As many as 272 products have been registered as geographical indications since September 2003, according to data of Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. 
●    During this fiscal (2016-17), 11 products  have been registered so far as GI from states across India. 26 items had received GI status in the 2015-16 fiscal . 
●    11 GI products added this  year are Sangli Raisins (Maharashtra), Parmigiano Reggiano (Italy), Banaras Metal Repouse Craft (Uttar Pradesh), Beed Custard Apple (Maharashtra), Jalna Sweet Orange (Maharashtra), Uttarakhand Tejpat (Uttarakhand), Waigaon Turmeric (Maharashtra), Purandar Fig (Maharashtra), Jalgaon Brinjal (Maharashtra), Solapur Pomegranate (Maharashtra) and Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet (Jammu & Kashmir) 
●    The GI registration confers: 
●    Legal protection to the products 
●    Prevents unauthorised use of a GI tag products by others 
●    Helps consumers to get quality products of desired traits 
●    Promotes economic prosperity of producers of GI tag goods by enhancing their demand in national and international markets. 

The Future Group, India's largest retailer, is partnering British wholesaler Booker Group to open cash and carry stores, in a move that will bring it in direct competition with the likes of Walmart India and Metro Cash & Carry. 
●    The equal joint venture between Future Consumer (FCL) and UK’s largest wholesaler, plans to open 60-70 stores in three years to sell merchandise to local kirana stores, hotels and catering firms. 
●    The JV is part of Biyani's wider strategy to reach Rs 20,000 crore in sales from in-house brands by 2021 and push these higher margins products outside its own 800-odd stores.
●    While Future Group operates around 13 million square feet of retail space with an annual customer footfall of 295 million, it sells own brands to Tata StarBazaar, Metro and Spar. 
●    Within the country, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra contribute half the wholesale sales with soft drinks (12%) dominating the channel in terms of value within the CPG space, followed by toilet soaps (9%) and washing powder (8%), according to a Nielsen report last year. 

India today donated Rs. 9.3 million to the Nelson Mandela Foundation to help it in its welfare work for the people of South Africa.
●    Indian High Commissioner Ruchi Ghanashyam said the donation was a direct result of the recent visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
●    The Nelson Mandela Foundation was established in 1999 after the then President Nelson Mandela stepped down as the President of South Africa.
●    The Government of India helped in the building of the Foundation’s premises. The Foundation has duly acknowledged this contribution on the plaque at the entrance.
●    India has thus been a proud partner of the Foundation since its inception and has been associated with the Foundation since then.
●    In 2014, the Foundation hosted an exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India.
●    India was also the first country to grant diplomatic status to the African 

India witnessed about 51 per cent mortality reduction from measles between 2000 and 2015 but the country is still among the six nations accounting for half of infants who did not get vaccinated last year, according to a new report by leading health organisations.
●    Despite a 79 per cent worldwide decrease in measles deaths between 2000 and 2015, nearly 400 children still die from the disease every day.
●    In 2015, about 20 million infants missed their measles shots and an estimated 134,000 children died from the disease.
●    India, Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nigeria and Pakistan account for half of the unvaccinated infants and 75 per cent of the measles deaths.
●    A highly contagious viral disease that spreads through direct contact and through the air, measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children globally. It can be prevented with two doses of a safe and effective vaccine.

Chief Justice TS Thakur has dropped Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B Lokur as chairman of the apex court's e-Committee and substituted him with retired Rajasthan HC chief justice Sunil Ambwani.
●    The e-Committee was set up in 2004 to provide a guide map for use of information technology and administrative reforms in Indian judiciary. 
●    It was also asked to provide assistance to the CJI in formulating a national policy on computerisation of judiciary.
●    Justice Lokur was appointed judge-in-charge on July 26, 2012. 
●    Justice Ambwani was appointed chief justice of Rajasthan high court in March 2015 and retired on August 21, 2015.
●    Under Justice Lokur, the national e-Committee had made significant contributions to make courts litigant friendly and lower the cost of trial. 
●    The e-Committee, in consultation with high courts, got video conferencing facilities installed in 95% of the 830 locations. 
●    This will reduce cost of transportation of accused persons from jail to court as the trial can continue through video conferencing between the court and the jail. 
●    It is estimated to save government's Rs 100 crore every year.

