GK and Current Affairs Updates

Continued efforts are being made to create awareness about crop insurance schemes by the extension division of implementing States in coordination with the insurance companies. The salient activities under awareness campaign, involve the publicity of features & benefits of the scheme through advertisements in leading National/local News Papers, telecast through audio-visual media, distribution of pamphlets, participation in agriculture fairs/mela/goshti and organization of workshops/ trainings and SMS through Kisan Portal etc. State Governments/UTs are also being regularly persuaded to increase the coverage by including and notifying more crops under crop Insurance schemes

About National Crop Insurance Scheme

This scheme is made by merging 3 schemes: Modified National Agricultural insurance Scheme (MNAIS), Weather Based Crop insurance Scheme (WBCIS) and Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme (CPIS).

Aim: To provide financial compensation to the farmers for losses in crop yield due to non-preventable risks including natural calamities, pests and diseases and adverse weather conditions.

The 11^th UIC Global Security Congress is being organized by the Security Directorate of Indian Railways in collaboration with International Union of Railways (UIC), headquartered in Paris. The conference is scheduled to be held at New Delhi on 9^th & 10^th December-2015 and will be attended by Security Chiefs of the Railway Systems of various countries apart from representatives of UIC, Indian Railways, police and security agencies of India. Mr. Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, Director-General of the International Union of Railways (UIC) and delegates of member countries would be attending.

About UIC- It is a  worldwide professional association representing the railway sector and promoting rail transport.

- Mission:

a. Promote rail transport at international level.

b. Promote interoperability, create new world standards for railways.

c. Propose new ways to improve technical and environmental performance of rail transport, improve competitiveness while reducing costs.

- 10^th meeting was held in Lisbon. 

The National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), New Delhi has instituted National Awards for Innovation in Educational Administrations for District and Block Level Education Officers. The second award presentation function organized by NUEPA will be held on 10th December, 2015 in Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Auditorium, Teen Murti Bhawan, New Delhi.

Some of the important National Awards of India

1. Indian Highest Awards (Civil)-

a. The Bharat Ratna: The highest award given for exceptional work for the advancement of art, literature and science and in recognition of public service of highest order.

b. The Padma Vibhushan: It is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service in any field including services rendered by Government servants.

c. The Padma Bhushan : It is awarded for distinguished service of high order in any field including services rendered by Government servants.

d. The Padma Shri: This award is given for distinguished service in any field including services rendered by the Government servants. 

2. Military/Gallantry Awards

a. Param Vir Chakra: It is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour of self-sacrifice.

b. Maha Vir Chakra: It is the second highest decoration and is awarded for the act of conspicuous gallantry. 

c. Vir Chakra: Falling third in order of merit, it is given for the acts of gallantry.

d. Ashoka Chakra: Awarded for acts of gallantry other than in the face of enemy. 

3. Param Vishisht Seva Medal:It is awarded in recognition of the distinguished service of the most exceptional order. 

4. Sahitya Akademi Award: for outstanding books in Indian languages and English.

Australia won the 2015 Men’s Hockey World League Final by defeating Belgium (1-0)

About the  Hockey World League:

The Hockey World League (HWL) is an international field hockey competition organised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).The competition has four rounds and is held every two years.HWL also serves as the qualifier for Hockey World Cup and the Olympics.

Olympic qualification criteria-The six highest placed teams in the semi-finals of the Hockey World League 2014/2015, not qualified under continental qualifications or as the host country team will earn one quota place and qualify for the 2016 Olympics.

The National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has recently launched Wind Energy Resources Map of India.
This online Wind Atlas is available online in the NIWE website www.niwe.res.in.
It will be helpful in:
1. Guiding the wind and solar power developers and other stakeholders in identifying potential areas for the development of wind & solar power projects in the country.
2. Help the central and state agencies in planning and developing the infrastructure including transmission system, required for installing renewable power projects in these potential areas.

