DAILY GK BANKERS ADDA 21 TO 31ST OCTOBER 2016 --for IBPS PO/CLERKS MAIN.

 21st October, 2016

Finance Ministry announces fresh tranche of gold bonds

I. The Finance Ministry announced the sixth tranche of sovereign gold bonds. The duration of the bond will be for a period of eight years with exit option from the fifth year to be exercised on the interest payment dates.

II. Applications for the bonds will be accepted from October 24 to November 2, 2016 and the bonds will be issued on November 17.

India, China hold first joint army exercise in Jammu and Kashmir

I. As part of the ongoing initiative to enhance interaction and cooperation between India and China, under the provisions of Border Defense Cooperation Agreement, 2013, the Indian and Chinese armies held the second joint exercise "Sino-India Cooperation 2016". This was a sequel to the first exercise held on February 6, 2016.

II. Soldiers of Chushul Garrision from India and of Moldo Garrision from China, participated in the exercise.

Government Funds Ro Pax Ferry in Gulf of Cambay Under Sagarmala Programme

I. Union Ministry of Shipping sanctioned the Capital Dredging Project of Ro Pax Ferry Services

between Gogha & Dahej in Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat. Ministry released Rs 58.50 Crore as first installment of grantin– aid to Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB).

II. Of the total cost estimated at Rs 234 Crore, half will be funded by Central Government under the Sagarmala programme.

Indian Boxing Council inducted in WBO

I. The Indian Boxing Council, a licensing body for the country’s professional boxers, has been inducted into the World Boxing Organisation with voting rights in the WBO’s annual convention at

Puerto Rico.

II. IBC President Brig. PKM Raja attended the meet in which the Indian body was welcomed into the fold by WBO founder Chairman Luis Batista Salas. 

India rise to best FIFA rankings in 6 years

I. The Indian football team achieved its best FIFA ranking in over six years when the side jumped 11 places to be 137th in the latest list released.

II. India, who defeated 114th ranked Puerto Rico in an International Friendly in Mumbai in September, garnered 230 points for the month.

International Prize in Statistics awarded to Sir David Cox

I. Noted British statistician Sir David Cox was named the inaugural recipient of the International Prize in Statistics. He is honoured for Survival Analysis Model Applied in Medicine, Science, and

Engineering.

II. Like the acclaimed Fields Medal, Abel Prize, Turing Award and Nobel Prize, the International Prize in Statistics is considered the highest honor in its field. It will be bestowed every other year to an individual or team for major achievements using statistics to advance science, technology and human welfare.

Indian Railways wins World Railway Shooting Championship Cup

I. Indian Railways have won the World Railway Shooting Championship Cup held at Saint Mandrier,

France.

II. Indian Railways team won a total 10 medals – 5 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze to bag the Overall Championship at the 15th USIC- International Shooting World Championship. The Western Railways members along with Coach Anuja Tere Jung represented Team India. The team won Gold in 50 Meter Rifle Event, defeating Germany and France.

India, Algeria mull fertilizer Joint Venture

I. India’s plan for a joint venture arrangement with Algeria for a multi-billion dollar fertilizer plant located in the North African country seemed to have been initiated on following a meeting between

Algerian Minister for Industry and Mining and the Indian Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh L. Mandavia.

II. India’s bilateral trade with Algeria currently stands at $1.5 billion a year with the trade balance in Algeria's favour given India's import of oil and gas. India seeks 49 per cent share in Algerian phosphate block having 6-billion tonne capacity.

World Bank pledges $2b aid to Bangladesh to tackle climate change

I. The World Bank has pledged 2 billion US dollars aid to Bangladesh to tackle climate change. The

Bank's president Jim Yong Kim said that Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to climate change accounting for almost 70% of all storm surges in the world.

II. But with active community participation, it has put in place disaster coping mechanisms like early warning systems, cyclone shelters, evacuation plans, coastal embankments, reforestation schemes, which has greatly reduced the impact of recent cyclones and floods.

