Hello and welcome to exampundit . Here are the important Current Affairs of 6th and 7th November, 2016. These are important for the upcoming IBPS PO Mains, IBPS Clerk Mains and RRB OS-I Mains exam 2016.
Current Affairs at a Glance - 11th November, 2016
India and Japan today signed a landmark civil nuclear cooperation deal after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Shinzo Abe, a move that will boost bilateral economic and security ties and facilitate US-based players to set up atomic plants in India.
Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), the company which was tasked to set up IT infrastructure for the GST, said that by January it will start training around 60,000 state government officials to equip them to handle GST roll out. The non-profit organisation said that the Centre agreed to pay around Rs 500 crore every year on behalf of the tax payers as service charge.
India and Japan on Friday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of outer space, which would enable cooperation in satellite navigation, planetary exploration and space industry promotion, joint missions and studies.
Government of Maharashtra on 10 November 2016 signed an agreement with Canada to execute a joint action plan on the development of the state’s urban infrastructure.
Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar on 10 November 2016 inaugurated Smart India Hackathon 2017, world’s largest digital national building initiative. The Government also unveiled the first set of 250 problem statements that the students will be required to solve during the Hackathon that will take place in early 2017.
The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda, on 9 November 2016 launched Healthy India Initiative/Swastha Bharat-ek pehal magazine and No More Tension mobile App.
Finance/Banking –
India, Japan sign landmark civil nuclear deal for non-military use
India and Japan today signed a landmark civil nuclear cooperation deal after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Shinzo Abe, a move that will boost bilateral economic and security ties and facilitate US-based players to set up atomic plants in India.
The two countries had reached a broad agreement for cooperation in civil nuclear energy sector during Abe's visit to India in December last year, but the deal was yet to be signed as some issues were yet to be worked out.
The deal would allow Japan to export nuclear technology to India, making it the first non-NPT signatory to have such a deal with Tokyo. It would also cement the bilateral economic and security ties as the two countries warm up to counter an assertive China.
There was political resistance in Japan - the only country to suffer atomic bombings during World War II - against a nuclear deal with India, particularly after the disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011.
Japan is a major player in the nuclear energy market and an atomic deal with it will make it easier for US-based nuclear plant makers Westinghouse Electric Corporation and GE Energy Inc to set up atomic plants in India as both these conglomerates have Japanese investments.
Other nations who have signed civil nuclear deal with India include the US, Russia, South Korea, Mangolia, France, Namibia, Argentina, Canada, Kazakhstan and Australia.
Centre to pay Rs. 500 cr a year to GST network as service charge
Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), the company which was tasked to set up IT infrastructure for the GST, said that by January it will start training around 60,000 state government officials to equip them to handle GST roll out. The non-profit organisation said that the Centre agreed to pay around Rs 500 crore every year on behalf of the tax payers as service charge.
Speaking on the sidelines of SICCI's interactive session in Chennai today, GSTN's Chairman Navin Kumar said that GST won't be successful without its IT backbone GSTN.
While on November 8, enrolment of VAT assessees to GST Portal started from Puducherry, the first in the country (along with Sikkim) on November 8, other States are expected to be covered before February 15, 2017.
All GST ID numbers will only be allocated once Parliament passes the supporting legislation for GST.
He noted, every month about 320 crore invoices are uploaded, initially GSTN suggested to the Government that users should be charged a small fee, but Government said that it will pay on behalf of the users. The burden would be around Rs 500 crore every year.
India, Japan ink MoUs in fields of space, skill development and agriculture
India and Japan on Friday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of outer space, which would enable cooperation in satellite navigation, planetary exploration and space industry promotion, joint missions and studies.
The MoU also provides for the establishment of a Joint Working Group (JWG) and signing of Implementing Arrangements to carry out specific cooperative projects.
Apart from that, a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was also signed between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of India and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan on the Manufacturing Skill Transfer Promotion Program.
