General - Current Affairs for December, 2016

This year will last a second longer as a "leap second" will be added to the world's clocks on New Year's Eve by the time recorders.

An extra second will be inserted at the US Naval Observatory's Master Clock Facility in Washington, DC at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) which corresponds to 5:29:59 am Indian Standard Time on January 1.

Historically, time was based on the mean rotation of the Earth relative to celestial bodies and the second was defined in this reference frame.

With the invention of atomic clocks defined a much more precise "atomic" timescale and a second that is independent of Earth's rotation.

In 1970, international agreements established a procedure to maintain a relationship between Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and UT1, a measure of the Earth's rotation angle in space.

The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) is the organisation which monitors the difference in the two time scales and calls for leap seconds to be inserted in or removed from UTC when necessary to keep them within 0.9 seconds of each other.

In order to create UTC, a secondary timescale, International Atomic Time (TAI), is first generated; it consists of UTC without leap seconds.

When the system was instituted in 1972, the difference between TAI and UTC was determined to be 10 seconds.

Since 1972, 26 additional leap seconds have been added at intervals varying from six months to seven years, with the most recent being inserted on June 30, 2015.

After the insertion of the leap second in December, the cumulative difference between UTC and TAI will be 37 seconds.

Some mistake leap seconds to be a measure of the rate at which the Earth is slowing.

One-second increments are, however, indications of the accumulated difference in time between the two systems.

Know More About VLBI

• Measurements show that the Earth, on average, runs slow compared to atomic time, at about 1.5 - 2 milliseconds per day.
• These data are generated by the USNO using the technique of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI).
• VLBI measures the rotation of the Earth by observing the apparent positions of distant objects near the edge of the observable universe.
• These observations show that after roughly 500 to 750 days, the difference between Earth rotation time and atomic time would be about one second.
• Instead of this, a leap second is inserted to bring the two time-scales closer together.

Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on 28^th Dec 2016 inaugurated Chashma-III nuclear power plant near Mianwali in Punjab Province.

The plant alleviates load shedding problems in Punjab Province and aids Pakistan in attaining the commitments under the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions.

As per the INDCs submitted by Pakistan to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change, use of non-fossil fuel based energy sources will be encouraged in the country.

The Chashma-III Nuclear power plant is also called the C-III nuclear power plant.

It is a joint collaboration between Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and China National Nuclear Corporation.

It is executed by the PAEC under the guidelines of the IAEA that monitors diversion of nuclear energy material and technology for non civilian uses.

It will further the government's commitment to end load shedding by 2018.

About the C-III Nuclear Power Plant

China Atomic Energy Authority and the Export-Import Bank of China extended technical and financial support.

Capacity: 600 MW

Part of the larger Chashma Nuclear Project comprising 4 nuclear power plants.

Chashma-I and Chashma-II power projects are already operationalised.

Chashma-IV plant will be operationalised in 2017.

The four plants will help PAEC to achieve the overall target of 8000 MW nuclear energy capacity.

Pakistan is also constructing K-II and K-III nuclear power plants in Karachi.

These projects are expected to add 8800 MW electricity to the national grid by 2030.
Nuclear ties between China and Pakistan are likely to strain Indo-Pak bilteral relationships.

Andhra Pradesh’s classical dance Kuchipudi found a place in the Guinness World Records when a record 6117 dancers came together to present a show at the IGMC Stadium here on 25th Dec 2016.

Guinness adjudicator Rishinath declared that Jayamu Jayamu presented by participants created a new record.

A similar feat in 2012 was achieved when 5,900 dancers performed Kuchipudi in Hyderabad.

The "Maha Brunda Natyam" (grand group dance) was organised as part of the '5th International Kuchipudi Dance Convention' organised by the state Department of Language and Culture.

"Jayamu Jayamu" is one of the most popular and acclaimed items of 'Kuchipudi' dance choreographed by the legend Vempati China Satyam. This 12-minute item was chosen for this year's group dance at the event.

Dancers from across the country as also from countries like US, UAE, UK, Russia, Hong Kong and Mauritius took part in it.

Kuchipudi

• Kuchipudi is one of the classical styles of Indian dance.
• Around the third and fourth decade of this century it emerged out of a long rich tradition of dance-drama of the same name.
• Kuchipudi is the name of a village in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. It is about 35 km. from Vijayawada.
• Andhra has a very long tradition of dance-drama which was known under the generic name of Yakshagaana.
• In 17th century Kuchipudi style of Yakshagaana was conceived by Siddhendra Yogi.

China aims to encourage labour intensive manufacturing industries located across the eastern coast to relocate inland, as per a 2016-2020 plan to develop the economy of western regions.

• The country’s cabinet, the State Council approved the western development 5 year plan on 23rd Dec 2016, according to the official government website on 25th Dec 2016.
• China’s rapid economic development has been, over the past 4 decades, skewed heavily towards the eastern coast.
• Beijing has been aiming to correct the imbalance to promote growth in politically crucial and energy rich western regions such as Yunnan and Xinjiang.
• It will also ease environmental pressures in eastern regions including the congested Peal and Yangtze river deltas.
• China will continue to implement the measures aimed at reducing the tax burden in the west for cutting the cost of doing business.
• West will promote new forms of urbanisation and industrialisation and pay attention to protecting the environment and scarce water supplies, which have halted development here.

Pakistan has asked the World Bank to fulfil its obligations regarding the Indus Water Treaty.

It objected to the body pausing two concurrent processes related to Indo-Pak dispute over Kishenganga and Ratle project.

Pakistan finance minister Ishaq Dar held that the treaty does not provide for a situation where a party can pause performance of its obligations under the accord.

World Bank’s decision to pause the process of empanelment of the Court of Arbitration will seriously prejudice Pakistani interests and rights under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, according to Dar.

Appointment of a Chairman of the Court Arbitration was stressed upon by Pakistan.

The pause by the World Bank is to protect the Indus Waters Treaty and help India and Pakistan to consider alternative approaches for resolving interests under the treaty and its application to two hydroelectric power plants.

India took exception to the World Bank’s decision to set up a Court of Arbitration and appoint a Neutral Expert to go into Pakistan’s complaint against it over Ratle and Kishenganga hydroelectric projects in J&K.

Know More About the Permanent Indus Commission

• Permanent Indus Commission is a bilateral commission of officials from India and Pakistan.
• Aims to implement and manage the goals, objectives and outlines of the Indus Waters Treaty.
• Commission cooperates between the two countries.
• Following the September 2016 terror attacks, the Indus Commission was deactivated.
• Indus Water Treaty was signed in September 1960.
• The Indus Commission is the first step for conflict resolution.
• If an agreement cannot be reached at the Commission level, the dispute is to be referred to the two governments.
• If the governments too fail to reach an agreement, the Treaty provides an arbitration mechanism.