22nd October, 2016

PM Narendra Modi announces India's first Railway University in Vadodara

I. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the integrated terminal building of Vadodara's Harni

Airport on 22nd October 2016. He is also scheduled to attend a programme to distribute artificial limbs and other implements to more than 8000 'Divyangs' (disabled persons) in the city.

II. The event has been jointly organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Kanpur-based Artificial Limb Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), and Vadodara district administration, stated a government release.

Aviation scheme UDAN(Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) takes off

I. The Centre unveiled a regional connectivity scheme, known as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik),

with flights priced at Rs.2,500 for one hour of flying time to and from regional airports.

II. Under the scheme, airlines will be offered a slew of sops at smaller airports such as waiver of landing and parking charges. 

FIFA unveils mascot for 2018 World Cup

I. Zabivaka the wolf followed in the footsteps of Naranjito the orange, Footix the football-playing

rooster and Fuleco the armadillo by being named as the official mascot of the 2018 World Cup.

II. The wolf, whose name according to FIFA means “the one who scores”, received 53 per cent of the more than one million votes cast in a poll, beating a tiger (27 percent) and a cat (20 percent).

Mahesh Sharma chairs first meeting of reconstituted CABC

I. Culture and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma has chaired the first meeting of the Reconstituted

Central Advisory Board on Culture (CABC).

II. The members of the CABC were requested to highlight priority areas in the fields of art, music, dance and literature. 

2,000 notes will be in circulation soon

I. Banknotes of the denomination of Rs.2,000 will be in circulation.The Reserve Bank of India has 
very nearly completed preparations for introducing this new high-value currency.

II. The notes have already been printed and their despatch from the currency printing press in Mysuru has commenced.

TRAI suggests Rs 3,000-crore fine on incumbents

I. In a setback to incumbent mobile operators, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has proposed a penalty of about Rs 3,050 crore on three telcos — Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea 
Cellular for failing to provide sufficient interconnect points to Reliance Jio which has led to massive call failures.

 22nd October, 2016

PM Narendra Modi announces India's first Railway University in Vadodara

I. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the integrated terminal building of Vadodara's Harni

Airport on 22nd October 2016. He is also scheduled to attend a programme to distribute artificial limbs and other implements to more than 8000 'Divyangs' (disabled persons) in the city.

II. The event has been jointly organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Kanpur-based Artificial Limb Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), and Vadodara district administration, stated a government release.

Aviation scheme UDAN(Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) takes off

I. The Centre unveiled a regional connectivity scheme, known as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik),

with flights priced at Rs.2,500 for one hour of flying time to and from regional airports.

II. Under the scheme, airlines will be offered a slew of sops at smaller airports such as waiver of landing and parking charges. 

FIFA unveils mascot for 2018 World Cup

I. Zabivaka the wolf followed in the footsteps of Naranjito the orange, Footix the football-playing

rooster and Fuleco the armadillo by being named as the official mascot of the 2018 World Cup.

II. The wolf, whose name according to FIFA means “the one who scores”, received 53 per cent of the more than one million votes cast in a poll, beating a tiger (27 percent) and a cat (20 percent).

Mahesh Sharma chairs first meeting of reconstituted CABC

I. Culture and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma has chaired the first meeting of the Reconstituted

Central Advisory Board on Culture (CABC).

II. The members of the CABC were requested to highlight priority areas in the fields of art, music, dance and literature. 

2,000 notes will be in circulation soon

I. Banknotes of the denomination of Rs.2,000 will be in circulation.The Reserve Bank of India has
very nearly completed preparations for introducing this new high-value currency.

II. The notes have already been printed and their despatch from the currency printing press in Mysuru has commenced.

TRAI suggests Rs 3,000-crore fine on incumbents

I. In a setback to incumbent mobile operators, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has proposed a penalty of about Rs 3,050 crore on three telcos — Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea
Cellular for failing to provide sufficient interconnect points to Reliance Jio which has led to massive call failures.

24th October, 2016

United Nations Day is being observed today

i. 24 October is celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. 

ii. This year's UN Day will be used to highlight concrete actions people can take to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ratan Tata replaces Cyrus Mistry as Tata Sons chairman

i. In one of the biggest upheaval in the corporate sector, the Tata Sons Board has appointed Ratan Tata as the interim chairman of the group, replacing Cyrus Mistry. 

ii. The decision was taken at a Board meeting today. 

iii. Mistry has resigned from his post as chairman. 

