Important Current Affairs 15th November 2017

Important Current Affairs 15th November 2017

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Current Affairs 15th November 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Housing Sector shortage close to 10 million units-to be addressed through PMAY

Sh. Hardeep S Puri, the Minister of State (I/C) Housing and Urban Affairs has stated that the Real Estate Act is a pioneering legislation which will have a long term transformative effect. 
●    “We have put in place an eco-system to ensure that real estate sector is properly governed and buyers are empowered. 
●    I have absolutely no doubt that the history of Real Estate in India will be written in two segments, pre and post RERA. 
●    The pre-RERA phase was characterised by the dreams and ambitions to own a house of many being dashed for a considerable period of time by a few persons exploiting that dream. 
●    We are not out of that phase yet,” he added. 
●    Addressing the participants, ShPuri observed that the lack of finances was only part of a problem for owning a house. 
●    There was very little transparency in the housing sector. 
●    Broken promises, incomplete housing projects tell a tragic tale of untold misery inflicted on hapless citizens who, in many instances, had pledged their life time savings and even the family silver just to own a house. 

Vice President to inaugurate Aadi Mahotsav  

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu will inaugurate ‘Aadi Mahotsav’ - a fortnight long Tribal Festival with the theme of ‘A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine and Commerce’ tomorrow i.e 16 Nov 2017 at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi. 
●    The inaugural function will be presided over by Minister of Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram. 
●    Ministers of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Jasvantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor and Shri Sudarshan Bhagat will be specially present to grace the occasion. 
●    Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs Ms. Leena Nair, Managing Director, TRIFED Shri Pravir Krishna and other senior officials will also be present on the occasion.
●    Over 750 tribal artisans from over 25 States will be participating in the festival. 
●    Aadi Mahotsav is scheduled to be organized at four venues throughout Delhi. 
●    The details of the venues and dates of the festival are as under.
●    The festival will run for a fortnight through 30th November 2017. 
●    The theme of the festival is: A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Cuisine and Commerce. 
●    The festival will feature exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric, jewellery and much more through about 200 stalls.

Union Steel Minister inaugurates Steel Pavilion at IITF 2017 

The Union Minister of Steel Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh inaugurated Ministry of Steel’s Pavilion at India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2017 here today at Pragati Maidan. 
●    The pavilion, where all public sector and major private sector steel companies are jointly participating, is designed on IITF 2017’s theme of Start-Up India: Stand-Up India. 
●    On the occasion, Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh announced and inaugurated a new initiative of Ministry of Steel – the #myLOVESTEELidea challenge. 
●    This contest is aimed at encouraging Start-Up India, Stand-Up India by inviting fresh business ideas based on steel, and offering one-time financial support to help translate the idea into reality. 
●    A total of Rs 10 Lakh will be split into Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh for the top best three ideas on steel-related innovation, deployment or commercialization of new product, processes or services or intellectual property. 
●    Start-up India: Stand-Up India is one of the core economic development initiatives of the government, and also the theme of IITF 2017, which aims at promoting entrepreneurship and business in various sectors. 
 

ONGC, Cairn India bid for 41 oil and gas fields

Public sector ONGC and private sector Vedanta Ltd The largest bidder for oil and gas blocks has emerged.
●    Under the open area of the oil and gas block license, 41 bids out of 57 bids received in the auction were met with both of them. 
●    At the same time, some big waivers and domestic companies kept away from it.
●    Sources linked to the matter said that the oil and natural gas corporation ONGC has 41 fields while Vedanta's company Cairn India has bid for 15 sectors.
●    Public Sector Oil India Ltd OIL is another main bidder company.
●    Hindustan Oil Exploration Company, HOEC bids for one area.
●    In July, the government opened 28 million square meters of sedimentary basin for oil and gas exploration.
●    The purpose of this initiative is to increase domestic production and reduce dependence on imports.
●    Of the 57 interest letters, 45 were in the month of July while one in September and seven in October.
●    BP has not made any bid till date. At the same time, Reliance Industries was also away from it.

