GK and Current Affairs Updates

Action Plans for 81 cities in 5 states with total project outlay of 5,748 crore rupees. The approved cities in 5 states are Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Mizoram. The funds will be used to enhance basic infrastructure including water supply and sewerage connections in these 5 states for the year 2015-16. Union Government will provide an assistance of 2,440 crore rupees while the rest would be contributed by state governments and urban local bodies. Half of the urban households in these selected 81 cities do not have water supply and sewerage connections.

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
Ministry: Ministry of Urban Dvelopment
Aim: to provide basic services  to households and build amenities in cities which will improve "the quality of life for all, especially the poor and the disadvantaged is a national priority.
Objectives:
1. to ensure assured supply of water by providing tap to each household
2. to provide sewage connection to each household.
3. increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces.
4. reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non motorized transport.
Features:
-It covers 500 cities or 1 lakh population.
-Union will aprraise each project. It will leave Indian states into cooperative federalism.

The President of India,Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the 35^th India International Trade Fair 2015 at New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that IITF 2015 presents an ideal platform for the global fraternity which has a shared interest in trade relations to enhance peace and prosperity.

India’s efforts for inclusive economic growth and social advancement have shown the way forward to many developing countries. Several recent initiatives of the Government of India have already started showing results and have created a positive impact in key sectors.The President said that he was particularly glad to find considerable participation of companies from the SAARC region. Theme of 2015 edition of IITF is Make in India in order to encourage companies to manufacture their products in India. It will promote Make in India programme.
What is "Make in India" initiative
Aim: to give the Indian economy global recognition. 
Ministry: Department of Ministerial Policy and Promortion.
Benefits: 
1. It will increase purchasing power of the common man, and this would further boost demand, and hence spur development, in addition to benefiting investors.
2. Faster people will be pulled out of poverty and brought into the middle class,thus giving the more opportunity will there be for global business.
3. More manufacturing units in India results in more employment.
Main Purpose: to attract investors and enterpreneurs to start their bussiness easily by easing policies. Also to make India a manufacturing hub,as it will decrease our dependence on exports,will reduce our fiscal deficit and finally develop our country to compete with other developed counteries.
Reasons behind for India an attractive destination:
1. Over the past two decades India has emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
2. India is the second-largest populated country. India has a very young population with over 62% in the age group of 15-59 years.
3. Demographic dividend; large consumer market; emerging knowledge hub.
4. India has third-largest technical and scientific manpower pool in the world.
5. Greater liberalization; strengthening domestic and exports sector.
6. India to be fifth-largest consumer market by 2025.
7. Per capita consumption of all major items is much below the world average thus providing ample opportunities for growth.
8. High Return on Equity (ROE)/ Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) for investments in India. 

Philippines is going to host 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit from 18–19 November 2015 in its capital city Manila for the first time in nearly two decades. Theme of 2015 APEC Summit: “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World”. Under this theme, Philippines is going to push for inclusive growth and highlight the role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which account for more than 97 per cent of businesses in APEC economies.  APEC is regional economic forum comprising of 21 member countries accounting nearly half of the world’s trade and about 57 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP). It was established in 1989 in order to leverage the growing interdependence of Asia-Pacific region’s economies and promote free trade in the region. It is headquartered in Hong Kong. India is observer of APEC since 2011 and has applied for membership.
About Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC)It is a is the premier Asia-Pacific economic forum.
Established:1989
Headquater:Singapore
Aim: to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
Members: 21 members.Currently India is not a member but has approached for the membership.
Achievements and benefits: 
1. 7 times increase in trade in goods and services during 1989 and 2010.
2. Huge lowering of tariffs between counteries as it promotes free trade policy.
3. Made trade across border cheaper and faster.
4. Improving business climate.
 Priorities in 2015:
1. Enhancing the Regional Economic Integration Agenda
2. Fostering Small and Medium Enterprises’ Participation in Regional and Global Markets
3. Investing in Human Capital Development.
4. Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a BR Ambedkar memorial in a building, where Ambedkar had stayed in 1921-22 when he was studying at the London School of Economics. The building is located on King Henry’s Road.  Modi paid floral tribute at the statue of Ambedkar. It was announced that every year two Dalit students from India would study in any university based in London or Europe and arrangements would be made for their stay in the building. Apart from it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also unveiled a Basaveshwara Statue at Lambeth in London. Basaveshwara (1105-1167 AD) was a great philosopher and social reformer who had fought against social evils of his time, and worked for the strengthening of democracy at the grassroots. He was known for Bhakti movement in south India in 12th century AD.
About Dr.B.R.Ambedkar
Born: 14 April, 1891 
Passed Away: 6, December, 1956
His Education:
1. Graduated from the Bombay University in 1912 in politial science and economics.
2. Completed higher studies in the USA.
3. For further studies went to England and there he was awarded honor of D.Sc by the London University.
4. spent few months at the University of Bonn, Germany, to study economics.
5. On 8 June, 1927, he was awarded a Doctorate by the University of Columbia.
His valuable Contributions:
1. He launched a newspaper called "Mooknayaka" (leader of the silent).
2. In 1936, Ambedkar founded the Independent Labor Party.
3. Bhimrao Ambedkar was appointed as the chairman of the constitution drafting committee and is one of the architects of the Indian Constitution.
4. Put many efforts to eradicate the social evils like untouchablity and caste restrictions were remarkable.
5. He founded the Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha In 1955. 
6. Wrote book "The Buddha and His Dhamma".
7.  He completed his final manuscript, "The Buddha or Karl Marx" on December 2, 1956.

