Current affairs : November 23, 2016 for all competitive exams
India becomes Associate Member of CERN, Geneva
India and European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) have signed an
agreement making India an Associate Member State of CERN. This follows CERN
Council’s adoption of the resolution to this effect in September 2016.
- In recognition of most significant contributions, in
2003, India was awarded the Observer status of CERN, and subsequently
invited to join CERN as an Associate Member. Last year, the Indian Cabinet
gave its approval following which the CERN Council has accepted India as
an Associate member.
- As an Associate Member of CERN, India will be a part
of the huge scientific and technological endeavor.
Centre plans crop insurance scheme for small tea growers
The Centre is planning to roll out a crop insurance scheme for small tea
growers. Initially, a pilot will be run in three regions in Assam, West Bengal
and Tamil Nadu for one crop-cycle spread over two years commencing 2016-17.
- The Tea Board would be the nodal agency for the scheme and the cost will be shared between the Centre, the state governments and the growers in the ratio of 75:15:10.
Centre
re-constitutes advisory board on minimum wages
The Union Government has
re-constituted the Central Advisory Board on Minimum Wages under the Minimum
Wages Act, 1948, by appointing a Hyderabad-based ‘professional’ B. Janardhan
Reddy as its Chairperson.
- It is a crucial appointment, particularly after the Supreme Court in the last week of October gave a ruling that brought relief to lakhs of contract employees working in government departments and agencies.
Switzerland to Share
Information on Indians Holding Swiss Bank Accounts From 2018
In a big step towards
fighting black money stashed overseas, Switzerland has agreed to automatic
sharing of information with India on Swiss bank accounts of Indians as of
September 2018 and onwards.
- The Joint Declaration was inked by Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes Sushil Chandra and Deputy Chief of Mission of Swiss Embassy in India, Gilles Roduit.
Govt asks NABARD to disburse
Rs 21,000 crore to farmers
The Government has
allowed NABARD to disburse Rs 21,000 crore to cash-starved farmers, helping
them sow winter crops like wheat ahead of the sowing season, Economic Affairs
Secretary Shaktikanta.
- The government’s demonetisation move, which swept away 86% of currency in circulation, has badly hit farmers leaving them without cash just ahead of the sowing season.
Free
Wi-fi on TSRTC metro luxury buses
Airtel has announced the
launch of free wi-fi for commuters of the metro luxury buses being run by the
State-run TSRTC from Nov 22 onwards.
- The service is being launched in 115 buses operating
between several routes across the city on a pilot basis for about six
months.
- Commuters can use up to 20 minutes per day and Airtel is said to be offering the 4G network to access the content. After free usage, commuters can also buy data packs starting from Rs.25 giving 100 MB benefit.
Kerala
resolution seeks justice for cooperatives
The Kerala Assembly passed a
resolution asking the Centre to ensure equal justice for all cooperative
institutions in the State without any discrimination in accepting demonetised
high-value currency notes as deposits and exchanging them for new legal tender
on the same conditions applicable to commercial banks
- The resolution, in the form of a substantive motion under Rule 275 of the Assembly Rules of Procedure, was moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The treasury and Opposition benches both supported the motion.
‘India’s wealth rises, as does disparity’
According to a report on Global Wealth by Credit Suisse, the total quantum
of wealth is rising in India but so is the disparity between those who have
wealth and those deprived of it.
- Wealth in India in local currency terms increased
5.1% in 2016 but due to adverse currency exchange movements, India’s
household wealth fell by 0.8% to $3 trillion in dollar terms.
- The annual growth of wealth per adult in rupees has averaged 6 per cent between 2000 and 2016.
Agni-I missile test-fired
The strategic missile, Agni-I, was recently test-fired from the Wheeler
Island, off Damra village on the Odisha coast. The Strategic Forces Command
(SFC) fired the missile positioned on a massive truck called a road-mobile
launcher.
- Agni-I is a 12 tonne, 15 metre long, 700km range
missile.
- It has a specialised navigation system called Ring Laser Gyro- INS to ensure high degree of accuracy to hit the target.
5th International Tourism Mart:
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in association with the North
Eastern States and West Bengal is organising the “International Tourism Mart”
in Imphal, Manipur from 23rd – 25th November, 2016.
- This is the 5th International Tourism Mart. It is an annual event organised in the North Eastern region with the objective of highlighting the tourism potential of the region in the domestic and international markets.
China agrees to
import rice from 17 mills in India
In a major breakthrough that
New Delhi had been waiting for, China has agreed to import rice, non-basmati
and basmati varieties, from 17 registered mills in India, following efforts to
ensure market access for Indian products in that country.
- China is the world’s largest rice importer. However, Beijing had so far not granted market access to India’s non-basmati rice claiming that the item had failed to meet Chinese norms on quality, health and safety.
