Important Current Affairs 22nd October 2017

Current Affairs 22nd October 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Bi-Annual Naval Commanders’ Conference to be held at New Delhi from - 24-27 oct 17 

A four day Naval Commanders’ Conference is scheduled at New Delhi from 24-27 Oct 17. 
●    The Conference serves as a platform for institutionalised interaction between the Naval Commanders and senior government officials, as also, with the Chiefs of Indian Army and Indian Air Force.   
●    The Hon’ble RM will address and interact with the Commanders’ during the bi-annual conference. 
●    The Chief of the Naval Staff, with the Commanders’-in-Chief, will review major Operational, Materiel, Human Resource, Training and Administrative activities undertaken in the last six months and deliberate the way-ahead on important activities and initiatives. 
●    An interaction is also planned with Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog to provide the Commanders’ a perspective on broader national interests.   
●    The Navy’s combat readiness would be reviewed with focus on operational effectiveness of combat platforms, logistics and development of shore support infrastructure for sustaining distant operations. 

BSF organised Half Marathon 2017: Run For Martyrs 

The BSF Half Marathon-2017 - in the memory of martyrs was flagged-off by the Minister of State for Youth Affairs (I/C) & Sports and Information and Broadcasting Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore here today. 
●    The marathon received overwhelming response of residents of Delhi and participants who registered to run for the cause. 
●    Total 4865 participants registered for the run. 
●    In addition, BSF Prahari Pariwar participated in large numbers. 
●    Shri Rathore paid tribute to the martyrs of the force and flagged-off half marathon. 
●    Other segment of the race 05 Kilometer run was flagged-off by the MoS (Home) Shri Kiren Rijiju. 
●    Shri Rijiju also participated in the run for martyrs with DG BSF Shri K K Sharma and other force members including members of BWWA. 
●    The BSF Half Marathon had the support of Padma Shri Ms P T Usha, Golden Girl of Indian Athletics, Padma Bhusan Shri Abhinav Bindra, Olympian Ace shooter, Arjuna Awardee Shri Amit Luthra, Golfer and Ms Swara Bhasker, Film Actress and all of them graced the occasion.

The Reserve Bank will list the marketing agencies for multimedia functions

The Reserve Bank is in the process of preparing general tender notices issued in print and electronic media as it is preparing to sign licensing agencies for the publication of multimedia and multilingual advertisements.
●    It has been said in the tender of the proposal released by RBI that the listed agencies will work for preparing, designing and printing advertisements for newspapers and for advertisement in television and radio.
●    Advertisement activities of the Reserve Bank include regular tender notices, multilingual multimedia public notification and information regarding the restoration of staff and creative marketing activities for print and electronic media.
●    There will also be an opportunity for video footage for television and jingles for radio in front of the listed agencies.
●    Apart from this, preparing print advertisement in dubbing and translation of miniature films, television advertisements, radio jingles and Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English and other listed languages. 

Tata Motors plans to change commercial vehicle business, opens 6 new dealerships

Tata Motors plans to make changes to regain market share in commercial vehicle business.
●    For this, the company is focusing on three things - the cost reduction, the product on time and the supply chain.
●    As part of the change strategy, Tata Motors will invest Rs 15,00 crores in various sections.
●    According to the release issued by Tata Motors, note-taking, BS IV norms from BS III and the GST implemented in July saw a decline in commercial vehicle business.
●    However, the company has started to emerge from this and the second quarter has registered strong growth in July-August-September 2017.
●    In order to strengthen its position, Tata Motors will open 6 new commercial vehicle dealerships and 40 new touch points in the region in the year 18.
●    In descending, Tata Motors has a market share of 60 percent in the medium and heavy commercial segment.
●    Along with this, the company has 77 dealerships and a network of 680 touch points.

Maruti becomes No. 1 exporter of PVs from India

Maruti Suzuki India has become the largest passenger vehicles exporter from India in the first half of the ongoing fiscal, dethroning Hyundai Motor India Ltd which has now been pushed to fourth spot behind Volkswagen and General Motors.
●    In the April-September period this fiscal, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) exported 57,300 units of passenger vehicles (PVs) as against 54,008 units in the year-ago period, up 6 per cent, according to the latest data by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
●    The long-running number one exporter, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on the other hand shipped 44,585 units as against 63,014 units in the year-ago period, a decline of 29.25 per cent.
●    The company is now behind Volkswagen and General Motors India in terms of export of PVs from India.
●    During the first half of the fiscal, Volkswagen India exported 50,410 units at a growth of 16.92 per cent. 
●    It is now the second biggest exporter of PVs from India behind MSI. Last year, it had exported 43,114 units during the same period.

Essar completes construction of Ro-Ro terminals in Gujarat

Essar Projects, the EPC arm of Ruias-led Essar Group, today said it has constructed and designed the ‘roll-on-roll-off’ (ro-ro) terminals at both Dahej and Ghogha ports, as part of its Rs 225 crore contract from the Gujarat government.
●    Essar Projects, the EPC arm of Ruias-led Essar Group, today said it has constructed and designed the ‘roll-on-roll-off’ (ro-ro) terminals at both Dahej and Ghogha ports, as part of its Rs 225 crore contract from the Gujarat government.  
●    Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the first phase of the Rs 615 crore ‘roll-on-roll-off’ (ro-ro) ferry service between Ghogha in Saurashtra and Dahej in south Gujarat.  
●    The project was awarded by Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) which has executed the ro-ro project, for constructing the ro-ro terminals and supporting onshore infrastructure at Dahej and Ghogha.
●    Congratulating the GMB on reaching the milestone, Essar Projects said: “A GMB project of national significance, the ro-ro ferry will bring down the travel time between Gujarat’s Ghogha and Dahej ports from 7 hours to just 2.5 hours”.  
●    The ro-ro ferry service will be able to carry about 500 passengers and 100-150 vehicles on each trip across the Gulf of Khambhat (also called Gulf of Cambay) over a 30 km (17 nautical miles) navigational channel created on the sea.  
●    Once services commence, the ferry is expected to do four round trips every day.

India, US trade policy forum meet in Washington on October 25

Issues including visa, greater market access for goods and intellectual property rights are expected to figure in the trade policy forum (TPF) meeting between India and the US on October 25 in Washington, an official said. 
●    Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu will attend the meet.
●    After the Trump administration took power, this would be the first formal interaction between trade authorities of the two countries. 
●    The last meeting was held in October here. 
●    The forum was set up in 2005 and the meeting is co-chaired by the Indian commerce minister and the US Trade Representative (USTR), with an aim to expand bilateral trade and investment.
●    The official, who did not wish to be named, said that on September 22, senior officers of both the countries took stock of the issues in run-up to this meet. 
●    It was a preparatory meeting for the ministerial level TPF.

ICAR to study if ‘cow urine’ can be used in organic farming

India’s premier farm research organisation Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has been asked to study if ‘cow urine’ can be used to promote organic farming and submit its report in two months. 
●    According to a senior Niti Aayog official, the ICAR has been asked to look into the possibility of converting cow urine into amino acid for use as natural fertiliser to increase farm productivity.
●    The decision to request the ICAR to conduct this study was taken after a high-level meeting at the Niti Aayog, during which Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Giriraj Singh talked about organic farming and also how cow urine, bio-waste and cow dung can be used in organic farming.
●    Prime Minister Narendra Modi also many times in the past has asked Niti Aayog to hold discussion with Singh as he had done lot of work in the field of organic farming in Bihar, the official said. 
●    Singh had reportedly told the Niti Aayog meeting that cow urine is a better alternative to chemical fertilisers and can increase the farm productivity as much as by 4-5 times.
●    Amino acids is used an essential nutrient for soil and plant health. 

Important Current Affairs 21st October 2017

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Current Affairs 21st October 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

National Lata Mangeshkar awards to be given in Indore 

Madhya Pradesh Government is organising the National Lata Mangeshkar Award to honour the celebrities in the field of music for their contribution.
●    This time the award for year 2012 to 2016 will be given to the awardees.
●    It is to be noted that a grand award ceremony will be held at Indore’s Brilliant Convention Centre on October 26. 
●    It is to be noted that the Lata Mangeshkar Award is a national-level award instituted to honour works in the field of music. 
●    Various State Governments of India present awards with this name. 
●    The State Government of MP started this award in 1984. 
●    The award consists of a certificate of merit and a cash prize. 
●    This time the maestros receiving the award include music director Usha Khanna for the year 2012, Singer Alka Yagnik for the year 2013, Music Director Bhappi Lahiri for 2014, Singer Udit Narayan for 2015 and Music Director Anu Malik for the year 2016 will be conferred with National Lata Mangeshkar Award. 

Dharmendra Pradhan launches piped natural gas project in Odisha

Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan Friday launched supply of piped natural gas (PNG) project under ‘Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga’ (PMUG) in Odisha.
●    With this, GAIL started supply of environment-friendly PNG to 255 houses in Nalco Nagar located at Chandrasekharpur area in the state capital. 
●    The supply of PNG to a limited households was done ahead of its schedule in March 2018.
●    PMUG will pass through five states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. 
●    The longest stretch of the project, which is about 769km, will be built in Odisha. 
●    “This pipeline will lead to industrial development of eastern India. 
●    Based on this gas-based pipeline, we are also planning to commission Talcher Fertiliser plant and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to lay foundation stone for this project in coming November”, Pradhan said.
●    City gas distribution (CGD) projects in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are being taken up in parallel with the Jagdishpur – Haldia & Bokaro–Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL).

