Daily Current affairs - November 11th 2017 for all competitive exams
National Education Day is celebrated in India on November 11 commemorating the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
- The Indian scholar served as the first education minister of independent India from 1947 to 1958.
- Every year various competitions, workshops, and events are held in educational institutions highlighting the day’s importance.
- On September 11, 2008, The Ministry of Human Resource Development had announced the day will be celebrated as National Education Day.
GST Council slashes tax rates on 177 items from 28% to 18%:
23rd meeting in Guwahati, chaired by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the Council also staggered the return filing process, reduced the tax rates on restaurants and expanded the Composition Scheme for small firms.
- The Council decided to reduce the tax rate on 178 of current 228 items from 28% to 18%, with effect from November 15%, leaving only 50 items in the highest tax slab.
- The GST on granite, marble, and detergents has also been reduced to 18% from the earlier 28%.
- Items with tax rates reduced to nil from 5% include guar meal, sweet potatoes, and dried or frozen fish.
- All restaurants will be taxed at 5%, except those in hotels with a tariff of Rs. 7,500 or more, which will be taxed at 18% with input tax credit. Outdoor catering will be taxed at 18% with ITC.
Full information on - GST Coucil
Government approves creation of National Testing Agency.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared a proposal for creation of a National Testing Agency (NTA).
- Except the Board exams, the CBSE will be relieved of entrance tests like the Joint Engineering Entrance (JEE), NEET, UGC’s National Eligibility Test, Central Teacher Eligibility Test and entrance test for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.
- The NTA will be created as a society registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860, and as an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organization.
- NTA will be chaired by an educationist appointed by Human Resources Development Ministry, the CEO will be the Director General, who will be appointed by the government and Board of Governors with members from user institutions.
Cabinet gives nod for expo centre
The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to develop an Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (ECC) in the national capital at an estimated cost of Rs. 25,703 crore by 2025.
- Once fully operational, the Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre at Dwarka is expected to bring New Delhi in the league of Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore in the area of exhibition market, an official statement said, adding that currently India lacked an integrated world class facility which can meet the requirements of global ECC operators.
- The project is estimated to generate more than five lakh jobs.
Cabinet approved MoU between India and Philippines on agriculture and related fields
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Philippines in the field of agriculture and related fields.
- The MoU will improve bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture and will be mutually beneficial to both countries.
- It will promote understanding of best agricultural practices in the two countries and will help in better productivity as well as improved global market access.
- The MoU provides for constitution of Joint Working Group composed of equal number of representatives. The Joint Working Group shall meet once every two years alternatively in the Philippines and India.
Philippines:
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Capital – Manila
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Currency – Philippine Piso
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President - Rodrigo Roa Duterte
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Telangana government declares Urdu as second official language:
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao declared Urdu as the state’s second official language.
- Every office in the state will now have an Urdu speaking officer.
Arunachal Pradesh government honours singer Bhupen Hazarika with a 10-foot statue:
The Arunachal Pradesh government has erected a statue of legendary music composer and singer Bhupen Hazarika at Bolung village in Dibang Valley district of the State.
- The ten-foot bronze statue, sculpted by Biren Singh of Guwahati, was erected in the village this year.
- It would be formally unveiled in the early part of 2018.
HC seeks details on steps for education of kids with disabilities
The Rajasthan High Court has asked the State government about steps taken for education and skill development of children with disabilities as well as the action for promoting avenues for their self-employment after completion of education. The court drew the government's attention to legal provisions for “inclusive education”.
- The PIL, moved by Bhiyaram Meghwal, father of a child with disability, said the State government was not taking adequate steps to have a system of teaching and learning suitably to meet the needs of different types of students with disabilities. The law provides for appointment of teachers with special training to teach such students.
- The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, contains a chapter with directions for specific measures to promote and facilitate inclusive education. The Bench, comprising Justices Govind Mathur and V.K. Mathur, said the government was supposed to appoint special teachers even under the previous Act of 1995.
Odisha and West Bengal to organize joint security exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’.
The governments of Odisha and West Bengal will organize a joint security exercise called ‘Sagar Kavach’ to tighten the coastal security along their 630 km long coastline.
- “Sagar Kavach” exercise is a drill to check the efficiency and preparedness of various security forces like the Indian Navy, Marine police force, Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Forest Department, Fisheries and district administration.
- Personnel from the Indian Navy, Coast Guard at Paradip and Haldia, 18 marine police stations in Odisha and 12 police stations of West Bengal will be participating in the exercise.
