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Indian Affairs
Cabinet Approvals on 20th September 2017
The union Minister chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has made approvals for different category on 20th Sept. 2017.
1.Cabinet approves introduction of the Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, as union cabinet chairman has given approval for beginning of the Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Parliament subject to modifications of drafting or significant nature, if any, as may be considered necessary by the Legislative Department by amending the Dentists Act, 1948 (16 of 1948).
2.Cabinet approves revamped ‘Khelo India’ programme
A revamped ‘Khelo India’ scheme has been approved by union cabinet. There may be 1,000 selected athletes will receive an annual scholarship of Rs5 lakh each for eight years under this scheme.
The program aims to cover about 200 million children in the age group of 10-18 under a massive national physical fitness drive.
3.Cabinet apprised of the progress under National Health Mission and decisions of the Empowered Programme Committee and Mission Steering Group of NHM
The Union Cabinet has been apprised of the progress under National Health Mission (NHM). The Cabinet was also approved the decisions of the Empowered Programme Committee (EPC) and Mission Steering Group (MSG) of NHM. National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) became two sub-missions under the overarching NHM.
4.Cabinet approves Rationalization/Merger of the Government of India Press (GIPs) and their modernization
Cabinet approves rationalization/merger and modernization of 17 Government of India Presses (GIPs)/Units into 5 Government of India Presses (GIPs) at Rashtrapati Bhavan , Minto Road and Mayapuri in New Delhi,Nashik in Maharashtra,Temple Street in Kolkata, West Bengal
5.Cabinet approves Extension of time period of the Scheme “Special Industry Initiative for J&K” (Sll J&K) – Udaan
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs extension of time period for Scheme “Special Industry Initiative for J&K” (Sll J&K)- Udaan upto 31st December, 2018 without any modification and cost escalation from 2016-17.
6.Cabinet approved a proposal to transfer three India Tourism Development Corp. hotels to the state governments of Rajasthan, Karnataka and Arunachal Pradesh.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley informed Cabinet approves transfer of Hotel Jaipur Ashok, Jaipur and Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore, units of India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (ITDC) to Government of Rajasthan and Government of Karnataka, respectively .
7.Cabinet approves Productivity Linked Bonus for Railway Employees Payment
i.Union approves to pay Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days wages to eligible non-gazetted railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) before Dussehra/Puja holidays for the financial year 2016-17….Click Here to Read More Detail
Singapore To Set Up Skill Center In Northeast: Dr Jitendra Singh
On September 19 2017,The Government of Singapore is proposed to be set up Skill Center at Guwahati by the year 2019 and Dr Jitendra Singh ,the Ministry of DoNER will coordinate in this initiative.
i.High Commissioner of Singapore, Mr Lim Thuan Kuan had meeting with India’s Dr Jitendra Singh, consisted of senior officers from the Ministry of DoNER, Department of Space and Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, the three main areas where Singapore has expressed its willingness to collaborate with India.
ii.The Singapore also expressed its preference to engage with India in the area of Space Technology for collaboration in “peaceful uses of Outer Space”.
iii.An MoU has already been formalized between Singapore and the State Government of Assam regarding the Skill Center at Guwahati.
iv.An arrangement already exists between Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) Mussoorie with Singapore, wherein a certain number of passing out Civil Services/IAS officers, accompanied by two faculty members, regularly undertake a visit to Singapore.
Indian Army takes Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to India’s highest battlefield , Siachen
On September 20 2017, Siachen is India’s highest and hardest battlefield situated at an average altitude of 18,000 ft above sea level.Our Indian Army carried Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda of Swachh Bharat and make Siachen stays clean.
i.It is a logistics challenge to move all types of waste out of the glacier so that these do not become an environmental hazard. soldiers are at risk of getting frostbite if their bare skin touches any metal object for more than 15 seconds
ii.Defence Ministry said that “The prime motive of the drive is to maintain ecological balance of Siachen glacier. Since the launch of the campaign in October 2014, Siachen troops have removed and sent back more than 63 tonnes of garbage to the base.”
iii.These loads of garbage include packing material, barrels and perishables.