Sazerac buys stake in John Distilleries

John Distilleries Private Limited (JDPL), a leading liquor maker in India, announced on Friday that Sazerac Company, a family-owned spirits company in the United States has acquired an equity stake in it.
●    Sazerac, owners of brands including Fireball, Southern Comfort, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon and E.H. Taylor Bourbon, had acquired an equity stake in JDPL from Gaja Capital, who would continue to remain partially invested in the company, a release said.
●    This strategic partnership marks Sazerac’s entry into the Indian market, one of the largest and fastest growing markets for spirits in the world, it added.
●    “Sazerac’s technological expertise coupled with a global portfolio of brands spread across all spirit categories will be an added advantage for JDPL,” said JDPL chairman and managing director Paul John.

Workers protest Tata Steel Netherlands-Thyssenkrupp merger

A workers’ group of Tata Steel’s Netherlands unit has raised concerns over the proposed Tata Steel-Thyssenkrupp merger of their steel operations in Europe in a 50:50 joint venture.
●    The major concern of Central Works Council(CWC) of Tata Steel Netherlands (TSN) is that, as per the MoU, the Supervisory Board of TSN will no longer be independent and that TSN’s Board of Directors will not be properly constituted, a company statement said.
●    However, Hans Fischer, CEO of Tata Steel’s European operations has assured that the company will follow due diligence in consultation with all relevant stakeholders as Tata Steel progresses in the transaction.
●    He said the company has held a number of meetings and had constructive discussions and briefings with groups representing “our employees” including the European Works Council, the CWC and the UK Steel Committee besides the Supervisory Board and Board of Management of TSN.
●    On the other hand, the CWC said there is no clarity as to how the new business will be financed and where the liabilities will be placed in the business.
●    The MoU also raises many other questions, in particular regarding the impact on the downstream activities, it said.

Linking Aadhaar number to bank accounts is mandatory, says RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Saturday clarified that linking bank accounts to Aadhaar is mandatory under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, dismissing media reports which suggested that such a linkage is not mandatory.
●    “The Reserve Bank clarifies that, in applicable cases, linkage of Aadhaar number to bank account is mandatory under the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 published in the Official Gazette on June 1, 2017,” it said in a statement.
●    RBI also said that the anti-money laundering rules which were amended in June 2017 have statutory force and banks have to implement them without awaiting further instructions.
●    The government had notified under PMLA that every bank account should be linked to Aadhaar by 31 December, failing which the accounts will become inoperative.
●    The central bank’s clarification comes after an RTI reply to Moneylife.in said that it has not issued any directive that makes it mandatory to link bank accounts with Aadhaar number.
●    On 14 October, a fresh petition was filed in the Supreme Court challenging the government’s decision to link bank accounts and mobile phones to the 12-digit unique identity number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

Arcelormittal joins race to acquire Bhushan Steel under bankruptcy code

ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel company, has joined the bidding race for stressed steel assets in the country by expressing interest to acquire Bhushan Steel. 
●     LN Mittal-led ArcelorMittal has submitted an expression of interest (EoI) for Bhushan Steel, which has been referred to National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. 
●    This provides ArcelorMittal, which failed to make much headway in setting up greenfield steel projects in India, an opening to pick up good steel assets in the country at what is widely believed to be reasonable prices, sources said. 
●    “We don’t comment on M&A speculation and rumour,” an ArcelorMittal spokesperson said in response to ET’s query. According to media reports, Korean steelmaker Posco, which faced delays in getting its proposed 10 mt greenfield steel unit in Odisha off the ground for over a decade, is also in the fray for stressed assets like Bhushan Steel and Essar Steel. 
●    India is one of the world's fastest growing markets for steel, including automotive steel, and the country is battling cheap imports from Japan and South Korea.

Sebi slaps Rs 20 lakh fine on Lancor Holdings' promoters

Markets regulator Sebi has slapped a fine of Rs 20 lakh on four promoters of Lancor Holdings for failing to make public announcements following acquisition of shares of the firm through bulk deals.
●    The promoters -- R V Shekar, Shyamala Shekar, Sangeetha Shekar and Swetha Shekar -- have to pay the fine 'jointly and severally', as per an order dated October 18 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).
●    According to the regulator, R V Shekar along with persons acting in concert (PACs) -- Shyamala, Sangeetha and Swetha -- had acquired 0.99, 0.70, 0.54 and 0.61 per cent shares of the firm on four separate occasions during September 2009, by way of bulk deals.
●    Following the acquisitions, these entities were required to make public announcements under Sebi's SAST (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations.
●    "The notices (four promoters) by not making public announcements on acquiring shares of the company , have not only failed to comply with the provisions of SAST Regulations but have also deprived the shareholders of the exit opportunity at the relevant times which has to be viewed seriously," Sebi said.

Important Current Affairs 20th October 2017

Current Affairs 20th October 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

PM visits Kedarnath, lays Foundation Stone for infrastructure projects

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Kedarnath today. 
●    He offered prayers at the Kedarnath Temple, and laid the Foundation Stone for five infrastructure and development projects.
●    These include the development of retaining wall and ghat on the Mandakini River; development of retaining wall and ghat on Saraswati River; construction of main approach to Kedarnath Temple; development of Shankaracharya Kutir and Shankaracharya Museum; and development of houses for Kedarnath Purohits. 
●    The Prime Minister was briefed on the Kedarpur Reconstruction Project.
●    Addressing a gathering, the Prime Minister said he was happy to be in Kedarnath, a day after Diwali. 
●    He said that the start of a New Year is being celebrated in Gujarat today, and conveyed his greetings to everyone around the world.
●    Noting that the service of the people is the service of God, the Prime Minister pledged to devote himself fully to realising the dream of a developed India, by the time we mark 75 years of freedom in 2022. 
●    Recalling the natural calamity of 2013, the Prime Minister said that as Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had come to do all that he could for the victims; and offered support from the State of Gujarat for the reconstruction effort.

Determination of Ceiling Prices of Drugs

The Government has been examining the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO) with a view to enhancing the accessibility and affordability of essential medicines at reasonable prices to the poor and needy while providing sufficient opportunity for innovation and competition to support the growth of the Pharmaceutical Industry. 
●    The Government has been actively interacting with the Industry and other stakeholders on these issues. 
●    Any impression regarding tightening of price control is both misleading and misplaced.
●    Under the provisions of DPCO, the prices of only those medicines  are fixed which are in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), numbering about 850 against more than 6,000 medicines available in the market of various strengths and dosages.  
●    This constitutes approximately 17% of the total pharmaceuticals market, in value terms.  
●    There is an Expert Committee which continuously evaluates the list of Essential Medicines.

Ministry of Corporate Affairs issues Notification for commencement of Section 247 of the Companies Act, 2013 relating to Valuation by Registered Valuers 

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has issued Notification for commencement of Section 247 of the Companies Act, 2013 [Valuation by Registered Valuers] with effect from 18th October, 2017. 
●    The Company's (Registered Valuers and Valuation) Rules, 2017 (Rules), which have been finalized after public consultation and detailed deliberations with stakeholders have also been issued simultaneously.
●    The Rules, inter alia, provide for Registration of Valuers for conduct of valuation under the Companies Act, 2013. 
●    The valuers, who may be individuals or partnership entities or companies, would be required to be registered with the authority specified by the Central Government. 
●    The Rules provide for registration of different category of valuers and lay down the requirements on their eligibility, qualifications and experience. 
●    The Registered Valuers are also required to be members of the Registered Valuers Organisations (RVOs), recognised by the authority under the Rules.  

Indra-2017 started

In a glittering opening ceremony at Vladivostok, Russia this morning Indian Task Force Commander Maj Gen ND Prasad and Chief of Staff, Eastern Military District of the Russian Federation Lt Gen Solomatin declared the tri-service Exercise INDRA 2017 open. 
●    The opening ceremony witnessed Maj Gen ND Prasad and Lt Gen Solomatin inspecting the smartly turned out contingents, which was followed by a march past by the tri-service contingents of both sides. 
●    The opening ceremony also witnessed an astounding display of traditional martial arts and folk dances by the Indian troops and a flypast by four fighter aircraft of Russian Federation Air Force. 
●    In his opening address, Maj Gen ND Prasad, the Indian Task Force Commander said that the initiative taken for the first ever tri-service exercise between both countries reflects the vibrancy of the continued Indo-Russian strategic partnership and that with the rich operational experience of both Russian and Indian armies in counter insurgency operations, both sides will gain immensely from each other and further develop their capabilities. 
●    Lt Gen Solomatin, Chief of Staff, Eastern Military District of the Russian Federation stated that the tri-service exercise will further strengthen the relationship between the two defence forces and lead to enhanced mutual cooperation between the two great countries. 
●    Lt Gen JS Negi, leader of the tri-services Observer delegation, during his media interaction, said that the conduct of the first ever tri-service exercise between the two countries is a significant step in mutual cooperation and marks an important milestone in the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. 