The Defence and Research Development Organisation has successfully flight tested the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) from an Indian Air Force aircraft.

DRDO also announced that the flight test was conducted at the integrated test range in Chandipur, Odisha.

It was flight tested on 24th Dec 2016.

SAAW is an indigenously designed and developed 120 kg, class smart weapon, developed by DRDO is capable of engaging ground targets with high precision up to a range of 100 kms.

This lightweight high precision guided bomb is one of the world class weapon systems.

The system is capable of engaging ground targets with high precision up to a range of 100 kms.

INR 56.58 crore SAAW project was sanctioned by the Union Government in September 2013.

Earlier in May 2016, the DRDO conducted the first test of the weapon system from Indian Air Force Jaguar DARIN-II aircraft in Bengaluru.

Know More About DRDO

• Defence Research and Development Organisation: Agency of Republic of India.
• Headquarter: New Delhi
• Founded: 1958
• Annual Budget: INR 103 billion
• Number of Employees: 30,000
• Aircraft designed: Nishant, Lakhsya, Avatar.

Indian Railways, National High Speed Rail Corporation and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on 21 December 2016 signed a Memorandum for General Consultancy.

Under the tripartite consultancy agreement, JICA promotes smooth implementation of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Railway Project.

The general consultancy concerns providing design and bidding assistance for the public works and systems required for the construction of the project.

JICA will bear the cost of general consultancy up to 2020.

The memorandum is an outcome of the Japan-India Summit level talks in December 2015.

JICA is a governmental agency of Japan that coordinates the official overseas development assistance.

It has 4 missions namely, addressing the global agenda, reducing poverty through equitable growth, improving governance and achieving human security.

To achieve these missions the JICA follows 4 strategies namely., integrated assistance, seamless assistance, promoting development partnerships and enhancing research and knowledge-sharing.

Boosting bilateral relations between India and Japan, JICA is actively involved in infrastructure development and poverty alleviation programmes.

JICA is providing assistance to cement Japan-India cooperation such as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC).

Boosting Japan-India academic-industry networks and human resources development for industries such as manufacturing, it works for stronger Indo-Japan relations.

About the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Railway Project

• First high speed rail project in India.
• 508 km line linking Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
• Japan offers INR 79,000 crore of the total INR 97636 crore project cost.
• Project completion estimated by 2023.

Gujarat government on 21st Dec 2016 announced the Aerospace and Defence Policy 2016.

This policy was announced with the aim to attract investment into fields of aerospace and defence design, development and manufacturing in the state.

Policy announced ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit is offering incentives to investors.

100% reimbursement will be provided on stamp duty and registration charges that are paid for purchase, lease or mortgage of land that is meant for setting up or developing the facility in the areas of aerospace and defence.

Where the manufacturing facility will be established in government lands, the investors will be allotted the land at 50 percent of prevailing market rate decided by the government.

To conduct tests and trials of the equipment that is manufactured in the state, the government will provide all the required assistance for developing the infrastructure on PPP model.

MSME units will be given with a cash subsidy of 25 percent on capital investment for setting up their facility in the Aerospace and Defence sector.

For a period of 5 years, all mega and A&D projects will be entitled to 2 percent interest subsidy on external borrowings.

From the viewpoint of tax, the policy holds that all units would be given reimbursement up to 100 per cent of the Central Sales Tax or net Value Added Tax.

For a period of 5 years, all A&D units would be provided 100% exemption on electricity duty.

This exemption will be provided from the date of commencement of production.

Apart from this, the entrepreneurs will be provided with a subsidy of 50 percent of the construction cost of the R&D centre.

The facility will be provided to encourage research and development activities in the state.

Vibrant Gujarat Summit

• Biennial investors summit in Gujarat.
• Event brings together opinion markers, policy deciders, though leaders, business leaders, investors and corporations.
• Started in 2009.
• Enters 8th edition in 2017
• Vibrant Gujarat 2017 is scheduled to be held from 10-13 January 2017.

Nepal will hold its first ever military exercise with China on 10th Feb 2017.

The decision to initiate the new level of bilateral engagement was taken during the visit of Nepal’s Army Chief General Rajendra Chhetri to Beijing.

Military exercise has been named Pratikar-1. It will focus on training Nepali forces with extreme situations such as hostage crisis involving international military groups.

The new relationship does not violate the 1950 Indo-Nepal treaty.

Tibet has played a major role in straining ties between India and China, especially after the former provided a haven to Tibetan leader Dalai Lama.

China also has a sensitive border relations with India; the Aksai Chin region in Ladakh is disputed.

China’s growing proximity to Pakistan is also contributing to Indian unease. Despite the ongoing tensions, good trade relations have also been extended.

Nepal had shared a strained relationship with China over the Tibet issue; but recently on Dec 9, 2016, China launched a new cargo service connecting Nepal and Tibet.

Know About NepalPresident: Bidhya Devi Bhandari

Vice President: Nanda Kishor Pun

Prime Minister: Pushpa Kamal Dahal

Speaker of House: Onsari Gharti Magar

Chief Justice: Sushila Karki

Kingdom declared: 25 September 1768

State declared: 15 January 2007

Republic declared: 28 May 2008

Queen Victoria’s last letter to India has been put on display for the first time at the Victoria Memorial.

This is one of the finest monuments dedicated to the memory of the monarch.

It is located in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal.

The three-page letter, handwritten by the queen almost a month before her death, was revealed for all to see on 16 December 2016 at the monument’s Prince hall.

Dating back to 14 December 1900, the 116-year-old letter bearing the Royal Seal was addressed to the then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon.

It was gifted by Lord Curzon in 1904 and it mostly contains references to the young Prince’s death.

Prince Christian died on 29 October 1900 while fighting in the Second Boer War in Pretoria, South Africa.

The decision of building a memorial in the memory of the queen was taken within a few weeks of her death.

The Queen’s grandson and then Prince of Wales, King George V laid the foundation stone for the Memorial on 4 January 1906 and it was formally opened for public in the year 1921.

About Queen Victoria

• She was the Queen of the United Kingdom from 20 June 1837 to 22 January 1901.
• Fifth in line, she inherited the throne at the age of 18.
• She was married to her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
• She received the title of Empress of India on 1 May 1876.
• Her reign, which lasted for 63 years, is referred to as the Victorian era.

India in the third week of December 2016 was ranked 4^th in the Global Wind Power Installed Capacity Index.

The cumulative installed wind power generation capacity of India is 25088 MW.

The Index was led by China, followed by USA and Germany. The cumulative installed wind power generation capacity of China is 145362 MW.