Vice President releases Commemorative Coin on Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi
On September 19 2017,Vice President Venkaiah Naidu unveiled commemorative coins of Rs 100 and Rs 10 denominations on the birth centenary musician Bharat Ratna M S Subbulakshmi and inaugurated an exhibition entitled “Kurai Onrum Illai-MS: Life in Music” nearly two-week-long exhibition.
i.The coins were launched at an event held at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.Dr. Mahesh Sharma ,the Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and other notable personalities was also honored with their presence.
ii.M S Subbulakshmi was the first musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna to winning the Ramon Magsaysay Award, and performing at the UN General Assembly.
iii.Gandhiji had requested her to perform a ‘Hari Tuma Haro’ bhajan, which she did. It was recorded overnight and sent to Gandhiji on his birthday in 1947.
About M.S Subbulakshmi
Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (also known as M.S.) was an Indian Carnatic singer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. She is the first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award, often considered Asia’s Nobel Prize.
Born – 16 September 1916
Died – 11 December 2004 (aged 88)in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
India to conduct the First ‘BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017’ in October
On September 20 2017,Our Home Ministry informed that India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is going to conduct a disaster management exercise between October 10-13 in New Delhi with BIMSTEC countries and acronymed as BIMSTEC DMEx-2017.
i.It will be conducted in two phases in Delhi and its suburbs. The main exercise will comprise of Table Top Exercise (TTX), Field Training Exercise (FTX) and After Action Review (AAR).
ii.The BIMSTEC region is home to around 1.5 billion people, constituting around 22 per cent of the global population with a combined GDP of US $2.7 trillion. Most of the BIMSTEC countries are located in the South Asian Region (SAR), it leads to natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes, avalanches and drought.
iii.At the 17th BIMSTEC Senior Officials Meeting held in Kathmandu, Nepal on February 7, 2017, it was decided that India would organize the first annual Disaster Management Exercise for the region.
About BIMSTEC
‘Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation’ (BIMSTEC)is an international organisation involving a group of countries in South Asia and South East Asia namely Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. The BIMSTEC states are among the countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal.
Secretariat – Dhaka, Bangladesh
Established – 6 June 1997
Indian Naval units of Western Naval Command on Long Range Deployment
On September 20 2017, two Navy ships, a submarine and two Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft of the Western Naval Command (WNC) are presently on deployment to the Western Arabian Sea and the southern Indian Ocean.
i. After conducting a series of exercises en-route Indian Naval Ship Mumbai and submarine Shishumar entered Duqm, Oman as part of this deployment.
ii.The Naval units are on a month long deployment for surveillance and cooperation with the Arabian Sea rim nations. Another ship, INS Kochi which is also a part of this deployment, is proceeding to the southern Indian Ocean.
NBCC to develop Nauroji Nagar project as World Trade Centre
On 20th September 2017, NBCC announced that it has obtained license to develop a commercial project as ‘World Trade Centre’ at Nauroji Nagar, New Delhi.
World Trade Centre at Nauroji Nagar:
i. NBCC has obtained license from World Trade Centre (WTC), New York to develop the Nauroji Nagar commercial project as World Trade Centre (WTC).
ii. This project would be completed by 2020.
iii. Area of the Nauroji Nagar commercial complex is 3 million square feet.
iv. It has 12 commercial towers.
v. Around 3 lakh square feet of office space at Nauroji Nagar has been sold for Rs.1,100 crore to five companies – PFC, HDFC, HPCL, SIDBI and Energy Efficiency Services.
vi. More commercial towers in this complex would be sold.
vii. The company expects around Rs.12,000 – 13,000 crore from selling these 12 towers.
About NBCC (India Limited):
i. Type – Real Estate Development & Construction business
ii. Headquarters – New Delhi
iii. Chairman & MD – Dr.Anoop Kumar Mittal
International Affairs
Saudi Arabia lifts ban on WhatsApp, Skype & other internet calling apps
On 20th September 2017, Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on internet calling applications like WhatsApp, Skype etc.
Lift of ban on internet calling apps:
i. The lift of ban on internet calling apps have been done in a move to lower online restrictions. Since, Saudi Arabia has been criticised heavily over censorship.
ii. The Government has said that access to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) would reduce operational costs.
iii. Also, this would bring a digital transformation by improving internet based businesses, mainly in the media and entertainment sectors.
iv. This announcement was made a day after Al Jazeera media condemned Snapchat for blocking a Qatar broadcaster from its app in Saudi Arabia on the request of Saudi authorities.