Depression over coastal Odisha, warning issued

The depression over coastal Odisha moved northward and lay centered at 0530 hrs IST of today, the October 20, 2017 over coastal Odisha near Latitude 20.8º N and longitude 86.5º E about 25Kms west of Chandbali. 
●    The system would move nearly northwards for some time and then north-northwestwards and weaken gradually into a well marked low pressure area during next 24 hrs.
●    Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over coastal Odisha and isolated heavy rainfall over interior Odisha during next 24 hours.
●    Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over Gangetic West Bengal during next 24 hours and isolated heavy rainfall over Sub-Himalayan west Bengal during next 48 hrs.
●    Rainfall at many places with isolated heavy rainfall likely over east Jharkhand, Mizoram & Tripura during next 24 hrs and over Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur during next 48 hrs.
●    Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and isolated extremely heavy rainfall very likely over west Assam and Meghalaya and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over remaining parts of Assam during next 48 hrs.

Current Affairs 20th October 2017: DAY AND DAYS

Police Commemoration Day to be observed tomorrow 

The Police Commemoration Day is observed on October 21st every year. 
●    The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh will attend the Police Commemoration Day Parade at the Police Memorial Ground here tomorrow. 
●    On the occasion, he will also lay wreath and pay homage at the Police Memorial.
●    The day commemorates the sacrifices of ten policemen while defending our borders with China in 1959. 
●    Indian Police personnel were responsible for manning the 2,500 mile long border of India with Tibet until the autumn of 1959.
●    On October 20, 1959, three reconnaissance parties were launched from Hot Springs in North Eastern Ladakh in preparation for further movement of an Indian expedition which was on its way to Lanak La. 
●    While members of two parties returned to Hot Springs by the afternoon of that day, the third one comprising of two Police Constables and a Porter did not return. 
●    All available personnel were mobilized early next morning in search of the missing personnel. 
●    A party of about 20 Police personnel led by Shri Karam Singh, DCIO proceeded ahead on horseback, while other followed on foot in three Sections.
●    At about mid day, Chinese Army personnel were seen on a hillock who opened fire and threw grenades at the party led by Shri Karam Singh. 

Important Current Affairs 19th October 2017

Current Affairs 19th October 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

ONGC ready to increase production from old oilfields

Government Oil and Natural Gas Corporation is preparing to increase production from some of its old oilfields. The company will soon bid for oilfield service providers for this.
●    Company officials said that long-term contracts will be given for this and the oilfield service provider will be given pre-decided fees to increase the production.
●    For this project, the Executive Committee of ONGC will prepare a policy by the end of this month.
●    After this, the company will tender for bid Mangani within the next two months.
●    ONGC signed agreements with Slumberger and Helibartan for its aging field in Assam and the increase in production from Kalol Field in Gujarat.
●    But these agreements were canceled due to not being legally strong. After this, ONGC had decided to run on the competitive bidding model.
●    Under this proposed model, the service provider will receive the fee to maintain the 'Baseline' production of each increased unit of oil or gas production and field.

Carry oxygen cylinders on all trains: SC to Railways

The Supreme Court has made it mandatory for the railways to keep oxygen cylinders in all trains to ensure that the life-saving gas could be provided to travellers suffering from respiratory problems in case of emergency.
●    A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud also directed the railways to take assistance of doctors from AIIMS to explore ways to put in place a system in moving trains to provide medical treatment to travellers if they take ill.
●    "The railways shall keep oxygen cylinders in trains so that anyone suffering from any respiratory problem can be given aid. 
●    If any passenger or his/her companion complains to the ticket collector or the attendant that he has some medical problem and immediate attention is required, it shall be the duty of the said officials to intimate the next railway station so that he/she can be given necessary medical assistance at the next railway station where the hospital is situated," the bench said.
●    The court passed the order on an appeal filed by the Centre challenging the Rajasthan high court's order directing the railways to provide a team of one medical officer, one nurse and one attendant in all long-distance trains to cater to the medical needs of passengers.
●    The government contended that it was not feasible to deploy doctors in trains and it was also not possible to install machines for medical check-up of sick passengers. 
●    It contended that it had launched a pilot project for providing medical treatment to passengers on moving trains, but it failed.

Supreme Court counters push for Aadhaar

Countering the government push to make Aadhaar compulsory for access to social welfare schemes, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said obtaining the 12-digit Unique Identification number, which requires the holder to part with his personal bio-metric data, and using it to avail himself of government subsidy was a voluntary exercise.
●    The court’s observations follows a series of recent government circulars making Aadhaar mandatory to access welfare schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and Employees Pension Scheme. 
●    The government has made Aadhaar compulsory for beneficiaries, many of them the poorest of the poor, despite a Constitution Bench of the court directing the government in October 2015 that a citizen cannot be compelled to have Aadhaar as a pre-condition to access Centrally sponsored welfare schemes. 
●    In short, the court had made it clear that the government was not free to discriminate between a person who has the Aadhaar card and one who does not.
●    However, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar on Tuesday found no fault with the government’s choice to make Aadhaar mandatory for “non-welfare” activities like opening a bank account or filing Income Tax returns.

DIPP approved FDI for Madame Tussauds   single-brand retail

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has approved three foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals, including that of Merlin Entertainment-owned Madame Tussauds to undertake single-brand retail. 
●    Mountain Trail Foods, which operates the Chai Point outlets, has got approval for food retailing, bringing in FDI inflows of $10 million (Rs 65 crore). 
●    Kohler India Corp's proposal for single-brand retail has also been approved. 
●    The information is available on the foreign investment promotion and facilitation website. 
●    Madame Tussauds is expected to open its first museum in India in Delhi. 
●    The department has, so far, approved 20 single-brand retail proposals worth nearly Rs 4,900 crore for food product and single-brand retail trading, including those of Amazon, Grofers and Urban Ladder. 
●    Single brand trading applications that got the approval also include those of Acer, Fossil India and Bally International.
●    The department received more than 48 pending applications related to single brand retail and food retail after the abolition of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board. 

Tata Teleservices to raise Rs 20,000 crore

Tata Teleservices said it will be raising Rs 20,000 crore. 
●    This will be done via redeemable preference shares, non convertible debentures in one or more tranches or through loan from promoter group - Tata Sons and others
●    The company stated this decision will be finalized in its Board meeting scheduled on October 18, in its statement on the Bombay Stock Exchange. 
●    The telco has Tata Maharashtra unit (TTML) as its listed entity.
●    Last week, the telecom arm of Tata Sons announced its plans to sell its wireless business to Bharti Airtel in an cash free, debt free deal, making an exit from the mobility business where it was struggling for years.
●    The firm has a loan of around Rs 30,000 crore. 
●    On Thursday, Tata Communications Thursday said that it is holding 'exploratory talks' to buy the enterprise business of Tata Teleservices and its listed entity Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra).
●    In August, TTSL said it had not been able to satisfy may recall loans of Rs 1,911 crore as the telecom firm has not been able to satisfy them with its financial performance.

Mahindra Lifespace, HDFC to jointly invest in affordable housing projects

Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd, the real estate arm of Mahindra Group, has partnered with HDFC Capital Advisors Ltd to jointly invest Rs500 crore over the next three years to develop affordable housing projects across cities.
●    HDFC Capital, a unit of Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd, will invest through its HDFC Capital Affordable Real Estate Fund-1.
●    The projects will be undertaken through a new entity called Mahindra Happinest Developers Ltd (MHDL), with a 51:49 equity shareholding between Mahindra Lifespace and HDFC Capital. 
●    The first development under the joint venture is ‘Happiest, Palghar’, a project which is expected to be launched in the latter half of 2017-18.
●    Mahindra Lifespace ventured into the affordable housing segment in 2014, through the brand, Happinest. 
●    It has since launched two projects—in Boisar near Mumbai and Avadi, Chennai—and has launched 1,600 units in these two projects and handed over close to 1,000 homes thus far. 
●    Homes under the Happiest brand are currently priced between Rs17-27 lakh.

OMC gets clearance for new bauxite mine in Odisha

Government has given final forest clearance to develop a new bauxite mine in Odisha.
●    Vedanta's Lanjigarh refinery, which is facing the shortage of bauxite from this mine, can get increased relief.
●    Right now the raw material is being imported for this refinery.
●    Environment Ministry has given forest clearance to mine in the Kodinagmal plateau of Odisha state-owned company Odisha Mining Corp.
●    This mine has a reserve of 8.1 million tonnes and it can produce 3 million tons annually.
●    On September 25, the ministry had allowed OMC to divert 435 hectares of forest land through a note.
●    However, environmental activists and some villagers are opposing it.

