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Click here to try Current Affairs Quiz : November 12 2016
INDIAN AFFAIRS
4th Young Scientists Meet Conducted By DRDO
i. The 4th Young Scientists Meet (YSM) was conducted on November 11, 2016 in New Delhi.
ii. The two day technical event was organized by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), New Delhi along with other Delhi based laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organization DRDO. About 200 young scientists of DRDO all over India participated in the meet.
iii. The programme was inaugurated by S Christopher, Secretary, Department of Defence (R&D) & Chairman, DRDO
iv. The theme of the event was ‘Convert Challenges into Opportunities’.
v. YSM provides a platform to all the young scientists of DRDO all over India to come together to interact, discuss and share their scientific ideas and enhance their creative and innovative potential.
E- Auction Of Minor Mineral Mines In Chhattisgarh
i. The mineral-rich Chhattisgarh state has become the first state in the country to conduct e-auction of minor mineral
ii. The Bharda dolomite mine having an estimated reserve of about 1.5 million tonnes and spread across 3.80 hectare area in Bilaspur district of Chhatisgarh was e-auctioned by the State Government.
iii. The highest bid of 154 per tonne was quoted as against the reserve price of Rs. 15 per tonne. The auction value was twice the royalty fixed for dolomite mine at Rs 75 per tonne.
iv. The mine would contribute Rs 90 lakh besides royalty of Rs 9 crore, to the district mineral fund (DMF). The state exchequer would get Rs 18 crore as auction money. The company bagging the deal had been granted composite licence that includes prospecting licence (PL) and mining licence (ML).
v. The Electronic auction process aims to promote the Digital India Programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi while the move will maintain transparency and also going to save time
Chhattisgarh :
♦ The state was formed on 1 November 2000, seperated from Madhya Pradesh
♦ Animal: Van Bhainsa
♦ Bird: Pahari Myna
♦ Tree: Sal or Sarai
‘Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM)’ Concluded in Jaipur
i. A three-day international event of ‘Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM)’ was conferred at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Center (JECC) at Sitapura in Jaipur from 9 to 11 November 2016 to highlight the best global practices and technologies suitable for farmers.
ii. It was organized by the Government of Rajasthan in partnership with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
iii. The event was inaugurated by Rajasthan’s Governor Kalyan Singh while union minister of the state, VasundharaRaje, Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, many agriculture experts and around 50,000 farmers also attendend the event.
iv. The primary objective of GRAM was to ensure economic empowerment of the farmers through accelerated yet sustainable development in agriculture.
Second BRICS Communication Ministers meeting concluded in Bengaluru
i. Hosted for the first time by India the Second meeting of Communication Ministers of BRICS countries concluded in Bengaluru on November 11, 2016. The two day event began on November 10, 2016, chaired by Minister of State for Communication Manoj Sinha
ii. The meeting aimed at framing new cooperation and collaboration framework among BRICS countries and discussed ways to improve collaboration in the field of digital economy, future communications, mobile technology etc.
iii. The high-level delegation from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa recognized the importance of Telecommunication and ICT sectors in improving the quality of life of the citizens and insisted on adopting a common platform in the area of research, design, development, manufacturing and promotion in the field of high technology products in Information Communications Technologies, ICTs.
iv. The third meeting of the Communication ministers will be held in China next year.
NSDA Signs MoU with British Council to Collaborate for Joint Research in Skills Sector
i. Gemmell, director of National Skill Development Agency(NSDA) and The British Council representative Dr. Sunita Chhibba signed a MoU to collaborate for undertaking joint research projects in the area of skill development.
ii. Aim: To promote knowledge exchange and research collaborations between UK and India in the skills space and to strengthen capacity of research organisations in both the countries
iii. Under this partnership, the topic for the joint research study in first year of collaboration is “Future Skills” that will focus on, understanding labour market trends and identifying future employment in India in selected manufacturing and service sectors in view of changing technology.
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal launched Safe City Project in Ludhiana
i. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal launched the first phase of the safe city project which cost Rs 80 crore on November 12, 2016 in Ludhiana.
ii. He also inaugurated an indoor stadium, built along the Pakhowal road at a cost of Rs 85 crore.
iii. Punjab would become the first state to come under electronic surveillance .Under safe city project, CCTV cameras would be installed over the next year or so along all national highways, entry and exit points of villages and link roads.
