Daily Current affairs - October 15th and 16th, 2017 for all competitive exams
The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15th October 2008.
- This new international day, recognizes “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.”
- Globally, women comprise 43 percent of the agricultural workforce and play a critical role in supporting the household and community food security.
- 2017 Theme: “Challenges and opportunities in climate-resilient agriculture for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls"
16th October: World Food Day
FAO celebrates World Food Day each year on 16 October to commemorate the founding of the Organization in 1945.
- The Theme for World Food Day 2017 is "Change the future of migration. Invest in food security and rural development".
- World Food Day is a chance to show our commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 – to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030.
- It’s also a day for us to celebrate the progress we have already made towards reaching #ZeroHunger.
Gold bond set at Rs. 2,987 per gram
The government fixed the purchase price of Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) at Rs. 2,987 per gram, the subscription for which will open on October 16, a few days before Dhanteras festival.
- Dhanteras is considered auspicious for buying gold and jewellery.
GoM on Composition Scheme holds First Meeting in New Delhi
Within a week of being set up, the group of ministers (GoM) on making the GST composition scheme more attractive held its first meeting in New Delhi.
- The 5-member GoM, led by Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has also been tasked to revisit Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates for restaurants.
Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) Act 2016 brought into force
A new Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) Act 2016 which was notified on 22nd March, 2016, has been brought into force with effect from 12th October, 2017. Parliament had in March 2016 passed the law to replace the BIS Act of 1986.
- The Act establishes the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as the National Standards Body of India.
- The Act has enabling provisions for the Government to bring under compulsory certification regime any goods or article of any scheduled industry, process, system or service which it considers necessary in the public interest or for the protection of human, animal or plant health, safety of the environment, or prevention of unfair trade practices, or national security.
- Enabling provisions have also been made for making hallmarking of the precious metal articles mandatory.
- The new Act also allows multiple type of simplified conformity assessment schemes including self-declaration of conformity against a standard which will give simplified options to manufacturers to adhere to the standards and get certificate of conformity.
Ministry nod for Konkan Railway expansion
The Ministry of Railways has given its in-principle approval for major capacity augmentation of Konkan Railway at an approximate cost of Rs. 4,980 crore, and the proposal is in the process of sanction.
- The Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) achieved a net profit of Rs. 61 crore for 2016-17, and has registered a growth of 69% in the annual turnover over last three years
2017 is Bengaluru’s all-time wettest year
According to India Meteorological Department data, Bengaluru galloped to an all-time record for the wettest year.
- By October 14 evening, the city had witnessed 1,621.6 mm of rainfall this year, surpassing the current all-time record of around 1,600 mm in 2005
Karnataka needs its own flag
Chief minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah has once again invoked Kannada pride, saying the government is firm on Karnataka having a state flag.
- In S.R. Bommai v/s Union of India (Supreme Court 1994) case, the Supreme Court has declared that federalism is a basic feature of the Constitution and States are supreme in their sphere. This being the Constitutional position, there is no prohibition in the Constitution for the State to have its own flag.
- However, the manner in which the State flag is hoisted should not dishonour the national flag.
Rajasthan Assembly First in India to Call Motions Online
Going digital, the Rajasthan assembly has become the first in India to call attention and adjournment motions and proposals online from legislators to send them to the state government.
- Speaker Kailash Meghwal has inaugurated the new system by sending a call for an attention motion to the state government with a click of the mouse.
- The system is expected to save time, labour and use of paper in the functioning of the assembly, and also help legislators in bringing attention to urgent public issues.
India starts on implementation of motor pact
India has embarked on the implementation of the BBIN motor pact with Bangladesh and Nepal.
- India in June 2015 had signed the major sub-regional transport project, Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA), for the seamless transit of passenger and cargo vehicles among them. However, Bhutan could not get public and parliamentary support for it.
- However, Bhutan has suggested that Bangladesh, India and Nepal may consider the implementation of the MVA.
Bangladesh Chief Justice leaves country on long leave
Bangladesh Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha has gone abroad amid a tug of war over a constitutional amendment verdict, which has withdrawn Parliament’s authority to impeach judges of the higher judiciary in case of incapacity and misconduct.
- Justice Sinha, whose tenure would end on January 31 next year, is the lone chief justice who faced such a public scrutiny and criticism while in office.