Important Current Affairs 18th October 2017

Current Affairs 18th October 2017: INTERNATIONAL RELATION

Signing of MoC on Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) between India & Japan 

On the occasion of the visit of the Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan to Tokyo, India and Japan concluded the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) on 17th October 2017.
●    The MoC was signed by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan on behalf of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of Government of India with Mr. Katsunobu Kato, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan in a solemn ceremony at the Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare in Tokyo, Japan. 
●    The MoC on TITP is expected to significantly expand the bilateral cooperation between India and Japan in the field of skill development. 
●    India is the third country with which Japan has signed the MoC as per the requirements of the Technical Intern Training Act scheduled to enter into force in November 2017.
●    In the bilateral Joint Statement issued during the visit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to India in September 2017, the two Prime Ministers expressed confidence that synergy between Japan’s advanced technology and India’s rich human resources can transform both countries into new centres of production in the global industrial network. 
●    In this regard, they underscored the potential to further cooperate in human resources development and exchanges utilising such frameworks as Japan’s Technical Intern Training Program (TITP).

Current Affairs 18th October 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas conferred with Swachh Bharat Inter-Ministerial Award on October 2, 2017

Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) has been awarded with Swachh Bharat Inter-Ministerial Award by Minister of State, Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation Shri S.S. Ahluwalia in the presence of Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, and Minister of State, Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation Shri R.C. 
●    Jigajinagi in recently held Swachh Bharat National Award ceremony on Gandhi Jayanti, 02nd October 2017 in New Delhi. 
●    The award in the inter-Ministerial category was presented to MoPNG on the basis of the activities undertaken in the past three years and was received by Senior Adviser (PNG). 
●    This event was organized to mark the third anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Swachh Bharat Diwas, and the conclusion of Swachhata Hi Seva fortnight.
●    Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has been proactively involved in making India clean mainstreaming Swachhta in our regular activities. 
●    The focus of MoPNG has been not only to garner people’s involvement but also to bring about behavioural and attitudinal change through unique/special contribution to the cause of Swachh Bharat Mission, through innovative and unconventional practices/approaches. 

EPFO introduces a new facility for its members to link their respective UAN with Aadhaar online 

On the eve of Deepawali, Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is pleased to introduce a new facility for its esteemed members having Universal Account Number (UAN) and other relevant details to link their respective UAN with Aadhaar online. 
●    This, in turn, would facilitate the members, a better and speedy EPFO services.
●    Using the facility, EPFO members can online link their respective UAN with Aadhaar. 
●    While using the facility, the member will have to provide his/her UAN. An OTP will be sent to his/her mobile linked with UAN. 
●    After OTP verification, the member will have to provide his/her Aadhaar Number. 
●    Another OTP will be sent to his/her mobile/email linked with Aadhaar. 
●    After OTP verification, if UAN details are matched with Aadhaar details, then UAN will be linked with Aadhaar. 
●    After linking, the EPFO member may avail online EPFO services linked with Aadhaar.

Exhibition “Decorated Arms & Armours” from National Museum Reserve Collection Begin Today 

An exhibitions entitled “Decorated Arms & Armours” displaying select daggers, swords, armours as well as pistols from National Museum’s reserve collection, which represents different time period, region, technique and customs associated with these beautiful masterpieces, began here today. 
●    Director General, National Museum Dr. B.R. Mani inaugurated it. The exhibition will be on displayed till 5th November, 2017. 
●    The history of Indian arms and armours begins in pre and proto historic times, however in the historical context they are testified by several sculptures, painting and coins during the medieval period, there was considerable ingenuity and craftsmanship in manufacturing them. 
●    During the Sultanate and the Mughal rule, weapons underwent significant modifications, and weapons with Persian, Arab and Turkish influences became common. Examples are the Shamsheer from Persia and the Zulfikar from Arabia. 
●    A variety of daggers, imported weapons for self-protection and hand to hand combat were also in vogue. 
●    There were regional variants like the Jamadhar, Jambia and Khanjar of Mughal the Chura of Afghans, the Khapwa of Rajputs, the Qurauli of Sikhs and the Khukri of Nepalis. 
●    Many daggers were adorned with ivory, jade, crystal and soap stone and sometimes embellished with calligraphy. 

Madhya Pradesh on third position in milk position in India

Madhya Pradesh has achieved third position in milk production in the country, the state’s animal husbandry
●    minister, Antar Singh Arya, said. “Due to sustained efforts, the state has achieved third position in milk production in the country. 
●    It was at sixth or seventh place 10 to 12 years back and last year it was at the fourth place,” Arya said after introducing the new packaging of Sanchi ghee’s 5 kg and 15 kg packs yesterday.
●    The ghee is manufactured by MP State Co-operative Dairy Federation. “We are striving hard and have set a target to become number one in milk production in the country,” Arya said. 
●    He said the new packaging is totally safe, leak-proof, made from food-grade plastic and there is no scope of any adulteration in it as its seal cannot be tampered with.
●    The state government is committed to doubling the farmers’ income by 2022 and in it the state’s veterinary department has a major role to play, the minister said. 
●    Milk producers were this year paid Rs 200 crore, which is maximum by the state government so far, animal husbandry department’s principal secretary Ajit Kesari said on the occasion.

LT Foods sets up ready-to-heat organic rice plant in US 

The company is aiming to generate revenue of over US $20 million in next five year from this product to be sold under organic food brand ‘EcoLife’, its CEO & MD Ashwani Arora said.
●    “We have set up a plant in the US to produce ready-to- heat organic rice. Trial run is happening and production will start from December. The total market size is US $265 million in the US and growing at 14 per cent,”.
●    This plant, the company’s fourth facility outside India, will produce 20 million pouches of ready to heat organic rice initially and expand to 70 million pouches by 2018.
●    On investment, he said the initial capital investment on the plant is US $5 million and the company expects to generate revenue of US $21 million in next 5 years.
●    “We already have a strong presence in the US through our Basmati rice brand ‘Royal’ and we will be leveraging our strong presence and experience to grow our US market even further,”.
●    LT Foods basmati rice brand ‘Royal’ is largest brand in the US with a market share of more than 40 per cent, he added.
●    The company, which posted a turnover of about Rs 3,300 crore during last fiscal, is continuously diversifying its product portfolio.
●    Besides, selling basmati rice under many brands, including ‘Daawat’, LT Foods has been focusing on organic food and rice snacks.

Maha govt releases Rs 4,000cr of loan waiver scheme

The Maharashtra government has released a sum of Rs 4,000 crore under the first phase of the over Rs 34,000 crore farm loan waiver scheme, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced today.
●    Disbursal, in the first phase, will cover more than 8 lakh farmers, Fadnavis said as he listed initiatives taken by his government towards increasing investment in the agriculture sector.
●    The remaining Rs 800 crore will be in the form of incentive for 3.78 lakh farmers who are paying their loans on time,” he said.
●    The release of funds under the scheme, announced in June, will be a continuous process, the chief minister said, adding that by November 15, 75-80 per cent of the disbursement will be completed.
●    “The first decision that we took after coming to power (in 2014) was that we did not keep our work limited to relief and rehabilitation, because that was our job anyway,” Fadnavis said at an event organised for disbursement of the loan waiver amount into accounts of farmers.
●    Fadnavis said that from Rs 21,000 crore in 2011-12, investment in the agriculture sector had increased by almost three times to Rs 63,000 crore now.

Sebi to auction 4 properties of Pancard Clubs

Looking to recover over Rs 7,000 crore of investors’ money in the Pancard Clubs case, markets regulator Sebi has decided to auction four properties of the company, in December, for a total reserve price of over Rs 270 crore.
●    The auction of the properties, spread across Maharashtra, and Goa, include a four star hotel and office units, will be conducted on December 7, Sebi said in a notice today.
●    Total reserve price of these properties is pegged at Rs 270.51 crore.
●    The regulator has engaged SBI Capital Markets to assist it for sale of these properties.
●    The market watchdog said the bidders should make their own independent enquiries regarding the encumbrances, litigation, attachments, acquisition and liabilities of the property put on auction prior to submitting their bids.
●    Earlier in May, Sebi had invited bids for sale of shares held by the company and its directors.
●    The order came after the company failed to comply with Sebi’s direction in February this year ordering it to refund over Rs 7,000 crore to investors raised through illegal collective investment schemes (CIS).

Important Current Affairs 17th October 2017

Current Affairs 17th October 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

PM dedicates All India Institute of Ayurveda to the nation

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated the All India Institute of Ayurveda, in New Delhi, to the nation. 
●    Speaking on this occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated the gathering on the celebration of Dhanvantari Jayanti as Ayurveda Divas. 
●    He complimented the Ministry of AYUSH for the establishment of the All India Institute of Ayurveda. 
●    The Prime Minister asserted that nations cannot progress unless they value and cherish their history and heritage. 
●    Those nations who leave their heritage behind, are destined to lose their identity, he added. 
●    The Prime Minister said that when India was not independent, its knowledge, and its traditions such as Yoga and Ayurveda were belittled. 
●    Attempts were even made to reduce the faith that Indians had on them, he added. 