Bangladesh shuts
border to Rohingya refugees
Bangladesh, which shares a
168-km border with Myanmar, has refused to accept more Rohingya refugees
following a military crackdown in the Rakhine State of the neighbouring
country.
- The crackdown began after nine border police
personnel were killed by “insurgents” at three outposts in Rakhine on
October 9.
- Rakhine has an estimated one million Rohingya population who are seen by the Budhist majority as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
Big Bazaar
offers cash withdrawal
Big Bazaar, a supermarket
chain, announced that customers can withdraw cash up to Rs. 2,000 using debit
cards at its stores from Thursday.
- In a statement, the firm said 258 Big Bazaar and fbb
stores in over 115 cities and towns would allow the withdrawal. The State
Bank of India is providing cash to Big Bazaar to pay customers who swipe
at its point-of-sales machines.
RBI increases
e-wallet spend limit to Rs. 20,000
Digital wallet companies
welcomed the RBI’s decision to increase the limits on mobile wallets spend to
Rs. 20,000 for users and to Rs. 50,000 for merchant bank transfers in view of
the cash crunch following the demonetisation of high-value currency.
- The limit of semi-closed Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) that can be issued has now been enhanced from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.
Sebi officials to chair IOSCO
panels
Two officials of the
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), Parmod Kumar Nagpal and Amarjeet
Singh are elected as chairpersons of two committees set up by IOSCO
(International Organisation of Securities Commissions) announced by IOSCO’s
Asia-Pacific Regional Committee chairman by Mr. Ashley Ian
Alder.
- Nagpal would chair the Committee on Issuer Accounting, Audit and Disclosure while Singh would be the chairperson of the Assessment Committee (AC).
Airtel Payments Bank starts
pilot services in Rajasthan
Airtel Payments Bank Ltd
(Airtel Bank), a subsidiary of the country’s largest telecom operator Bharti
Airtel, has rolled out a pilot of its banking services in Rajasthan.
- Customers in towns and villages across Rajasthan will now be able to open bank accounts at Airtel retail outlets, which will also act as Airtel banking points and offer a range of basic, convenient banking services.
Barack Obama awards his last
Presidential Medals of Freedom
U.S. President Barack Obama
has bestowed the nation's highest civilian honour for the last time as
president.
- The awards have honour the work of Americans ranging from global philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates to legendary athletes, artists, activists, scientists and others.
Thai Princess Sirindhorn to be
conferred first 'World Sanskrit Award'
Maha Chakri Sirindhorn,
Princess of Thailand, on 21 November 2016 was conferred with the first World
Sanskrit Award.
- She was honoured for her exemplary
contribution for the promotion of Sanskrit language for the year
2015.
- On the other hand, American linguist and Indologist Professor George Cardona was also honoured with the award for the year 2016. Princess Sirindhorn and Professor Cardona were bestowed with the award by Vice President Hamid Ansari at a function held in New Delhi.
Indian journalist gets
International Press Freedom Award
Indian Journalist Malini
Subramaniam has been conferred with the International Press Freedom Award for
her reporting from Chhattisgarh's Naxal-infested Bastar area.
- She is one of the four journalists felicitated for
their commitment to a free press.
- Subramaniam, a contributor to 'Scroll', has reported on abuses by security forces, sexual violence, jailing of minors and other issues in the region.
Zydus Cadila CMD Pankaj Patel
becomes new FICCI president
Pankaj R Patel, chairman
& managing director of Cadila Healthcare Ltd (Zydus Cadila) has been
elected as the new President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce
& Industry (FICCI) for the year 2017.
- Patel will take over from Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group, during the FICCI AGM to be held on December 16 and 17, 2016 in New Delhi.
Acclaimed physicist and
ex-ISRO chief Prof MGK Menon dies at 88
Acclaimed physicist and
ex-Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Prof MGK Menon
passed away on 22nd November, aged 88 years.
- A recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, Menon had also
served as Director of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research at the
age of 35.
Padma Vibhushan awardee
musician M Balamuralikrishna dies
Padma Vibhushan awardee
musician M Balamuralikrishna, aged 86, passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- He started learning music at the age of three and
has composed over 400 songs in different languages including Sanskrit,
Kannada and Tamil.
- Balamuralikrishna received several awards including the Padma Shri and Knights of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government.
Renowned Hindi & Bhojpuri
writer Dr. Viveki Rai passes away
Dr Viveki Rai, the renowned
Hindi and Bhojpuri litterateur, died on 22 November 2016 in Varanasi, Uttar
Pradesh.
- His works mainly depict the rural life of India. His
first story was published in 1945 in the then-popular newspaper Aaj.
- He also wrote several articles and columns in magazines and news papers too.