Hunar Haat inaugurated in IITF 2017 

New Delhi, 15th Nov, 2017:  “Hunar Haat”, a spectacular platform of Ministry of Minority Affairs where exquisite pieces of Handicraft & Handloom prepared by inmates of Tihar Jail and master artisans from across the country are displayed, was inaugurated at India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan, today.
●    While inaugurating “Hunar Haat”, being organised from 14th to 27th Nov, 2017, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that “Hunar Haat” at Pragati Maidan is an impressive gathering of master artisans & craftsmen from “Tihar to Tripura, Kashmir to Kanyakumari & Karnataka to Kolkata”.
●    Ministry of Minority Affairs is organising “Hunar Haat” under “USTTAD” scheme at different parts of the country and “Hunar Haat” have become a successful mission to provide employment and employment opportunities and national as well international markets for thousands of master artisans, craftsmen and culinary experts.
●    The Minister said that while on one hand “Hunar Haat” have provided a platform to master artisans and craftsmen to display their rich heritage and skill, on the other hand these exhibitions are providing domestic and international markets to these artisans and craftsmen.

Current Affairs 15th November 2017: DAYS AND DATES

One day National Seminar on adoption organized successfully in New Delhi today 

A one day National Seminar on Adoption was held today as curtain raiser to the Children's Festival "Hausala 2017" being celebrated as Child Right's Week by the Ministry of Women & Children Development. 
●    Organized by Central Adoption Resources Authority, the seminar was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Dr. Virendra Kumar. 
●    Nearly 300 participants including senior officers of WCD Ministry, CARA, State WCD officials, SARAs, adoption agencies, Child Welfare Committees, District Child Care Protection Units among others attended the seminar.
●    In his inaugural address, the Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Dr Virendra Kumar, lauded the efforts of adoption agencies and said that it is commendable that they have chosen to work in this area which requires a lot of sensitivity and dedication. 
●    Dr. Virendra Kumar said that the States play a pivotal role in adoption since CARA has to coordinate the process of adoption with the help of State governments and State agencies. 
●    While some states are performing well, others have not shown good progress, but it is very important for everybody to understand the need for love, care and affection among the children living in Child Care Institutions and give proper attention to adoption, he said.
 

Current Affairs 15th November 2017: ECONOMY

Sebi stops execution of Assam real estate, others in the capital market

Capital Market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India, SEBI has imposed a four-year ban on working in the stock market of Abys Assam real estate AARL and its directors.
●    He has also been asked to return the money to the investors because he had raised this amount without complying with the rules of public issue.
●    SEBI has said in its order dated 14th November that the company raised the preferential shares of 2008-09 and 2009-10 and 1400 investors raised 1.2 crore rupees.
●    According to the rules, issuance of shares to more than 50 people, is eligible for a public issue.
●    In such a case, it is necessary to list the company on a recognized stock market. AARL did not do this.
●    Madhavi Puri Bush, a full time member of SEBI, said that in view of her, AARL issued funds to buy preferential shares and collected funds from the people but did not comply with the provisions of the Companies Act and SEBI Regulations.
 

Current Affairs 15th November 2017: GLOBAL NEWS

Sweden can negotiate with Birla group for smart clothes

Sweden's government is considering to form a joint project with Aditya Birla Group in the field of smart garments to increase bilateral trade.
●    "We have talked and are talking to Aditya Birla Group in the field of smart garments," Sweden's enterprise and innovation and Minister of Rural Affairs Sven-Eric Bach told reporters here.
●    Apart from this, we are also exploring possibilities in the areas of dairy and food security in India.
●    He said that Swedish hinges are making huge investments in the development of raw materials.
●    He said that he had yesterday visited the Textile Research Development Center of Birla Group situated in Kharach of Gujarat.
●    He said, the main purpose of this tour was to encourage the creation of smart garments from Viscose Staple Fiber VSF, cellulose fiber and pulp instead of cotton.
●    This is why Birla Group has been friendly for this. Birla Group is the world's largest VSF manufacturer.