Punjab :
Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary, Harike Wildlife Sanctuary, Jhajjar Bacholi, Bir Moti Bagh Wildlife Sanctuary and Bir Bhadson Wildlife Sanctuary.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
India pledged USD 10.95 mn to UN for 2017
i. India has pledged to contribute about USD 10.95 million to the United Nation(UN) for the year 2017 for the development activities across several UN bodies.
ii. The USD 10.95 million pledge contribution by India included contribution of USD 4.5 million for the UN Development Programme (UNDP), USD 1.92 million for the World Food Programme, USD 1.25 million for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Near East (UNRWA) and a million dollars towards UN Women.
iii. India also pledged to contribute resources to UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the world body’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), Commission on Human Settlements Programme (HABITAT), Environment Programme (UNEP), Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and towards the Voluntary Fund for Technical Co-operation.
iv. 24 countries from all over the world were determined to contribute at the pledging conference, and committed to provide approximately USD 1.09 billion towards development activities. The amount pledged for contribution was 14 times more than the commitments made in 2015.
India, Bhutan sign new bilateral trade agreement
i. Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and H.E. Tengye Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, Minister for Economic Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan signed the Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit between India and the Royal Government of Bhutan in the presence of H.E. Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan at the Gyalyong Tshokhang in Thimphu on 12 November, 2016
ii. The first Agreement on Trade and Commerce between Bhutan and India was signed in 1972.
iii. The new bilateral Trade Agreement aims to enhance trade between the two countries through trade facilitation by improving procedures, cutting down on documentation and adding additional exit/entry points for Bhutan’s trade with other countries.It is also expected 
to further strengthen the excellent relations between the two countries.
Bhutan :
♦ Capital: Thimphu
♦ Currencies: Bhutanese ngultrum, Indian rupee
♦ Prime minister: Tshering Tobgay
BANKING & FINANCE
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited Issued Licence By RBI
i. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited, subsidiary of the Company, Ujjivan Financial Services Ltd has been issued licence (the licence no. MUM 122) from the Reserve Bank Of India (RBI) on November 11, 2016 to set up Small Finance Bank business in
ii. However, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited also requires getting necessary approvals, registrations and licensing from various departments of the RBI and other agencies before starting the banking business.
iii. Once the required approvals are granted, the Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited will commence its operations of a Small Finance Bank.
First small finance bank Kicked off its operation
i. India’s first small finance bank Capital Small Finance Bank Ltd, has commenced operations with 10 branches from November 12 2016 in Jalandhar ,Punjab.The bank ceases to exist with effect from April 24, 2016.
ii. In the current fiscal, the bank would consolidate in Punjab by adding 29 branches.
iii. The bank’s business is projected to increase four-fold from Rs 3,000 crore as on March 31, 2016 to Rs 12,000 crore and branch network to 216 by March 2021.
iv. The RBI had granted approval to 11 entities for launching payments banks in August 2015. It had given approval to IDFC and Bandhan to start universal banks last year.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award bagged by Roger Federer for 12th time
i. The 2016 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour Awards was announced on November 10, 2016. Former World’s No. 1 Swiss Tennis Player Roger Federer has won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for the 12th time in his career.
ii. He won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award voted by his peers, against Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal who were also nominated in the category.
iii. Federer also won the ‘fan favourite’ award, voted upon by players to pick the player they liked the most over the season – an award Federer won in 2016 for a 14th straight year.
iv. The award is given for sportsmanship in the name of former World’s No. 1 Stefan Edberg, former coach of Federer.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS
Narinder Batra elected as new president of International Hockey Federation
i. Hockey India President Narinder Batra was elected as the president of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in Dubai on November 12, 2016.He 59 year old, defeated David Brinie of Ireland and Ken Read of Australia in a three-man race.
ii. He is the first Indian to be elected as chief of an Olympic Sport’s international governing body.
iii. As President, Batra will be responsible for leading the sport by framing the next phase of the FIH’s 10-year Hockey Revolution strategy. He will also have the task to deliver the new Event Portfolio which will begin in 2019.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
Paytm buys Shopsity for offline boost
i. Online payments and ecommerce marketplace Paytm acquired Delhi-based Shopsity to strengthen its offline retail network.
ii. The acquisition will aid Paytm’s target of reaching 4 million offline merchants by March 2017
iii. Shopsity co-founders Danish Ahmed and Gaurav Arya have joined Paytm’s management.