About Saudi Arabia:
i. Capital – Riyadh
ii. Currency – Saudi riyal
iii. Official language – Arabic
iv. King – Mr.Salman
Russia unveils monument to designer of iconic AK-47 rifle
On September 19 2017, Russia unveiled a statue of Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the AK-47 assault rifle that became the most lethal weapon ever made and the best known Russian brand abroad.
i.This weapon is Russia’s defense. It’s one of Russia’s symbols. Perched atop a pedestal in a tiny square on Moscow’s busy Garden Ring thoroughfare, the statue of Kalashnikov, who died in 2013, has him dressed in a bomber jacket and clutching an AK-47 in both hands.
ii.The AK-47, the small-arms mainstay of Russia’s armed forces for over 60 years, is also featured on the national emblems of several African nations and on that of East Timor.
World running out of antibiotics: WHO in its “Antibacterial agents in clinical development” Report
On 20th September 2017, a report released by World Health Organization (WHO) states that the world is in lack of new antibiotics.
Lack of new Antibiotics:
i. A report named ‘Antibacterial agents in clinical development – an analysis of the antibacterial clinical development pipeline, including tuberculosis’ was released on 20th September 2017, by the WHO.
ii. The report stated that out of the 51 antibiotic drugs that are in developing stage, only 8 can be considered as totally new drugs.
iii. Others are just modifications of the existing drugs.
iv. There is an urgent need to find drugs for antibiotic-resistant infections like drug-resistant tuberculosis.
v. Else, people would be forced to undergo surgeries and risk their lives even for minor infections.
About WHO:
i. Full form – World Health Organization
ii. Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
iii. Director General – Mr. Tedros Adhanom
Banking & Finance
RBI classifies P2P platform as NBFC business
On 20th September 2017, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms would be treated as Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC).
Regulation of P2P platform:
i. Peer-to-peer lending (P2P) platforms have been regulated by RBI by treating them as Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).
ii. P2P lending is a form of crowd-funding. It uses online platform to connect lenders and borrowers. It provides unsecured loans. Loans are paid back with interest.
iii. The borrower can either be an individual or a legal person. The interest rate is fixed by the platform or by a mutual agreement between the borrower and the lender.
iv. Both borrowers and lenders pay fee to the platform. Borrowers pay origination fee, which is either a fixed fee amount or a percentage of the loan amount depending on the risk category of the loan.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
i. Purpose – India’s central banking instituition
ii. Headquarters – Mumbai
iii. Governor – Mr.Urjit Patel
Business
Mahindra & Mahindra, Ford team up to explore collaboration on electric vehicles
On 18th September 2017, Mahindra & Mahindra and Ford Motor Company signed a MoU that ensures an alliance to explore electric vehicles, for three years.
Alliance between Mahindra & Mahindra and Ford:
i. This collaboration would give a global reach for the Indian automotive company Mahindra & Mahindra and a better reach in India for Ford Motor Company.
ii. Apart from working on electrification of vehicles they would also focus on the following areas:
· Mobility programs
· Connected vehicle projects
· Product development
· Sourcing and commercial efficiencies
· Distribution within India – improving Ford’s reach within India
· Global emerging markets – improving Mahindra’s reach outside India
About Mahindra & Mahindra:
i. Industry – Automotive
ii. Headquarters – Mumbai
iii. Executive Chairman – Mr.Anand Mahindra
iv. MD – Dr.Pawan Goenka
About Ford Motor Company:
i. Industry – Automotive
ii. Headquarters – Michigan, US
iii. Executive Chairman – Mr.William C. Ford, Jr.
iv. President & CEO – Mr.Jim Hackett
Anti-dumping duty on import of bus and truck tyres from China for five years
On 19th September 2017, The Finance Ministry imposed anti-dumping duty on Chinese tyres used in buses and trucks.
Anti-dumping duty:
i. The anti-dumping duty has been imposed on new or unused pneumatic radial tyres with or without tube, having rim diameter above 16 inches.
ii. This anti-dumping duty will be valid for a period of five years.
iii. This was announced by a notification issued by the Central Board Excise and Customs (CBEC).
iv. This has been done in a move to protect domestic manufacturers. As, it was seen that tyres were imported for low cost from China.
v. Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) had filed a petition on behalf of Apollo Tyres Ltd, J.K.Tyre Industries Ltd and Ceat Ltd. Which lead to investigation on the issue.
vi. Anti-dumping duty varies from $ 245.35 per tonne to $ 452.33 per tonne depending on the Chinese producer and exporter.