The cumulative installed wind power generation capacity of the USA is 74471 MW and that of Germany is 44947 MW.

The ranking were launched on 19 December 2016 in the Global Wind Report: Annual Market update, which was launched by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).

A capacity addition of 14.30 GW of renewable energy was also reported during the last 2.5 years in India under Grid Connected Renewable Power, which include 5.8 GW from Solar Power, 7.04 GW from Wind Power, 0.53 from Small Hydro Power and 0.93 from Bio-power.

India and its wind power capacity

• In 2015-2016, India installed 31472 solar pumps.
• In Oct 2016, 92305 solar pumps have been installed in the country.
• During 2016-2017, 51 MW installations of biomass power plants were achieved against a target of 400 MW.
• During 2016-2017, against a target of 1.00 lakh biogas plants, 0.26 lakh biogas plant installations have been achieved.
• This was making a cumulative achievement to 4.94 million biogas plants as of 31 October 2016.

Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the cadre review and formation of a new service in the name of Indian Enterprise Development Service in the Office of Development Commissioner, MSME.

Creation of the new cadre and change in structure will strengthen the organisation and achieve the vision of StandUp India, Make in India and Startup India.

Measures will achieve growth in MSME sector through dedicated cadre of technical officers.

Service has been created by absorbing 11 trades, recruitment to which has been done differently, following different rules.

All trades were created in the 1950s and 1960s when industries developed under the regulation regime.

Officers of the department will work for the development of enterprise and think holistically.

The Indian Enterprise Development Service, to start with, will have a cadre strength of 617 officers, 6 of which will be at the level of joint secretaries.

These officers will man 72 field offices of the development commissioner and the headquarters in Delhi.

Out of the 72 field offices, 30 are MSME development institutes and 28 branch institutes.

Asia Pacific countries accounting for 55% of global urban population have adopted the Urban Plus approach taking urban planning and development beyond city limits to prevent unmanageable and unsustainable urban expansion.

This was the core of the ‘New Delhi Declaration’ adopted on the conclusion of three day deliberations of the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD).

The theme of the conference was ‘Emerging Urban Forms-Policy Reforms and Governance Structures in the Context of New Urban Agenda’

In the Implementation Plan that was also adopted, the member countries have also strongly recommended formulation of National Human Settlement Policies to promote inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable city and human settlements.

New Delhi Declaration has strongly advocated planning for urban and adjoining rural areas in an integrated manner instead of looking at them as independent entities.

The Declaration also called for a thorough review of existing policies and formulation of new policies to promote New Urban Agenda adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Development in Quito, Eucador in Oct 2016.

This was the first such meeting held to discuss ways of realising the New Urban Agenda that was finalised during the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (also known as “Habitat III” conference).

The next biennial APMCHUD Conference will be hosted by Iran in 2018.

Himachal Pradesh has achieved 100 percent Aadhaar saturation based on population data collected till 2015 in the state.

HP is the sixth state after Delhi, Telangana, Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh to attain saturation.

HP has distributed 780 computer tablets among anganwadi workers to cover children between 0-5 years under Aadhaar while 250 tablets will be deployed at health institutions to cover new born babies to maintain saturation.

As biometric upgradation is mandatory after 5 and 15 years of age, the state made 240 permanent enrolment centres operational.

Meanwhile the Chandigarh regional office of the Unique Identification Authority of India has become the first RO in the country t o receive 100 percent Aadhaar saturation based on region comprising unjam, Haryana, Chandigarh and HP.

Haryana achieved saturation on September 26 followed by Punjab on October 17, Chandigarh on November 29 and Himachal Pradesh on December 8, 2016.

There are 8 ROs in the country to look after Aadhaar related activities. These are Chandigarh, Delhi, Lucknow, Ranchi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Guwahati.

Along with the northern region, Delhi and Telangana have become the other two states where 100 percent Aadhaar generation was made against estimated population of 2015.

Aadhaar-Linked Birth Registration (ALBR) has been launched in Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh.

Under this scheme, staff members of hospitals are trained and certified to work as Aadhaar operators. Tablets are deployed in government as well as private hospitals to cover all newborn babies.

For newborns, biometric update will be done on attaining the age of 5 years and 15 years.

The states and UTs were encouraged to procure their own Aadhaar Enrolment kits (ECMP Kit) & tablets which helped them to establish Permanent Enrolment Centres in the region.

475 kits and 890 tablets were obtained by Haryana, 165 kits, 50 biometric kits and 800 tablets by Himachal Pradesh, 8 kits and 33 tablets by UT Chandigarh.

Union Government has mandated that a single committee will be set up to hear inter-state river water disputes.

Step will merge existing tribunals into a single body and fasten the process of water dispute resolution.

Apart from this central body, GoI has also proposed to create benches to look into disputes when needed.

Benches will not be permanent like the Tribunal and will be dissolved once the dispute is solved,

Government has also proposed that in comparison to earlier tribunals that took years to deliver verdicts, this tribunal will give the verdict within 3 years.

Government has also proposed the setting up of a Dispute Resolution Committee comprising experts and policy makers.

DRC will handle water disputes before they go to the Tribunal.

DRC will be formed by the centre at the behest of the state. Disputes will be solved at the DRC level itself.

In cases where the state is not in agreement with the DRC judgement, they can then approach the Tribunal

The Tribunal’s verdict will get notified automatically.

River Dispute Tribunals

Government will amend the Inter State Water Disputes Act1956 for the new tribunal.

As of now there are 8 tribunals including:

• Ravi
• Beas
• Cauvery
• Mahadayi
• Krishna
• Vansadhara

As per the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (ISRWD Act, 1956) when the water dispute arises among 2/more State Governments, the Central Government receives a request under Section 3 of the Act.

This is from any of the basis States with regard to existence of water dispute.

Lanura becomes first cashless village of Jammu and Kashmir.

At least one member of each household in Lanura is trained to use Electronic Payment System.

The village in central Kashmir's Budgam district has become the first village in the state to go ‘cashless'.

Lanura village, about 30 kms from the summer capital here, has become the first village in Jammu and Kashmir to go cashless, an official spokesman announced.

150 persons have been provided training to use EPS at Lanura which falls in Panchayat Bugroo-B in block Khansahab of the district.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, which, inter-alia, addresses the issues relating to regulation of sand mining. The salient features of the Guidelines in this regard are as follows:

• It provides for a detailed programme for ensuring that mining of river sand is done in a sustainable manner.
• Grant of Environment Clearance for minor minerals, including sand and gravel, for mining lease of area up to 5 hectare will be done by the District Environment Impact Assessment Authority headed by the District Collector / District Magistrate.
• Removal of sand accumulated on the agricultural field after cessation of flooding will not be considered as mining operation and its removal and selling can be allowed without the requirement of environment clearance till it is done only to the extent of reclaiming the agricultural land.