Under this, around 30,000 Indian youth would be trained in the Japanese styled manufacturing in the next 10 years.
This would be achieved through the programmes of Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) and the Japanese Endowed Courses (JEC) in select engineering colleges.
Japanese companies would be encouraged to set-up JIM by utilizing their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund while the JEC would be supported by Government of Japan through technical experts. Programmes under this MoC would contribute to 'Make in India' and 'Skill India'.
India's Ministry of Earth Sciences and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) agreed on a mutual collaboration in the field of Marine and Earth Science and Technology.
It aims to promote cooperation in the areas of joint survey and research, exchange of scientific visits by researchers and experts, joint scientific seminars and workshops, exchange of information, data and studied results and any other mutually agreed forms of cooperation.
A MoC between India's Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan was inked in the field of agriculture and food related industry.
It was signed to deepen the bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture and food industries that includes food value chain networking and protecting Geographical Indication (GI) of agriculture products.
MOU was also signed between the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) Ltd. and Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development to enable cooperation and promoting investment in infrastructure projects in railways and transportation.
Maharashtra, Canada to work on urban infra, smart cities
Government of Maharashtra on 10 November 2016 signed an agreement with Canada to execute a joint action plan on the development of the state’s urban infrastructure.
The Canada-Maharashtra action plan seeks to introduce companies, solutions and financing from the North American country for urban development and implementation of state-led infrastructure projects.
Key Highlights of the plan
It also includes supporting Indo-Canadian partnerships including private sector companies, universities and colleges to fasten project implementation, promote economic development and contribute to the state’s ever rising standards of living.
The areas in focus include affordable housing, urban infrastructure including smart cities, project financing, training and skills development.
It will give top-level Canadian companies the access to new partners and projects.
The implementation of the projects undertaken under this plan will be overseen by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and a group of officials from the Consulate General of Canada and Maharashtra’s home, urban development, housing, labour, information and technology departments.
Anil Bokil: The real brain behind the currency withdrawal move
The sudden and path-breaking decision of the withdrawal of 500 and 1000 Rupee currency notes by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi managed to create inconvenience among people at all levels. After the announcement, many people were seen in queues near the ATMs.
The announcement of 8 November 2016, which created a situation of havoc among citizens, is being considered as Modi’s fight against Black money. After the 2014 mandate, PM Modi promised that he will not allow those with black money to rest in peace and take actions against them.
But in this race to understand the cause behind the withdrawal of notes, we as public managed to forget to find the real face behind the idea.
Anil Bokil, a Pune-based Chartered accountant, is the person who ideated the formulae.
Bokil is the founder of Arthkranti Pratishtan, a non-governmental organization. His group has been openly promoting the theory of ArthaKranti- revolution in economics. He requested a meeting with the Prime Minister to put forward his take on financial reforms.
Sponsored
Competition Commission of India selected to host ICN 2018 Annual Conference
The International Competition Network (ICN) on 9 November 2016 announced that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) would host the 2018 ICN Annual Conference.
The Conference will be held at Delhi in March–April 2018.
By virtue of the event, CCI is also inducted as an ex-officio member of the steering group member of the ICN for a period of 3 years.
India –
Union Government launches digital initiative Smart India Hackathon 2017
Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar on 10 November 2016 inaugurated Smart India Hackathon 2017, world’s largest digital national building initiative.
The Government also unveiled the first set of 250 problem statements that the students will be required to solve during the Hackathon that will take place in early 2017.
Smart India Hackathon 2017 is aimed at reaching out to all technology institutions in India and challenge students to offer innovative solutions to the daunting problems faced by our nation.
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), University Grants Commission (UGC), i4c, MyGov, NASSCOM, Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhiniand Persistent Systems will organize the initiative under the aegis of Ministry of Human Resource Development.
Highlights of the Smart India Hackathon 2017
The Hackathon will have nearly 500 problem statements in all which will be published on innovate.mygov.in.