Italy open to Gerosa’s extradition
Italian authorities have informed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that the agency can initiate a request to extradite Carlos Gerosa, an alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, within two months.
- The issue is expected to be taken up during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in the next few weeks.
Austrian Sebastian Kurz poised to become Europe's first millennial leader
At age 31, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz is poised to become the first millennial to lead a European country following his party’s victory in a national election
- While no party won a majority, the telegenic Mr. Kurz is most likely to be sworn in as Austria’s next Chancellor and Europe’s youngest leader after the tough coalition government negotiations that lie ahead.
- After a Social Democratic-People’s Party coalition was formed four years ago, Mr. Kurz, then 27, became Austria’s Foreign Minister — the youngest top diplomat in Europe.
Vanuatu Becomes First Nation to Accept Bitcoin in Exchange for Citizenship
The South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu has become host to the world’s first government to accept bitcoin in exchange for citizenship.
- Vanuatu’s citizenship program costs $200,000 USD, meaning that at current prices the residency program costs less than 41.5 bitcoins.
IndusInd to acquire Bharat Financial in an all-stock deal
IndusInd Bank and Bharat Financial Inclusion, a microlender , announced they would merge in an all-stock transaction.
- Under the deal, shareholders of Bharat Financial would get 639 shares of IndusInd Bank for every 1,000 held. This is a 12.6% premium over the last two weeks’ volume-weighted average price of Bharat Financial’s shares.
- The assets and liabilities of Bharat Financial would move to IndusInd’s book and the entity would become a subsidiary of the bank, as a business correspondent. Bharat Financial had already been acting as a business correspondent for the bank.
GDP May Grow at 7% in Financial Year 2017-18: NITI Aayog
According to NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar, the economic slowdown that began in 2013-14 has bottomed out and the GDP is likely to grow at 6.9-7 % this fiscal (2017-18) and 7.5% in 2018-19.
- The economic growth slowed to 7.1% in 2016-17, the year in which 87% of the currency was demonetised, despite a very good show by the agricultural sector.
Helen Mirren to receive Chaplin Award
Veteran actor Helen Mirren will receive Film Society of Lincoln Centre’s Chaplin Award.
- The film society will honour the Oscar-winning actor at a gala on April 30.
- The event will celebrate Mirren’s multifaceted career in cinema, which spans over 50 years.
The Coalition Years 1996-2012: Pranab Mukherjee’s Political Autobiography
Former President Pranab Mukherjee has released the third part of his memoir ‘The Coalition Years: 1996-2012’.
- Mukherjee’s memoir is the third in the series. The other two are -- The Dramatic Decade: The Indira Gandhi Years and The Turbulent Years: 1980-1996.
Filmmaker Lekh Tandon passes away
Filmmaker Lekh Tandon passed away due to multiple health issues. He was 88.Mr. Tandon has directed films like Amrapali (1966) and Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye (1977).
- Mr. Tandon is credited with discovering actor Shah Rukh Khan by casting him in his TV serial Dil Dariya in 1988.
Olympian passes away
Olympic swimmer Shamsher Khan, 87, passed away.
- Shamsher was the first swimmer from the country to participate in the Olympics (Melbourne in 1956).
Chess grandmaster Lombardy no more
William J. Lombardy, who was one of the most talented and promising chess players of his generation, winning titles and accolades while he was still a teenager, but who all but gave up the game at the height of his career to become a priest, died.
- Lombardy was the first American to win the World Junior Chess Championship — doing so with a perfect score, a feat that has never been duplicated.
Shakib first from Bangladesh in MCC World Cricket Committee
Premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan became the first cricketer from Bangladesh to be inducted in the MCC World Cricket Committee under the chairmanship of Mike Gatting. Also added to the committee are Suzie Bates, Ian Bishop and Kumar Dharmasena.
- Shakib Al Hasan is regarded as one of Bangladesh's finest players since they were awarded the Test status in 2000, with the all-rounder having played 51 Test matches and 177 one-day internationals.
Roger Federer Cruises to Shanghai Masters Title
Roger Federer has brushed aside world number one Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-3 to win the Shanghai Masters and register his fourth victory of the year over his Spanish rival.
- The Swiss world number two beat Nadal in the finals of the Australian Open and Miami
- Federer, the only man who can still stop Nadal ending the year as number one, took an hour and 12 minutes to claim his sixth title of the year and his second Shanghai crown with a clinical performance.