Exemption of certain cases from being considered as mining for the purpose of requirement of environment clearance like:

• Extraction of ordinary clay or ordinary sand manually by hereditary Kumhars (Potter) who prepare earthen pots on a cottage industry basis;
• Extraction of ordinary clay or ordinary sand manually by earthen tile makers who prepare earthen tiles on a cottage industry basis;
• Removal of sand deposited on agricultural field after flood by owner farmers;
• Customary extraction of sand and ordinary earth from sources situated in Gram Panchayat for personal use or community work in village;
• Community works like desilting of village ponds / tanks, rural roads under taken in MGNREGS and other Government sponsored schemes;
• Dredging and desilting of dam, reservoirs, weirs, barrages, river, and canals for maintenance and upkeep and avert natural disaster provided the dredged material is used departmentally.

MMDR and Sand Mining

• Sand is a minor mineral.
• It is defined under section 3(e) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act).
• Section 15 of the MMDR Act empowers state governments to make rules for regulating the grant of mineral concessions in respect of minor minerals.
• As per section 15 of the MMDR Act, State Governments have framed their own minor minerals concession rules.
• Further,section 23C of the MMDR Act, 1957 empowers state governments to frame rules to prevent illegal mining.
• Control of illegal mining is, therefore, under the legislative and administrative jurisdiction of state governments.

Government has formally inducted 4 types of indigenously developed SONARS that will boost underwater surveillance capacity of the armed forces.

Some of the major systems are Heavy Weight Torpedo (Varunastra), Advanced Torpedo Defence System (Mareech), Multi Influence Ground Mines, etc.
In November 2016, Kochi based Naval Physical Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO, has handed over the following four naval systems to Indian Navy:

• Abhay (Compact Hull-Mounted Sonar for Small Ships & Shallow Water Crafts)
• HUMSA-UG (Upgrade for the Hull-Mounted Sonar Array (HUMSA) Series of Sonar Systems for Ships)
• NACS (Near-field Acoustic Characterisation System (NACS) for Ship Sonars)
• AIDSS (Advanced Indigenous Distress Sonar System (AIDSS) for Submarines)

What is SONAR?

• Stands for Sound Navigation and Ranging.
• Uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate and detect objects under surface of the water.
• Two types: Passive & Active
• A special type of sonar is SODAR, an upward looking in-air sonar
• Acoustic frequencies: Vary from infrasonic to ultrasonic
• Study of Underwater Sound: Hydroacoustics.

The government has extended the facility of e-Tourist Visa for citizens of 161 countries.

Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma indicated the number of foreign tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) during January to November this year was 9,17,446.

The sector is registering a growth of 168.5 per cent over same period of previous year.

The Government of India has extended the facility of e-Tourist Visa for the citizens of 161 countries including Japan for which facility of Visa on Arrival is also available

The e-visa scheme was launched on November 27, 2014.

Under the scheme, an applicant receives an email authorising him or her to travel to India after it has been approved. The tourist can travel with a print-out of this authorisation.

On 27 November 2014, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) facility became operational for citizens of over 40 eligible countries, including those who are eligible for visa on arrival.

The list was further expanded to 113 countries in August 2015 .

ETA is issued for tourism, visiting friends and family, short duration medical treatment and business visits.

The scheme was renamed to e-Tourist Visa (eTV) on 15 April 2015.

Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro nicknamed the Marvellous City entered the UN’s list of world heritage sites in recognition of its massive granite cliffs, urban rainforest and beaches.

UNESCO, highlighted the “extraordinary fusion” of man-made and natural beauty in certifying Rio on the world heritage list during a ceremony held at the Christ the Redeemer statue.

Rio’s tourism was boosted during the 2014 football World Cup and this Aug Olympic Games.

Persistent high crime, Zika virus and political instability have hurt the image of the city.

UNESCO status was announced in 2012.

It became official after Brazil was given 4 years to report plans for protecting numerous sites like Flamingo Park, Sugarloaf Mountain, the Corcovado, Copacabana beach, the Botanical Garden and Tijuca forest.

UNESCO

• Full form: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
• A specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris.
• Purpose: Bring peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms in order to increase universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights.
• Headquarters: Place de Fontenoy, Paris, France
• Membership: 195 member states
• Head: Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO
• Website: www.unesco.org

Forbes released its annual list of World’s Most Powerful People on 14th Dec, 2016.

PM Modi was ranked among the top 10 most powerful people in the world, attaining the 9th rank on a list of 74 persons.

The list was topped by Russian president Vladimir Putin for the 4th straight year.

Putin was followed by Trump, Merkel and Jinping.

Forbes list of World's Most Powerful People 2015: Top 10

i. Vladimir Putin : Russia
ii. Donald Trump: The United States
iii. Angela Merkel: Germany
iv. Xi Jinping: China
v. Pope Francis: Roman Catholic Church
vi. Janet Yellen: The United States
vii. Bill Gates: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/Microsoft
viii. Larry Page: Google/Alphabet
ix. Narendra Modi: India
x. Mark Zuckerberg: Facebook

Youngest in the list included Travis Kalanick(Uber), Justin Trudeau (Canada) and Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook).

The oldest were 88-year-old Li Ka-Shing (rank 33) of CK Hutchison Holdings, 86-year-old Warren Buffett (rank 15) of Berkshire Hathaway, 85-year-old Rupert Murdoch (rank 35) of News Corp, 83-year-old Sheldon Adelson (rank 73) of Las Vegas Sands and 81-year-old Charles Koch (rank 31) of Koch Industries.

Apart from Modi, another Indian on the list was Mukesh Ambani at 38 rank.

Women in the Forbes Most Powerful list 2016

Only 6 women women placed in the list:

i. Angela Merkel (rank 3) from Germany,
ii. Janet Yellen (rank 6) from the United States,
iii. Theresa May (rank 13) of United Kingdom
iv. Christine Lagarde (rank 25) of International Monetary Fund,
v. Ginni Rometty (rank 61) of IBM and
vi. Mary Barra (rank 62) of General Motors.

According to Forbes, nine women were featured in the 2015 and 2014 lists.

About the Forbes List

• 'Most Powerful People' list "identifies one person out of every 100 million whose actions mean the most."
• It represent's the magazine's "best guess about who will matter in the year to come."

It says it judges candidates on four criteria:


• the number of people they have power over,
• the financial resources they manage,
• the different "spheres" of activity that they have power in, and
• active use of power.

International Civil Aviation Negotiations 2016 was held in Nassau from 5-9 December 2016.

Conference was attended by 106 countries out of ICAO membership of 191 countries. India held negotiations with 17 countries.