It is a pan-India 36-hour nonstop digital programming competition which will take place in more than 20 centres simultaneously.
Each participating college can nominate up to three teams, each having six team members, which can belong to different courses or semesters within the same college.
Each team will need to have at least one female team member, to encourage women coders.
Each team will also have the option of choosing up to two mentors, who can be faculty, alumni or any other expert in their circles.
Each of the participating 25 ministries and government departments will give away prizes to top three teams, so 75 teams will stand a chance to win cash rewards as well as a chance to work with those ministries and departments for up to six months to execute their winning solution.
For every ministry and department, the first prize will be of 100000 rupees, second prize of 75000 rupees and third prize of 50000 rupees.
Some of the ministries and departments participating in the Hackathon include Railways, External Affairs, Defence, Civil Aviation, Indian Space Research Organization, Department of Atomic Energy, etc.
It will aim to find digital solutions to problems in the areas of power, education, health, water, finance, agriculture, energy, urban & rural development, aviation, transport, sanitation, sports, law & justice, etc.
It will help institutionalize a model for harnessing the creativity and skills of youth for nation-building.
It will harness creativity & technical expertise of over 30 lakh students from technology institutes in remotest parts of India to help build a way-out for Startup India, Standup India campaign.
Students will also win cash prizes from each participating ministry and will get a chance to be part of the NASSCOM’s 10000 Startups Program.
Union Government launched Healthy India Initiative magazine and No More Tension mobile app
The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda, on 9 November 2016 launched Healthy India Initiative/Swastha Bharat-ek pehal magazine and No More Tension mobile App.
The initiatives were launched for promotion of health and to strengthen the health communications programmes.
Radio Kashmir Jammu starts Morning Gojri News Bulletin
The regional news Unit of Radio Kashmir Jammu on 10 November 2016 started morning news bulletin in Gojri language. The five minutes Gojri news bulletin will be aired at 10:15am daily from the transmitters of Radio Kashmir Jammu.
Gojri is one of the most widely spoken languages of the state and over 20 percent chunk of the population in the state consists of Gojri speaking people.
The radio news bulletin was formally launched and inaugurated at Abhinav Theater, Jammu by Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh. After inaugurating the bulletin, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the bulletin will help in a big way in disseminating important information to people of the State in general and Gujjar Bakerwal community including nomadic tribes in particular.
Gojri also known as Gujari is a variety of Indo-Aryan spoken language. It is also known as Gujjar Bhakha, Gojari or Gujar Apabhramsha.
It is mainly spoken by the Gujjars of India and Pakistan.
Sports –
Mumbai's Western Railways wins Surjit Trophy
Mumbai's Western Railways women's team on 10 November 2016 won the 33rd Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey Tournament.
The team defeated Haryana XI 4-2 in the title clash played at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar.
In the 14th minute of the game, Western Railways’s Anupa Barla netted the ball after dodging goalkeeper Shewata of Haryana. She struck again in the 34th minute to make it 2-0.
In the second half, Haryana girls scored two goals in 40th and 50th minutes of the game to reduce the margin. Jaspreet Kaur and Neha scored goals for the team. Western Railways Mayengbam Lily Chanu and Manjit Kaur then struck to complete the score sheet.
The winners were presented a cash award of 1 lakh rupee and trophy and runners-up got 75000 rupees and Trophy.
Jaspreet Kaur of Haryana XI was declared the Best Player of the Tournament.
Awards & Honors –
Marta Jakimowicz selected for Lifetime Achievement Award 2016 by Lalithakala Academy
Poland-born art critic Marta Jakimowicz was on 10 November 2016 selected for the Lifetime Achievement Award 2016 by the Karnataka Lalithakala Academy.
Presently, she is settled in Bengaluru. Other than her, portrait artist Baburao V Nadoni from Belagavi, and KK Makali from Bellary were also selected for the award.
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