GK and Current Affairs Updates

Agni-IV was successfully launched from the Wheeler island of Odisha coast. Its Success report was given by DRDO.
Agni-IV
1. It is nuclear capable strategic ballastic missile capable of hitting a target at a distance of 4000 km.
2. It is indigenously developed Surface to surface missile.
3. The most accurate ring laser gyro-based navigation system(RINS) and supported by highly reliable reductant micro navigation system(MINGS), ensures the vehicle reaches the target within two-digit accuracy.

Jorge Lorenzo won Third championship of his career by winning the seventh season the the race at the Spanish MtoGP in Valenica .This is his third MotoGP title after winning the Valenica Grand Prix.
Jorge Lorenzo:
1. He is a professional Spanish motorcycle road racer.
2. Achievements: 2006 and 2007 250cc World Champion 2010, 2012 and 2015 MotoGP World Champion.

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the passing away of Air Chief Marshal Om Prakash Mehra, former Chief of Air Staff. 
About Om Prakash Mehra:
1. He led the Indian Air Force with distinction for more than three decades. 
2. he was honoured with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 1968. 
3. He was honoured by the nation with a Padma Vibhushan in 1977 for his service to the Indian Force.
4. He flew a very wide variety of aircrafts including Tiger Moth and finally the Jaguar (in UK) and the MiG-21.

Bihar people choose not to vote any in candidate i8n the state assembly election by voting in favour of NOTA.
None Of The Above(NOTA): 
1. It was introduced by the Election Commission of India.
2. Aim: To increase the voters by giving them option to not to vote any candidate to exercise their right without violation of the secrecy of their decision.
3. Benefits: This incentive will increase the people's participation the democracy.   It will put pressure on the party to choose the candidate with strong character.This can be the begining of transparent politics.

Mr Modi's message to legal fraternity is Sabka nyay is as important as sabka vikaas.This was in context of Lok Adalats.He said that Lok Adalats have become a means for people to access justice that is timely and satisfactory.He also suggested that rendering free legal aid to poor could become a criterion in selection of judges.  
Lok Adalats: It is the people's court as 'Lok' stands for People and 'Adalat' stands for court.the Lok Adalats can settle disputes only on the basis of compromise or settlement among The parties. If the parties do not arrive at a settlement, the case is either returned to the court of law or the parties are advised to seek remedy in a court of law.
Benefits:
1. no court fee
2. there is no strict application of the procedural laws.
3. disputes can be brought before the Lok Adalat directly instead of going to a regular court first.
4. Decision is binding on the applicants and they can't apply in other court. Thus,it lessens the delay in the settlement.
Legal Service Day: It is celebrated every year on 9th november.
- It was started by the Supreme court in the year of 1995.
- Aim:to offer the free of charge, proficient and legal services to the people of weaker sections of society.

Mr Modi's government will replace older parameters of Twenty Point Programe by NDA government initiatives.Some signature projects are Swachh Bharat Mission and Housing for All.The government will now replace parameters like number of seedlings planted and food security with performance of states under Swachh Bharat Mission and Housing for All initiative. Officials said the government would also include Sustainable Development Goals as parameters of Twenty Point Programme. The new parameters will include zero hunger, provision of clean water. 
The revamped programme should include an improved tracking system so that assessments are done both nationally and state- 1.wise to allow for better monitoring. 
Twenty Point Programme-The programme, launched by Gandhi in 1975, was restructured in 1982, 1986 and 2006 with addition of newer parameters. 2.-The Development & Planning Department is the Nodal Department for monitoring
the Prime Minister’s 20-Point Programme (TPP).
-List of 20 Points
1. Poverty Eradication
2. Power to People
3. Support to Farmers
4. Labour Welfare
5. Food Security
6. Housing for All
7. Clean Drinking Water
8. Health for All
9. Education for All
10. Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Minorities and OBCs
11. Women Welfare
12. Child Welfare
13. Youth Development
14. Improvement of Slums
15. Environment Protection and Afforestation
16. Social Security
17. Rural Roads
18. Energisation of Rural Area
19. Development of backward Areas
20. IT Enabled e-Governance

India will host a first-ever joint disaster management exercise with SAARC nations between November 23 and 26.This is called the South Asian Annual Disaster Management Exercise ( SAADMEx) due to the participation of personnels fromBangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and India.The NDRF is the nodal agency which will host the delegates and conduct joint field exercises 
Objectives of the excercise:
1. to learn best practices and skills in urban search and rescue operations. 
2. to build interoperability among SAARC member countries to undertake joint disaster response operations in cooperation with each other in these nations which are prone to natural disasters.
3. It will test the preparedness of the specialised rescue and relief workers of these nations.

China for the first time has replaced Canada and becomes the largest partner of the US.Reason for decline of Canada's exports:Crude oil is among main exports of Canada and due to a slump in oil prices which in turn reduced the value of Canadian exports.
China's export to US: mainly comprise of computer products, toys, home appliances, footwear, audio visual equipment, electronic components and plastic products. 
US exports to China: soybeans, aircraft, autos, waste and scrap, semiconductors, measuring instruments, communication equipment and meat and poultry. 

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released the book named "From Fishing Hamlet to Red Planet" to celebrate the second anniversary of Mars Orbitor Mission.
Mars Orbitor Mission
1. Marking India's first venture into the interplanetary space.
2. Following are the major objectives of the mission: 
A. Technological Objectives:
Design and realisation of a Mars orbiter with a capability to survive and perform Earth bound manoeuvres, cruise phase of 300 days, Mars orbit insertion / capture, and on-orbit phase around Mars. Deep space communication, navigation, mission planning and management.Incorporate autonomous features to handle contingency situations.
B. Scientific Objectives:
Exploration of Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and Martian atmosphere by indigenous scientific instruments.
3. Five payloads:Mars

a Colour Camera (MCC)
b.    Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS)
c.    Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM)
d.    Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA)
e.    Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP)

A new programme called SATYAM-“Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation” has been launched.
Its objective: to harness knowledge obtained in academic institutions and other related agencies for finding Science & Technology -led solutions that would enable us to cope with stress and strain associated with fast changing social, economic, environmental and professional circumstances.
The programme will encourage research in two major thematic areas: 
(1) investigations on the effect of Yoga and meditation on physical and mental health, and 
(2) investigations on the effect of Yoga & meditation on the body, brain and mind in terms of basic processes occurring therein.