About Finance Ministry:
i. Headquarters – New Delhi
ii. Minister of Finance – Mr.Arun Jaitley
Tata Steel and ThyssenKrupp sign MoU, will become second largest European steelmaker
On 20th September 2017, Tata Steel and German steel company ThyssenKrupp signed a MoU to combine their European steel operations in a 50-50 joint venture, in Frankfurt.
ThyssenKrupp Tata Steel:
i. The merger would combine Tata’s steel plants in the UK and the Netherlands and ThyssenKrupp’s plants in Germany.
ii. There is no cash involved in the deal.
iii. The joint enterprise would have its headquarters at Amsterdam, Netherlands.
iv. The new company formed by the joint venture is named as ThyssenKrupp Tata Steel.
v. It will have an annual turnover of £ 13.3billion.
vi. This would be the second largest European steel company.
vii. A total of 4,000 jobs are expected to be lost in both the companies due to the merger.
About Tata Steel:
i. Headquarters – Mumbai
ii. Chairman – Mr.Natarajan Chandrasekaran
iii. MD – Mr.T.V.Narendran
About ThyssenKrupp:
i. Headquarters – Duisburg and Essen, Germany
ii. CEO & Chairman of the Executive Board – Mr.Heinrich Hiesinger
Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund hits $1 trillion value for the first time
On 19th September 2017, The Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund officially reached $1 trillion for the first time, in Oslo, Norway.
Reached $1 trillion:
i. Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund was formed in the 1990s to manage the Norwegian state’s oil revenues.
ii. This is the world’s largest Sovereign Wealth Fund.
iii. It is managed by Norwegian Central Bank.
iv. It has reached $1 trillion on 19th September 2017, for the first time.
v. This occurred due to the increase in value of world’s major currencies against dollar value and good condition of stock market.
vi. The fund invests in stocks, bonds and real estate.
About Norway:
i. Capital – Oslo
ii. Currency – Norwegian krone
iii. Official languages – Norwegian and Sami
iv. Prime Minister – Ms. Erna Solberg
Appointments & Resigns
Ajay Bisaria appointed as new High Commissioner to Pakistan
On 17th September 2017, Indian Government appointed Mr.Ajay Bisaria as Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan.
Ajay Bisaria as High Commissioner to Pakistan:
i. Mr.Ajay Bisaria is the current ambassador to Poland.
ii. He will replace Mr. Gautam Bambawale as the High Commissioner to Pakistan.
iii. Mr. Gautam Bambawale will be appointed as ambassador to China.
iv. Mr.Ajay Bisaria will take charge as High Commissioner to Pakistan in October 2017.
v. Recently Mr.Vijay Gokhale was appointed as Economic Relations Secretary at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
vi. After that, this reshuffle of diplomats has taken place.
About Pakistan:
i. Capital – Islamabad
ii. Currency – Pakistani rupee
iii. Official languages – Urdu & English
iv. President – Mr.Mamnoon Hussain
v. Prime Minister – Mr.Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
India TV Chairman Rajat Sharma elected as NBA President
On 19th September 2017, India TV Chairman and Editor-In-Chief Rajat Sharma was elected as the new President of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) for 2017-18.
NBA’s new Executives:
i. Rajat Sharma has been appointed as President of NBA.
ii. M.V.Shreyams Kumar, Joint MD of Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co Ltd was elected as the Vice President.
iii. Anurradha Prasad, Chairperson-cum-MD of News24 Broadcast India Ltd would be the Honorary Treasurer.
iv. Newly elected members of NBA: M.K.Anand, MD and CEO of Times Network – Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd; K.V.L.Narayan Rao, Group CEO and Executive Vice-Chairperson of NDTV Group; Rahul Joshi, CEO News and group Editor-In-Charge of TV18 Broadcast Ltd.
About NBA:
i. Full form – News Broadcasters Association
ii. Type – Private Organisation
iii. Location – New Delhi
Awards & Recognition
3 Indians on Forbes ‘100 Greatest Living Business Minds’ list
On 20th September 2017, three Indians were listed in Forbes ‘100 Greatest Living Business Minds’ list.
