28 November 2016 - Current Affairs

26 November: National Milk Day

  • The National Milk Day (NMD) was observed on 26 November is to mark birth anniversary Dr.Verghese Kurien, father of the White Revolution in India.
  • This year it was 95th birth anniversary of Dr.Verghese Kurien and third edition of observance of the day since it was established in 2014.
  • To mark this event, all dairy cooperatives across the country had conducted a mega activation in all markets across the country.
  • In addition, the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets the Amul brand of milk and dairy products printed 150 million milk pouches with the National Milk Day logo featuring Dr. Kurien’s picture with the National Milk Day logo on it.

RBI introduces incremental CRR to manage excess liquidity in banking system

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced an incremental Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) of 100% for fortnight to absorb excess liquidity in the banking system following demonetisation.
  • CRR is the proportion of deposits that banks have to keep as cash with the RBI (or the central bank).
  • Banks do not earn any interest on CRR balances kept with the RBI.
  • Banks have to maintain 100% CRR for incremental deposits they received between September 16, 2016 and November 11, 2016.
  • The incremental CRR requirement will be temporary measure and it is within RBI’s ‘liquidity management framework’.
  • However, overall CRR requirement will stay at 4%. The incremental CRR will be reviewed on December 9, 2016 or even earlier.

Canara Bank, Bajaj Allianz enter into pact

  • Canara Bank, a public sector bank, and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, a private general insurance company, have signed a corporate agency agreement for the distribution of Bajaj Allianz’s general insurance products.
  • Both have set a target to achieve Rs. 400 crore business in the first year (FY 2017-18) of operations by utilising Canara Bank’s 5,920 branch network spread across the country.
  • Rakesh Sharma, MD & CMD, Canara Bank, said under this agreement, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance will offer its products to Canara Bank customers.
  • Sanjiv Bajaj is the Chairman of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.

Govt launches e-Pashuhaat portal to connect farmers and breeders of bovine animals

  • The Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched e-pashuhaat portal to connect farmers and breeders of bovine animals.
  • The portal will act as a single online e-trading market platform, including availability of bovine germplasm.
  • It will enable the farmers to buy bovine animals, frozen semen and embryo.
  • It will connect farmers with breeders- State, Central, Co-operative, Milk Federations, and private agencies.
  • It will provide information related to certification of the animal, breeding, its picture, volume of milk given by the cow etc.
  • It will facilitate farmers to purchase advanced breed of bovine animals at a reasonable price as per as their requirements.

51st Annual DGPs Conference held in Hyderabad

  • The 51st Annual Conference of Directors-General of Police of States was held at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad, Telangana.
  • The three day (from November 25-27, 2016) conference was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
  • It was attended by around 100 DGPs of states, Director Generals of Central paramilitary forces and their Inspectors General.
  • The Conference focused on cross-border terrorism, infiltration and radicalisation of youth into Middle East terrorist groups like ISIS.

Rajasthan Govt to launch Annapurna Rasoi Programme

  • Rajasthan Govt has decided to start Annapurna Rasoi Programme to provide quality meal at cheap and affordable price to people belonging to the weaker section and labourers.
  • The main beneficiary of the scheme will be rickshaw pullers, labourers, auto drivers, students, working women, elders and other weaker section.
  • The food under this programme will be provided at subsidized rates, breakfast at Rs 5 per plate and lunch/dinner at Rs 8 per plate.
  • In the first phase the scheme will be started in 12 districts.
  • They are Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Kota, Bikaner, Bharatpur, Pratapgarh, Dungarpur, Banswara, Baran and Jhalawar.
  • The food will be distributed by 80 mobile vans at locations decided by local self-help agencies in districts. The remaining 21 districts of state will be covered in second phase.

Transgender or third gender option now in railway reservation forms

  • The Railways and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) have included “transgender/third gender” as a gender option alongside males and females in the Railway Ticket Reservation Forms (both online as well offline).
  • The inclusion is in compliance with an April 2014 judgment of the Supreme Court of India in the case of NALSA vs. Union of India.
  • The National Legal Services Authority in its petition had sought several directions from the Supreme Court, including granting of equal rights and protection to transgender persons; inclusion of a third category in recording one’s sex/gender in identity documents like the election card, passport, driving licence and ration card; and for admission in educational institutions, hospitals, among others.

