Important Current Affairs 26th October 2017

Important Current Affairs 26th October 2017

Current Affairs 26th October 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Vigilance Awareness Week to be observed from 30th October to 4th November, 2017 with theme “My Vision-Corruption Free India” 

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has decided that this year the Vigilance Awareness Week would be observed from 30th October to 4th November, 2017. 
●    The theme of the week would be “My Vision-Corruption Free India”. 
●    The Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu will be the Chief Guest at the Inaugural Function to be held on 30th October 2017.
●    The observance of the Vigilance Awareness Week would commence with the Integrity Pledge by public servants in the Ministries/Departments/Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)/Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and all other Organisations on 30th October, 2017 at 11.00 a.m.
●    While addressing a press conference here today, the Central Vigilance Commissioner, Shri K.V. Chowdary said that the purpose of observing Vigilance Awareness Week is to educate the public at large about the corruption related practices and also educating them how to report about it.  
●    He said that it acts like a mass movement of involving people in saying no to corruption. 
●    Shri Chowdary said that to give recognition to the reforms and good work done by organization in the field of punitive, preventive and participative vigilance, the Vigilance Excellence Awards have been instituted in two categories from this year onwards. 
●    He also said that the Commission is developing an Integrity Index based on benchmarking of internal processes and controls within an organization as well as management of relationships and expectations of external stakeholders. 

Seven shortlisted companies given ‘Letters of Intent’ for 14 monuments under ‘Adopt a Heritage Scheme’ of M/O Tourism 

Seven shortlisted companies were given ‘Letters of Intent’ for fourteen monuments under ‘Adopt a Heritage Scheme’ of Ministry of Tourism at the closing ceremony of ‘Paryatan Parv’ at Rajpath Lawns, New Delhi yesterday. 
●    These companies will be the future ‘Monument Mitras’ who would associate pride with their CSR activities. 
●    The Inter-Ministerial Oversight and Vision Committee members appreciated the positive response received from reputed organisations in the Initial phase, wherein Fifty Seven (57) responses have been recorded and fourteen (14) monuments have been opted through seven (7) Expression Of Interest(s). 
●    After detailed scrutiny, the following companies ranging from hospitality industry, travel industry and banking industry were shortlisted for vision bidding for final selection of Monument Mitras:
●    SBI Foundation shortlisted for the adoption of -Jantar Mantar, Delhi.
●    TK International Limited shortlisted for the adoption of -Sun Temple, Konark, Raja Rani Temple, Bhubaneswar, Ratnagiri Monuments, Jajpur, Odisha
●    Yatra Online Pvt. Limited shortlisted for the adoption of:Hampi, Karnataka, Leh Palace, Jammu & Kashmir, Qutub Minar, Delhi, Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra

Raksha Mantri Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Addresses Naval Commanders’ Conference 

Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shrimati Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the Naval Leadership this morning during the ongoing Naval Commanders’ Conference (24-27 Oct 17) being held at New Delhi. 
●    This is the second edition of this year’s bi-annual Naval Commanders’ Conference.
●    At the very outset, the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri complimented all personnel of the Indian Navy for securing the maritime interests of the nation. 
●    Taking note of the recent developments in our maritime neighbourhood, she emphasised the need for the Indian Navy to be strong at sea, and be ever ready and vigilant to counter any challenges in the maritime domain.
●    The Hon’ble Raksha Mantri acknowledged the high operational tempo maintained by the Navy in the last one year through regular deployment of ships, submarines and aircraft from the South China Sea and Sea of Japan in the East to the Persian Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean in the West and the shores of Australia in the South including the focused efforts to deter piracy attempts off the Gulf of Aden.
●    Participation in a number of bilateral exercises and the unprecedented success of the Exercise MALABAR with the US and the Japanese Navy earlier this year were lauded by the Raksha Mantri.
●    Recognising the lead taken by Indian Navy in indigenisation and self-reliance, the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri stated that it is the collective responsibility of Service Headquarters, the Ministry and the Industry to promote a more vibrant ecosystem percolating down to the MSMEs, to encourage development of equipment and systems in India and to reduce import dependence in the Defence sector.

Power Minister addresses the 3rd Global Investors’ India Forum 

Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri R. K. Singh addressed the 3rd Global Investors’ India Forum, here today. 
●    The theme of the event was ‘Ideate, Innovate, Implement and Invest in India’ and it was attended by global industry stalwarts.
●    Addressing the august gathering, Shri Singh said that looking at the future of growing power consumption in India, it is expected that the per capita energy consumption would expand at a breakneck speed, tripling in the next 5-7 years. 
●    The Minister assured the members of Industry that the Government would extend all possible support and remove all impediments in the path of investments in the power sector. 
●    “Electricity is the future of economic growth in India. 
●    This growth cannot take place without Industry participation. 
●    I invite you to come and invest in India’s Energy sector”, Shri Singh said.
●    Shri Singh also informed the gathering that in the near future, to keep pace with this rapid change in the Renewable Energy Sector, Industry needs to partner with the Government in investing in Green Energy Corridors, Battery Storage Technology, Grid Improvement, Electric Vehicles Programme etc. 
●    The Minister invited the Industry stalwarts to devise the future strategy to achieve the above goal, in coordination with the Government.