ITBP celebrating its 55th raising day

i. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police celebrated its 55th raising day on 24 October. 

ii. The force was created on 24th October in 1962. ITBP is deployed on border guarding duties from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh covering 3488 kilometer of India-China Border. 

Indian Army team wins gold medal in gruelling Cambrian Patrol exercise

i. A team from the Indian Army's Gorkha Rifles has won a gold medal at one of the most gruelling exercises in the world. 

ii. Team 2/8 Gorkha was awarded a gold medal in Exercise Cambrian Patrol organized by the British Army. 

iii. The medal went to the 8 men of the 2nd Battalion of 8 Gorkha Rifles.

AIIMS, Ganga Ram doctors chosen for Dr B C Roy award

i. Randeep Guleria, Head of Pulmonology from the AIIMS and C S Yadav, department of orthopaedics from the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital have been selected for the prestigious Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy Award for excellence in the field of medicine.

Tom Hayden, famed anti-Vietnam war activist, dies at 76

i. Tom Hayden, a 1960s anti-war activist and one of the era's most prominent, counter-culture radicals who went on to serve in the California state assembly and senate, has died aged 76. 

ii. Hayden died in Santa Monica, California, after a long illness.

Lewis Hamilton wins 2016 United States Grand Prix

i. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton (England) has won the 2016 United States Grand Prix. 

ii. The race was held at the Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, United States. Nico Rosberg (German) finished second while Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer’s Daniel Ricciardo finished third in the race.

25th October, 2016

PM launches 7 schemes worth Rs 5000 cr in Varanasi . 

i. The schemes launched includes "Urja Ganga".

ii. Expansion of Diesel Locomotive Works, the dedication of 765/400 KV GIS Varanasi Power Sub-station and inauguration of Varanasi Postal Region. 

iii. Inaugurated second line and electrification of Allahabad-Varanasi rail line and setting up of perishable cargo centre at Rajatalab Railway Station. 

iv. Doubling and electrification of 120-km-long Varanasi-Madhosingh-Allahabad railway line involving an expenditure of Rs 750.66 crore. 

v.  An expansion project of the Diesel Locomotive Works and Felicitation of selected beneficiaries of Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, and handed over LPG connections to select Ujjwala beneficiaries. 

vi.  Released a commemorative postage stamp on Varanasi City.

China’s space lab launches micro-satellite

i. Tiangong-2, the experimental space lab of China has successfully launched a micro-satellite, Banxing-2 (the word means Companion Satellite).

ii. The micro-satellite is roughly the size of a desktop printer. At present, Tiangong-2 is orbiting the Earth with two astronauts on board.

Portugal's Renato Sanches wins 2016 European Golden Boy Award

i. Portugal’s Renato Sanches on 24 October 2016 was awarded the 2016 European Golden Boy award.

ii. Sanches will be handed a trophy at a Monte Carlo ceremony. He defeated Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Bayern's Kingsley Coman and AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to bag the prize.

iii. Sanches was selected following a vote by journalists from 30 newspapers across Europe to name the best player in 2016 under the age of 21.

54 eminent personalities selected for Yash Bharti Awards 2016

i. The Uttar Pradesh government has declared the list of Yash Bharati awardees 2016. 

ii. 54 personalities have been selected for the coveted award for the year 2016-17. 

iii. The award is given by the Uttar Pradesh Government for excellence in literature, fine arts, folk and classical music and sports.

iv. Some of the prominent names: 1. Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah. 2. PayTM CEO Vijay Shekhar 3. Paralympic athlete Varun Kumar. 4. Qawwali singers Aftab and Hashim (Sabri Brothers) 5. Film director Saurabh Shukla 

Bilal Nazki appointed as chairperson of JKHRC

i. Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has appointed former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court Bilal Nazki as the chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission. 

ii. Mr. Bilal Nazki headed the committee set up by the Centre to review the functioning of the Haj Committee of India and its state units in 2013.

