The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) set up throughout the country play very important role to enhance the income of the farmers and promote agriculture. The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare appealed KVKs and state level agriculture officials that they should work with the farmers in very much closed affinity. They were called for to extend their contribution to the farmers for enhancing their income. Shri Radha Mohan Singh added that Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is going to initiate integrated farming on 100 KVKs very shortly. The farmers living in the district after having observed them can adopt to increase their income.
●    The Union Minister today addressed the scientists of 12 Krishi Vigyan Kendras, State Level Agriculture Officer, Livestock, Fisheries, and Horticulture Officers as well as beneficiary farmers through video conferencing. This was for the first time that the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had a direct dialogue with KVK Officers as well as beneficiary farmers through video conferencing.
●    The Minister addressed the experts of Krishi Vigyan Kendra situated in Andhra Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Goa, Karnataka, Karela, Lakshyadweep, Maharashtra, Orissa, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana and the State and District level Agriculture Development Officers as well as progressive farmers. The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers in the first half of the hour put up his outlook to the farmers and thereafter in a span of half an hour responded their queries.
●    Shri Radha Mohan said to the KVKs officers that the farmers require quality seeds, planting materials as well as fertilizers to increase the productivity of their crops. Therefore, the officers must help them through and through. The Minister of Agriculture also mentioned on this eve about the diseases of the animals and their vaccination. Shri Singh added that officers must continue to check the diseases of the animals. The Minister further added that after having put a check on the diseases of the animals, the income of the farmers will increase. The Union Minister of Agriculture briefed farmers about agriculture projects and agriculture strategies of the government. Shri Singh said to the officers that they must be dedicated from the bottom of their heart for the fulfillment of these projects.
●    On this juncture the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare appealed the farmers to adopt fisheries so as to double their income. Shri reiterated the state and district level fisheries officers that they should take necessary steps to celebrate the World Fishery Day on 21st November and give support to the farmers in every walk of their agricultural need. The Union Minister further added that on 5th December the World Soil Health Day is celebrated. Therefore, the states are required to prepare themselves for the celebration. The Minister said that the farmers should get the Soil Health Card made and in this respect they should negotiate with the nearby agriculture officers.
●    Shri Radha Mohan Singh briefed the farmers that for their welfare 645 Krishi Vigyan Kendras have been reconstituted throughout the country. The government is going to take the initiative for opening 106 new KVKs in all newly created and larger districts of the country. Shri Singh reiterated that now in every district of the country is comprised of KVK which will be dedicated for the benefit of the farmers and will sort out the problems.
●    The first phase of the video conferencing comprised of three phases completed on 19th October, 2016. The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare addressed the Officers of Krishi Vigyan Kendras and as well as farmers of 12 states from Northern India. The third and final phase of video conferencing will be held on 28th October in which the KVK Officers of Hill States and farmers thereof will have a mutual dialogue with the Union Minister.

The 64thMeeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) was held under the Chairmanship of Union Human Resource Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar on 25thOctober, 2016 at New Delhi.
●    In his opening address the Union Minister of Human Resource Development emphasised that education is a national agenda which touches the lives of each and every individual. He also referred that in the past our country had a glorious contribution to the world both in terms of GDP and economic trade because of the world renowned educational institutions. He underscored the need to focus on improving learning outcomes and the quality of education.
●    The meeting was attended by the Union Ministers, Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, MoS (Independent Charge) Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Vijay Goel, MoS (Independent Charge) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey and Shri Upendra Kushwaha, the Ministers of State for HRD, and Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO Niti Aayog.
●    The Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship pointed out that there is a challenge for integrating skills and education in such a manner that the educational infrastructure which has been already created can be optimally utilized for providing skill based education. There is a need for aligning the NSQF rationally so that skills acquired can enable pursuit of higher education. The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports emphasized that Sports and Education must move in a synchronized manner as this will promote physical fitness of children.
●    The House deliberated on several aspects of different level of education and how efforts can be made to improve educational levels of the students. The Education Ministers of the States, CABE Members actively participated in the discussions. The report of the CABE Sub – Committee on Measures and suggestions to improve the infrastructure of Government schools was presented Hon’ble Education Minister of Punjab and Chairman of the Sub-Committee Shri Daljit Singh Cheema. The report of CABE Sub-Committee on Status of “No Detention Provision” under RTE Act, 2009 was presented by Prof. Vasudev Devnani, Education Minister of Rajasthan.
●    A number of decisions were taken at the meeting, in part flowing from the agenda, and in part stemming from concerns raised by the State Governments and experts.  The following resolutions were adopted:-
●    It was decided to constitute a Sub-Committee of the CABE, under the Chairmanship of Shri Kadiyam Srihari, Deputy CM and Education Minister of Telangana to look into the issues of girl’s education.
●    A brief presentation on improvement of learning outcomes, Rationalization of posting of Teachers in rural areas, National Achievement Survey (NAS), Compulsory Board examination in Class – X, Joyful learning, Anganwadis to be co-located with primary schools was made to highlight some of the issues and concerns in the education sector.
●    Education Ministers of 21 States, representatives of 28 States and Union Territories, Members of CABE, heads of autonomous organisations, Vice Chancellors of Universities, and   Shri V.S. Oberoi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education and Member Secretary, CABE were present in the meeting along with senior officials of the Central and State Governments.