TCIL Pays Dividend for the Year 2016-17

Shri A. Seshagiri Rao, Chairman & Managing Director, Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd. (TCIL) presented a dividend cheque of Rs. 70.82 Million to Hon’ble Shri Manoj Sinha, Minister of State for Communications (I/c)  in presence of Secretary, Telecom.
●    TCIL has paid dividend of Rs. 1929.87 Million to Govt. till 2016-17 on Government’s initial investment in equity of Rs. 3 Million. Rs.160 Million was further infused during 2015-16. 
●    The group and standalone networth of the company are Rs. 23977 Million and Rs.5889 Million respectively as on 31st March, 2017.
●    In 2016-17, TCIL achieved standalone revenue and profit after tax of Rs.12051.10 Million and Rs.708.22 Million respectively.
●    TCIL established in August, 1978, is a Mini Ratna Category – I Status Company under the Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications. Government of India holds 100% of its share capital. 
●    TCIL is a prime engineering and consultancy company. 
●    TCIL undertakes projects in all field of Telecommunications, IT and Civil construction in India and abroad. TCIL has executed projects in over 70 countries across globe.
●    TCIL successfully executed Govt. of India PAN AFRICA e-NETWORK PROJECT for healthcare and educational services in 48 African Union countries, in collaboration with Indian Universities and Super Speciality Hospitals. 
●    It is a single largest project of its kind which has brought the African countries under one umbrella for collaboration and development with India.
●    Overseas operations of the Company are in Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal etc. in addition to Pan African e-Network project operating in 48 African countries. 

Trai recommendations on data privacy by January

Telecom regulator Trai will come out with its recommendations on guidelines for data privacy, security and ownership by January and is very close to finalising suggestions for the controversial net neutrality, a top official said today.
●    "Currently, there is a huge amount of monopoly and that monopoly is becoming bigger and bigger. We are saying you can use my data because we are using your application, but give us too so that we can use it for other purposes too... This should be finalised by December-January," Trai Chairman R S Sharma said in response to a specific question on timeline for issuance of the recommendations.
●    Sharma, who was speaking at a Ficci event today, made a pitch for larger privacy laws in the country, saying the regulators recommendations may be sent to the Justice Srikrishna Committee set up by the Centre and tasked with suggesting a data privacy framework.
●    Sharma let out that many consultation papers, including those of net neutrality, are at the final stage and the recommendations will be issued very soon.
●    The Trai chief observed that the clarity on data ownership and privacy will help many start-ups in developing new applications, which at present are unable to do so because of monopoly on controlling data of consumers.

Crisil launches inventability index

Crisil announced the launch of Crisil InfinayX.
●    It is India's first investment index, which will monitor and evaluate the development, maturity and investment related attractions of the basic structure areas.
●    Simultaneously, Crisil also unveiled the Infrastructure Yearbook 2017.
●    According to Crisil Infrastructure Yearbook 2017, the government has made considerable progress in the last several years in terms of investment in infrastructure.
●    However, only public investment in this area is not enough. Private sector investment must also be encouraged.
●    According to Ashish Suyash, Managing Director and CEO of Crisil Limited, "Investments in the infrastructure sector of India will be estimated to be around Rs 3,000 crore per day and 56 per cent, or more than Rs 37 lakh crore, from the financial year 2013 to the fiscal year 2017.
●    Looking at this context, Crisil felt the need for a composite investability index to monitor all the nuances of the basic structure sector. 
●    This will prove to be very valuable.

SEBI amended rules for bulk deal of shares

Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board SEBI has revised the outline of the sale of shares in the wholesale deal.
●    It has raised the limit of minimum orders to 10 crore rupees.
●    Also, 15-15 minutes of two different trading facilities have been provided.
●    SEBI has taken steps to ensure the confidentiality of big deals and to keep prices stable in such deals.
●    The bulk deal facility has been started in the wake of buyers and sellers for a large number of shares.
●    Talk about such deals is usually done beforehand.
●    Under the new rules, SEBI will provide bulk deals for 15-15 minutes in the morning and afternoon.
●    In addition, the regulator has increased the minimum order for the transaction under this facility to Rs 10 crore.
●    At present, this facility is available for a single transaction of Rs 5 crore only.
●    The morning convenience will be from 8:45 to 9 pm and noon will be from 02:05 to 02:20.