2016-11-07

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 – 6-7 November, 2016

India and the UKon Monday signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on increasing cooperation in intellectual property rights (IPRs) and ease of doing business.

Chhattisgarh government has launched a campaign to complete the irrigation projects that could not be completed. Under the campaign called “Lakshya Bhagirathi”, the water resources department had identified 108 projects that could not be completed. Most of the projects are minor and middle. For the last three decades, the projects were pending for required clearances.

Hyderabad-based IT and engineering services company Cyient India Limitedon Monday announced that it would acquire UK-based ground surveying and digital mapping solutions provider Blom Aerofilms Limited.

Future Retail has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the retail, agriculture, and bakery businesses of Heritage Foods in an all-stock deal on Monday. Heritage Foods, owned by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, will get 3.65% stake in Future Retail worth of Rs 295 crore.

Construction company Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) on 5 November 2016 became India’s first firm to get Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) approval for debt recast under Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A).

Grant Thornton released its International Business Report 2016. The report ranks India at the second position on the global business optimism index during the third quarter (July-September 2016). During the April-June 2016 period, India was ranked at the third position after being on top for two consecutive quarters.

Indian Army in the first week of November 2016 launched ‘Operation School Chalo’ in South Kashmir. The operation is aimed at providing students with free coaching after their regular education system was interrupted by spiraling violence, protests by militants and their supporters triggered by the encounter killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 4 November 2016 constituted a four-member team for conservation and management of Loktak Lake in Manipur.

The Reserve Bank (RBI) has appointed M Rajeshwar Rao as Executive Director following G Mahalingam’s voluntary retirement from the central bank.

Bank of Baroda has appointed Ratnesh Kumar as Managing Director and CEO of its wholly-owned investment banking subsidiary, BoB Capital Markets Ltd.

Guy Ryder has been re-elected Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for another five-year term, starting October 1.

Indian lawyer Aniruddha Rajput was on 4 November 2016 elected as a Member of International Law Commission (ILC), a top body of legal experts of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict was observed globally on 6 November 2016.

World's first hydrogen-powered and zero-emission passenger train was unveiled in September 2016 in Germany.

Indian Women's hockey team on 5 November 2016 lifted the Asian Champions Trophy 2016 in Singapore. In the summit clash, India defeated China 2-1.

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GREY HIGHLIGHTER - Very Important Current Affairs

GREEN HIGHLIGHTER - Very Important for STOCK GK

Finance/Banking/Economy –

India, UK ink MoUs on IPR, ease of doing business



India and the UK on Monday signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on increasing cooperation in intellectual property rights (IPRs) and ease of doing business.

Both the MoUs were exchanged in the presence of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and her British counterpart Theresa May here.

The MoU on IPR was inked between the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and the Intellectual Property Office of the United Kingdom (UKIPO).

It is intended to promote innovation, creativity and economic growth in both countries, an official statement said.

It establishes a broad and flexible framework through which both countries can exchange best practices and work together on training programmes and technical exchanges to raise awareness on IPRs and better protect intellectual property rights.

The priority initiatives under the MoU include exchange of best practices, experiences and knowledge on IP awareness among the public, businesses and educational institutions of both countries, collaboration in training programmes, exchange of experts, technical exchanges, and outreach activities.

The MoU on ease of doing business will harness UK expertise to support India's efforts to climb the World Bank Ease of Doing Business ratings.

In the World Bank's latest 'Doing Business' report, India's place remained unchanged from last year's original ranking of 130 among the 190 economies that were assessed on various parameters. But the last year's ranking has been revised to 131 from which the country has improved its place by one spot.

Chhattisgarh launches campaign "Lakshya Bhagirathi" to complete irrigation projects



Chhattisgarh government has launched a campaign to complete the irrigation projects that could not be completed.

Under the campaign called “Lakshya Bhagirathi”, the water resources department had identified 108 projects that could not be completed. Most of the projects are minor and middle. For the last three decades, the projects were pending for required clearances.

The economy of the state is mainly based on agriculture and forestry. The agriculture sector contributes around 38% to the State’s Net Domestic Product. Of the total workforce of 8.3 million, 5.9 million (71%) are engaged in agriculture.

Net sown area of the Chhattisgarh state is 4.683 million hectares while the gross sown area is 5.561 million hectares. The state’s Irrigation potential was 1.328 million hectares at the time of formation of the state (in November 2000) which was 23% of the gross sown area.

Cyient acquires UK-based geospatial solutions firm Blom Aerofilms



Hyderabad-based IT and engineering services company Cyient India Limited on Monday announced that it would acquire UK-based ground surveying and digital mapping solutions provider Blom Aerofilms Limited. It has signed a definitive agreement with Blom AS, Norway for the acquisition of its UK-based subsidiary.

Blom employs a core group of 40 people and had the calender year 2015 revenue of 6 million pounds. The transaction is EPS accretive and expected to complete over next 30 days. According to Cyient President John Renard, this acquisition will complete the company's existing skills and capabilities in software and data processing around geospatial technology.