Aim: to develop global competitiveness among Indian MSMEs.This programme targets at enhancing the entire value chain of the MSME sector through the following schemes:
(i) Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme for MSMEs;  
(ii) Promotion of Information & Communication Tools (ICT) in MSME sector;
(iii)  Technology and Quality Up gradation Support to MSMEs;
(iv) Design Clinics scheme for MSMEs;
(v)  Enabling Manufacturing Sector to be Competitive through Quality Management Standards (QMS) and Quality Technology Tools (QTT);
(vi) Marketing Assistance and Technology Up gradation Scheme for MSMEs;
(vii)  National campaign for building awareness on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR);
(viii) Support for Entrepreneurial and Managerial Development of SMEs through Incubators.
(ix) Bar Code under Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme. 
About Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) are classified in two Classes:
1. Manufacturing Enterprises- Enterprises engaged in the manufacture or production of goods pertaining to any industry specified in the first schedule to the industries or employing plant and machinery in the process of value addition to the final product having a distinct name or character or use. The Manufacturing Enterprise are defined in terms of investment in Plant & Machinery.
2. Service Enterprises:-The enterprises engaged in providing or rendering of services and are defined in terms of investment in equipment.
Improtance of MSME in India 1. They contribute nearly 8 percent of the country’s GDP, 45 percent of the manufacturing output and 40 percent of the exports. 
2. They provide the largest share of employment after agriculture. 
3. They are the nurseries for entrepreneurship and innovation. 
4. They are widely dispersed across the country and produce a diverse range of products and services to meet the needs of the local markets, the global market and the national and international value chains. 

It is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian and Russian navies commenced at Visakhapatnam.
Objectives of INDRA NAVY- 15
1. It will help to further strengthen mutual confidence and interoperability. 
2. Enable sharing of best practices between both navies. 
3. The exercise will be another milestone in strengthening maritime security cooperation between the two navies and will also serve to reinforce the long standing bond of friendship between the two countries.   
About INDRA
- Initiated in 2003.
- It  a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian and Russian navies.
- Primary aim: to increase interoperability between the two navies and develop common understanding of procedures for maritime security operations.

The Archaeological Survey of India has identified 25 monuments for Adarsh Smarak Scheme for upgradation of tourist related amenities.
Ministry:  Ministry of Culture 
Objective: for Conservation of Monuments 
salient features of the scheme:
1. To make monument visitor friendly.
2. To upgrade/provide wash rooms, drinking water, signages, cafeteria and wi-fi facility
3. To provide Interpretation and audio-video  centres
4. To streamline waste water and garbage disposal and rain water harvesting system
5. To make monument accessible to differently abled
6. To implement Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

“Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill, 2015” seeks to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1962.

Primary cause of Amendment: to overcome difficulties encountered in the setting up of new nuclear projects and enhancement of nuclear power generation. Cause in detail: Joint-venture of companies by NPCIL with other PSUs is not feasible because the expression “government company” as defined in the existing Act means a company in which, not less than 51% of the paid-up share capital is held by the central government, which in other words, precludes a government company from entering into a joint-venture with another PSU.
Suggested Amendments:
To alter this sections amendments suggested are:
1. Amending the definition of “government company” under Clause (bb) of Sub-Section (1) of Section 2 of the said Act with a view to expand its scope to include such joint-venture companies as may be formed between NPCIL and other PSUs.
2. Amendment in Section 14 of the said Act to enable the Central Government to issue licence to such joint-venture companies to set up nuclear power plants, take measures for safe operation and ensure safe disposal of nuclear material. 
3.  Bill further provides for cancellation of licence in case the licensee ceases to be a government company.

At Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) in Kolkata, fifth ship(LCU L-55) of Indian Navy's LCU MK IV project, was launched.
About LCU L-55
- It is the fifth vessel in the series of eight landing Craft utility Ships.
- It is designed and built by GRSE.
- It can perform multi role activities like bleaching operations,humanitarian and disaster relief operations etc.
About LCU MK IV project
- This is the project of building and designing 8 ships by GRSE with the Indian Navy in September 2011.
- Two LCUs were earlier launched on March 12 and September 23, last year. The third LCU was launched on January 16 and fourth on 23rd march of this year.
- These ships will play significant role in transportation of main battle tanks, armoured vehicles and troops of the Indian Army during amphibious operations.
- The first ship of the class ‘LCU-L51’.