Government makes Revised Quality Standards for Caustic Soda mandatory 

Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Ananth Kumar today announced that Government will make revised quality standards for Caustic Soda mandatory for both domestic manufacturers as well as for imports.
●    This step has been taken to give a boost to the domestic industry, under Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Make in India’. 
●    The revised quality standards, compliant with Bureau of India Standards (BIS) specifications, would necessitate the industry to produce caustic soda using the modern and more energy efficient membrane based technology. 
●    Mandating compliance to revised BIS specifications will allow superior grade caustic soda to be produced and imported in the country which would be beneficial to human health and environment. 
●    Disclosing this in a meeting with Alkali Manufacturers’ Association of India, the Minister assured the industry of Government of India’s continued support for growth of the Alkali Industry in India, on lines which are congenial to health and environment. 

Cabinet approves SANKALP & STRIVE Schemes to boost Skill India Mission 

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved two new World Bank supported schemes of Rs. 6,655 crore - Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) and Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE). 
●    SANKALP is Rs 4,455 crore Centrally sponsored scheme including Rs. 3,300 crore loan support from World Bank whereas STRIVE is a Rs. 2,200 crore - central sector scheme, with half of the scheme outlay as World bank loan assistance. 
●    SANKALP and STRIVE are outcome focused schemes marking shift in government's implementation strategy in vocational education and training from inputs to results. 
●    There has been a long felt need for a national architecture for promoting convergence, ensuring effective governance and regulation of skill training and catalysing industry efforts in vocational training space. 
●    The two schemes shall address this need by setting up national bodies for accreditation & certification which shall regulate accreditation and certification in both long and short term Vocational Education and Training (VET). 

Current Affairs 17th October 2017: ENVIRONMENT

El Nino contributes to new high in CO2 levels

The amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in our world is likely to top 410 parts per million (ppm) this year. 
●    The CO2 measured at the Mauna Loa Baseline Atmospheric Observatory in Hawaii hit 405.1 ppm in 2016 - an increase of 3 ppm over the previous year, marking five consecutive years of an unprecedented rate of growth, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
●    CO2 is the most prominent, abundant and measurable greenhouse gas, responsible for keeping the world warm enough for life. 
●    It is also capable of making the atmosphere too warm when its concentration becomes too great.
●    The increased burning of fossil fuels since the industrial revolution has driven up the amount of CO2 held in the atmosphere to unprecedented levels. 
●    However, a new NASA study provides space-based evidence that Earth's tropical regions where the source of the largest annual increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration in at least 2,000 years.
●    The 2015-16 El Nino - one of the largest on record - caused abnormal, but expected, heat and drought in the tropical regions of South America, Africa and Indonesia. 

Current Affairs 17th October 2017: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Bangladesh Navy Ship Somudra Avijan on a goodwill visit to Vishakhapatnam 

Bangladesh Naval Ship Somudra Avijan arrived Vishakhapatnam on a four-day goodwill visit to the Eastern Naval Command on 16 October 17. 
●    Prior to the arrival, the ship carried out Passage Exercise which included naval manoeuvres in the Bay of Bengal prior to entering into the port. 
●    The Bangladesh Navy ship was accorded a warm reception by officials from the ENC and Eastern Fleet with the Indian Naval Band in attendance on arrival.
●    BNS Somudra Avijan, commanded by Commander M Moniruzzaman (TAS), Psc, BN is a part of Cadet Training Squadron with 60 cadets embarked aboard sea training. 
●    During the stay in Vizag, a variety of activities including professional, cross deck visit, sports fixture and social interactions have been scheduled for the crew. 
●    The commanding officer will also call-on Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, PVSM AVSM ADC, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief ENC.

IIT Roorkee part of Indo-US consortium on smart energy system

IIT-Roorkee today said it has become a part of an Indo-US consortium working on a project for smart energy distribution system, Smart Grids.
●    The USD 75 million 5-year project, named US-India Collaboration for Smart Distribution System with Storage (UI- ASSIST), is part of the Indo-US Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center (JCERDC).
●    It will work towards addressing issues related to the adoption and deployment of smart grids including storage in the distribution network, IIT Roorkee said in a statement.
●    One of the most important aspects of this project is to bridge the gap between smart grid, storage and renewable energy research in order to facilitate its subsequent adoption, it said.
●    Under this mega project, IIT Roorkee has been awarded a grant of over Rs 4.17 crore.
●    The group will conduct research and deploy new smart grid and energy storage technologies which will help in modernising grids, make them smarter and increase their resilience and reliability.

Current Affairs 17th October 2017: RANKING AND REPORTS

Forbe's Richest list 2017 
The Forbes list of 400 richest Americans shows that the billionaire-in-chief's fortune fell by $600 million to $3.1 billion. 
●    As a result he dropped to #248 on the list, after coming in at #156 last year.
●    The magazine attributed his decline in wealth to "a tough New York real estate market, particularly for retail locations; a costly lawsuit and an expensive presidential campaign." 
●    Trump reached a $25 million settlement in a suit that claims that his Trump University real estate seminars defrauded students.
●    But overall the richest Americans are richer than they were a year ago. 
●    In fact it now takes a record $2 billion to make the cut of the richest 400 Americans. 
●    The magazine estimates there are 169 billionaires who were too "poor" to make the cut, including Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg.
●    Bill Gates tops the list for the 24th straight year with a net worth estimated at $89 billion. 
●    Amazon (AMZN, Tech30) founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, worth $81.5 billion, held on to the No. 2 spot he first claimed in 2016. 
●    Warren Buffett, remains No. 3 with a fortune worth $78 billion.

Google Viewed as Most Authentic Brand in India, Amazon Globally: Survey

Indian consumers regard Google as the most authentic brand, even though Amazon tops the list globally, reveal results of a new survey on Tuesday.
●    In India, Google is followed by Microsoft, Amazon, Maruti Suzuki, and Apple.
●    "Consumers today want to buy from companies that engage with them in a genuine way. 
●    Our research shows a link between brands that behave and communicate authentically and their ability to attract and keep customers - and, ultimately, build stronger businesses," said Donna Imperato, CEO of global communications agency Cohn & Wolfe.
●    Globally, Apple takes the second spot after Amazon in the authenticity race, according to the results revealed by Cohn & Wolfe.
●    The global authenticity index puts Microsoft, Google and PayPal at third, fourth and fifth places respectively - all technology brands, said the 2017 "Authentic Brands Study".
●    According to the findings, 67 percent of consumers in India report increased purchase interest in a brand they perceive as authentic.

Important Current Affairs 16th October 2017

Current Affairs 16th October 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Union Home Minister inaugurates West Zone Regional Training Centre of IB in Jodhpur 

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the West Zone Regional Training Centre of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), in Jodhpur, Rajasthan today. 
●    The Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Law & Justice and Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Shri P.P. Chaudhary, Forest & Environment Minister, Government of Rajasthan, Shri Gajendra Singh Khimsar, Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister, Government of Rajasthan Shri Surendra Goyal and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. 
●    The purpose of the training centre is to strengthen and professionally empower the State Police Special Branches. The West Zone will include states of Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. 
●    While inaugurating the centre, the Union Home Minister expressed belief that this training centre will play an important role in enhancing the professional and behavioral skills of the police officers posted in west region. 
●    He said that intelligence plays an important role in the effective execution of internal security system of the country. 
●    Shri Rajnath Singh said that IB has been playing an important role in tackling the challenges of terrorism, separatism and Left Wing Extremism. 
●    He appreciated the officials of IB for fulfilling their duties within limited resources. 

Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman Commissions INS kiltan ASW stealth corvette 

INS Kiltan (P30), third Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes built under Project 28 (Kamorta Class) was commissioned into the Indian Navy by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman at an impressive ceremony held at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam today, 16 October 2017. 
●    Admiral Sunil Lanba, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral VK Saxena (Retd), CMD, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited, Kolkata (GRSE), Kolkata, Commodore MB Kunte (Retd) first Commanding Officer of erstwhile Kiltan and a host of other dignitaries were also present during the commissioning ceremony. 
●    The event marked the formal commissioning into the Navy of the third of the four ASW Corvettes, indigenously designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited, Kolkata.
●    On arrival at the Naval Jetty, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman was received by Admiral Sunil Lanba, the Chief of the Naval Staff. 
●    The Hon’ble Raksha Mantri was presented with a Guard of Honour and was introduced to the dignitaries’ present prior commencement of commissioning ceremony.

Footwear Design & Development Institute Act 2017 making FDDI an ‘Institute of National Importance’ comes into force 

Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI) has been declared an ‘Institute of National Importance’ under Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. The FDDI bill was passed by the Parliament in July 2017. 
●    The Provisions of FDDI Act 2017 have come into force from today, according to the Notification published in The Gazette of India on October 5, 2017.
●    The Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, Shri C.R. Chaudhary said here today, that the commitment of the Government to resolve the degree issue has culminated in the grant of the status of ‘Institute of National Importance’ to FDDI. 
●    With this, the government has also ensured upgradation of FDDI to a position of eminence so as to enable the Institute to effectively serve the Sector/Industry.
●    To empower the youth of the nation and to help them march alongside the Prime Minister’s Skill Development mission and Make in India initiative, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India proposed the FDDI INI bill to Parliament. 
●    FDDI, after becoming an INI, now has the autonomy to design its courses as per the requirement of the industry, and award its own degree to the students. 

