stealth combat aircraft, first flew in 2011 but had not been shown to the public.
iv. Unmanned systems would be another an important of this year’s exhibition, with images of a number of new surveillance and attack-capable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs) apparently being readied for display in Zhuhai already proliferating on Chinese defense forums and social media.
ENVIRONMENT
Scientists discover green rice in Rice Bowl of India
i. A new variety of rice seed that is light green in colour was discovered in Chhattisgarh(Rice Bowl of India) said by A K Sarawgi, head of department of genetics and breeding in Indira Gandhi Agriculture University.
ii. The seed was provided to the university by farmers from Dhamtari and Durg districts. Based on the sample, the university scientists were conducting the study.
Chhattisgarh:
Indravati (Kutru) National Park, Kanger Valley National Park and Guru Ghasi Das (Sanjay) National Park
SPORTS
India’s Palpreet Singh included in 2016 NBA D-League Draft.
i. Palpreet Singh, winner of National Finals of ACG-NBAJump, India’s first national basketball talent search program, was selected 11th in the fourth Round of the NBA D-League Draft held in New York.
ii. Palpreet expressed gratitude to his coach, Dr. Sankaran Subramanian – who has spent 43 years as a basketball coach in India – for having a huge impact on his career.
iii.The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. The Long Island Nets are an affiliate of the NBA team Brooklyn Nets.
iv. Two other Indians Amjyot Singh and Amrinder Singh were also a part of the drafting process, but 21 year-old Palpreet- the youngest of the lot – was the only one who was grabbed the draft
Indian Shuttler Pratul won maiden title at Bahrain International Challenge.
i. Young Indian shuttler Pratul Joshi grabbed his maiden international title by achieving a hard-fought win over Aditya Joshi in the finals of the USD 17,500 Bahrain International Challenge badminton tournament at Segayya in Bahrain.
ii. In a strong fought battle between siblings, it was 22-year-old Pratul who emerged as the winner after he prevailed 21-17, 12-21, 21-15 over Aditya in the summit clash which lasted for an hour.
iii. In the semifinals, Pratul, seeded third, had beaten compatriot Siddharth Thakur 21-16, 22-20, while fourth seed Aditya knocked top seed Anand Pawar 21-19, 21-7.
iv. Bahrain International Challenge is an open international badminton tournament in Bahrain established since 2013. This tournament presented by the Bahrain Badminton and Squash Federation, and sanctioned by Badminton World Federation and Badminton Asia. This tournament has been a BWF International Challenge level, and a part of Bahrain International Badminton Festival.
OBITUARY
Football World Cup trophy designer Silvio Gazzaniga dies at 95
i. Silvio Gazzaniga, the goldsmith and sculptor who designed and created football’s World Cup trophy, has died at home in Milan aged 95
ii. He was known as “Mr Cups”,.he also designed UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup
iii. Silvio Gazzaniga designed and created the World Cup trophy in 1971. FIFA World Cup trophy is 18-carat solid gold trophy weighs approximately six kilograms.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
i. The United Nations (UN) declared November 2 as International Day to commemorate the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November 2013.
ii. Aim : To end Impunity for crimes against journalists
iii. According to the UN, more than 800 journalists have been killed for bringing news and information to the public.
