GK and Current Affairs Updates

India overtook the US to become the world's second largest internet consumer base behind China last year.
●    Internet freedom has declined slightly in the country.
●    According to the “Freedom on the Net 2016” report by Freedom House, a US-based think tank, both government and non-governmental entities made efforts to bridge the digital divide in India. 
●    After effective digital campaigning, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) introduced strong net neutrality protections in 2016, prohibiting differential pricing by service providers for different content or applications.
●    Overall, internet freedom around the world declined in 2016 for the sixth consecutive year. 
●    Two-thirds of all internet users — 67 percent — live in countries where criticism of the government, military or ruling family are subject to censorship.
●    According to the report, social media users face unprecedented penalties, as authorities in 38 countries made arrests based on social media posts over the past year.

Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group on Tuesday launched UNLIMIT, an independent unit, which will provide Internet of Things (IoT) services.
●    Reliance Group, including its mobile network, has partnered with Cisco Jasper for the launch of this venture. 
●    With this, Reliance becomes the first telco in India to have an independent IoT unit.
●    Reliance Communication's mobile networks and cloud services along with Cisco Jasper 's IoT connectivity management platform aim to provide a fill suite of solutions for smart city initiatives throughout India, a statement said.
●    The new IoT services aim to enable business transformation for companies in India and also play a key role in the Digital India project.
●    Companies using the Cisco Jasper platform outside of India can expand their connected services into India on Reliance's network.
●    RCom’s merger of MTS with itself and the ongoing merger of its wireless business with Aircel will make the new entity’s 2G and 3G network more powerful.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India on 15 November 2016 signed a 500 million US dollar loan to build a 9.8 km long road bridge across the Ganges River. This will be India’s longest river bridge.
●    Along with ADB’s loan and 900000 US dollar in technical assistance to improve bridge operation and management, the Bihar Government will provide support equivalent to 215 million US dollar.
●    The project is expected to be completed by the end of December 2020.
●    The proposed bridge will improve transport connectivity between North and South Bihar. It will also improve the link between Patna and the surrounding areas.
●    It will cover both channels of the Ganges River and will also serve as an alternate route to the existing Ganga Bridge.
●    The project will also build viaducts, embankments, and toll and service facilities. It will link to national highway networks.
●    The bridge will significantly reduce travel time to Patna from the surrounding regions, in particular north Bihar. 
●    It is expected that the bridge will benefit over 9 million people.

The country’s trade deficit widened to $10.16 billion in October, compared with $9.69 billion in the same month a year earlier, as gold imports more than doubled.
●    Gold imports in October rose 108.43 per cent to $3.5 billion compared with the same month a year earlier.
●    Exports of goods grew 9.59 per cent to $23.51 billion compared with the same month a year earlier due to an increase in exports of gems & jewellery, engineering goods and readymade garments. 
●    Imports expanded 8.11 per cent to $33.67 billion.
●    If the positive growth continues in the coming months, India’s exports could touch $280 billion.
●    Oil imports grew by 3.98 per cent to $7.14 billion, while exports of petroleum products recorded a 7.24 per cent growth to $2.71 billion.
●    Non-petroleum exports in October grew 9.9 per cent to $20.79 billion. 
●    Non-oil imports grew 9.28 per cent to $26.53 billion in October.

India and Israel inked two agreements in the field of water resources management and agriculture. 
●    Israeli President Reuven Rivlin is on an eight-day visit to India (from 14 November to 21 November 2016). 
●    This was his first ever visit to India and first by any Israeli President in past two decades. 
●    The last and first President of Israel to visit India was Ezer Weizman in 1997.
●    Points of discussions during the delegation level talks were
●    Enhancing agricultural productivity and efficiency.
●    Boosting research and innovation linkages.
●    Employment of applications of science and technology for the benefit of the two societies.
●    Forging strong trade links and investment ties.
●    Building defence ties to secure people of the two nations.
●    Enhancing people to people ties through greater cultural and tourism linkages.
●    Promotion in educational exchanges, which will allow students of the two nations to study in each other’s country, to bridge the bilateral partnership.

India today asserted that all future actions on climate change must be firmly rooted in climate justice and issues like adopting a sustainable lifestyle will be central to its course of action.
●    Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave made the assertion in his meeting with Conference of Parties (COP22) president and Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar.
●    Dave told the COP President that India believes that all future actions must be firmly rooted in climate justice and issues like adopting sustainable lifestyle.
●    Mezouar also appreciated India's initiative in "stitching together a formidable" International Solar Alliance (ISA).
●    Both the leaders also discussed enhancing South-South Cooperation among other issues during the meeting.
●    The CoP22 started on November 7 and will go on till November 18.

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. 

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on 14 November 2016 announced that the year 2016 is very likely be the hottest year on record. It stated that 2016 will likely surpass the previous hottest year, 2015.
●    It was mentioned in the WMO’s preliminary assessment provided in its Status of the Global Climate in 2016 report.
●    Earlier in July 2016, the WMO had announced that Carbon dioxide concentrations passed the symbolic milestone of 400 parts per million in the atmosphere in the ongoing year.
●    The preliminary data from 2016 reveal that global temperatures are 1.2° Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
●    The temperatures from January 2016 to September 2016 have been around 0.88° Celsius higher than the 14°C baseline set from 1961 to 1990.
●    The rise in temperatures for the first months of the year was driven by a strong El Nino during 2015 and 2016.
●    The extreme ocean heat by the El Nino had contributed to coral reef bleaching and above-average sea-level rise.

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