Punjab Cabinet approves new industrial policy to boost growth

To boost industrial growth and economic activity, the Punjab cabinet today approved the ‘New Industrial and Business Development Policy-2017’, paving way for the fixing of industrial power tariff at Rs 5 per unit and a one-time settlement of industrial loans.
●    To boost industrial growth and economic activity, the Punjab cabinet today approved the ‘New Industrial and Business Development Policy-2017’, paving way for the fixing of industrial power tariff at Rs 5 per unit and a one-time settlement of industrial loans.  
●    The creation of a Rs 100 crore fund to promote start-up culture, establishment of a skills university and industry specific skill development centers, are other highlights of this policy.  
●    All skill training schemes in the state will be brought under one agency, the Punjab Skill Development Mission, an official spokesperson said.  
●    A cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, gave its nod to the salient features of the policy, including the provision regarding five year fixed power tariff for existing and new industries, he said.
●    Besides incentives for expansion and upgradation of existing units, the new policy envisages a one-time settlement for loans taken from the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC), the Punjab Financial Corporation (PFC) and the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Ltd (PAIC).  

RIL, BP submit revised investment plan for KG-D6 gas finds

Reliance Industries and its partner BP Plc of UK today submitted a revised investment plan for bringing to production the satellite gas discoveries in the flagging KG-D6 block.
●    RIL and BP plan to develop four deepsea satellite gas finds, named D-2, 6, 19 and 22, together with two other nearby finds, D-29 and D30, in the Krishna Godavari basin block, sources with direct knowledge of the development said.
●    The four satellites and the other two finds (D29 and D30), R-Series and MJ gas discoveries, are the ones on which RIL and BP had in mid-June this year announced investing Rs 40,000 crore to reserve the flagging production from KG-D6 block.
●    Sources said development of the six satellite finds are being taken up together while D-34 or R-Series and D-55 (MJ) would have separate development plans.
●    They, however, did not indicate the investment RIL-BP would make to produce gas from the fields by 2021-22.

Vodafone celebrates super with its unique “Green Diwali Campaign”

In a hallmark style, Vodafone India, has come up with an innovative concept to delight its customers this Diwali. 
●    From 16th October to 19th October, across its 52 stores in Delhi NCR, Vodafone is inviting its customers to celebrate “Green Diwali”. 
●    Green Diwali is a part of its ongoing ‘Celebrating Super’ campaign wherein Vodafone will distribute “Super Crackers” to its customers. 
●    Also using Augmented Reality Technology, customers can create eco-friendly ‘Virtual phuljharis’ or ‘E-Phuljharis’2.
●    The ‘Super Crackers’ contain eco-friendly water soluble papers that carry different variety of seeds of plants with air-purifying characteristics.  
●    The E-Phuljhari is a unique personalized GIF greeting that can be sent to friends and family, through social media. 
●    With this initiative, Vodafone Delhi is making a conscious effort to have safe and eco-friendly celebration. 
●    The celebration gets doubled with customers being offered ‘Customised offers’3 and a chance to win a gift hamper.

Punjab imposes entertainment tax on DTH, cable connections

The Punjab cabinet on Monday approved the imposition of additional entertainment tax by local bodies (municipal corporations, municipalities, panchayats, local and district councils) on direct-to-home (DTH) and local cable connections, outside the ambit of the goods and services tax (GST).
●    According to a statement released by the Punjab chief minister’s office, the local bodies will now be able to impose and collect entertainment tax of Rs5 per DTH connection and Rs2 per local cable connection per month “with the enactment of The Punjab Entertainments & Amusements Taxes (Levy & Collection by Local Bodies) Act 2017.”
●    However, no additional entertainment tax has been proposed for cinemas, multiplexes and amusement parks. 
●    The government has proposed to bring the new legislation in the next session of the legislative assembly and is expecting to generate Rs45-47 crore in annual revenue from the taxes with close to 1.6 million DTH and 4.4 million cable connections in the state.
●    Tax experts and media executives, however, believe that this additional local tax defies the purpose of GST and will lead to an increase, though nominal, in the prices of DTH and cable services. 
 

Current Affairs 16th October 2017: INTERNATIONAL RELATION

India, Russia to hold major tri-Service 'Indra' combat exercise for first time this year

In the first such tri-Service wargames, India will hold a major combat exercise with Russia this year to crank up military-to-military ties between the two long-standing strategic partners.
●    "The Indra exercise, to be held in Russia, will include assets and manpower from the Army, Navy and IAF. 
●    This is the first time India will deploy the three services together for an exercise with a country," said a defence ministry source.
●    Finance minister Arun Jaitley, incidentally, will also be visiting Russia in his capacity as the defence minister for the Moscow Conference on International Security on April 25-26.
●    Though Russia has been India's largest defence supplier for long, notching up military sales worth over $50 billion since the 1960s, their armed forces do not exercise much together.
●    In sharp contrast, India and US hold a flurry of exercises every year, ranging from the top-notch naval Malabar wargames (with Japan now a regular participant) to the counter-terror Vajra Prahar & Yudh Abhyas Ines between their armies. 

Important Current Affairs 15th October 2017

Current Affairs 11th October 2017: APPOINTMENT

Anupam Kher appointed as Chairman, FTII Pune 

Shri Anupam Kher, veteran cine star, has been appointed as Chairman of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.  
●    Shri Kher succeeds Shri Gajendra Chauhan.
●    Shri Kher who has appeared in over 500 films is a recipient of the Padma Shri in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution in the field of cinema and arts. 
●    The veteran star has won many national and international awards including the ‘Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role’ five times. 
●    He has appeared in acclaimed international films such as the 2002 Golden Globe nominated Bend It Like Beckham, 2007 Golden Lion award-winning Lust, Caution and 2013 Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook. 
●    He has appeared in more than 100 plays and has also authored the book ‘The Best Thing about You Is You’.
●    Earlier he served as the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and was the Director of National School of Drama from 2001 to 2004. 
●    He is also an alumnus of National School of Drama (1978 batch).

Current Affairs 15th October 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Visit of Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan to Japan 

Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan will undertake an official visit to Japan from 16-18 October 2017 including participating in the 6th Annual LNG Producers Consumer Conference. 
●    The visit of Shri Pradhan is a follow up of the visit of Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe to India in September, 2017. 
●    The visit is important to enhance the bilateral engagements in the Oil and Gas sectors within the overall framework of India-Japan Energy Dialogue. 
●    The visit also aims to enhance cooperation in establishing a transparent, efficient, truly global and balanced LNG market. 
●    The LNG Producer-Consumer Conference is a global annual dialogue to promote active dialogue among LNG producers, consumers and other stakeholders with a view to deepening shared understandings of market trends and to develop a global LNG market. 
●    The conference provides the right opportunity to brief on the Indian Gas sector and the recent policy reforms with the opportunities available for investment to the Ministers and leaders of global gas industry. 

‘Adopt A Heritage’ During Paryatan Parv 

India has always been renowned for its rich cultural heritage. 
●    India’s glorious past and cultural diversity make a potent blend which attracts millions of tourists each year to its tourist destinations. 
●    India's rich heritage is abundantly reflected in the form of numerous temples, palaces, monuments, forts etc. 
●    This has led to an increase in India's tourism particularly at the heritage sites. 
●    Tourism in India has registered a considerable growth in the last few years, ever since additional initiatives were taken by the Government of India to boost India’s image as a destination for tourism.
●    Ministry of Tourism in close collaboration with Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) envisages providing world class tourist facilities at the various heritage sites / monumentsand other tourist sites across the country under the “Adopt A Heritage” initiative.
●    The project would begin with ASI ticketed monuments and would be expanded to other cultural sites across India. 

Raksha Mantri Made her Maiden Visit to CVRDE, Chennai 

The Raksha Mantri Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman made her maiden visit to Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), Avadi, Chennai, yesterday. 
●    Chairman DRDO & Secretary Department of Defence R&D Dr S. Christopher and Distinguished Scientist & Director, CVRDE Dr. P Sivakumar, made a brief presentation on the achievements and ongoing national programs of CVRDE in Combat Vehicles & Technologies.
●    The dignitaries were taken to various technology centres by Director, CVRDE to witness the products and systems/technologies developed by CVRDE. 
●    The Raksha Mantri has evinced keen interest in the advanced systems like Arjun MBT Mk-II, Arjun Armoured Recovery and Repair Vehicle (ARRV), Arjun Catapult, Unmanned Ground Vehicles, Sub-systems of Light Combat Aircraft –Tejas, Landing Gear, 180 hp engine for Rustom-II, 1000 hp Engine for T-72, 400 hp for BMP-II, besides Armoured Ambulance Tracked, Carrier Command Post Tracked, Bridge Laying Tank (BLT-72). 
●    The respective project leaders highlighted the uniqueness and specialities of their systems to the dignitaries.

