Important Current Affairs 29th November 2017

Important Current Affairs 29th November 2017

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Current Affairs 29th November 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

National Consultation on Accelerating Implementation of Urban Missions-Pmay-Urban- Strategies & Way Forward 

A day long national Workshop on National Consultation on Accelerating Implementation of Urban Missions-PMAY(Urban) was inaugurated by Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of state for Housing and Urban Affairs(I/C) here last Friday. 
●    The Workshop chaired by Sh Durga Shankar Mishra, Secretary in the Ministry was attended by nearly 170 participants including Principal Secretary (Urban Development) of states, state Mission Directors for SBM, Municipal commissioners and other officials of cities with population of 5 lakh and above, and of nearby cities of NCR area, as well as representatives from Ministry partners.
●    The Ministry proposes to launch the Global Housing Construction Technology Challenge (GHCTC) to globally identify best technologies which are suitable for mass housing. 
●    Through this challenge, all entrepreneurs, technology providers, institutions, academia and other stakeholders across the globe are proposed to be invited to contribute to the future of India's Housing Development. 
●    The Ministry also proposes to conduct Region/ State wide demonstration of technologies to explore and identify appropriate technologies as a way forward.
●    The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has been implementing PMAY (U) which aims at providing pucca houses to all eligible urban poor including slum dwellers. 

Ministry of Railways launched 1ST Swarna Rajdhani

To improve passenger experience, Ministry of Railways decided to upgrade Premium Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains under Project ‘Swarna’. 
●    With improved passenger amenities, aesthetics and hygiene standards, Country’s first Swarn Rajdhani (Train no 12313 New Delhi – Sealdah Rajdhani Express) was launched in New Delhi today i.e. 29th November, 2017 at New Delhi Station. 
●    Member, Rolling Stock Shri Ravindra Gupta was especially present to introspect the revamped rake.
●    For this programme, Ministry had formed nine teams of two officers each from Railway Board to monitor the progress of work under each dimension of Project Swarna. 
●    14 Rajdhani trains & 15 Shatabdi trains have been selected for the first phase of this Project.
●    The first revamped rake of Rajdhani under the project was rake of Sealdah Rajdhani (12314 New Delhi-Sealdah) which was launched today from New Delhi.
●    An expenditure about Rs. 35 lakhs has gone into this rake which translates into less than Rs.2 lakh per coach.

Hyderabad open metro rail for public

The commercial operation of the Hyderabad metro rail has started from today.
●    During this time people shared their convenient and comfortable experiences.
An elderly Dampi who traveled through the metro said that he is very excited to travel to Metro for the first time and hoped that sanitation will be maintained at the stations with the help of the public.
●    A software professional woman said, this is amazing. This will free us from being caught in the jam and save time.
●    It is a convenient way of transport and comfortable ride.
●    At the same time, a businessman in the city said that traveling between Miyapur and Ameerpet usually takes 45 minutes, but due to the arrival of Metro, it takes me 20 minutes to get to the destination.
●    The passengers also thanked the Telangana Government, Central Government and Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd for providing metro service.
●    L &T Metro Rail Hyderabad Ltd said in a statement that Metro Rail operations have been started between Nagaland from Miyapur.

Current Affairs 29th November 2017: SPORTS

Indian Competition Commission imposes Rs 52.24 crore penalty on anti-competitive attitude on Board of Control of Cricket

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has found Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to be in contravention of the provisions of Section 4(1) read with Section 4(2)(c) of the Competition Act, 2002 (Act) for its assurance to the broadcasters of Indian Premier League (IPL) that BCCI shall not organize, sanction, recognize, or support another professional domestic Indian T20 competition that is competitive to IPL, for a sustained period of ten years.
●    After a detailed investigation by the DG, CCI found that BCCI enjoys a dominant position in the market for organisation of professional domestic cricket leagues/ events in India. 
●    Based on the nature of activities performed, BCCI has been held as an enterprise and thus, would come under the purview of the Act. 
●    While recognising the role of sports federation in taking measures to serve the integrity or development of the sport, CCI held that the impugned restriction had no nexus to the legitimate interest of cricket in the country. 
●    Rather, the restriction was pursued to enhance the commercial interest of the bidders of IPL broadcasting rights and the consideration in turn received by BCCI. 
●    Therefore, the impugned restriction has been held to be in contravention of Section 4(1) read with Section 4(2)(c) of the Act.