“Memorandum of Understanding” was signed with 12 countries.

The major issues resolved at these negotiations as per the directions in National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP 2016) were as follows.

India renegotiated traffic rights with Oman increasing the entitlements with 6,258 seats effective from Summer 2017 as the existing entitlements were nearly exhausted.

India also agreed with Saudi Arabia to increase the capacity by 8000 seats per week from IATA season when Indian carrier’s utilisation reaches 80%.

India concurred with Ghana to increase the present allocation of 2 frequencies to 7 frequencies per week to encourage connectivity between the two countries.

Open Skies agreement as per NCAP 2016 allows unlimited number of flights to six metro airports namely Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai, was signed with six countries namely Jamaica, Guyana, Czech Republic, Finland, Spain and Sri Lanka.

New Air Service Agreements were signed with Jamaica and Guyana.

Code shares will be encouraged and other air service agreements were resolved with nations such as Ethiopia and Bangladesh.

Open Skies Agreement

• International policy connect.
• Calls for liberalisation of commercial aviation.
• It minimises government intervention for passenger, cargo and combination transport as well as scheduled and charter services.
• It adjusts the regime under which military and other state based files be allowed.
• Air transport agreement(bilateral or multilateral) is signed to give effect to open skies policy.

Cabinet approval was given on 14th Dec 2016 for the MoU between ISRO and United States Geological Survey for cooperation in the use of US Land remote sensing satellite data.

MoU is aimed to enable USGS landsat 7 and 8 in India.

USGS will also receive Resourcesat-2 data of the US region.

ISRO has been pushing peace cooperation with many US organisations including NASA, NOAA and USGS.

ISRO & Landsat

• ISRO first received Landsat data through 1984 to 2001.
• The data are received at Shadnagar.
• The data laid the foundation of the Indian remote sensing programme.
• USGS launched Landsat 8 in February 2013.

Spacecraft properties


• Bus: LEOStar-3
• Manufacturer: Orbital Sciences (prime), Ball Aerospace (OLI), NASA GSFC (TIRS)
• Launch mass: 2,623 kilograms (5,783 lb)
• Dry mass: 1,512 kilograms (3,333 lb)

The National Green Tribunal on Dec 14, 2016 imposed an interim nationwide ban on use of glass-coated 'manja' for flying kites as the sharp string poses a danger to humans, animals and birds.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar passed the order after noting that 'manja', string coated with glass and metal powder and used for flying kites, is harmful to the ecology.

The green panel said that the ban order would apply on nylon, Chinese and cotton manja coated with glass.

It directed Manja Association of India to submit report to Central Pollution Control Board on harmful effects of kite strings.

Makar Sankranti festival was approaching and manja would be used for flying kites.

In its petition, PETA has contended that 'manja' posed a grave threat to humans and animals as every year a number of deaths are caused by it.

The World Bank Group on 13th Dec 2016 halted the two concurrent processes initiated by India and Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty.

The bank initiated this move to protect the treaty.

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim informed the finance ministries of both countries to this effect.

India planned to construct the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power plants on Indus River System in J&K.

Pakistan raised objections against these projects claiming they would affect Pakistan by impacting the river flow adversely.

To resolve the differences between India and Pakistan, the two countries asked the World Bank to appoint a neutral expert and a court of arbitration respectively.

Bank in its earlier communication to both countries said that necessary processes will be put in place by Dec 12, 2016.

Bank withdrew this communication and made the announcement that the concurrent process would make the treaty unworkable over time.

These processes were therefore stopped.

Indus Water Treaty

• Water distribution treaty between India and Pakistan.
• Brokered by the World Bank.
• Signed on: 19th Sept 1960.
• Signatories: PM Jawaharlal Nehru and President Ayub Khan.
• Control over three western flowing rivers Indus, Chenab and Jhelum vests with Pakistan.
• Three eastern rivers Ravi, Beas and Sutlej are controlled by India
• Treaty provides for dispute resolution mechanism at three levels:

a. Questions
b. Differences
c. Disputes
• In Sept 2016, following the Pathankot and Uri attacks, PM Modi stopped the Permanent Indus Commission meeting.

The Navy and other coastal security agencies will conduct a three-day coastal security exercise 'Sagar Kavach' from December 15 for Kerala and Lakshadweep islands.

The exercise is conducted half yearly with an objective to check coastal security mechanism and validate standard operating procedures, a Navy release said here.

The organisations participating in the exercise are the

• Indian Navy,
• Indian Coast Guard,
• Coastal Police,
• Police Special Branch,
• Intelligence Bureau,
• Customs,
• Department of Port,
• Department of Fisheries,
• Director General of Lighthouses and
• light ships and Fishing Community,
• Participants of the exercise will be divided into two teams- Attack (Red) and Defence (Blue).

India’s Defence Spending


• With an expenditure of $50.6 billion in 2016, India is now amongst the top five defence spenders.
• Equipment requirements are conducted in a planned and progressive manner.
• There is a detailed process that will include “15 year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP), a five-year Service-wise Capability Acquisition Plan and a two year roll-on Annual Acquisition Plan.

Defence Ministry estimates defence spending:


• INR 32,498.97 crore in the financial year 2014-15
• INR 30,173.09 crore in the financial year 2015-16

Worried over the shortage of essential commodities in Manipur arising out of ongoing blockade of national highways by the United Naga Council (UNC), the Union home ministry on 12th Dec placed 1,500 Central para-military personnel at disposal of the state government to supplement its efforts to lift the blockade.

The UNC is protesting against the Manipur government's move to upgrade Sadar Hills and Jiribam to full-fledged districts.

Sadar Hills is being carved out of Senapati district, which has a substantial Naga population.

The Centre also appealed to United Naga Council (UNC) to withdraw the "illegal" blockade in view of the difficulties faced by the people of Manipur. "All contentious issues need to be settled peacefully by democratic and lawful means," it added.

For the first time in the years -old militancy in Kashmir Valley, security forces have been targeted by a Naxal-style IED attack.

This led agencies to brace up against the menace that has claimed numerous lives and maimed several troops in Left Wing Extremism hit areas.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), mainstay for anti-Maoist operations in the country, has rushed a team of its counter-Improvised Explosive Device (IED) experts to train and sensitise its troops, those of the BSF, Jammu and Kashmir Police and others against such blasts.

These are triggered by the notorious 'command-wire' technique.

This technique till now has been used by Naxals to target security forces in the LWE affected areas.

The first of its kind command-wire IED blast was reported about a month back on the night of November 4 when militants targeted a police bullet-proof 'Rakshak' jeep under the Dadasara Police Station area in Awantipora of Pulwama district.