FIFA U-17 WC in India to start from October 6 next year

i. The U-17 FIFA World Cup will be held in India from October 6 to 28 next year, with the draw scheduled for July 7.

ii. The tournament will be held in six cities across the country, namely Kochi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Delhi, Goa and Kolkata. 

iii. This will be the first time India will host a FIFA-accredited football tournament.

Bank of America unveils AI-powered 'personal finance' bot

i. Bank of America has unveiled a virtual assistant called Erica, that uses artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to learn consumers' personal spending habits and offer financial advice.

ii. It will help users understand financial concepts and warn them of imminent risks, among other things.

26th October, 2016

a ranks 130 in ease of doing business: World Bank report

i. According to the World Bank’s Ease of doing Business Report 2017, India now ranks 130 out of 190 countries.

ii. New Zealand has surpassed Singapore to become the easiest country in the world to do business. 

iii. The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programs.

India up 21 places in WEF gender gap report: WEF

i. India has climbed 21 spots to rank 87th on the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2016. 

ii. With this jump in ranking, India has now overtaken China which is ranked 99th out of 144 countries.  Iceland tops the latest rankings followed by Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Beatty becomes first US author to win Man Booker prize

i. Paul Beatty became the first author from the United States (US) to be awarded the Man Booker prize, for his book, 'The Sellout'.

ii. Beatty's book was awarded the 2016 prize of £50,000, in the third year since the award was opened to American writers. 

iii. The Man Booker International Prize was established in 2005, biennially rewarding an author for a body of work originally written in any language as long as it was widely available in English.

Urban Development Ministry, NBCC, CPWD sign MoU to redevelop colonies

i. The Union Ministry of Urban Development has signed a MoU with National Buildings Construction Corporation (India) Ltd and Central Public Works Department (CPWD). 

ii. The MoU was signed for the redevelopment of General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) colonies in New Delhi.

India, New Zealand Sign Three Agreements

i. India and New Zealand today signed three agreements in the areas of double taxation avoidance, food security and sports to carry forward the ties between both sides.

ii. The agreements were signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart John Key after the delegation-level talks.

International Hockey Federation appoints Jason McCracken as new CEO

i. The International Hockey Federation has appointed New Zealand's Jason McCracken as its Chief Executive Officer.

ii. McCracken will be leaving his role as Head of Insurance and Investment Risk at banking group ANZ to take on his new post at FIH's headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. 

iii. He will replace Kelly Fairweather, who is leaving for the International Tennis Federation after six years in the role.

Legendary football Carlos Alberto Torres dies
i. Legendary footballer Carlos Alberto Torres passed away on 25 October 2016 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
ii. He was 72.

iii. Carlos was known for scoring one of the greatest goals in World Cup history in 1970 final against Italy.

27th October, 2016

Justice Reddy committee on One Rank One Pension submits report

i. The one-man judicial committee on One Rank One Pension submitted its report to the Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar.

ii. The Central Government had appointed the committee under the Chairmanship of Justice L Narasimha Reddy retired Chief Justice of Patna High Court.

Govt notifies revised DTAA with South Korea
i. India and South Korea on 26 October 2016 signed a revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.
ii. The Provisions of the new DTAA will have effect in India in respect of income derived in fiscal years beginning on or after 1 April 2017.

MMTC ties up with major banks to retail gold coins

i. Public sector major MMTC (Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India) has joined hands with HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Andhra Bank to retail gold coins with a new buyback option. 

ii. Besides its own outlets across the country, MMTC has tied up with Indian Overseas Bank, Vijaya Bank, Federal Bank and YES Bank to sell gold coins in denominations of 5 gm and 10 gm coin and 20 gm bar.

iii. MMTC has also announced a transparent buyback of gold coins made of recycled gold.

Sunil Bharti Mittal elected as GSMA Chairman

i. Bharti Enterprises Founder and Chairman Sunil Mittal has been elected as GSMA (Global System Mobile Association) Chairman for a two-year period from January 2017 through December 2018.

ii. Current GSMA Chairman Jon Fredrik Baksaas will step down from the Board at the end of 2016.
iii. Mittal, who is the first Indian to be elected as Chairman of global telecom industry board, will oversee the strategic direction of the organisation, which represents nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators, as well as more than 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem.