The Government has issued Notification on 21st October, 2016 amending rule 23 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 enabling service voters, including armed forces personnel, to cast their vote in elections through e-postal ballot. 
●    Under this system a blank postal ballot paper would be transmitted to them electronically. This would cut short the delay experienced in the present system in two-way transmission of ballot paper by the postal services. 
●    The armed forces personnel serving in remote and border areas would be greatly benefitted since the present system of two-way transmission of ballot paper by the postal services has not been able to meet the expectations of the service voters.
●    One-way electronic transmission of blank postal ballot would considerably cut short the delay in receipt of the marked postal ballot by the Returning Officers on or before the date fixed for the counting of votes. 
●    Major beneficiaries would be the entire category of service voters as stated above, especially the armed forces personnel posted in border and remote areas of the country. With the issue of the aforesaid notification, a long-pending and near-unanimous demand of the service voters, including the armed forces personnel, has been fulfilled.

India's financial hub Mumbai has been named among top 15 cities globally in terms of total wealth held, while London topped the list.
●    According to New World Wealth, the wealthiest cities in the world are London with USD 2.7 trillion of total wealth.
●    New York City (USD 2.6 trillion) and Tokyo (USD 2.2 trillion) in the second and third place respectively.
●    Mumbai featured on the 14th place in the list with a total wealth held in the city worth USD 820 billion.
●    Home to 45,000 millionaires and 28 billionaires, Mumbai is the economic hub of India. It is also home to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
●    Others in the list include San Francisco Bay area at the fourth place with a total wealth of USD 1.9 trillion; Beijing (5th, USD 1.8 trillion); Shanghai (6th, USD 1.6 trillion).
●    Other countries are Sydney, Toronto, Frankfurt, Paris.
●    'Total wealth' refers to the private wealth held by all individuals in a country.

State-owned power firm NTPC will set up solar projects totalling 50 MW with battery storage system at different locations in Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar.
●    A memorandum of understanding among NTPC, the Andaman & Nicobar administration and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to this effect was signed on October 20, 2016. 
●    The power generated from these solar plants is expected to contribute to higher renewable energy deployment and greening of A&N islands.
●    NTPC group’s total installed capacity stands at 47,228 MW, which includes 800 MW of hydro and 360 MW of solar generation capacity.
●    The main task of the thermal power plants of NTPC technology is construction and operation.
●    The power generating companies in India and abroad also provides technical advice.
●    It is currently part of the government's 89.5%.
●    On November 7, 1975 was established.
 

Hinduja Group flagship Ashok Leyland in India launched the first electric bus circuit on October 17, 2016.
●    It is manufactured in India and its design is also made in India and for India.
●    The product has an initial investment of Rs 22 crore to Rs 500 crore, while the total investment will be in phases.
●    Circuit Series buses is the result of Indian company's commitment to technology innovation exploitable.
●    The bus has a capacity of 35 passengers to 65.
●    After a single charge, under standard conditions, it can last up to 150 kilometers.
●    Maximum speed is just 75 kilometers per hour.
●    This costs between Rs 1.50 crore to Rs 3.50 crore.
 