Current Affairs 29th November 2017: DEFENCE

Rear Admiral Sandeep Beecha takes over charge as the Commandant, Naval War College 

Rear Admiral Sandeep Beecha took over the reins of the Naval War College from Rear Admiral Monty Khanna, AVSM, NM as its third Commandant, at a ceremonial parade held at INS Mandovi, Goa on Wednesday. 
●    Naval War College is the pre-eminent Iconic Institution facilitating Higher Education, War gaming and Cutting Edge Research on Maritime Security and Warfare at Strategic and Operational level.
●    Rear Admiral Sandeep Beecha is an alumnus of Naval Academy and was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 21 Jul 1986. 
●    He is a Navigation and Direction Specialist. 
●    He has commanded CGS C-05, INS Ajay, INS Vindhyagiri, INS Rajput and he has earlier served at Goa as Commanding Officer of INS Mandovi. 
●    His staff appointments include Joint Director Staff Requirements, Naval Assistant to the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and Principal Director Foreign Cooperation, all at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi.
●    The officer has undergone the Principal Warfare Officers (PWO Basic) Course at HMS Dryad (UK), the Staff Course at the Defence Services Staff  College, Wellington and the Naval Higher Command Course at Mumbai. 

Current Affairs 29th November 2017: INTERNATIONAL RELATION

India and Italy sign MoU for enhanced cooperation in the health sector 

India and Italy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for enhanced cooperation in the health sector, here today. 
●    Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Ms. Beatrice Lorenzin, Health Minister of Italy signed the MoU in the presence of senior officers from the Health Ministry and a high level delegation from Italy.
●    Shri J P Nadda stated that both the countries share a strong and rich traditional relationship which has been enhanced by high level visits. 
●    Also, there is a mutual interest in the promotion of stronger ties in the health sector, he added. 
●    The MoU recognizes the potential for exchanges in the health sector between the two countries and the need to tap the capabilities and opportunities in a focused and comprehensive manner, Shri Nadda stated.
●    The objective of this MoU is to establish comprehensive inter-ministerial and inter-institutional cooperation between the two countries in the field of health by pooling technical, scientific, financial and human resources with the ultimate goal of upgrading the quality and reach of human, material and infrastructural resources involved in health care, medical education & training, and research in both countries.

Current Affairs 29th November 2017: ECONOMY

Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) approves projects for Rs. 2,066.73 Cr to six higher education institutions. 

For providing additional funds for research and related infrastructure, Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA), has started its operations. 
●    The HEFA Board had held its 2nd meeting today and approved projects for Rs. 2,066.73 Cr for six institutions – IITs Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kharagpur, Kanpur and NIT Suratkal. These funds would be used to improve the research infrastructure in these institutions to further improve their standing at the global level.
●    These institutions can avail of these funds as per the progress of the project and complete them. 
●    The funding under HEFA would be in addition to the grants being given to these institutions.
●    Expressing happiness over the approval of interest-free loans by HEFA Board, Union HRD Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar said that today is a historic day for financing the needs and promotion of research and innovation beyond budgetary allocations. 
●    The Union Budget gives ample allocation and grants to Higher Education institutions but still there is a greater need. 

Current Affairs 29th November 2017: DAYS AND DATES

Three day India-Afghan Cultural Festival inaugurated in New Delhi today 

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture, Dr. Mahesh Sharma and Minister of Culture and Information of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, His Excellency Prof. Moh. Rasool Bawari inaugurated the India-Afghan Cultural Festival in New Delhi today. 
●    The Festival has been jointly organized by the Government and Embassy of Afghanistan along with the Government of India and ICCR.
●    Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mahesh Sharma said that India and Afghanistan enjoy age old cultural and civilisational ties and the deep-rooted linkages in the fields of music, art, architecture, language and cuisine constitute an important bond of friendship between the people of the two countries.
●    While exponents of Afghan classical music such as Ustad Sarahang were trained in the Patiala Gharana, the popular Indian music of bollywood resonates in Afghan homes, Dr. Mahesh Sharma explained. 
●    The central Bamyan province of Afghanistan is an epitome of our shared Buddhist heritage, he added. 
●    Dr. Mahesh Sharma said that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Kabuliwala’ has connected Indians with the honest and large-hearted Afghans.