India to face U.K. in ICJ election
The government is putting “all efforts in” to ensure the election of its nominee Judge Dalveer Bhandari for the International Court of Justice.
- India failed to secure enough support in the first few rounds of voting for the court where the Kulbhushan Jadhav case is being heard.
- The next round of voting will be on Monday, when Mr. Bhandari will face off with the United Kingdom’s candidate, Christopher Greenwood
- To be elected, any candidate must obtain a majority of 97 votes or more in the UN General Assembly and also a majority of eight votes in the Security Council. During the last unsuccessful round on Friday, India won 115 to U.K.’s 74 votes in the UNGA, but won only six out of 15 U.N. Security Council members, while U.K. won nine. India’s task is made more difficult, given the U.K. is a permanent member and has a vote in both the UNSC and the UNGA.
South Korea and United States conducts joint naval drill.
South Korean warships joined US aircraft carriers in a strong display of naval force aimed at North Korea.
- The four-day joint exercise in the Pacific Ocean involves three flattops — USS Ronald Reagan, USS Nimitz and USS Theodore Roosevelt and seven South Korean warships including three destroyers.
- It is the first such triple-carrier drill in the region in a decade.
- The exercise was aimed at enhancing deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
South Korea
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USA
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Capital
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Seoul
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Washington DC
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Currency
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South Korean won
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US dollar
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President
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Moon Jae-in
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Trump
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Senior citizens of more than 70 years of age get doorstep banking by December 31:
Senior citizens of more than 70 years of age and the differently-abled can look forward to availing of basic banking services, right from the comfort of their home.
- The RBI asked banks to provide doorstep banking facilities to senior citizens of more than 70 years of age and differently-abled persons by December this year.
- Banks have been directed that senior citizens and specially-abled persons, including the visually-impaired, should be provided basic services like pick-up and delivery of cash, cheque books and demand drafts at their residence.
UNESCO appoints its second woman Director-General:
UNESCO member states appointed former French Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay as the new Director-General of the cultural agency.
- Audrey Azoulay, 45, became UNESCO’s second woman director general.
- She will succeed Irina Bokova, who was UNESCO’s first woman director and whose second term expires this month.
- Azoulay narrowly defeated Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari of Qatar, also a former culture minister, in last month’s election.
- She will take office on November 15.
UNESCO is responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication. It strengthens the ties between nations and societies, and mobilizes the wider public. Head Quarter- Paris
Debjani to be first woman Nasscom head
The National Association of Software and Services Companies named Debjani Ghosh as its president-designate.
- She will succeed R. Chandrashekhar after the completion of his tenure in March. The former MD of Intel South Asia will be the first woman president of Nasscom.She has been a member of Nasscom’s Executive Council and a trustee of Nasscom Foundation.
The National Association of Software and Services Companies is a trade association of Indian Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing industry. Established in 1988, NASSCOM is a non-profit organisation
Majid Majidi’s film to open IFFI
Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi will present his film Beyond the Clouds on the opening day of this year’s International Film Festival of India (IFFI) that will be begin in Goa on November 20.
- Beyond The Clouds will have its India premiere at the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
- Beyond the Clouds is an extension of Majidi’s cinematic beliefs, the roots of which lie in human values, love, friendship and family bonding.
- IFFI, which closes on November 28, bears the theme ‘Celebrating the Future of Cinema’ — bringing before youngsters the best minds of the cinematic world.
The International Film Festival of India (IFFI), founded in 1952, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. Held annually, currently in the state of Goa, on the western coast of the country, the festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excellence of the film art; contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos; and promoting friendship and cooperation among people of the world.
Cricketer Gautam Gambhir named government nominee in DDCA managing committee:
Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir was named a government nominee in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) managing committee.
- The 36-year-old Gambhir has played 58 Tests, 147 ODIs and 37 Twenty20 Internationals.
- He has been the top scorer in finals of two World Cups (2007 T20 and 2011 50-over) that India won.
Former India cricketer AG Milkha Singh passed away:
Former India cricketer AG Milkha Singh passed away.
- Milkha Singh played four Test matches in the early 60s. His elder brother Kripal Singh, also played for the country, in 14 Tests. They played together in one Test against England in 1961-’62.
Federer sweeps ATP World Tour awards
World No.2 Roger Federer walked away with three honours, including the Stefan Edberg sportsmanship award, at the ATP World Tour Awards ceremony at the London Tower.
- In addition to being named the winner of the Stefan Edberg sportsmanship award, the Swiss tennis maestro also scooped ATP fans’ favourite for a 15th straight year as well as voted by fellow players as the Comeback Player of the Year.