Supreme Court bans sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR

  • The Supreme Court has banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR in an attempt to keep the rising pollution level of the capital and its surrounding areas under check.
  • The order of apex means that any sale, purchase or stocking of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR will be rendered illegal.
  • The ban on firecrackers also links to winter pollution.
  • The Supreme Court ruling also sends a clear message that religious and wedding celebrations take second place to the basic fundamental right to breathe clean air under Article 21.

Amitabh Bachchan’s PINK to have a special screening at United Nations

  • Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s film Pink, which dealt with crime against women, has been invited for a special screening at the United Nations head quarters in New York.
  • Pink, directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, also starred Taapsee Pannu, Andrea Tariang and Kirti Kulhari in lead roles.
  • It was released on September 16.
  • The film was written by Ritesh Shah, the film- a modern Indian courtroom drama- highlights the issue of gender violence.

Union Govt launches AirSewa website and app to track flights, register complaints

  • The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation launched AirSewa website and app to track flights, register complaints to offer people a convenient and hassle-free air travel experience.
  • Both include a mechanism for grievance redressal, back-office operations for grievance handling, flight status and airport information.
  • Passengers can register their grievances through this new service by uploading voice or video along with an elaborate description about their grievances.
  • On reporting grievances passengers will be given a unique reference number for each of their reported grievances via an email and SMS.
  • The users can track the status and response to these grievances through the web portal as well as mobile app based on the reference number provided.

O P Bhatt replaces Cyrus Mistry at Tata Steel helm

  • Tata Steel’s board passed a resolution replacing Cyrus Mistry as chairman and named independent director O.P. Bhatt as interim replacement.
  • Mr. Bhatt, a former State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman, was appointed as an independent director of Tata Steel in June 2013.
  • Six directors supported the resolution while three, including independent director Nusli Wadia, opposed the move.
  • O P Bhatt was elected as the chairman of the company till the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of shareholders on December 21.

Lt. Gen. Qamar Bajwa appointed Pakistan Army chief

  • Lt. Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa was appointed Pakistan’s new army chief (or Chief of Army Staff , COAS). He will succeed Gen. Raheel Sharif who has formally retired from service.
  • He was elevated to the rank of four-star general by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
  • The post of Army chief is the most powerful in Pakistan.
  • The Pakistani army is world’s sixth-largest army by troop numbers.
  • The army has played a prominent role in Pakistan’s politics since its independence in 1947 and so far has staged three coups.

Aditi Ashok wins inaugural Qatar Ladies Open

  • Indian golfer Aditi Ashok won the inaugural Qatar Ladies Open in Doha.
  • With this, she recorded her second straight victory on the Ladies European Tour.
  • Ashok shot a final round of three-under 69 to card a total of 15-under.
  • She finished three strokes ahead of Lydia Hall and Caroline Hedwall.

Sachin Singh wins gold medal at the AIBA Youth World Championships

  • Indian boxer Sachin Singh won the gold medal at the AIBA (International Boxing Association) Youth World Championships in the 49 kg weight class.
  • In the summit clash held at St Peterburg (Russia), Sachin Singh defeated Jorge Grinan of Cuba by 5-0 score.
  • With this he became the third Indian boxer ever to win gold medal in the AIBA Youth World Championships. Others are Thokchom Nanao Singh (2008) and Vikas Krishan (2010).
  • In this edition of AIBA tournament, India won with one gold medal and a bronze medal, marking improvement from the solitary bronze medal won in the 2014 edition.
  • Naman Tanwar had to settle for a bronze medal after losing in the semifinal in the 91 kg category.

Noted Marathi author Anand Yadav passes away

  • Noted Marathi author Anand Yadav passed away in Pune, Maharashtra. He was 80.
  • His autobiography novel ‘Zombi’ had won him prestigious Sahitya Akadmi award in 1991.
  • It is based story of a young boy, his loving mother, his life of utter poverty, and his eagerness to receive education.

Post a Comment

0 Comments

Top Post Ad

Below Post Ad