Regular rail service through the world's longest tunnel began on 11th Dec, carrying passengers deep under the Swiss Alps from Zurich to Lugano.

The famed Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) had a ceremonial opening in June, attracting European leaders Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande for its maiden ride.

The Swiss national rail service (SBB) had announced that 11th Dec would mark the start of normal commercial traffic through the 57-kilometre (35-mile) GBT.

This took 17 years to build, at a cost of over 12 billion Swiss francs ($11.8 billion, 11.2 billion euros).

Improving connectivity from Rotterdam to Adriatic, the tunnel was largely made possible by technical advances in tunnel-boring machines, which replaced the costly and dangerous blast-and-drill method.

The GBT has surpassed Japan's 53.9-km Seikan tunnel as the world's longest train tunnel.

The 50.5-km Channel Tunnel connecting Britain and France has been pushed into third place.

Sweden has run out of garbage and the country has been forced to import rubbish from other countries to keep its state-of-the-art recycling plants going.

Sweden, which sources almost half its electricity from renewables, was one of the first countries to implement a heavy tax on fossil fuels in 1991.

Sweden's recycling system is so sophisticated that only less than 1 per cent of its household waste has been sent to landfill last year.

Sweden has implemented a cohesive national recycling policy so that even though private companies undertake most of the business of importing and burning waste, the energy goes into a national heating network to heat homes through the extremely cold winter.

Garbage is used as a substitute for fossil fuel.

Sweden's policy of importing waste to recycle from other countries like the UK was termed as a temporary situation.

There's a ban on landfill in European Union countries, so instead of paying the fine they send it to Sweden as a service.

Sweden is implementing automated vacuum systems in residential blocks that move the need for collection transport and underground container systems.

The Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad is set to become the biggest cricket stadium in the world, as far as seating capacity is concerned.

The Gujarat Cricket Association has handed the stadium’s renovation project to Larsen and Turbo (L&T).

L&T was handed a letter of acceptance by GCA vice-president Parimal Nathwani after the demolition of the old ground was complete, which had paved the way for the construction company to take over and develop the proposed stadium.

Currently, there are four Indian stadiums among the top five in the world with regards to seating capacity. These are:

• Kolkata’s Eden Gardens (66,000)
• Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Naya Raipur (65,000)
• Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi (60,000)
• Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad (60,000)

Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium


• Location: Motera, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• Capacity: currently 54,000 people
• Expanded to: 1,10,000 people
• Double the capacity scheduled.
• Current largest seating capacity: Melbourne Cricket Ground (1,0,024 people)
• Motera stadium will meet demand for cricket fans.

A deep water port built in Myanmar’s Sittwe on the Bay of Bengal by India is ready to be commissioned.

An inauguration ceremony for this strategically important facility is expected to take place next month.

China’s SEZ further down the Rakhine coast at Kyaukphyu points to the Asian competitors attempting to expand their spheres of naval influence in the Indian ocean region as in the case of Gwadar in Pakistan and Chabahar in Iran being built by China and India, respectively.

Sittwe is the capital of Rakhine State (which has been in the news for the plight of Rohingya Muslims) in SW Myanmar.

It is located at the mouth of the Kaladan river, which flows into Mizoram in north-eastern India.

India has sought transit through Bangladesh to ship to NE states.

At present the only region through which thoroughfare is available is the Chicken’s Neck in West Bengal, sandwiched between Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Once shipments arrive at Sittwe, they will be transferred to smaller frieght carriers will sail upstream to Mizoram.

Port when unveiled will serve to make a statement in a country long dominated by China, but seen by the Myanmar historian Thant Myint-U, author of the book Where China Meets India, as a geopolitical theatre of competition between New Delhi and Beijing.

Both the government and the armed forces of Myanmar want to reduce their dependance on China.

Also on India’s anvil are 10 border haat points to facilitate local economic activity between Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Myanmar.

Acer Starbreeze, Facebook Oculus, Google, HTC Vive, Samsung and Sony Interactive Entertainment have launched the formation of an international non-profit organisation called The Global Virtual Reality Association to foster and research virtual reality technology and bring together all the players in the industry, including customers.

Partners in the alliance aim to shape VR technology as an emerging industry to develop synergy with the customers.

Advanced research is available to web users, while also taking on board user feedback.

The association’s members will develop and adopt VR globally and share best practices, conduct research and bring the international VR community together as technology advances.

India was ranked 7^th in a list of countries most impacted by terror attacks and terrorism in 2015 as per the GTI or Global Terrorism Index.

This index has been released by a Sydney based think tank Institute for Economics & Peace.

India is one of the 6 Asian countries ranked in the top 10 nations most impacted by terror recording 289 terrorism related deaths in 2015, a 45 percent decline over 2014.

Number of Indian army and paramilitary soldiers killed in 2016 is at a 8 year high.

Indians experienced 7 percent of all terror attacks in the world, the 4th highest after the following countries:

• Iraq:20 percent
• Afghanistan: 14 percent
• Pakistan: 8 percent.
• India in 2015 had fewer terror attacks (797) than only Iraq (2,415), Afghanistan (1,715) and Pakistan (1,008).
• India suffered twice as many attacks as Syria (384)
• OECD countries which are the most developed in the world, witnessed a 650 percent increase in terrorism deaths from 77 in 2014 to 577 in 2015, marking the worst year for the 35 nation group since 9/11.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued an advisory saying it has decided to ban the use of newspapers for wrapping and packing food items, a common practice by small corner shops and street vendors.

In its advisory, FSSAI has asked commissioners of food safety of all states and UTs to take necessary steps to restrict the use of newspapers for packing, serving and storing of food items.

Newspaper ink can contaminate food items leading to serious health concerns.

Cancer related complications can result from the use of newspaper as a food packaging material.

This is the first time FSSAI has brought about a rule with regard to packaging food materials. So far, it has focused on setting standards for packaged food.

Food Retail in India

• 10 million street vendors in 2014(estimate by Union Housing Ministry).
• BCG estimates there are 12 million kirana stores as per a 2014-2015 estimate.
• India has the second largest food retail industry in the world.
• 97% of the Indian food retail industry is unorganised.

The 2016 World Power Language Index in the first week of Dec 2016 announced that English language is the most powerful in the world.

Index was published by the World Economic Forum. It ranked English first in the top 10 most powerful languages in the world.

Hindi language was ranked 10^th in the 2016 PLI

The top 6 languages in the ranking were official languages of the UN

The remaining four languages include the two other BRIC languages Portuguese and Hindi and the tongues of 2 economic heavyweights - Germany and Japan

The basis for the rankings were 20 indicators that sought to measure the usefulness of a language to the representative human being.