Indians on ‘100 Greatest Living Business Minds’ list:
i. Three Indians – Lakshmi Mittal, Ratan Tata and Vinod Khosla were listed in Forbes special list of the world’s ‘100 Greatest Living Business Minds’.
ii. Lakshmi Mittal is the Chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal.
iii. Ratan Tata is the Chairman of Tata Group.
iv. Vinod Khosla is the Co-Founder of Sun Microsystems.
v. In order to celebrate Forbes’ centennial, the magazine created an encyclopedia of ideas from 100 entrepreneurs, visionaries and prophets of capitalism.
vi. The list consists of people who have created a lasting impact on the world or innovated something that transformed their field.
vii. The list also includes Donald Trump. He has been referred as the “Salesman and Ringmaster Extraordinaire: Owner, Trump Organisation; 45th President of The United States”.
About Forbes Magazine:
i. Country – United States
ii. Language – English
iii. Editor-in-chief – Mr.Steve Forbes
MS Dhoni nominated for Padma Bhushan Award by BCCI
On 20th September 2017, The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) nominated Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the Padma Bhushan award.
MS Dhoni’s nomination:
i. BCCI has nominated only Mahendra Singh Dhoni for Padma Bushan award this year.
ii. Padma Bushan is the country’s 3rd highest civilian award.
iii. MS Dhoni has been nominated owing to his contribution to cricket.
iv. He has won two World titles (2011 50-over World Cup and 2007 World T20).
v. He has scored 9737 runs in 302 ODIs and 4876 runs in 90 Test matches.
vi. He has also played 78 T20 Internationals, and scored 1212 runs.
vii. He has 16 international hundreds.
viii. Dhoni has held 584 catches.
ix. He has also acquired 163 stumpings.
x. MS Dhoni has already received Arjuna, Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna and the Padma Shri awards.
About Mahendra Singh Dhoni:
i. Role – Wicket keeper batsman
ii. Batting – Right-handed
iii. Bowling – Right-arm medium
ISKCON’s Govardhan Eco village in Mumbai wins ‘Spirit of Humanity’ award
On September 20 2017, ISKCON’s Govardhan Eco village has received the ‘spirit of humanity’award, instituted by AmeriCares, a non-profit organisation working for disaster relief and global health, in the ‘livelihood’ category.
i.The Govardhan Eco Village, set up by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Palghar district in Mumbai.The village, at Wada taluka, is located 108 kms north of Mumbai at the foothills of the Sahyadri mountains.
ii.ISKCON’s spiritual leader is Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
Sports
FIFA bans Caribbean soccer leader Gordon Derrick for 6 years
On 20th September 2017, FIFA’s Ethics Committee banned Caribbean soccer leader Gordon Derrick for six years due to financial offenses.
Gordon Derrick’s ban:
i. FIFA said that Gordon Derrick was accused on alleged conflicts of interest, offering and accepting gifts and other benefits, mismanagement of funds, abuse of position and disloyalty.
ii. FIFA also said that he broke the rules by failing to co-operate for investigation.
iii. Gordon Derrick was barred from contesting in a presidential election for the leader of North American soccer body, CONCACAF, in 2016. After this incident, FIFA announced about Gordon Derrick’s case.
About FIFA:
i. Full form – International Federation of Association Football
ii. Motto – For the Game. For the World
iii. Headquarters – Zurich, Switzerland
iv. President – Gianni Infantino
Books & Authors
Dr. Mahesh Sharma releases the book “Bhartiya Kala Mein Salil Kridayen Evam Sadyahsnata Nayika”
On September 20 2017, Dr.Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Culture released the book entitled “Bhartiya Kala Mein Salil Kridayen Evam Sadyahsnata Nayika” at a function in National Museum at New Delhi.
i.It was written by Dr. Kshetrapal Gangwar and Shri Sanjib Kumar Singh. Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Labour and Employment was also attended the function.
ii. This is an Art Book based on original research, written in Hindi and published by National Museum after few decades.This is a book written to highlight the Indian Art and describes the Water Sports (Salil Kridayen). This form of art has been the part of Indian Art from time immemorial.
Obituary
Stanislav Petrov, who prevented possible nuclear war, dies at 77
Stanislav Petrov,a former Soviet military officer credited with preventing a possible nuclear disaster at the peak of the Cold War has died at the age of 77.He died at his home in Moscow in May but his death has only now been made public.
i.Stanislav Petrov was on duty at a Russian nuclear early warning centre in 1983 when computers wrongly detected incoming missiles from the US. He took the decision that they were a false alarm and did not report them to his superiors.
His actions, which came to light years later, possibly prevented nuclear war.
ii.He was known in the West as “the man who saved the world”.