Dr. Ajay M. Gondane appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to Australia

i. Dr. Ajay M. Gondane has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to Australia. 

ii. Currently he is working as the Additional Secretary (Political) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). 

iii. He has previously served as High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea and as Deputy Consul General of India in New York.

Ericsson appoints Borje Ekholm as new president, CEO

i. Swedish telecom gear maker Ericsson has appointed Borje Ekholm as President and CEO. 

ii. Ekholm joins Ericsson from his current position as CEO of Patricia Industries, a division within Investor.

Salim Gangadharan to replace Amitabha Guha as non-executive chairman in South Indian Bank 

i. Former Reserve Bank of India chief general manager Salim Gangadharan is appointed as the next non-executive chairman of South Indian Bank.  ii. Gangadharan will replace Amitabha Guha will resign on November 1, 2016. 

iii. He has been independent director in the bank since January 2014 and he retired from RBI as principal chief general manager.

Karnal Singh appointed as chief of Enforcement Directorate

i. Senior IPS officer Karnal Singh on 25-10-2016 was appointed the chief of Enforcement Directorate(ED), the agency entrusted with probing money laundering cases. 

ii. The appointments committee of the cabinet has approved the appointment of Singh as director, Enforcement Directorate (ED) till August 31, 2017, ie the date of his superannuation.

Legendary Kashmiri singer Raj Begum dies

i. Celebrated Kashmiri singer Raj Begum passed away on 26 October 2016 in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. Begum was one of the most recognized female singers in the Kashmir Valley.

ii. She was 89. 

iii. She was awarded Padma Shri in 2002.

 

28th October, 2016

National Ayurveda Day being observed

i. The National Ayurveda Day is being observed on 28-10-2016. The Ministry of AYUSH is organizing a day-long national seminar on Prevention and Control of Diabetes through Ayurveda in New Delhi. The Ministry will launch Mission Madhumeha through Ayurveda on this occasion. 

ii. The Mission Madhumeha will be implemented throughout the country through a specially designed National Treatment Protocol for effective management of Diabetes through Ayurveda.

Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar wins 2016 Sakharov Prize

i. Two Yazidi women, Nadia Murad Basee and Lamiya Aji Bashar, who escaped sexual enslavement by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq, have won Europe's top human rights award, the Sakharov prize.

ii. The announcement of the year's joint laureates was made following a decision by European Parliament on 27 October 2016. The Sakharov award ceremony will be held in Strasbourg on 14 December.

Punjab wins NCC National Games

i. Punjab Directorate on 27 October 2016 won the 2016 National Cadet Corp (NCC) National Games. Subhash Bhamre, Minister of State for Defence, presented trophies to the winners at the closing ceremony at Delhi Cantonment.

Antarctica’s Ross Sea declared world’s largest marine reserve

i. Delegates from 24 countries and the European Union have agreed that the Ross Sea in Antarctica will become the world's largest marine protected area (MPA).

ii. Some 1.57 million sq km of the Southern Ocean will gain protection from fishing for 35 years.

Union Cabinet approves the establishment of National Academic Depository

i. The Union Cabinet on 27 October 2016 gave its green signal for establishment and operationalisation of a National Academic Depository (NAD).

ii. The National Academic Depository aims at bringing another dimension and enhancement of the vision of Digital India.

Japan's Prince Mikasa, world's oldest royal, dies at 100

i. Japanese Prince Mikasa, uncle of Emperor Akihito, died at the age of 100 on Thursday, 27 October. He was the oldest imperial family member in the world.

ii. Mikasa was the fifth in the line of succession to the Japanese throne Chrysanthemum, a metaphorical name for the monarchy.

29th October, 2016

After Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh becomes India’s second open defecation free state

I. Himachal Pradesh was declared 'Open Defecation Free', becoming India's second state to get this

status after Sikkim.