The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley holds bilateral Meetings too with counterparts From UK and Sri Lanka 

The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley today participated in the IMFC Restricted Breakfast session in Washington D.C.
●    The discussion sessions focussed on the Dialogue on Policy Challenges. 
●    While observing that the World Economic Outlook for this year and the next was reassuring,  Sh Jaitley took note of the caution advised for the medium term. 
●    He appreciated the focus on cyber security in the Early Warning Exercise and emphasized that the entire global financial system is vulnerable to this threat, more so because it is so interconnected. 
●    In this regard, the Finance Minister highlighted three policy challenges. 
●    The first was the risks posed to emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) by the US Federal Reserve’s bold steps towards restoring normal monetary conditions. 
●    The second was the global slowdown in Investments and the third was employment.

Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) Act 2016 brought into force with effect from 12th October, 2017 
A new Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) Act 2016 which was notified on 22nd March, 2016, has been brought into force with effect from 12th October, 2017. 

●    The Act establishes the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as the National Standards Body of India. 
●    The Act has enabling provisions for the Government to bring under compulsory certification regime any goods or article of any scheduled industry, process, system or service which it considers necessary in the public interest or for the protection of human, animal or plant health, safety of the environment, or prevention of unfair trade practices, or national security. 
●    Enabling provisions have also been made for making hallmarking of the precious metal articles mandatory. 
●    The new Act also allows multiple type of simplified conformity assessment schemes including self-declaration of conformity against a standard which will give simplified options to manufacturers to adhere to the standards and get certificate of conformity. 

Anil Agarwal not to seek board position on Anglo

Mining mogul Anil Agarwal has said he will not seek a board position on blue-chip British miner Anglo American Plc even after becoming its largest shareholder, and instead will support the management.
●    With over 21 per cent stake in the company that owns the iconic diamond brand De Beers, he wants to push for joint venture or technical collaboration between Anglo and his own companies for prospecting for diamonds, copper and coal in India.
●    "It is a fantastic company. There cannot be any company better than that. It is a 100-year old company. We will support the management. We like the management," he told .
●    The family trust of the chairman of diversified miner Vedanta has purchased about 9 per cent more shares, worth up to 1.5 billion pounds, on top of 2 billion pounds spent in March for acquiring a 12.43 per cent holding.
●    The stake has given him an indirect foothold in world's largest diamond producer, De Beers.
●    The mining baron said he would push for collaboration with Vedanta and Anglo for mining, particularly of diamonds in India.
●    Last year, Aggarwal had made an unsuccessful offer to merge part of his mining empire with Anglo American.

Arun Jaitley urges for Urgent need to revise quota share in IMF

India today called for urgent revision of the quota of International Monetary Fund in favour of dynamic emerging market so as to reflect the ground realities of the world.
●    Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also expressed hope that this can be done as part of the 15th General Review of Quotas (GRQ).
●    Addressing the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank here, he said,"There is an urgent case for revising quota shares in favour of dynamic emerging market countries in line with global economic realities to maintain fairness in the governance structure of the Fund".
●    "We should make every effort to complete the 15th Review by the agreed timeline of 2019 Annual Meetings," he asserted.
●    In his address, Jaitley said the risks to global financial and economic stability have significant implications for IMF's operations, in terms of growing amplitude of financial crisis and owing to increasing vulnerability of the international monetary system (IMS) to emerging transitions and growing complexity of economic and financial linkages which could cause correlated financial crises/contagion placing large demands on IMF resources.
●    The Fund needs to be adequately resourced to meet these demands while functioning as a strong quota-based institution.

Government to put Wind power capacity addition put on fast track

The government is planning to auction 3000 MW wind projects in the next four months to upscale the wind capacity addition in the country, sources say. 
●    "An additional bid of 1,500 MW wind projects will be rolled out in October. There will be two more wind bids of the same capacity in December this year and February next year," a government official aware of the developments told. 
●    The successive bids come in backdrop of meagre wind capacity addition this year, as the government is looking to enhance its capacity installation in the wind sector. 
●    “The government wants to speed up the capacity installation in wind projects," the official said. The auctions will be conducted by Solar Energy Corporation of India ( SECI). 
●    Wind auctions conducted on October 4 this year saw record low wind tariffs at Rs 2.64 per unit. 
●    No capacity addition in the wind sector might have also resulted in the low tariffs, as equipment suppliers were left with huge inventory, developers and experts told.

Important Current Affairs 13th October 2017

Current Affairs 13th October 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Lay Foundation Stone for Four Sewerage Projects and Four National Highways Projects in Bihar Tomorrow

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for four sewerage projects costing Rs. 738.04 crore and four National Highways projects of 195 km. 
●    worth Rs. 3031 crore in Bihar tomorrow. The ceremony will take place at Mokama. 
●    Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Road Transport & Highways and Shipping will also accompany Prime Minister for the foundation stone laying ceremony. 
●    These four sewerage projects include Sewage Treatment Plant at Beur, Sewerage System with Sewer Network at Beur, Sewage Treatment Plant at Karmalichak and STP and Sewer Network at Saidpur. 
●    These projects together will create new STP capacity of 120 MLD and upgrade the existing 20 MLD for Beur. 
●    This also includes sewer network of 234.84 km in Beur and Saidpur zones. 
●    In Patna, seven other sewerage projects are at various stages of implementation, out of which two – Digha and Kankarbagh sewerage zones – worth Rs. 1402.89 crore are sanctioned under Hybrid Annuity-based PPP mode. 
●    The existing population in the city is 16,83,000 and the existing sewage generated in the city is 220 MLD and sewage load is expected to be 320 MLD by the year 2035. 

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Container Terminal selects N4 Terminal Operating System

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Container Terminal, one of the container terminals directly managed by India’s leading container port-JNPT, is constantly innovating and up-scaling operations to not only meet but exceed global benchmarks with an underlying commitment to provide seamless customer service and ease of doing business. 
●    The JNPCT has upgraded its terminal operating system to SPARCS N4 platform to optimize the terminal’s operational cycle with the ultimate goal to increase JNPCT efficiencies so that customers can experience improved productivity.
●    The JNPCT has taken a number of initiatives for faster and economical operations along with automation that has helped in streamlining the processes and helping in reduction of cost, time and documents and thus making it easier for clients and partners to do business with them. 
●    The decision of migration to Navis N4 TOS solution is one of the step towards achieving the objective.
●    The N4 implementation process will be managed by Cargotec Corporation and will directly work with JNPCT, utilizing Navis’ methodology and project management tools. 
●    Cargotec will provide configuration, testing, report and field extensions, go-live support services, including training courses so that the management and mid-management teams are up and running on N4 as quickly as possible.

Ministry of Railways introduces tri- weekly new Special Rajdhani between Delhi – Mumbai route from 16th October, 2017. 

To fulfill the long overdue demand of passengers & to provide faster and convenient connectivity to passengers between two metros Delhi and Mumbai, Ministry of Railways is introducing a new Special Rajdhani Express between Delhi & Mumbai from 16th October, 2017. 
●    Flexi Fare shall not be applicable in this train.  Indian Railways are already running two Rajdhanis and more than 30 mail/exp trains between Delhi and Mumbai.
●    Delhi, the capital city of India, is of great historical significance as an important commercial, transport, and cultural hub, as well as the political centre of India. 
●    Mumbai is India's commercial and financial capital, as well as the capital city of Maharashtra State. 
●    Both the cities are important business centers of the country. Hence, there is a greater need for effective & efficient transport connectivity between the two cities.
●    With the introduction of new Rajdhani Express, the travel time will be reduced from the existing time of about 15 hrs. 50 minute to 13 hours 55 minutes i.e a saving of around 2 hours in journey time. 

Union Textiles Minister inaugurates IHGF - Delhi Fair Autumn 2017

The Union Textiles Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani has urged the exporting fraternity to take care of the welfare of artisans who are the backbone of the sector.  
●    The Minister said that design and product development play a crucial role in value realisation and in turn in the benefit that the artisans and producers are able to reap from their products. 
●    The Minister said this after inaugurating IHGF - Delhi Fair Autumn 2017, world’s largest handicrafts and gifts fair. 
●    The fair is being held at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, during October 12 - 16, 2017. 
●    Delivering the inaugural address, the Minister applauded the role of Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts in promoting exports of handicrafts.  
●    She noted that handicraft exports have witnessed a year-on-year growth of 13.15% in 2016-17 and has touched Rs. 24,392 crores.  
●    The Minister appreciated the launch of schemes by EPCH under their CSR programme, for education of children of artisans.  
 

Current Affairs 13th October 2017: APPOINTMENT

Shri D.K.Gayen appointed as New Member Staff Railway Board 

Shri D.K.Gayen, has been appointed as new Member (Staff) Railway Board and ex officio Secretary to the Government of India to assume charge with effect from 11th October 2017. 
●    Shri Gayen, an officer of Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) of 1981 batch, and is a Bachelor in Engineering in Mechanical Discipline from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology in the year 1979.
●    Prior to this assignment, he was General Manager, East Central Railway, Hajipur. 
●    He worked as Chief Mechanical Engineer, South Eastern Railway. 
●    He has also worked in various important posts like Chief Rolling Stock Engineer, Eastern Railways & Chief Motive Power Engineer, Eastern Railways, Chief Workshop Manager, Jamalpur Workshop and Liluah Workshop. 
●    He has also worked as Divisional Railway Manager, Asansol and Mughalsarai Division respectively. 
●    He has served in the capacity of Director (Inspection and Liaison), RDSO, Lucknow.

