Important Current Affairs 30th October 2017

Important Current Affairs 30th October 2017

Current Affairs 30th October 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P, AVSM VSM assumes charge as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) 

Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P, AVSM, VSM has assumed charge as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff from Vice Admiral Karambir Singh AVSM at a formal ceremony held this morning at South Block, New Delhi. 
●    Vice Admiral Karambir Singh proceeds to Visakhapatnam and is scheduled to take over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command on 31 Oct 17.
●    Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P, AVSM, VSM is an alumni of the National Defence Academy. 
●    The Flag Officer was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 81 and is a specialist in Missiles & Gunnery. 
●    The Flag Officer has had extensive operational tenures onboard frontline warships of the Indian Navy. 
●    He has had the distinction of having commanded six seagoing platforms which include the guided missile corvette Kulish (commissioning), the guided missile frigate Talwar, the guided missile destroyers Mumbai and Mysore. 
●    The officer has done the Naval Higher Command Course and is also an alumni of the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, USA.

The Government of India and World Bank sign $200 Million Loan Agreement for the Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project

The Government of India and the World Bank today signed a $200 million Loan Agreement for the Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project. 
●    The Project will support the Government of Assam to facilitate agri-business investments, increase agriculture productivity and market access, and enable small farm holders produce crops that are resilient to recurrent floods or droughts in the state. 
●    After the Agreement, Mr Khare, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance said that Assam is simplifying several regulatory procedures related to doing business, agricultural marketing, and fisheries amongst others. 
●    He said that the project will help the State increase agricultural productivity by strengthening the farming systems, raise private sector investments to promote agri-enterprises which will create better job opportunities for the youth in the State. 
●    The Project will be implemented in over 16 Districts of Assam. 
●    Over 500,000 farming households will directly benefit from the Project. 
●    At least 30 percent women are expected to participate in project activities. 
●    Specific focus will be given to women-led enterprises and their participation in the decision-making process of farmer producer organizations. 

Government approved Rs.25,000 crores package for Police Modernization

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh today asked the young police officers to brace themselves up for terrorist threats emerging from the cyber world. 
●    Addressing the Passing Out Parade of IPS Probationers at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad, Shri Rajnath Singh said the world is today grappling with the menace of terrorism and extremism; internet is being used by organisations like the ISIS to spread hate. 
●    We are not untouched by this menace, he added. 
●    The Union Home Minister, however, expressed satisfaction, saying our Intelligence and Security Agencies have been successful in countering these sinister designs. 
●    Central Government is all committed to strengthen the security structure of the country. 
●    He said we know that State Police Forces need Central Government help to tackle the present problems and all that might arise in future. 
●    We need to work towards Modernisation of Police Forces. 
●    Keeping this in mind our Government last month approved a Rs.25,000 crores package for Police Modernization, he added. 

MHA gives a boost to “Make in India” in the field of manufacturing of arms 

The Ministry of Home Affairs has liberalised the Arms Rules to boost “Make in India” manufacturing policy of the Government as also to promote employment generation in the field of manufacturing of arms and ammunition.
●    The liberalisation of the Arms Rules will encourage investment in the manufacturing of arms and ammunition and weapon systems as part of the “Make in India” programme. 
●    The liberalised rules are expected to encourage the manufacturing activity and facilitate availability of world class weapons to meet the requirement of Armed Forces and Police Forces in sync with country’s defence indigenization programme. 
●    The salient features of the liberalised rules are:
●    The licence granted for manufacturing shall not be valid for the lifetime of the licensee company. 
●    The requirement of renewal of the license after every 5 years has been done away with.
●    Similarly, condition that the small arms and light weapons produced by manufacturer shall be sold to the Central Government or the State Governments with the prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs has been done away with.