II. The newly acquired status will entitle Himachal Pradesh to receive World Bank funding under Rs 9,000 crore project to sustain sanitation campaign.

India Wins Its First Ever International Medal in Roller Skating at Asian Championships

I. The team of Indian Roller Skaters claimed their first ever International medal in the sport. Vikram Ingale, Nikhilesh Tabhane and Dhanush Babu have won India’s first ever senior international roller

skating medal, by securing the bronze medal in the 3000m team relay event in Lishui, People's Republic of China.

Bangladesh introduces temporary ban on catching Hilsa Fish

I. Bangladesh has arrested more than 900 fishermen and deployed the army to patrol its waterways

after introducing a temporary ban on catching hilsa in an effort to save the hugely popular fish.

II. Some 60 percent of the world's hilsa are caught in Bangladesh, but indiscriminate fishing has depleted much of the stock, driving up prices and putting the fish beyond the reach of the poor.

Odisha Govt. comes up with a new scheme to provide legal assistance to deprived sections

I. The Odisha government has come up with a new scheme to provide legal assistance to the deprived sections of the society at the grassroots level in all its 6,812 gram panchayats across the state. 

II. The scheme named after great Odia lawyer, 'Madhubabu Aain Sahayata Sibir’ will offer legal services once a week. The advocate engaged for the legal assistance cell will be paid an amount of 500 rupees fee per sitting to provide free legal advice to the people. Government hopes the system would help in reducing number of litigations in the courts.

India ranks poorly in Commonwealth youth index 

I. India has ranked very poorly at 133 in a new Global Youth Development Index compiled by the

Commonwealth Secretariat on the countries' prospects for young people in employment, education, health, civic and political spheres.

II. India ranked 133rd in the index covering 183 nations, below neighbouring countries like Nepal (77), Bhutan (69) and Sri Lanka (31) and trailing behind the South Asian average. 

III. The top 10 countries on the index are largely from Europe - Germany (1), Denmark (2), Switzerland (4), United Kingdom (5), Netherlands (6), Austria (7), Luxembourg (8), Portugal (9) - with Australia (3) and Japan (10) as the two exceptions. 

IIID to conduct 'Design Yatra' in Kozhikode

I. India's first 'Design Yatra' will be conducted in Kerala's Kozhikode city between October 29-31, during which competitions, heritage walk, talks and interaction with students will be conducted. Launched by Institute of Indian Interior Designer in February this year, the yatra is aimed at spreading awareness and taking designs to the masses and is scheduled to travel to 29 Indian cities.

30th and 31st October, 2016

PM Modi pays tribute to Sardar Patel on his 141st birth anniversary

I. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid rich tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 141st birth anniversary. The day is being celebrated as ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ (National Unity Day). Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of the Indian Republic, played a key role in the country’s struggle for independence.

II. The Prime Minister also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary.

Ease of Doing Business: A.P., Telangana top in 2016 all-India ranking

I. Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has released the report on State-wise Ease of Doing Business rankings on 31st October 2016. The rankings are on the basis of 340-point business reform action plan and their implementation by the States. This covers the period from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.

II. Andhra Pradesh and Telengana topped the all-India ranking with 98.78 per cent each, followed by Gujarat with 98.21 per cent; Chhattisgarh with 97.32 per cent and Madhya Pradesh with 97.01 per cent. Haryana ranked sixth with 96.95 per cent followed by Jharkhand with 96.57 per cent; Rajasthan with 96.43 per cent; Uttarakhand with 96.13 per cent and Maharashtra completed the top 10 with 92.86 per cent.

Vigilance Awareness week commences from today (31st October 2016)

I. The Central Vigilance Commission, as part of its efforts to promote probity in public life and to achieve a corruption free society, observes Vigilance Awareness Week every year. The week in which 31st October, the birthday of late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel falls is observed as Vigilance Awareness Week. The observance of the Vigilance Awareness Week has commenced from today (31st October 2016), with pledge taking by public servants in the Ministries/Departments/Central Public Sector Enterprises/Public Sector Banks and all other Organizations.