Odisha government signs MoU to with Software Technology Parks of India to open four centers

The Odisha government on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) to set up four STPI centres in the state. The STPI centres would come up in Angul, Jajpur, Koraput (Jeypore) and Sambalpur. With these four, Odisha will have eight centres of the total 55 in the country.

He said the Incubation High Speed Data connectivity facility would be available to entrepreneurs, specially catering to the need of Startups, MSMEs, SMEs to start their business without any hassles. “It is a matter of pride that the IT exports from the state is reported at Rs 2900 crore during the year 2015-16 and achieved national prominence in the IT map of the country. Today around 90% of software exports from the state are contributed by STPI,” Patnaik said.

He added that he is confident that the new STPI centres would facilitate and support the entrepreneurs to explore global opportunities and boost direct and indirect employment in the state.

Future Group acquires AP CM Chandrababu Naidu's Heritage retail businesses

Future Retail has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the retail, agriculture, and bakery businesses of Heritage Foods in an all-stock deal on Monday.

Heritage Foods, owned by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, will get 3.65% stake in Future Retail worth of Rs 295 crore.

With this deal, Heritage will leverage the strength of Future Retail to expand the market for its dairy products across India, Heritage Foods director Nara Lokesh said.

The retail business of Heritage Foods includes the chain of 124 Heritage Fresh stores in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai with 2,000-8,000 square ft store sizes. These small format stores will compliment well with Future Retail's existing network of 379 small EasyDay stores in north India.

Google-accelerated Indonesian edtech startup raises $2.2m

Online learning platform HarukaEdu from Indonesia just announced it has raised funding to the tune of US$2.2 million from Pearson Affordable Learning Fund (PALF), Samator Education, and previous investor CyberAgent Ventures.

HarukaEdu is an edtech platform for online classes. It hosts both informal courses as well as certified university programs that lead up to a degree.

It is working together with a number of Indonesian institutions such as the London School of Public Relations, Wiraswasta Indonesia University, and President University. The startup was one of 8 firms from Indonesia selected to join the Google Launchpad accelerator program earlier this year.

HCC becomes first company to get RBI approval for debt recast under S4A scheme

Construction company Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) on 5 November 2016 became India’s first firm to get Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) approval for debt recast under Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A).

The RBI-mandated Overseeing Committee (OC) under the S4A approved HCC’s 5107 crore rupees debt recast that was passed by ICICI Bank-led joint lender forum in September 2016.

Highlights of the Debt Recast of HCC

Under this debt recast of HCC, 52 percent of the debt was found to be sustainable and can be serviced as per original terms and conditions including interest rate and tenure.

Out of the remaining 48 percent debt,  1000 crore rupees debt will be converted into equity for banks, which could eventually give them 25 percent stake in the company’s post-scheme equity capital.

The balance of 1400 crore rupees will be converted into Optionally Convertible Debentures for 10 years with a coupon rate of 0.01 percent.

The share price will be determined as per SEBI guidelines and debt will go down to the extent of the conversion amount.

These measures will now go for approval from HCC’s shareholders.

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Reports –

India rises to second spot on global business optimism index: IBR Report

Grant Thornton released its International Business Report 2016. The report ranks India at the second position on the global business optimism index during the third quarter (July-September 2016).

During the April-June 2016 period, India was ranked at the third position after being on top for two consecutive quarters.

Indonesia took the top spot, with the Philippines coming in third.

Highlights for India

The report says, the improvement in the optimism ranking in the recent past clearly reflects that the reform agenda of the government and its efforts on improving the climate for doing business are having an impact.

It says that the ranking rides on the recent policy reforms and Goods and Services tax (GST), which is expected to become reality soon.

The ranking was also complimented by the rise of employment expectations.

India came into light in the global economy due to the programmes and initiatives along with its focus on building relationships with all major economic powers.

About 59 per cent of the respondents have voted in favour  ofthe growth prospects.

In terms of revenue expectations, India slipped to third position from top in the previous quarter.

India –

Operation School Chalo launched in South Kashmir

Indian Army in the first week of November 2016 launched ‘Operation School Chalo’ in South Kashmir. The operation is aimed at providing students with free coaching after their regular education system was interrupted by spiraling violence, protests by militants and their supporters triggered by the encounter killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

The operation closely follows its predecessor, ‘Operation calm down’, which was aimed at clearing off the anti-social elements from the valley.

Union Environment Ministry constitutes four-member team for conservation of Loktak Lake

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 4 November 2016 constituted a four-member team for conservation and management of Loktak Lake in Manipur.

The team will visit Loktak Lake from 7 November to 9 November 2016 and hold discussions with the State Government, its concerned agencies and other stakeholders.  The consultations will also include people living in the vicinity of the lake.

The Ministry has asked the team to submit a report by 15 November 2016.

Lost Ancient River Chandrabhaga found in Odisha

Scientists from Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur) claimed to have found evidence confirming the existence of a mythical Indian river, Chandrabhaga.  The discovery came in the first week of November 2016.

This is the second among such findings. In October 2016, KS Valdiya led expert committee had found that Saraswati River did exist.

Appointments –

RBI appoints M Rajeshwar Rao as Executive Director

The Reserve Bank (RBI) has appointed M Rajeshwar Rao as Executive Director following G Mahalingam’s voluntary retirement from the central bank.