Paytm :
♦ Founder & CEO : Vijay Shekhar Sharma
♦ Headquarters: Noida
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Robot sets new Rubik’s Cube world record
i. The Sub1 Reloaded robot successfully solved the famous puzzle Rubik’s Cube in the fastest ever time of 0.637 seconds in just 21 moves at the Electronica trade fair in Munich on November 9, 2016.
ii. Earlier in January, the Sub1 robot had achieved the record to solve a Rubik’s Cube in just 0.887 seconds. The machine “Sub1 Reloaded” beat that record with the help a new, faster microchip which was developed by the technology firm Infineon.
iii. The Rubik’s Cube consists of six faces, each having nine squares of a color that can be turned in opposing directions. The object is to rotate the faces until they have returned to the original position.
iv. Guinness World Records is yet to verify the transparency in the use of the robot in the competition.
SPORTS
Invictus Games in 2018 to be held in Sydney: Prince Harry
i. PRINCE Harry of Britain declared that the International Sports Competition for wounded veterans, the Invictus Games 2018, will be held in Sydney, Australia.
ii. The fourth internatinal annual event will continue for 11 days, beginning on Oct. 18, 2018 and ending Oct. 29, 2018.
iii. The events will be held across the Greater Sydney area — from the Sydney Olympic Park to on and around the iconic Sydney Harbour.About 500 athletes from 17 are expected to participate in the event.
iv. The competition will include 11 different sports including Wheelchair Basketball, Sitting Volleyball, Swimming and Indoor Rowing and many others.
The Invictus Games :
♦ Invictus is Latin word for “undefeated” or “unconquered”
♦ The Invictus Games were first held in London in 2014.
♦ 2016 Invictus event was held in Orlando, Florida.Toronto will hosts 2017 Games from 23-30 September.
Kashmiri girl wins under- eight World Kick Boxing Championshipm for India
i. Eight-year-old Kashmiri girl, Tajamul Islam, created history by winning a Gold Medal for India in The World Kick Boxing Championship of Under- Eight Players.She defeated her rival from U.S. to win the Championship.
ii. The five days Championship, was held in Italy’in which 90 countries
iii. She won six games in the event. She is the first such player to win the championship from the volatile Kashmir valley.
Indian Women’s team wins Gold at the 7th World Carrom Championship
i. India‘s women’s carrom team defeated Sri Lanka to win the gold at the 7th World Carrom Championship in Birmingham (UK).
ii. India’s S Apoorwa and Kajol Kumari also won gold in the women’s doubles event.
iii. Meanwhile, the men’s team lost to Sri Lanka to win the silver medal in the competition.
Former South Africa spinner Robin Peterson announces retirement from cricket
i. Robin Peterson, the former South Africa allrounder, has announced his retirement from all cricket.
ii. He made his South Africa debut during the Champions Trophy in 2002, and played 15 Tests, 79 ODIs and 21 T20Is, taking 137 international wickets and also scoring four half-centuries.
OBITUARY
Noted geophysicist Janardhan Negi passes away
i. Noted geophysicist Janardhan G Negi passed away on 10 November 2016 in Hyderabad following a brief illness. He was 81.
ii. He was known for making outstanding contribution in understanding earthquakes, mass extinctions, especially dinosaurs and the movement of the Indian sub-continent plates.
About Janardhan Negi :
♦ He was a former Director-grade scientist at the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI).
♦ In his long career of over four-decades, he served as the Scientific Adviser to the Governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
♦ He also headed the MP Council for Science and Technology as Director-General to shape up the policies to integrate S&T.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Pneumonia Day – November 12 2016
i. World Pneumonia Day is celebrated globally every year on November 12 to generate awareness about the killer disease ‘pneumonia’. The theme of this year is “Keep the Promise, Stop Pneumonia Now”.
ii. The Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report for 2016 was released by International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC) on World Pneumonia Day on November 12.
iii. As per the report, India has highest number of pneumonia & diarrhoea deaths among children with about 3 lakh children dying in 2016.
Public Service Broadcasting Day observed
i. Public Service Broadcasting Day is being observed On 12 November, 1947, the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi visited the studio of All India Radio, Delhi for the first and last time.
ii. Gandhi addressed the displaced people who had temporarily settled at Kurukshetra in Haryana after partition.
iii. In the memory of the first and only address by Mahatma Gandhi on All India Radio (AIR) on November 12 in 1947, this day was announced as a Public Service Broadcasting Day.