The International Day for Tolerance was observed globally on 16 November 2015 with an aim to educate people about the need for tolerance in society and help them understand the negative effects of intolerance.

In 1996, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by its resolution 51/95 invited UN Member States to observe the International Day for Tolerance on 16 November, with activities directed towards both educational establishments and the wider public.
About United Nations General Assembly(UNGA)
Formation:1945
Parent Organization: United Nations
Functions:  main deliberative, policy making and representative organ of the UN.
Members: 193 counteries.
Subsidiary Organs: The subsidiary organs of the General Assembly are divided into categories. These are:Boards, Commissions, Committees, Councils and Panels, and Working Groups and others.

Saina Nehwal has won silver medal at 2015 China Open Superseries Premier Badminton tournament after finishing at second position in the Women’s Singles category. In the final match played at the Haixia Olympic Sports Centre in Fuzhou, the defending champion and top seeded Saina lost to sixth placed Xuerui Li from China by 12-21, 15-21 score. China Open Men’s Singles category was won by Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia.
About Saina Nehwal
1. Currently ranked No.2 in the world by Badminton World Federation Women's Singles 2015.
2. The first Indian to win a medal in Badminton at the Olympics.
3. She is the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships.
4. The first Indian to win a Super Series tournament.
5. Recent achievements: 2015- silver medal in 2015 Jakarta world championship                       2014- Bronze Medal in Uber Cup.
 2014- Bronze Cup in Asian Games. 

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg from Germany has won the 2015 Brazilian Grand Prix title of Formula One (F1) held at Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Socorro district of Sao Paulo. It was Rosberg’s overall thirteenth championship title of F1 in his career and the fifth win in the 2015 season after Spain, Monaco, Australian and Mexican Grand Prix. 
About Nico Roseberg
1. He  is a German racing driver for Mercedes Formula One team.
2. Recent Achievement:2015-an Grand Prix title,2014- won Singapore Grand Prix

The recognization of this day was started from 1996 when the UN General Assembly invited member states to observe the International Day for Tolerance on November 16.With the aim to educate people about the need for tolerance in society and to help them understand the negative effects of intolerance.
Tolerance meaning according to the theme:
- The Declaration qualifies tolerance not only as a moral duty, but also as a political and legal requirement for individuals, groups and States.
- Tolerance is neither indulgence nor indifference. It is respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human.
Ways to counter intolerance specified by UN:
1. Fighting intolerance requires law.
2. Fighting intolerance requires education.
3. Fighting intolerance requires access to information.
4. Fighting intolerance requires individual awareness.
5. Fighting intolerance requires local solutions.

Shri Prakash Javadekar has become the first Union Minister to have a bountiful view of Amur Falcons that arrived in Doyang Lake area in Nagaland.The two falcons - named Naga and Pangti – tagged in 2013 have already done two rounds from Mongolia to South Africa via Nagaland and have again returned to Nagaland this year. Amur falcons, weigh just 150 grams, cover 5, 600 kms, flying non-stop in five days from Mongolia, to arrive in Nagaland. 
Amur falcons are the longest travelling raptors in the world and come to Doyang every year in millions. Until recently, Naga tribesmen used to hunt thousands of Amur falcons for meat. But last year, after a vigorous campaign by wildlife activists, they pledged to protect the bird and since then, not a single bird has been hunted in the area. 

India and Bangladesh signed the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for operationalising the 'Agreement on Coastal Shipping' ,signed in june this year.
Advantages of  the Agreement:
1) The opening of coastal shipping between India and Bangladesh would enable the movement of cargo to the North East through coastal shipping pto Chittagong and thereafter by road/inland waterways.
2) The deep draft ports on the eastern coast of India can be ‘hub ports’ for the onward transportation of cargo to Bangladesh via the coastal mode through RSV category of vessels.
3) The Indian ports will attract enhanced cargo and also the overall transportation cost to Bangladesh will get reduced.
4) The Indian ports serving as trans- shipment ports for Bangladesh cargo will derive benefits by way of enhanced throughput as a result of Indo-Bangladesh coastal trade.