English Language

• Dominant language of 3 G7 nations- US, UK and Canada.
• British legacy gives English a global footprint.
• It is the world’s lingua franca.
• 8 of the 10 global financial centres are English speaking cities
• 4 of the 10 most competitive economies have English as an official language.

China on 9^th Dec 2016 launched a new cargo service connecting Tibet and Nepal.

Trucks carrying goods worth 2.8 million dollars left the Tibetan border of Gyrirong en route to Kathmandu.

A train carrying several products also traversed a 5200 km distance between the capital of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou and Xigaze in Tibet was also an important feature.

New rail and road cargo services connect Guangdong, Tibet and Nepal. It was launched with the objective of enhancing trade with the South Asian neighbour.

This is in line with the China and Belt and Silk Road Initiative.

This marks the first time the consignment was sent to Nepal by China after the Prachanda government took charge from former PM KP Sharma Oli.

Transit deal was signed between Nepal and China in March 2016 during Oli’s tenure as Nepal PM.

Deal was signed for ending the hegemony in regard to Nepal’s dependance on trade

During the signing ceremony of the agreement, China agreed to Oli’s request of creating a strategic link between Tibet and Nepal.

Gyirong in Tibet is the last Tibetan country which shares a border with Nepal.

Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada on 9^th Dec 2016 announced that his government and a majority of Canada’s provinces had agreed on a national carbon pricing plan.

PM Trudeau has been working on a national carbon pricing plan with the provinces for months.

The framework agreement on the carbon tax was cited as a historic pact. But Canada’s 10 provincial leaders are not unanimous in agreeing to the carbon tax.

Brad Wali, Saskatchewan Premier has refused to agree to the tax, while Manitoba’s premier said he had not signed on yet because more money should be allocated for health care.

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark settled for a compromise.

As per reports, Trudeau wants to impose a national carbon tax which would rise to Canadian dollar 50 by 2022.

Under the compromise deal, the carbon price would pause at British Columbia’s existing $30 Canadian level in 2020 when an independent expert panel checked how the plan is evolving.

Uncertainty surrounds America’s policies on a low carbon future: US Presidential elect Donald Trump has called climate change a “hoax.”

The Ministry of Shipping has identified fourteen Coastal Economic Zones (CEZ) along the coastline of the country under National Perspective Plan (NPP) of Sagarmala Programme.

• The CEZ are spatial economic regions spread over multiple coastal districts with strong port linkage.
• Within each CEZ, there could be multiple industrial clusters that could contain industrial units with requisite support infrastructure.
• List of CEZs
  
  CEZ-1 : Gujarat - Kandla, Mundra - Petrochemicals, Cement, Furniture
  
  CEZ-2 : Pipavav, Sikka - Apparel, Automotive
  
  CEZ-3 : Dahej, Hazira - Marine clusters
  
  CEZ-4 : Maharashtra, Goa, JNPT, Mumbai - Power, Electronics, Apparel
  
  CEZ-5 : Dighi, Jaigarh, Mormugao - Refining, Steel, Food processing
  
  CEZ-6 : Karnataka, New Mangalore - Petrochemicals
  
  CEZ-7 : Kerala, Cochin - Furniture
  
  CEZ-8 : Tamil Nadu, VOCPT(Tuticorin) - Apparel, Refining
  
  CEZ-9 : Karaikal - Leather processing, Power
  
  CEZ-10 : Chennai, Kamarajar(Ennore) and Katupalli - Steel, Petrochemicals, Electronics, Shipbuilding
  
  CEZ-11 : Andhra Pradesh, Krishnapatnam - Electronics
  
  CEZ-12 : Vizag, Kakinada - Food processing, Petrochemicals, Cement, Apparel
  
  CEZ-13 : Odisha, Paradip, Dhamara - Petrochemicals, Marine processing
  
  CEZ-14 : West Bengal, Kolkata, Haldia - Leather processing
  
  
• Based on the land parcels available in close proximity to a deep draught port and with strong potential for manufacturing, four CEZs have been identified to be taken up in the first phase of development.
• These are in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

The European Union opened legal action on Thursday against seven nations including Germany and Britain for failing to police emissions cheating by carmakers after the Volkswagen scandal.

Germany, Britain, Spain and Luxembourg stand accused of not imposing the same kind of penalties VW faced in the United States over its use of illegal software to mask emissions of health-harming nitrogen oxide on tests.

The European Commission, the bloc's executive unit , has further made Germany and Britain to come to account for refusing to share details on breaches of EU emissions laws uncovered in national investigations this year.

The Czech Republic, Lithuania and Greece have been targeted for not even including within national legislation the possibility of fining Europe's biggest industry over potential violations.

This marks first step in what is known as infringement procedures, allowing the EU to ensure the bloc's 28 nations abide by agreed EU-wide regulations.

Member states have two months to respond.

EU Commission

• President: Jean-Claude Juncker
• The European Commission is the executive of the European Union.
• It promotes its general interest.
• HQ: Brussels, Belgium.

In the Petrotech-2016, 11 memorandum of Understanding were signed.

This includes a consortium agreement between IOCL, BPCL and HPCL, intending to set up India’s biggest oil refinery cum petrochemical complex with a ~60 MMTPA capacity in the State of Maharashtra.

It was also for setting up 5 2G ethanol plants in various parts of the country.

Other MoUs were between:

• MoU with IIT, Guwahati for supporting OIL’s start up initiative
• MoU with IIT, Mumbai for supporting ONGC’s Start-Up Initiative
• MoU between ONGC and Halliburton
• MoU between ONGC and Schlumberger
• Binding MOU (Cost sharing Agreement) for development of Ligno-Cellulosic Ethanol Plants
• Binding MOU (Cost sharing Agreement) for development of Ligno-Cellulosic Ethanol Plants.
• MoU between BPCL and Institute of Chemical Technology
• MoU for Technology Transfer for setting up of 2G Biomass Ethanol Bio-refinery at Bina, M.P.
• MoU for Technology Transfer for setting up of 2G Biomass Ethanol Bio-refinery at Bargarh, Odisha
• MoU for setting up 2nd Generation Ethanol Bio-refinery
• MoU with Technology provider for 2nd Generation Ethanol Bio-refinery

Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda augmented two additional coaches to the existing 5 coach hospital train Lifeline Express for detection and control of:

• Oral, breast and cervical cancer.
• Prevention of stroke.
• Family Health Services.

These additional services will be provided to augment existing restorative surges conducted for sight, hearing, clefts, burn contractures and orthopaedic impairment and treatment of epilepsy and dental problems on the Lifeline Express.

Three fully equipped Operation Theatres will be available for free-of-cost services tot he rural poor across India.

Seven coach Lifeline Express will commence its 178th Lifeline Express Service At Satna in MP from Dec 15 to January 5.