Shri Giriraj Singh launches MSME Delayed Payment Portal – MSME Samadhaan 

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Shri Giriraj Singh launched MSME Delayed Payment Portal – MSME Samadhaan here today, empowering micro and small entrepreneurs across the country to directly register their cases relating to delayed payments by Central Ministries/Departments/CPSEs/State Governments. 
●    Shri Arun Kumar Panda, Secretary, Ministry of MSME along with other dignitaries and senior officials from the Ministry were also present.
●    Speaking on the occasion, Shri Giriraj Singh said that the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Act, 2006 contains provisions to deal with cases of delayed payment to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). 
●    As per the provisions, the buyer is liable to pay compound interest with monthly rests to the supplier on the amount at three times of the bank rate notified by Reserve Bank in case he does not make payment to the supplier for the supplies of goods or services within 45 days of the day of acceptance of the goods/service or the deemed day of acceptance.
●    The Portal will give information about the pending payment of MSEs with individual CPSEs / Central Ministries, State Governments, etc. 
●    The CEO of PSEs and the Secretary of the Ministries concerned will also be able to monitor the cases of delayed payment under their jurisdiction and issue necessary instructions to resolve the issues. 
●    The portal will greatly facilitate the monitoring of the delayed payment in a more effective manner. 

8th National Painting Competition on Water Conservation and Pollution for school children 

Central Ground Water Board under Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation will be organizing 8th National Painting Competition on Water Conservation and Pollution for school students of 6th, 7th and 8th Standards. 
●    Theme for this year’s painting competition is, “Use water with more care-save our future generation”.
●    School Principals have been requested to organise Painting competition of two hrs. duration for 6th, 7th and 8th standards students in their schools on above mentioned theme preferably on A-4 size paper. 
●    The school principals would select three best paintings and send to the nodal officer so as to reach him along with the list of total number of participants not later than December 15, 2017. 
●    Students who have won first, second and third prize in earlier competitions are not eligible for participation. 
●    The consolation prize winners may participate but they would be considered for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize only at the State level Painting competition. 
●    Best 50 painting will be selected out of paintings received from School level competition by a board of Jury of State level Painting Competition to be held in January, 2018. 

The Vice President of India awards Ministry of Railways for creation of an IT enabled organization wide infrastructure in Railway tendering and contractual matters. 

The Vice-President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu awarded Ministry of Railways, for outstanding contribution in IT initiative for Transparency in the organization, for creation of an IT enabled organization wide infrastructure in railway tendering and contractual matters to enhance transparency and clarity in processes, today at Vigyan Bhavan. 
●    Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, Cabinet Secretary, Shri P K Sinha, Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Shri K V Chowdary, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. 
●    The award was received by Shri Rajaram Prasad,(GM/MMIS/CRIS), who has been the prime mover behind the effort.
●    This award programme at Vigyan Bhawan was organised by Central Vigilance Commission as a part of Inaugural function of Vigilance Awareness Week-2017.
●    As a result of this IT initiative, Railways has been able to achieve 100% e-tendering for procurement and 100% e-auction for disposal of scrap in a secure, transparent and easy manner, with information and status accessibility to all the stakeholders at the click of a button. 
●    This has substantially mitigated the risk of corruption involved in these areas, simultaneously providing the environment of Transparency, Ease of doing business and Fair Business Practice.
●    Indian Railways’ e-procurement portal (IREPS) is the largest e-procurement platform in India handling almost 2/3rd of the total Government tenders. 

Current Affairs 30th October 2017: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
 

Exercise Indra-2017 Concluded in Vladivostok 

The Indo-Russian military Exercise 'Indra-2017' culminated today at Vladivostok after eleven days of joint training in counter-terrorism operations. 
●    After intense and exacting military training, the joint exercise concluded with a closing ceremony, wherein both the contingents showcased their immense talents with unique traditional touches. 
●    The grand closing ceremony at Vladivostok which comprised of personnel of both contingents was witnessed by senior officials and dignitaries of both countries including His Excellency Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation Shri Pankaj Saran. 
●    Personnel from the Indian as well as Russian contingents were awarded medals of excellence for their outstanding performance during the exercise. 
●    Fighters and Helicopters co-piloted by Indian and Russian pilots took part in the flypast along with an IAF IL-76 aircraft. 
●    In the joint tactical exercise which began on 19 October 2017, the two countries conducted training focused on combating terrorism.