Important Current Affairs 9th November 2017

Important Current Affairs 9th November 2017

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Current Affairs 9th November 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Radha Mohan Singh inaugurates the Organic World Congress 2017 

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh said India is one of the oldest organic agricultural nations of the world and a large part of the country still practices traditional organic farming. 
●    Shri Singh said it today at the inauguration of Organic World Congress 2017 at India Expo Centre in Greater Noida. 
●    The event, organized by International Federation of Organic Farming Movements (IFOAM) and OAFI, will see the participation of 1,400 representatives from 110 countries, and 2000 Indian delegates.
●    Shri Radha Mohan Singh said currently, 22.5 lakh hectares have been brought under organic farming and 3,60,400 farmers have been benefited by Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. Now, the aim is to bring 50,000-hectare area under organic farming in the northeast region. 
●    So far 45,863 hectares have been brought under organic farming, 2,406 Farmers Interest Group (FIG) have been created and 44,064 farmers have been linked to the scheme against the target of 2,500 FIG.
●    Shri Singh said that in Uttar Pradesh, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana was launched in 2015-16 and so far 28,750 farmers have been benefited from 28750 acres of land.
●    For the marketing of organic products, the government is allocating Rs.5 lakh per district for the setting up of sales outlet.
●    Union Agriculture Minister said some international scientists call such farming “default organic”, however, it is important to understand that often farmers, who continue with these methods, are organic farmers by choice. 

President of India launches Bihar Krishi roadmap 2017-2022 

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, launched the Bihar Krishi Road Map 2017-2022 in Patna today (November 9, 2017). 
●    Speaking on the occasion, the President said it was a moving and emotional experience for him to come to Bihar for the first time as President of India. 
●    He would always remember the regard and affection received from people of all sections and regions of the State during his tenure as the Governor of Bihar. 
●    The President stated that the centenary year of the Champaran Satyagraha is being commemorated from April 2017. 
●    As such this was the best time to introduce the new 'Agricultural Road Map' in the interests of farmers. 
●    Mahatma Gandhi had emphasised through the Satyagraha that farmers are at the centre of Indian life and policy making. 
●    And this remains true even today. 
●    The President said that the Government of Bihar had launched the first ‘Agricultural Road Map’ in 2008 after consulting farmers, agricultural scientists and other stakeholders. 

Kiren Rijiju inaugurates the ‘India Disaster Response Summit’ 

The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju has said that India need to prepare itself for moving towards Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) from an approach of traditional Disaster Management. 
●    He emphasised that Disaster Mitigation Strategy should be areas of priority for addressing Disaster Risk Management. 
●    Shri Rijiju was inaugurating the ‘India Disaster Response Summit’, organised jointly by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Facebook, here today on how best to leverage social media platforms to 'prepare, respond and recover' for, during and after a disaster. 
●    Calling it a great example of execution on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s ten-point agenda on Disaster Management, which has clearly listed harnessing technological innovations to create a culture of disaster resilience in the country, Shri Rijiju said, the world is moving towards partnerships, where people are proactively partnering with the Government in responding to disasters. 
●    This partnership is a benchmark and first of its kind – we are the first Government to partner with Facebook on disaster response, he added. 
●    Shri Rijiju also invited other technology companies to create tailored solutions for disaster-related challenges. 

Skywalk & FOB at ITO among 5 projects approved for funding of Rs. 643.58 crore through Urban development Fund: Hardeep S Puri. 

Sh Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of state (I/c) for Housing and Urban Affairs has said that the Skywalk and FOB at ITO is among the 5 projects approved for funding of Rs 643.58 crore through the Urban Development Fund by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. 
●    The other projects involving construction of flyovers, underpasses etc are coming up at Mahipalpur, Narela, ISBT Kashmiri Gate and Rani Jhansi Road. 
●    The project has been mooted for one of the busiest crossings in Delhi. 
●    It is an intersection point, with a metro station, the Tilak Bridge railway station and seven major arterial roads. 
●    This leads to inter-crossing of pedestrian with the vehicular traffic, posing a potentially dangerous situation to the pedestrians.
●    Speaking at the Foundation laying ceremony held in New Delhi here today, Shri Puri stated that the Skywalk and Foot Over Bridge (FoB) will provide safe and comfortable passage to a large number of pedestrians, who come to this area. 
●    At present, vehicular peak hour traffic volume is around 16,000 to 20,000 PCU on ITO Chowk and 12,000 PCU on ‘W’ Point. 

Health Ministry issues pollution advisory for citizens 

The Union Health Ministry has issued a health advisory in view of the severe air pollution in the city. 
●    People have been advised the following:
●    Remain indoors if you have breathing difficulty and try to keep children indoors as much as possible.
●    Avoid morning walk or any other strenuous outdoor activity that increases breathing rate
●    Drink plenty of water and fluid
●    Avoid smoking.
●    Minimize the use of deodorants and room sprays as much as possible.
●    Avoid the areas with smoke or heavy dust.
●    If you have any heart ailments or chronic respiratory disease or asthma, continue your medication as advised by physician
●    In case of any difficulty in breathing, increase in breathing rate, palpitations or severe bout of coughing and/or sneezing consult for medical assistance.

FSSAI issued rules for organic food

Food Regulatory FSSAI today released unified rules for organic food to ensure that these foods are really organic.
●    Indian Food Safety and Standards Authority in the Organic World Congress in Greater Noida: FSSAI: Unveiled a Common Logo for Reality and Vyas for Organic Foods.
●    FSSAI said in a statement that Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh offered food security and standard: Organic Food: Act of 2017 along with the logo of the organic India and the Indian Integrity Integrity Database Portal in the event.
●    Developed by FSSAI with Epida and PGS India, this portal will help consumers to reinforce the need for organic food.

Facebook launches 'Disaster Maps' feature in India

Following natural calamities in India to help in improving community and rapid reconstruction, Facebook launched new measures in the country on 'Disaster Maps' feature Thursday.
●    Facebook will create a data from Disaster Maps and make available the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Permanent Environment and Ecological Development Society (Seeds).
●    Seeds is a non-profit organization engaged in disaster relief work.
●    Disaster maps were introduced at the global level in June.
●    This feature gathers information about the problems encountered during natural calamities and facilitates the data collected by Facebook, with help from organizations engaged in relief work.
●    Ritesh Mehta, President of the program in India, South and Central Asia, Facebook said that during the disaster our forum is a valuable source of information.
●    In which security check feature you can tell your friends and family that you are safe.
●    Along with this, people are also using Facebook to donate in relief work.

Current Affairs 9th November 2017: ECONOMY 

Banking facility will be available to the elderly and the people over 70 years old at home

Older and more than 70 years old people will get banking facilities at their home soon.
●    Reserve Bank of India on Thursday ordered the banks to provide general banking facilities to the elderly and physically challenged persons over 70 years of their house.
●    Banks have been asked to apply it till December 31.
●    Banks have been ordered to provide facilities such as cash transactions, checkbooks and demand draft to such people at home.
●    While issuing the notification, the RBI said, "It has been observed that many times senior citizens and divinities are discouraged or returned in bank branches.
●    Keeping these difficulties in mind, banks are advised to work jointly to give them basic banking facilities.
●    This order of RBI is also for the small financial and payment banks except for the banks.