II. “Public participation in promoting integrity and eradicating Corruption” has been chosen as the theme for Vigilance Awareness Week this year by the Commission.

Maharashtra tops NITI Aayog’s agri marketing index

I. Maharashtra is the top State in the implementation of agricultural reforms and offers the best environment for doing agri-business, according to an assessment by the Niti Aayog.

II. Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are in the next three positions in the 'Agricultural Marketing and Farm Friendly Reforms Index' which is based on a number of criteria identified by Niti Aayog.

November 1 to be observed as No Tobacco Day in Punjab

I. Punjab government will observe November 1 as ‘No Tobacco Day’ in an effort to discourage tobacco use in the state. Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has issued directions to all the deputy commissioners in this regard.

After seven years, Jhulan Goswami becomes world number 1 bowler again

I. Affectionately known as the ‘Chakdaha Express’ back home in Bengal, Jhulan Goswami is only one of two women’s national team cricketers still remaining from the 2005 World Cup squad, that finished second in South Africa. Now, seven years after reaching the pinnacle of the sport, the 33year old has pipped England pacer Katherine Brunt to become the world number 1 bowler.

II. Registering a total of 730 points, Jhulan has close to a 100 point lead with two months of competition to go. If things stand the way they are, this will also be the first time an Indian women’s pacer ends a calendar year as world number 1.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan launches paddy cultivation in land set apart for airport

I. Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan has launched paddy cultivation in Aranmula Puncha near Cochin.

II. The programme, under the Harita Keralam project, is part of the Government’s earnest efforts to revive paddy cultivation at Aranmula Puncha that has been lying fallow for the past several years.

Benami Transactions Act to curb black money comes into effect

I. The new law to prohibit benami transactions will come into effect from 1st of next month (01st November 2016). Parliament had passed the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016 to curb black money. 

II. After coming into effect, the existing Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 will be renamed as the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions, PBPT, Act, 1988. The new legislation provides for seven years imprisonment and fine for those indulging in illegal transactions. 

Sania Mirza retains World Number One ranking in Women's Doubles for 2nd consecutive year

I. Ace Indian tennis star Sania Mirza will end the season as world's top doubles Tennis player for the second straight year. Sania finished this season with seven Women's Tennis Association, WTA titles, a Grand Slam and a semi-final finish in the year ending WTA Finals in Singapore.

II. The ace Indian tennis star was close to being uprooted by Bethanie Mattek-Sands from the top spot, had the American won the WTA Finals Doubles title. However, Bethanie lost in the final and ensured that Sania will end the year at the top once again.

Spain breaks deadlock, re-elects Rajoy prime minister

I. Mariano Rajoy, Spain's acting prime minister and leader of its center-right Popular Party, was re-elected after winning a parliamentary vote. Mr Rajoy has led a caretaker administration since losing his overall majority in an election last December. A repeat election in June failed to end the impasse but strengthened his hand.

II. Spain has its first fully functioning government since December, when a general election left no party with a majority.

India beat Pakistan in final to win Asian Champions Trophy

I. India celebrated Diwali by winning gold medal in the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy by beating arch-rivals Pakistan 3-2 in the final in Malaysia. 

II. This is the second time India have won the title of this tournament. India won the inaugural tournament in 2011.

World Bank appoints Kristalina Georgieva as chief executive

I. Kristalina Georgieva, a former head of EU humanitarian affairs and vice-president of the European commission, has been appointed chief executive of the World Bank.

II. The Bulgarian, who recently lost out in the race to become UN secretary general, will report to the bank’s president, Jim Yong Kim. Although the title of CEO is newly created, Georgieva will effectively replace Sri Mulyani Indrawati, formerly the bank’s managing director and chief operating officer, who was appointed Indonesian finance minister in July.

47th international film festival of India to be held in Goa in November

I. SEVEN MARATHI films — including four feature and three non-feature films — have made the cut to be screened at the Indian Panorama of the 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa from November 20 to 29. The blockbusters like Sultan, National-award winning Baahubali and Airlift will be screened at the upcoming 47th International Film Festival of India.

II. The selection has been made from a submission of 38 feature and 22 non-feature Marathi films.

 

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