Current affairs : October 29, 2016 for all competitive exams
Range of BrahMos to be doubled
India and Russia have agreed to double the range of the BrahMos supersonic
cruise missile that the two produce together. This follows India’s recent
accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
- Extending the range will significantly enhance the stand-off capability and the operational radius in striking targets. Combined with its speed and accuracy it will be a major force multiplier.
Himachal Pradesh declared as
Open Defecation Free State:
The State of Himachal Pradesh has been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF).
HP is the second State in the country (after Sikkim) to achieve the feat.
- With this, Himachal Pradesh has successfully achieved a total rural sanitation coverage of 100% in the State, with all 12 out of 12 districts in the State being both, declared as well as verified, as ODF.
Odisha Govt. comes up with a
new scheme to provide legal assistance to deprived sections
The Odisha government has
come up with a new scheme to provide legal assistance to the deprived sections
of the society at the grassroots level in all its 6,812 gram panchayats across
the state.
- The scheme named after great Odia lawyer, 'Madhubabu
Aain Sahayata Sibir’ will offer legal services once a week.
- The advocate engaged for the legal assistance cell will be paid an amount of 500 rupees fee per sitting to provide free legal advice to the people. Government hopes the system would help in reducing number of litigations in the courts.
India ranks poorly in
Commonwealth youth index
India has ranked very poorly
at 133 in a new Global Youth Development Index compiled by the Commonwealth
Secretariat on the countries' prospects for young people in employment,
education, health, civic and political spheres.
- India ranked 133rd in the index covering 183 nations, below neighbouring countries like Nepal (77), Bhutan (69) and Sri Lanka (31) and trailing behind the South Asian average.
IIID to conduct 'Design Yatra'
in Kozhikode
India's first 'Design Yatra'
will be conducted in Kerala's Kozhikode city between October 29-31, during
which competitions, heritage walk, talks and interaction with students will be
conducted.
- Launched by Institute of Indian Interior Designer in February this year, the yatra is aimed at spreading awareness and taking designs to the masses and is scheduled to travel to 29 Indian cities.
Bangladesh introduces
temporary ban on catching Hilsa Fish
Bangladesh has arrested more
than 900 fishermen and deployed the army to patrol its waterways after
introducing a temporary ban on catching hilsa in an effort to save the hugely
popular fish.
- Some 60 percent of the world's hilsa are caught in Bangladesh, but indiscriminate fishing has depleted much of the stock, driving up prices and putting the fish beyond the reach of the poor.
Ross Sea in Antarctica an
official Marine Protected Area
Twenty-four nations and the European Union have agreed unanimously to
declare the Ross Sea in Antarctica an official Marine Protected Area after
negotiations brokered by the UN’s Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic
Marine Living Resources. With this, some 1.57m sq km (600,000 sq miles) of the
Southern Ocean will gain protection from commercial fishing for 35 years.
- The Ross Sea is one of the last intact marine ecosystems in the world, home to penguins, seals, Antarctic toothfish, and whales. It is seen as critical for scientists to study how marine ecosystems function and to understand the impacts of climate change on the ocean.
India Wins Its First Ever
International Medal in Roller Skating at Asian Championships
The team of Indian Roller
Skaters claimed their first ever International medal in the sport.
- Vikram Ingale, Nikhilesh Tabhane and Dhanush Babu have won India’s first ever senior international roller skating medal, by securing the bronze medal in the 3000m team relay event in Lishui, People's Republic of China.
