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10th Indo-Nepal Joint Exercise 'Surya Kiran' Commences

Indo-Nepal joint military exercise Surya Kiran-X commenced on 31 October 2016 at Army Battle School, Saljhandi, Nepal. 
●    The exercise will conclude on 13 November 2016.
●    The joint military exercise is the tenth in the series of such exercise between the two nations.
●    The Surya Kiran series of exercises are being conducted annually, alternatively in Nepal and India.
●    In the series of military training exercises undertaken by India with various countries, Surya Kiran series with Nepal is the largest in terms of troop’s participation.           
●    Indian Army is represented by the elite Kumaon Regiment.
●    Jabar Jung Battalion of Nepal Army is participating in the tenth edition of the joint exercise on behalf of Nepal Army.
●    The aim of the exercise is to conduct battalion level joint training with emphasis on Counter Terrorism in mountainous terrain.
 

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'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat' Scheme Launched

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated a Digital Exhibition – “Uniting India : Sardar Patel” organized by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas  the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, former Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister  of India in National Science Centre, New Delhi today. 
●    He also launched a Web Portal on Sardar Patel and a Souvenir on “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’’ scheme. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed between some States and Union Territories were also exchanged on the occasion.  The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and the Minister of State (I/C) for Culture and Tourism Dr. Mahesh Sharma were also present.
●    Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Sardar Patel, for his great contributions to the nation, and said such great individuals can never be forgotten.  He spoke at length about Sardar Patel’s role in integrating the nation, by convincing princely states to join the Union. The Prime Minister gave several illustrations to explain how the “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” initiative can build bonds between the people of various States of India.
●    Shri Rajnath Singh in his address said that Sardar Patel was the architect of modern political India. He united 565 princely State to be part of India. He hailed Sardar Patel as the Chanakya who fulfilled the dream of Chanakya by uniting India. To maintain unity and integrity of our country will be our true tribute to Sardar Patel.
 

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NITI Aayog Launches First Ever Agricultural Marketing and Farm Friendly Reforms Index

The low levels of productivity, growth and incomes are ailing the farm sector in India.
●    Addressing the issue, NITI Aayog has identified three key areas for reform. 
●    The areas identified for immediate reforms are: Agricultural market reforms, Land lease reforms, Reforms related to forestry on private land – felling and transit of trees. 
●    Three crucial reforms pertaining to marketing in agriculture have been recommended by NITI Aayog. 
●    First is the immediate need to amend existing regulations in order to liberalize markets. 
●    The second area of reforms included in the index is relaxation in restrictions related to lease in and lease out agricultural land and change in law to recognise tenant and safeguard land owners liberalisation. 
●    The third area included in the index represent freedom given to farmers for felling and transit of trees grown on private land.
 

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World Bank to come out with "ease of living" index

The World Bank Group will bring out an ‘ease of living’ index that will rank cities globally.
●    On the World Bank Group's Doing Business index, India had suggested that the Bank needs to take into account the reforms undertaken across the country and not just in two cities (Mumbai and Delhi) as is being considered currently for the rankings.
●    World Bank country director for India is Junaid Ahmad.
●    The index could include categories on social inclusion, cost of living, public transport, housing, education, health, environment-friendliness, crime/safety, governance and corruption, etc.
●    On the criticism regarding the World Bank Doing Business Report this year ranking India a lowly 130th despite several reforms carried out by the government, Mr. Ahmad said the rankings did not capture important reforms, including the laws on Goods & Services Tax (GST) and insolvency & bankrupcty as they did not come before the cut off date for this year.
●    Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das had recently said that the law on bankruptcy & insolvency is likely to be effective by this December-end.
 

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OVL completes acquisition of additional 11% stake in Vankor Oilfield

ONGC Videsh Ltd, the overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp, has completed the acquisition of additional 11% interest in Russia’s Vankor oilfield.
●    Now its total stake is 26%.
●    The company signed a deal with Rosneft Oil Company to acquire additional 11% stake in the East Siberian field for $930 million on 28 October.
●    OVL, which had previously bought 15% stake in Vankor from Russian national oil firm Rosneft for $1.268 billion, will get an 7.3 million tonnes of oil from its 26% stake. 
●    The $2.2 billion OVL spent for acquiring 26% stake in Vankor will be its third biggest acquisition.
 

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Ease of Doing Business : Andhra Pradesh, Telangana on Top

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have jointly topped the 2016 all-India State/Union Territory-wise Ease of Doing Business rankings, while last-year's topper Gujarat slipped to the third spot.
●    The ranking was announced by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
●    It was on the basis of a 340-point business reform action plan and their implementation by the States. 
●    This covers the period from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.
●    The World Bank said that four of the seven states with the lowest income levels have found a place in the top ten ranks.
●    All the seven such states had an implementation rate of over 75 per cent.
●    These low-income states included Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar.
●    India's rank in the recently released global Doing Business rankings was a lowly 130th.
 

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Sino-Indian Troops Resolve to Improve Relations on LAC

The armies of India and China today expressed mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at the functional level along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.
●    The Indian Army and the PLA held a ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) on the Indian side at Chushul and Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) in the Eastern Ladakh.
●    Indian delegations were led by Brigadier RS Raman and Brigadier Vijayant Yadav whereas the Chinese delegations were led by senior colonel Fan Jun and colonel Huang Xiua Hu, respectively.
●    The celebration commenced with saluting the Indian flag by both the delegations members, followed by the ceremonial address by both delegation leaders.
●    The delegations parted amidst bonds of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC.
 

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India wins Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2016

India prevailed 3-2 over Pakistan to reclaim the Asian Champions Trophy hockey title here on Sunday.
●    Goals from Rupinder Pal Singh, Yousuf Affan and Nikkin Thimmaiah helped India surmount the challenge from Pakistan.
●    This was the first time the teams were meeting in the final of a continental tournament since India dethroned Pakistan as the Asian Games champions in Incheon, South Korea in 2014.
●    India had won the inaugural edition of the Asian Champions Trophy, defeating Pakistan in 2011.
●    India went into the title contest without ace custodian P.R. Sreejesh.
●    India scored in the 18th minute off its second penalty-corner as Rupinder sent a rasping drag-flick into the left side of the net.
●    This was 167th match between the two teams. 
●    So far both teams have played over 166 matches & India has won 55 of the matches, Pakistan won 82, while 30 were drawn.

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2 billion children breathe toxic air worldwide

A new report from UNICEF says about a third of the 2 billion children in the world who are breathing toxic air live in northern India and neighbouring countries, risking serious health effects including damage to their lungs, brains and other organs. 
●    Of that global total, 300 million kids are exposed to pollution levels more than six times higher that standards set by the World Health Organization, including 220 million in South Asia.
●    New Delhi residents were advised to stay indoors, with health warnings issued for the young, elderly and those with respiratory or heart conditions. 
●    The high pollution levels were made worse by the ongoing burning of spent crops in agricultural fields in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana states.
●    Children face much higher health risks from air pollution than adults. 
●    Children breathe twice as quickly, taking in more air in relation to their body weight, while their brains and immune systems are still developing and vulnerable.

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Hamilton wins Mexican Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton won the Mexican Formula One Grand Prix.
●    This is his landmark 51st career victory.
●    The victory was the triple world champion’s eighth of the season.
●    Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, is a British Formula One racing driver from England, currently racing for the Mercedes. 
●    He is the 2008, 2014 and 2015 Formula One World Champion.
●    After winning the British Formula Renault, Formula Three Euroseries, and GP2 championships he drove for McLaren in 2007. 
●    Hamilton's contract for the McLaren driver development program made him the youngest ever driver to secure a contract.

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