India appoints Gautam Bambawale as new ambassador to China

India on Thursday announced the appointment of Gautam Bambawale as its next ambassador to China.
●    Bambawale, an Indian foreign service officer of the 1984 batch is currently India’s high commissioner to Pakistan.
●    Bambawale was previously India’s ambassador to Bhutan. 
●    He has also handled the China desk in the Indian foreign ministry that looks after relations with Japan, China, South Korea, Mongolia and North Korea. 
●    One of the first tasks in front of Bambawale will be to stabilise India-China ties rocked by a military face off in the Dokalam area of Bhutan that lasted 73 days.
●    The two sides agreed to disengage on 28 August, paving the way for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit China for the BRICS summit in early September.
●    Bambawale appointment clears the way for India’s ambassador to Poland, Ajay Bisaria, to be named India’s high commissioner to Pakistan.
 

Current Affairs 13th October 2017: GLOBAL NEWS

India 100th on global hunger index, trails North Korea, Bangladesh

India has a “serious” hunger problem and ranks 100th out of 119 countries on the global hunger index — behind North Korea, Bangladesh and Iraq but ahead of Pakistan, according to a report.
●    The country’s serious hunger level is driven by high child malnutrition and underlines need for stronger commitment to the social sector, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) said in its report.
●    India stood at 97th position in last year’s rankings.
●    As per the report, India ranks below many of its neighbouring countries such as China (29th rank), Nepal (72), Myanmar (77), Sri Lank (84) and Bangladesh (88). It is ahead of Pakistan (106) and Afghanistan (107).
●    North Korea ranks 93rd while Iraq is at 78th position.
●    The GHI, now in its 12th year, ranks countries based on four key indicators — undernourishment, child mortality, child wasting and child stunting.

US leaves UNESCO

The United States will withdraw from UNESCO at the end of next year, the State Department said Thursday, to stop accumulating unpaid dues and make a stand on what it said is anti-Israel bias at the U.N.’s educational, science and cultural organization.
●    In notifying UNESCO of the decision Thursday morning, the State Department said it would like to remain involved as a nonmember observer state. 
●    That will allow the United States to engage in debates and activities, though it will lose its right to vote on issues.
●    The withdrawal follows long-standing issues the U.S. has had with UNESCO and does not necessarily foreshadow a further retrenchment of U.S. engagement with the United Nations, where the Trump administration has been pushing to bring about structural and financial reforms.
●    The most immediate impact is that the U.S. will halt the arrears it has run up since it stopped funding the organization in 2011 to protest UNESCO’s admission of Palestine as a full member. 
●    By the end of this calendar year, the unpaid U.S. bill will amount to $550 million. 
●    With no sign that U.S. concerns would be addressed, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson decided to pull out after Dec. 31, 2018, when the unpaid balance will top $600 million.

Important Current Affairs 9th October 2017

Current Affairs 9th October 2017: INTERNATIONAL RELATION

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Belarus for Cooperation in the field of Vocational Education and Training 

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Belarus for cooperation in the field of Vocational Education and Training (VET).  
●    The MoU was signed on 12th September, 2017 during the State visit of H.E. Mr. Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus to India.
●    This is for the first time MoU for cooperation in area of vocational education, training and skill development has been signed with Eurasian country.
●    Belarus has a large concentration of industries, mainly into manufacturing and heavy industries, which draw their strength from available skilled manpower and a highly developed skill training system. 
●    The transfer of knowledge of their skilling methodology will immensely help in our initiatives like "Make in India" and "Skill India". 
●    This MoU would pave the way for systematic transfer of their expertise and knowhow in skilling the manpower specially in manufacturing sector.

Cabinet approves signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Capital Markets Authority (CMA), Kuwait 

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) with Capital Markets Authority (CMA), Kuwait for mutual co-operation and technical assistance. 
●    The MoU is likely to promote further development of economic links and cooperation between the two regulators, and aims at creating conditions for an effective development of securities markets in the two countries. 
●    It would also contribute towards strengthening the information sharing framework between the two. 
●    It is expected to add value to overseas mutual cooperation and regulation activities of SEBI and CMA, Kuwait.

Cabinet approves IALA to change its status from Non-Governmental Organization to Inter-Governmental Organization 

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) to change its status from Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to Intergovernmental Organization (IGO). 
●    The move will facilitate “to foster the safe, economic and efficient movement of vessels". 
●    It will bring IALA at par with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO). 
●    The IALA, having headquarters at St. Germain En Laye (France) was established in 1957 under French law. 
●    It is governed by a General Assembly having 83 National members, with its Council as the executive body. 
●    The IALA council consists of 24 National Members and India is one of the council members represented through the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), Ministry of Shipping. 
●    DGLL establishes and maintains Aids to Navigation in general waters along coast of India including A&N and Lakshadweep group of islands, as per Lighthouse Act 1927. 

Cabinet approves signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between India and Japan on establishing a Liquid, Flexible and Global LNG Market 

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan on establishing a liquid, flexible and global LNG Market.
●    The MoC will promote bilateral relationship between India and Japan in the energy sector. 
●    It will contribute to the diversification of gas supplies for India. 
●    This will strengthen our energy security and lead to more competitive prices for consumers.
●    The MoC provides a framework to cooperate in facilitating flexibility in LNG contracts, abolition of Destination Restriction Clause and also explore possibilities of cooperation in establishing reliable LNG spot price indices reflecting true LNG demand and supply.
●    India and Japan are major consumers of energy in the world. In the LNG sector, Japan is the world's largest importer and India is the 4th largest importer. 
 

Current Affairs 9th October 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Cabinet approves SANKALP & STRIVE Schemes to boost Skill India Mission 

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved two new World Bank supported schemes of Rs. 6,655 crore - Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) and Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE). 
●    SANKALP is Rs 4,455 crore Centrally sponsored scheme including Rs. 3,300 crore loan support from World Bank whereas STRIVE is a Rs. 2,200 crore - central sector scheme, with half of the scheme outlay as World bank loan assistance. 
●    SANKALP and STRIVE are outcome focused schemes marking shift in government's implementation strategy in vocational education and training from inputs to results. 
●    There has been a long felt need for a national architecture for promoting convergence, ensuring effective governance and regulation of skill training and catalysing industry efforts in vocational training space. 
●    The two schemes shall address this need by setting up national bodies for accreditation & certification which shall regulate accreditation and certification in both long and short term Vocational Education and Training (VET). 

North and South Block buildings get a new glitter from tonight 

The iconic North and South Block building flanking the Rajpath in the national capital began to shine with bright, shimmering reflected light combinations with the inauguration of new dynamic façade lighting tonight. 
●    The honour of inaugurating this Rs.15 cr, 16 million colour combination new lighting was given to Shri Mahipal Singh, the senior most support staff who joined the Ministry of Home as a daftary in 1975.
●    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and 20 other Cabinet Ministers attended the event including Shri Rajnath Singh, Smt.Nirmala Sitharaman and Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, with whom Shri Mahipal Singh was seated in the front row, with others behind them. 
●    After the inauguration, Prime Minister shook hands with Shri Mahipal Singh, who is to retire in 10 days and complimented him.
●    A twenty minute live demonstration of new lighting was organized for the Ministers, senior officials of the Government, media and the large number of public who attended the launch.
●    Rashtrapati Bhawan located between the North and South Block buildings and overseeing the Rajpath will be covered with similar lighting from the first of January next, which would present a continuous stretch of visual delight.

Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS) 2017 to take place in Delhi

The Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS) 2017 is getting bigger and better. The 5th edition, being hosted by India is to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on November 23, 2017. 
●    It will see participation of ministers, officials, industry leaders and academia engaged in the global cyber ecosystem.
●    The world’s who’s who in the field of cyber space will congregate in India’s capital city. 
●    Over 3500 participants will take part in the weeklong event directly and millions virtually from India and abroad through video conference, webinars and webcast. 
●    For those who are not travelling to Delhi, about 800 locations around the world will be connected to GCCS 2017 (www.gccs2017.in) through video conference and 2000 locations through webinars.
●    More than 40 events and sessions are being organized by the Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India, in partnership with the Industry, International Organizations, Academia and Think Tanks. 

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the "Nanaji Deshmukh Plant Finomix Center" developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated the "Nanaji Deshm Plant Finomix Center" developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in Pusa.
●    Climate change and abiotic stresses such as drought, water crisis, heat, salinity, lack of nutrients and biotic, affect the crop productivity and quality.
●    To overcome these problems, it is necessary to identify genes for genetic resource-richness and yield properties and they should be used to develop climate-friendly crop varieties.
●    Traditional methods of symptom-modification are often degenerative and can not characterize the dynamical changes in plants during different phases of plant growth.
●    Symptomatic impairment is the main obstacle that limits the use of germicidal resources in crop correction with the help of genomics.
In the form of a bridge between the symptom and genetic form, the recent multi-disciplinary science of "phenomics" has evolved.
On the various developmental stages of plantation using non-invasive sensors and advanced image processing computational programs, there is an indestructible characterization, phenomics of the functional and morphological properties of plants in real time.