Heritage Rail Tourism Conference was organized by Indian Railways at National Rail Museum, New Delhi jointly with Asia Pacific Heritage & Rail Tourism Organization (APHRTO), from 19-21 October, 2016. 
●    Participants from many countries including Japan, UK, Germany, Australia, Taiwan, senior officers of Indian Railways and other stakeholders of Heritage Rail Tourism were present in the Conference. 
●    Shri Tim Fischer, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia delivered a talk on ‘Heritage Rail Tourism in Australia’ in a curtain raiser held on 19th October 2016. 
●    Shri Tim Fischer (Australia), along with Shri Adrian Shooter (UK), Shri David Morgan (UK) and Dr. Nui (Taiwan) and accompanied by Secretary, Railway Board and Executive Director/Heritage, Railway Board met Hon’ble Union Minister for Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu on 19th October 2016 to discuss ideas on developing Rail Heritage Tourism in India. The participants also visited Heritage Transport Museum, Gurgaon, being managed by Heritage Transportation Trust, New Delhi. 
●    Dr. Bibek Debroy, Member, NITI Aayog delivered keynote speaker in the inaugural session held on 20th October 2016. The inaugural session was graced by Shri Hemant Kumar, Member Rolling Stock, Railway Board, Shri Ashwani Lohani, CMD/Air India Ltd., Shri R.K. Verma, Secretary, Railway Board. The international conference, the first time ever organized in National Rail Museum on Heritage Rail Tourism is having three technical sessions with 14 papers being presented by national and international delegates primarily covering various aspects of Rail Heritage and promoting Heritage Rail Tourism in the world. 
●    The Annual General Meetings of APHTRO and WATTRAIN (World Association of Tourist Trams and Trains) had been held as a side event. It was envisaged that this APHTRO Conference will bring ideas and visions for strategizing Rail Heritage Tourism in India.
 

The meeting of Inter-Ministerial committee on prices held here today under chairmanship of Secretary Department of Consumer Affairs, Shri Hem Pande reviewed prices and availability of pulses. 
●    It was decided that besides offering Chana (chickpea) to the State Governments, its significant quantity should be released immediately through NCDEX (National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited) also to cool down prices.
●    The meeting also suggested exploring possibility to use KVIC outlets for distribution of pulses besides postal network. 
●    The committee was informed that Department of Consumer Affairs is working on modalities with Department of Post to start distribution of pulses through its network at the earliest. 
●    The subsidized pulses are already being distributed through Kendriya Bhandar, Safal and NCCF in Delhi and NCR Region, NCCF is also selling the pulses in some other metros also.
 

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated a Global Conference on ‘National Initiative towards strengthening Arbitration and Enforcement in India’ in New Delhi.
●    Speaking on the occasion, the President said that while India has the basic legal and physical infrastructure to support international arbitrations, we need basic institutional reforms to strengthen our arbitration framework. Three institutions are particularly critical for strengthening arbitration in India arbitral institutions, judiciary and the government.
●    The President said that it was unfortunate that unlike advanced jurisdictions, institutional arbitration is still not widespread in India. Ad hoc arbitration is the norm. Although domestic arbitral institutions have come up, there is a huge untapped potential for growth of institutional arbitration in India. Both domestic and international arbitral institutions have to play a proactive role in shaping this market. 
●    He said that the Conference would provide an excellent platform to debate the pros and cons of critical institutional reforms as well as potential strategies to implement them at ground level taking in account the interests of all stakeholders.
 

The Government of India has announced the repurchase of its Securities through reverse auction for an aggregate amount of Rs. 20,000 crore (face value). The security-wise details of the repurchase are given as under:

●    The repurchase by the Government of India will be undertaken to redeem prematurely the Government Stocks by utilizing surplus cash balances. The above repurchase of the Government Stocks is purely ad hoc in nature.
●    Auction for securities will be on price-based auction format. The auctions will be conducted using multiple price method. Bids for the auction should be submitted in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system on October 24, 2016 (Monday) between 10.30 a.m. and 12.00 noon. The result of the auctions will be announced on the same day.