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Important Current Affairs 24th October 2017

Important Current Affairs 24th October 2017

Current Affairs 24th October 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu launches CIPAM’s Website 

The Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Suresh Prabhu launched the official website for the Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) here today.  
●    CIPAM has been set up under the aegis of DIPP with a mandate to effectively implement the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy. 
●    Secretary DIPP, Shri  Ramesh Abhishek was also present.
●    The website is interactive providing regular updates on all upcoming events including awareness and sensitization programs being conducted, as also information on all Intellectual Property Rights. 
●    It would make available resource material on IPRs specially curated for various levels: schools, universities, industry and enforcement agencies.
●    One can read the latest news and updates, specially curated feed on all latest happenings in the world of IP, insightful and educational blogs by CIPAM and IP experts.
●    The website provides regular updates on the latest IP trends – statistics on applications filed, examined, grants and disposal for various IPRs. 

Expressway built with SAIL steel lands Air Force’s super hercules transport aircraft 

Steel Authority of India (SAIL) supplied 33500 metric tonnes of steel for the construction of the Agra - Lucknow expressway which facilitated the touch-and-go landing of planes of the Indian Air Force, today. 
●    SAIL had primarily supplied long products consisting of earthquake resistant TMT bars for this project. 
●    SAIL’s branded earthquake resistant EQR TMT Bars have superior qualities and come in various customized specifications.
●    IAF conducted the touch and go landings on a stretch of the expressway today, starting with a 35,000-kg C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. 
●    This is the first time that the C-130J transport aircraft joined the Indian Air Force's special drill to land planes on the expressway. 
●    The IAF had earlier landed its Mirage 2000 and Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets on the Yamuna Expressway and the Lucknow-Agra Expressway.


Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Sign $300 Million Loan to Promote Further Fiscal Reforms in West Bengal


The Asian Development Bank and the Government of India signed a $300 million loan today to continue a series of fiscal reforms in the State of West Bengal to improve the quality of public service delivery. 
●    The Second West Bengal Development Finance Program targets a further increase in public investment through reduction of unproductive expenditure, and savings from efficiencies in revenue collections. 
●    The Program will build on earlier intervention under Phase I of the project through the $400 million Program that targeted a comprehensive fiscal consolidation program in the state. 
●    The program agreement was signed by Mr. Parwez Ahmad Siddiqui, Secretary, Finance Department, Government of West Bengal. 
●    ADB’s first Program focused on augmenting public investments that reached almost 1.3%, as a percentage of gross state domestic product, in FY2016 from 0.5% in FY2012 while the fiscal deficit reduced to 2.2% from 3.4% in the same period. 


WAC Station Commanders’ Conference 

The Western Air Command, Station Commanders’ Conference was held on 23 and 24 Oct 17 at New Delhi. 
●    Air Officers Commanding / Station Commanders of all Air Force Stations under Headquarter Western Air Command and all Principal Staff officers at HQ WAC attended the conference. 
●    The Chief Guest, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC, Chief of Air Staff was received by Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, AVSM VM VSM ADC, Air Officer Commanding in Chief of Western Air Command. 
●    On arrival, the CAS was presented a ceremonial guard of honour.
●    Addressing the Commanders, the CAS emphasized the need to enhance mission capability of all platforms and weapon systems. 
●    He reiterated the need for development and upkeep of operational infrastructure and continuous orientation of human resource so as to absorb induction of new technologies for a smooth transition of the IAF into a potent Aerospace power.
●    The Chief re-emphasized the importance and pivotal role of Western Air Command in all future conflicts and in humanitarian assistance and Disaster Relief Missions. 


Vigilance Excellence Awards to be given during Vigilance Awareness Week, 2017 

The Vigilance Excellence Awards will be given during Vigilance Awareness Week, 2017. 
●    The awards would include a memento and a citation.
●    The Central Vigilance Commission as the apex integrity institution in the country has been tasked with exercising superintendence over the vigilance administration and implementing Government policies against corruption. 
●    To give recognition to the reforms and good work done by organizations in the field of punitive, preventive and participative vigilance, the Vigilance Excellence Awards have been instituted from this year.
●    Apart from providing encouragement and motivation to the Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) and organizations, the awards have been instituted for the purpose of:
●    Bringing out new ideas that are shown to be effective in advancing the cause of vigilance and anti-corruption measures
●    Giving due recognition to individuals and teams for their resourcefulness and perseverance in making a positive contribution to the organizational efficiency and effectiveness turning concepts into reality.
●    Documenting the innovation process from inception to achievement of results to facilitate replication.


Ministries of Power & Textiles join hands under new initiative SAATHI 

Ministries of Power  and Textiles have joined hands under a new initiative SAATHI (Sustainable and Accelerated Adoption of efficient Textile technologies to Help small Industries). 
●    Under this initiative, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a public sector entity under the administrative control of Ministry of Power, would procure energy efficient Powerlooms, motors and Rapier kits in bulk and provide them to the small and medium Powerloom units at no upfront cost. 
●    The SAATHI initiative of the Government will be jointly implemented by EESL and the office of the Textile Commissioner on a pan-India basis. 
●    To kick start the implementation, cluster wise demonstration projects and workshops will be organized in key clusters such as Erode, Surat, Ichalkaranji, etc.
●    The use of these efficient equipment would result in energy savings and cost savings to the unit owner and he would repay in installments to EESL over a 4 to 5 year period.  
●    This is the aggregation, bulk procurement and financing model that EESL has successfully deployed in several sectors like LED bulbs, Smart Meters and Electric Vehicles.  


 Conference of Defense Ministers of ASEAN Countries

Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said at the fourth meeting of the Defense Ministers of the ASEAN countries held in the Philippines that ASEAN has a glorious place in Asia's institutional structure.
●    She said that ASEAN has made significant contributions in the field of sustainability.
●    India strongly supports the unity of ASEAN.
Mrs. Sitharaman said that new security threats have been occurring in front of the world.
●    Several important changes related to defense have also been noticed in the ASEAN region.
●    All the groups of the group have to be ready to deal with traditional (military) and non-conventional hazards.
●    At present, terrorism and fundamentalism have a serious security threat to our society.
●    The Defense Minister appreciated the efforts of the Philippines to deal with terrorism and said that India will not tolerate terrorism at any cost anywhere.
●    She stressed the need for a joint fight against terrorism.
●    Terrorist groups are working to incite people through social media and the Internet, which is a serious threat.


EESL achieves further reduction in smart meter price

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has achieved a further price reduction in the procurement of 50 lakh smart meters, basis a reverse auction of the tender conducted last week. 
●    ITI Limited has emerged as the lowest bidder (L1 bidder) in this reverse auction, followed by Genus Power and KEONICS. ITI Limited quoted the lowest price of Rs. 2503, per single phase smart meter.
●    L&T had emerged as the lowest bidder in the first round of bids conducted last week, where the company had quoted Rs. 2722. 
●    Through the reverse auction, the price of the single phase smart meter has come down from Rs. 2722 to Rs. 2503 which is a reduction of 8% from the previous tender quote. 
●    The lower price discovered through reverse auction will further benefit the end consumers. 
●    Seven companies including L&T were invited for the reverse auction, as per tender terms and conditions where L&T has been outbid by ITI Limited, Genus Power and KEONICS.
●    As per government guidelines, EESL will invite Genus Power and KEONICS, who have emerged as the L2 and L3 bidders respectively, to match the L1 price.  

Aditya 1 Months ago
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