GK and Current Affairs Updates

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.
 

Vice Admiral SN Ghormade assumed the charge of Director General Naval Operations at the IHQ MoD (N). The Flag Officer was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1984. 
●    He is a graduate of National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Pune, United States Naval Staff College at Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island and the Naval War College, Mumbai. 
●    In addition to a specialisation in Navigation and Direction within the Navy, the Admiral holds a M Phil in Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Mumbai, MSc Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Madras and Master Degree in Personnel Management from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (University of Pune).
●    The officer is the recipient of the Nau Sena Medal in 2007 by the President of India and Commendation by Chief of Naval Staff in 2000.
 

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 Indo-Italian Joint Committee established under the Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement re-launch cooperation in the sectors of science, technology and innovation. The original agreement was signed between Italy and India in 2003.
●    The Indian delegation led by Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, while the Italian delegation was led by Vincenzo De Luca, Director General for Cultural and Economic Promotion and Innovation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
●    On 19 October 2016, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rome hosted a meeting of the Joint Committee which approved several initiatives in bilateral scientific R&D projects of significance with the aim of facilitating the mobility of researchers who will be jointly selected and co-financed within the framework of the 2017-2019 Indo-Italy Executive Programme of Scientific and Technological Cooperation.
●    Information and Communication Technology, energy, environment and sustainable agriculture, health care, biotechnology and medicine, nanotechnology and advanced materials, physics and astrophysics and technology applied to the cultural and natural heritage, are the areas agreed upon by the two countries for joint projects.
●    The Committee expressed appreciation for the launch of the next phase of cooperation established between Italian and Indian researchers in the India-Trento Programme for Advanced Research (ITPAR).  Secretary, DST will also inaugurate two Indian experimental beamlines at the Synchrotron facility in Trieste for the ELETTRA ‘XRD2’ and ‘XPRESS’ accelerators which is funded by DST at a cost of 6 million Euros.
●    The Committee further discussed a new scientific and technological cooperation programme on applied science, aimed at developing technologies and processes to be applied in industry. Joint workshops are to be alternatively held in Italy and India, starting from 2017. An Indo-Italian Innovation Forum will be established to promote and connect the world of research with the world of business and investment.
 

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.
 

The Union Minister of Textiles, Government of India, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in the august presence of Minister of State for Textiles, Government of India, Shri Ajay Tamta and Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, inaugurated the Mega Exhibition-cum-Sale at Handloom Haat, Janpath, in New Delhi today. 
●    The exhibition is sponsored by Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India and will showcase the products produced by the artisans / Primary / Apex Corporations of Handlooms, Handicrafts, Wool and Jute. Approximately 150-200 nos. of participants from handlooms, handicrafts, jute, wool, carpet and silk are likely to participate in the exhibition.The Association of Corporations & Apex Societies of Handlooms (ACASH), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, is organizing exhibitions on behalf of Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India. 
●    ACASH is a national level apex organization of the entire national and state handloom development corporations and handloom apex cooperative societies and represents the strength and the best of the Indian handloom. The marketing efforts of ACASH are backed by promotion and publicity strategies with special emphasis on Fairs & Expositions. Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India provides total policy and financial support for all such activities undertaken by ACASH. During this exposition the expected sales are likely to be around Rs.2.50 crores. 
●    Ministry of Textiles, Government of India is the sponsoring authority for this event and continues to be a prime mover for development and growth of the artisans in these sectors. It formulates implements, monitors and reviews policies, programmers and schemes. Its input related Schemes, Development Schemes, Welfare Schemes and Marketing Schemes are meant to enhance the socio-economic status of the artisans. The Office also provides creative inputs from design, evolves interactive programmes and introduces technological innovations. It also gives valuable marketing support to the sector by organizing participation of artisans in local regional, national and international fairs, exhibitions, fashion shows and buyer seller meets.
 

Acting swiftly on the reports of mortality among the birds in National Zoological Park, Delhi NCR and other parts of the country due to H5 Avian Influenza Virus, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Anil Madhav Dave, has directed to constitute a monitoring committee for overseeing outbreak of H5 Avian Influenza in the country. 
●    The composition of committee is as follows:
            1.  Member Secretary Central Zoo Authority Chairman
            2.  Director National Zoological Park Member Convenor
            3.  Deputy Inspector General of Forest (WL) Member       
●    The committee will oversee the daily incidences of H5 Avian Influenza in National Zoological Park and other Zoos of the country and submit a daily report to the Environment Minister. 
●    There has been no mortality among the free-ranging birds of the National   Zoological Park today. However, to control the disease following actions are being taken :-
●    Active surveillance continues in the zoo;
●    Zoo is being screened regularly for any dead bird;
●    Bio-security measures continue;
●    Zoo remains closed for the safety of visitors and to control the disease;
●    A team of doctors from Animal Husbandry Department visited Delhi Zoo for monitoring ;
●    A team of medical doctors visited and examined exposed employees of the zoo and medication was provided.
 

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is going to declare the Kashmiri Red Stag as a Critically Endangered species. 
●    The critically endangered status to the Kashmiri Red Stag will help it to get more protection and enhance the conservation efforts to increase its rapidly declining population. 
●    The Kashmir Stag or Hangul is a subspecies of elk native to India. 
●    Earlier it was believed that it is a subspecies of red deer. 
●    It is found in dense riverine forests in the high valleys and mountains of Kashmir Valley and northern Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. 
●    As per Bombay Natural History Society nearly 3000 to 5000 Hanguls existed around the 1940s.
●    It has been listed under Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and J&K Wildlife Act, 1978. 
●    Reasons for decline in population: (i) habitat destruction, (ii) over-grazing by domestic livestock, and (iii) poaching.