Other LLE projects in 2017 will be in Telangana, Chattisgarh, Punjab, MP, Gujarat and other locations.

About the Lifeline Express

• Known as Magic Train of India.
• First hospital train in the world.
• Served as a model for other hospital trains and river boat hospitals.
• Treated over one million disabled poor in rural India.
• Treatment is free of cost.
• Donated services from: 200,000 medical professionals
• Current number of LLE projects: 177
• Performed more than one lakh surgeries for restoration of mobility, vision, hearing , correction of facial deformities.
• LLE has provided treatment for epilepsy and dental ailments.

Chitra Ramkrishna stepped down as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Stock Exchange. The 53-year-old had more than 15 months of her five year term as CEO left.

Group President J. Ravichandran held charge as CEO with immediate effect.

Ramkrishna was part of the team that set up the exchange in 1992. She was appointed as joint MD in Sept 2009. She was elevated to the post of MD and CEO in April 1, 2013.

She was the first woman MD and CEO of NSE.

NSE has set up a selection committee to search and recommend a candidate for post of CEO and MD. Main contenders are Ashish Chouhan and Rajnikant Patel

Ramkrishna was recently named Chairperson of the board of World Federation of Exchanges.

A CA by profession, she started her banking career with IDBI in 1985.

NSE is preparing for an IPO.

A small village in Thane’s district, Murbad Taluka is set to become the country’s first cashless one.

For Dhasai village, bypassing cash transactions is a result of efforts by NGO Swatantryaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak in collaboration with the Bank of Baroda. The NGO approached the bank with the request to provide infrastructure.

NGO’s chairman Ranjit Sarvakar is also Director at Maharashtra Military School in Murbad.

After the former approached the bank with a request to provide infrastructure, Dhasai was selected as the population is less than 10,000.

There are 3-4 such villages in every taluka in Thane which can go cashless.

RuPay cards and cashless transactions were explained to the villagers who then became part of the digital economy revolution.

The 7th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) will be held from 2nd – 4th December, 2016 at Science City, Kolkata.

The mega event is being organised by the World Ayurveda Foundation with support of Ministry of AYUSH, and the State Government of West Bengal.

To facilitate development and growth of AYUSH system of medicine, the Ministry of AYUSH is also organising AROGYA Expo from 1st-4th December, 2016 at Science City, Kolkata to coincide with the 7th World Ayurveda Congress.

The theme of this 7th World Ayurveda Congress is - ‘Strengthening the Ayurveda Ecosystem’ and the congregation will bring together stakeholders in the Ayurveda sector from India and abroad.

There are three major components of the program this year :

(1) Public Outreach session which comprises of the Ayurveda Expo, the Ayurveda Clinics for the general public and Public Lectures.

(2) Influencing Policy and

(3) Promoting Science.

This year’s World Ayurveda Congress will be the largest ever as compared to the earlier World Ayurveda Congress.


These were held at Kochi 2002, Pune 2006, Jaipur 2008, Bengaluru 2010, Bhopal 2012 and Delhi 2014.

More than 1893 scientific papers of international caliber are being considered for presentation in over 30 multi-track scientific sessions.

‘Magical Piano’, a short film by the Toonz Media Group has won an award at the prestigious UNESCO Salon Youth Video Competition 2016.

In an event held in Marrakech, Morocco at the iconic COP 22 Green Zone in the UNESCO Pavilion on November 14, the award was handed over

‘Magical Piano’ was created in association with the Toonz-Disney collaborative venture ‘Kahaani Masters’;

This is a story-writing contest organised to find out the finest story masters in the country.

About Magical Piano and UNESCO Salon Youth Video Competition 2016.

• ‘Magical Piano’ is the story of a child who receives a magical piano for his birthday.
• Using the magic of music, the kid goes own to clean the whole planet and then the whole universe. This unique story was written by Mayul Verma.
• Mayul is an upper primary student from Agra, India.
• The Salon Youth Video Competition was established by Salon Films, with the support of UNESCO.
• Its aim is to promote and encourage the next generation to take part in sustainable development.

Kerala’s Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple has decided to ease dress norms for women devotees.

Women are now allowed to wear salwar kameez and churidar while offering prayers at the temple shrine.

The decision was taken after woman advocate Riya Rahe issued a petition at Kerala HC permitting women to wear salwar kameez inside temple premises.

This is not the first time temple’s conservative rules were challenged. The criticised dress code of the temple required men to wear dhoti and women to wear sari, dhoti or pavada and blouse while going to the temple .

Modern outfits are still not permitted such as jeans, sleeveless tops and dresses.

The decision has been opposed by Temple’s senior priest, Nedumpilli Tharanalloor Parameshwaran Namboodiripad, who has voiced a strong opposition to the decision, saying it is against the age-old traditions of the shrine.

About Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple

• Richest temple in the world.
• Belongs to the 16th century.
• Temple administrative committee chairman: K Haripal

Asia’s first and longest cycle highway was on 26th Nov 2016 inaugurated in UP by CM Akhilesh Yadav.

• It is India’s first cycle highway. The 207 km cycle highway connects the Taj City Agra and the Lion Safari at Etawah.
• Constructed by the UP PWD, the cycle highway is 7 feet wide. It runs parallel to the main highway. It is separated by a divider to ensure the safety of cyclists. The track connects 92 villages across two districts.

It also crosses Chambal and Yamuna river on its way

Tourist destinations such as Naugava ka Quila, Raja Bhoj ki Haveli and Bateshwarnath Temple also fall in its way.

Some facts about Uttar Pradesh

• It is North Indian state.
• Notable landmarks: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort. Bara Imambara and Chota Imambara
• Land area: 243, 286 km2
• Founded: January 25, 1950
• Population: 204.2 million in 2012
• Capital: Lucknow
• Judiciary: Allahabad

The SC on 30th Nov 2016 ordered all cinema halls to play the Indian national anthem before the screening of the films.

Apex court also directed all present must stand up till anthem ends in respect, to instil a feeling of patriotism and nationalism.

Top court also directed the cinema halls to display the National Flag on the screen when the anthem was played.

Bench stated it is the duty of every person to show respect when the national anthem is played under Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act of 1951. The Union Government agreed with the guidelines.

Court also issued a complete ban on commercial exploitation of the national anthem and flag. It banned dramatisation of the anthem or any use in variety or entertainment shows.

It also banned display, recitation or use of the abridged version of the National Anthem .

Indian Tricolour: Fast Facts

• National Flag is a horizontal rectangular tricolour of deep saffron, white and Indian green.
• The Ashoka Chakra, a 24 spoke wheel in navy blue is at its centre.
• Adopted on: July 22, 1947
• Dimension Proportion: 3:2
• Designed by: Pingali Venkayya