As Executive Director, Rao will look after Department of Statistics and Information Management, Financial markets Operations Department and International Department, RBI said in a statement.

Prior to taking over as the Executive Director, he was the Chief General Manager, Financial Markets Operations Department.

Rao has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master of Business Administration from University of Cochin. He is also a Certificated Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers. Rao joined RBI in 1984 and as career central banker has exposure in various aspects of central bank functioning.

He has previously held charge of the Risk Monitoring Department. He has also worked as the Banking Ombudsman, New Delhi and in the Reserve Bank’s regional offices at Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai and New Delhi.

Ratnesh Kumar appointed MD and CEO of BoB Capital Markets

Bank of Baroda has appointed Ratnesh Kumar as Managing Director and CEO of its wholly-owned investment banking subsidiary, BoB Capital Markets Ltd.

Kumar holds a Masters degree in Management from FMS, University of Delhi, and M.Sc. (Hons) in Physics & B.E. (Hons) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from BITS, Pilani.

The public sector bank in a statement said Kumar started his career in the Indian capital markets and financial services sector in 1993.

Guy Ryder re-elected ILO Director-General

Guy Ryder has been re-elected Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for another five-year term, starting October 1.

In the governing body, Ryder received 54 of the 56 votes cast by the titular members, an ILO release from Geneva said. Incidentally, he was the only candidate.

Ryder is the 10th ILO Director-General and has about 35 years of experience in the world of work, most of it at the international level.

Aniruddha Rajput elected as Member of International Law Commission of UN

Indian lawyer Aniruddha Rajput was on 4 November 2016 elected as a Member of International Law Commission (ILC), a top body of legal experts of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

He is India’s first time candidate to the Commission and youngest among the group. He is also the first Indian nominee chosen from outside the close circuit of lawyers of the Union Ministry of External Affairs.

Rajput is among other 34 individuals elected as members of the ILC. The members were elected from five geographical groupings of Asia-Pacific, African, Latin American and Caribbean, Eastern European and Western European states. They will have five-year term commencing from January 2017.

Rajput was elected from the Asia Pacific Group by gaining 160 votes.

Parminder Singh resigns as Managing Director of Twitter's MENA region

Parminder Singh on 3 November 2016 resigned as the Managing Director (MD) of Southeast Asia, India, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region of Twitter.

Singh's resignation came barely two days after the resignation of Twitter’s India head Rishi Jaitly.

Days –

International Day for Preventing Exploitation of Environment in War and Armed Conflict observed

The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict was observed globally on 6 November 2016.

On 5 November 2001, the UN General Assembly declared 6 November of each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict through  resolution A/RES/56/4.

On 27 May 2016, the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted resolution UNEP/EA.2/Res.15 to recognize the role of healthy ecosystems and sustainably managed resources in reducing the risk of armed conflict.

It also committed itself towards the full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals listed in General Assembly resolution 70/1 entitled Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

World –

World's first zero-emissions hydrogen train, Coradia iLint, unveiled in Germany

World's first hydrogen-powered and zero-emission passenger train was unveiled in September 2016 in Germany.

The Coradia iLint, developed by French rail company Alstom, only emits excess steam and condensed water into the atmosphere.

Key highlights of the Coradia iLint

Coradia iLint is powered by a hydrogen fuel tank on its roof. The fuel cell is supplied with hydrogen and oxygen from the air, which it converts into electric power.

The system is backed up by lithium batteries. These batteries store the excess power in order to later supply the train when needed.

The train is totally carbon-free, making it a much more sustainable alternative to the 4000 diesel trains currently in circulation in Germany.

Sports –

Indian Women's hockey team defeated China 2-1 to lift Asian Champions Trophy 2016

Indian Women's hockey team on 5 November 2016 lifted the Asian Champions Trophy 2016 in Singapore. In the summit clash, India defeated China 2-1.

India’s first goal was scored by Deep Grace Ekka in the 13th minute, which was equalized by Zhong Mengling in the 44th minute. In the dying minutes of the game, the second goal came from Deepika Thakur to give the Indian eves the formidable lead and the crown.

This is for the first time that Indian eves won the Asian Champions Trophy competition. Top five women's teams of Asia took part in this tournament. This was also the qualifying round for the 2017 Asia Cup.

Petra Kvitova wins 2016 WTA Elite Singles Trophy

Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova on 6 November 2016 won the 2016 WTA Elite Singles Trophy. She defeated Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-2 to grab the title at Zhuhai, China.

Venus Williams was the defending champion for the title. However, she chose not to participate despite qualifying for the edition.

Henri Kontinen and John Peers win 2016 BNP Paribas Masters Doubles title

Henri Kontinen and John Peers on 6 November 2016 won the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 team title at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris.

Kontinen and Peers defeated top-seeded Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 to claim the title.

Obituaries –

Former J&K Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma passes away

Former Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma passed away on 3 November 2016 following a prolonged illness. He was 85. He is survived by six sons.

He played an important role in cooperative movement in the state and successfully headed the Kathua district cooperative society for some years before he became a member of the legislative council.

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