Union Minister of MSME, Shri Kalraj Mishra today inaugurated MSME Expo 2016 in the India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Mishra said that, Quality Manufacturing and Inclusive Growth of MSMEs play key role in the development of country. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises forms major part of manufacturing sector and gives employment to a large number of people. 
●    He further said that this time our theme of the Expo is “Quality Manufacturing and Inclusive Growth of MSMEs” and MSME will play an important role in making India a startup hub. He also said that these EXPOs are a very good platform for the enterprises to showcase their products at National and International level. 
●    MSME Expo 2016 is organized by Ministry of MSME in the 36th IITF 2016. Over 80 enterprises have showcased their range of products during the trade fair. The theme of the fair is “Quality Manufacturing and Inclusive Growth of MSMEs” which includes Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) Certification Scheme, SC/ST Hub & National Award. 
●    The participants have a diverse profile such as women entrepreneurs, SC/ST and Entrepreneurs from North Eastern States & Minorities. There are 50 Women, 14 SC/ST and 09 from North Eastern Region, 03 Minorities and others. 
●    The event also provides opportunities for creating sustainable business alliances. Wide range of products which includes Engineering, Food, Chemical, Cosmetics, Herbal products, Handicraft, Textile/Hosiery, Electrical/Electronic Appliances, Auto Components, Readymade Garments, Gems & Jewellery, and other products are being displayed in the MSME Expo, 2016. 
●    During the inauguration of MSME Expo 2016 Ministers of State for MSME Shri Giriraj Singh & Shri Haribhai Parthibhai Choudhary and Secretary MSME Shri K.K.Jalan and Additional Secretary & DC (MSME) Shri S.N.Tripathi were also present. 
 

The government extended use of old defunct Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes for paying household utility bills, fuel, taxes and fees and purchases from co-operative stores till November 24 .
●    While withdrawing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from the night of November 8-9, the government had allowed use of the old currency at government hospitals, railway ticketing, public transport, airline ticketing at airports, milk booths, crematoria/burial grounds and petrol pumps for 72 hours.
●    This list was later expanded to include payments for metro rail tickets, highway and road toll, purchase of medicines on doctor prescription from the government and private pharmacies, LPG gas cylinders, railway catering, electricity and water bills and ASI monument entry tickets.
●    As banks struggled to give alternate currency, the deadline was extended by another 72 hours. 
●    That deadline was to end at midnight tonight, but has now been extended till November 24, official sources said.
●    Old currency can also be used for purchases at consumer co-operative stores like Kendriya Bhandar with valid ID proof as also for paying court fee.

A top Indian diplomat will be re-appointed to the only independent external oversight body of the United Nations system following his endorsement as the sole candidate of the Asia-Pacific Group. 
●    Ambassador A Gopinathan is to be re-appointed to the Joint Inspection Unit of the United Nations by the General Assembly.
●    He will serve from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022.
●    Gopinathan was first appointed to the UN body for a term from January 2013 to December 2017. 
●    At that election, he had secured 106 votes out of 183 votes and had defeated Ambassador Zhang Yan of China, India’s Permanent Mission to the UN said in a statement.
●    He is currently serving as Chairman of the Joint Inspection Unit.
●    India also won elections to key UN organs during the past few days. 
●    The Investments Committee appointed eight members to serve three-year terms of office, beginning January 2017.

Nearly 2 lakh heavy diesel vehicles more than 15 years old will not be allowed to ply in the city from Sunday. 
●    They cannot be parked here either. 
●    The transport department has drawn up a list of 1.91 lakh such vehicles that it has deregistered on the orders of the National Green Tribunal. 
●    Senior government officials said the list had been sent to the traffic police late Friday night, with instructions to impound them immediately. 
●    The list has details of the vehicles, including owner's name, registration number and address. It also specifies the RTO where the vehicle was registered. 
●    The transport department has identified 21 locations where the impounded vehicles will be kept but that might not be enough to park nearly two lakh vehicles. 
●    Traffic officers say they have requested the government to provide additional land space. 
●    As of now, the traffic pits can accommodate only 1,000-1,200 heavy vehicles at a time. 

A high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) has approved imposing a heavy fine and ban on celebrities who endorse products making unrealistic and dodgy claims. 
●    The GoM headed by Union Finance Minister was tasked to look into the issue of Celebrity endorsement and recommendations of Standing Committee of the Parliament on the recently introduced The Consumer Protection Bill, 2015. 
●    GoM recommendations First time offender celebrities should be fined Rs 10 lakh and banned for one year. 
●    Second and subsequent offenders should be fined Rs 50 lakh and banned for up to 3 year. 
●    The Union Government had introduced The Consumer Protection Bill, 2015 in Parliament to replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 to deal with consumer protection and safety. 
●    The bill proposes tough measures for the protection of consumer rights and providing strict punishment to violators. 
●    After its introduction it was referred to a Standing Committee, which gave a report suggesting measures like making celebrities accountable for the brands they endorse.