Current affairs : November 21, 2016 for all competitive exams
PM Launches “Housing for All” in Rural Areas
Prime Minister Shri Narendra has formally launched “Housing for All” in
rural areas under which the Government proposes to provide an environmentally
safe and secure pucca house to every rural household by 2022.
- Named the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Gramin), in
its first phase the target is to complete one crore houses by March 2019.
- The unit cost for these houses has been significantly increased and now through convergence a minimum support of nearly Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 1.6 lakh to a household is available. There is also a provision of Bank loan upto Rs. 70,000/-, if the beneficiary so desires.
47th International Film
Festival of India begins in Goa
The 47th International Film
Festival of India (IFFI), considered to be Asia's oldest film festival, began in
Goa on Nov 20, 2016.
- The Republic of Korea is the focus country of IFFI
2016.
- Legendary singer S P bala subrahmanyam was honoured with 'Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the year' at the opening ceremony of the 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
SCR bags best
team award
The South Central Railway
(SCR) has bagged the ‘Best Team of Rail Vikas Shivir Award’ at the three-day
Rail Vikas Shivir (a brainstorming exercise of Indian Railways) held at
Surajkund in New Delhi.
- The theme presentation of the SCR on ‘Creating 3X (Three Times) Bigger Indian Railway that is Economically Viable’ focussed on conversion of existing goods sheds to outsourced goods sheds which would lead to a multiple positive impact, financially enabling substantial gains to the Indian Railways, besides increasing service reliability and satisfaction.
AIMPLB to form
women’s wing
The All India Muslim
Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has, for the first time, decided to form a women’s
wing to expand social reform activities among Muslim women.
- The Board has also decided to launch an all-India
Muslim women helpline to provide guidance to them on family issues. A
toll-free call centre in Urdu, English and eight other regional languages
will be set up
- The women’s wing would also deal with issues such as family disputes and education
RBI proposes ‘Islamic window’ in banks
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed the opening of “Islamic
window” in conventional banks for “gradual” introduction of Sharia-compliant or
interest-free banking in the country.
- Islamic or Sharia banking is a finance system based on the principles of not charging interest. The charging of interest is prohibited under Islam.
NASA Weather Satellite Promises ‘Huge Leap’ in Forecasts
NASA has successfully launched for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) the first in a series of highly advanced geostationary
weather satellites. The satellite is known as Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R).
- After it reaches its final designated orbit in the
next two weeks, GOES-R will be renamed GOES-16.
- It was launched on board of Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
China launches world’s longest quantum communication line
China has launched a 712-km quantum communication line, stated to be the
world’s longest secure telecommunications network, which boasts of ultra-high
security making it impossible to wiretap, intercept or crack the information
transmitted through them.
- The new quantum communication line links Hefei,
capital of Anhui province, to Shanghai, the country’s financial hub.
- It is part of a 2,000-km quantum communication line connecting Beijing and Shanghai. The 712-km line has 11 stations and it took three years of construction.
Al Nahyan conferred with
prestigious Mother Teresa International Award
Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al
Nahyan was awarded the prestigious Mother Teresa International Award by the
Mumbai-based NGO Harmony Foundation.
- Shaikh Abdullah, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, was conferred with the award for his contribution in promoting peace and stability in the West Asia.
Sindhu wins
maiden Super Series Premier title
Olympic silver medallist P.
V. Sindhu clinched her maiden Super Series Premier title after edging out Sun
Yu of China in the finals of the $700,000 China Open badminton tournament.
- Sindhu lifted the prestigious title after beating Sun 21-11, 17-21, 21-11 in the summit clash that lasted an hour and nine minutes.
HCA passes
resolution to adopt Lodha recommendations
The Hyderabad Cricket
Association at its Special General Meeting passed a resolution
adopting the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha
committee.
- HCA president Arshad Ayub read out the one-line resolution suggesting that the association accept the Lodha recommendations and asking whether all members were in agreement.
