Weekly Current Affairs 27 th Nov-2 nd Dec
Banking & Finance 1. India First Life launches Insurance Khata : India First Life Insurance has launched the first ever Micro-insurance plan insurance khata covering people in the informal sector, agricultural labourers with seasonal incomes. 2. ADB to give $20 billion to India over 5 years: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has decided to increase the annual funding to India up to $4 billion from the existing $2.7 billion from 2018 to increase the pace of economic transformation. With this, ADB s annual sovereign funding to India will increase from $2 billion to $3 billion whereas the private sector funding will be doubled to $1 billion. 3. PNB increases bulk deposit rate by 0.5%. Punjab National bank (PNB) has raised the interest rate on bulk deposit of over Rs 1 crore by 0.5 percent. The new rates will be effective from 1 st December. Earlier, State Bank of India (SBI) has announced raising interest rate on bulk deposits by 1 percentage point across select maturities. National News. 1. Odisha Government announces Fish Pond Yojna: The Odisha Government has launched the Fish Pond Yojna to increase the fish production in the state. The scheme aims to create additional 2,200 hectares of fresh water aquaculture with a budgetary provision of 96 crore rupees. 2. Real Time Governance centre inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh: Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu has inaugurated the Asia s Number One Command Control Room, Real time Governance. 15 programmes aiming family happiness will be monitored in Real Time from the data centre. 3. Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad: The 8 th Annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister NarendraModi and Ivanka Trump in Hyderabad, Talengana. The summit was co-hosted by National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog and US Government in association with Telangana Government.
The summit was held in South Asia for the first time. 4. Prime Minister unveils Hyderabad Metro: Prime Minister NarendraModi has recently flagged off the Hyderabad Metro Rail, dedicating it to the Nation. The first phase of Metro stretches for 30 kilometers from Miyapur to Nagole. 5. Health Ministry and ICMR launch India Hypertension Management Initiative: With an aim to reduce morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have jointly launched India Hypertension Management Initiative. The initiative aims to reduce the disabilities and deaths associated with the cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of deaths in India. 6. Tamil Nadu tops in Organ Donation: Tamil Nadu has secured the first place in organ transplantation in India. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisationhas awarded the state for the third consecutive time. 7. SAUBHAGYA Scheme launched in Manipur: PradhanMantriSahajBijliHarGharYojna (SAUBHAGYA), Under the Union Ministry of Power has been launched in Manipur. The scheme was launched by the Ministry of Power in 2017 to provide universal household electrification in all the rural and urban areas of the country. 8. DharmendraPradhan dedicates Paradip-Raipur-Rachi pipeline to the Nation: Union Petroleum Minister DharmendraPradhanhas dedicated to the nation, 1073 km long Paradip-Raipur-Rachi pipelinein Chhattisgarh s Korba. This pipeline project is expected to provide uninterrupted supply of petroleum products to Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand. 9. Government constitutes 15 th Finance Commission under the Chairmanship of NK Singh: The Union Government has constituted 15 th Finance Commission for recommending the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes between the Centre and states. It will submit its report by 30 th October 2019. 10. HEFA approves projects of over 2000 crore rupees for six higher education institutions:
Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) has given approval for projects worth 2000 crore rupees for improving the research infrastructure of six higher educational institutions. These institutes are- IITs Bombay, Madras, Delhi, Kharagpur, Kanpur and NIT Suratkal. 11. Clean Sea 2017: The Indian Coast Guard has recently conducted a Regional Level Marine Oil Pollution Response Exercise- Clean Sea 2017 at Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The exercise aims to tackle the disaster of Oil Spills according to the provisions mentioned in National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan. 12. PM inaugurates HT Leadership Summit in New Delhi: Prime Minister NarendraModi has inaugurated the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi. Former US President Barack Obama and Afghanistan s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah will also address the 2-day long summit. 1. India-Russia anti-terror pact: International News & Foreign Affairs With an aim to control terrorism and the threats posed by narcotics, India and Russia have signed a comprehensive anti-terror agreement. The agreement was signed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Russia s Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev. 2. INSPIRE 2017: The first ever International Symposium to Promote Innovation & Research in Energy Efficiency (INSPIRE 2017) was recently held in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The symposium was organized by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) in partnership with the World Bank and Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE). 3. SAM: World s first AI politician developed: Scientists from New Zealand have developed the world s first Artificial Intelligence politician- SAM. It can answer people s queries regarding local issues such as housing, education and immigration. 4. Air Services Agreement between India and Greece:
India and Greece have signed Air Services Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New and Renewable Energy. 5. IMMSAREX 2017: The Prime Minister of Bangladesh SheihkHasina has inaugurated the International Multilateral Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) 2017 in Bangladesh. The exercise took place under the control of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). 6. Russia will help India to set up National Crisis Response Centre: Russia has decided to assist India in setting up a National Crisis Response Centre in the country to handle disaster and emergency situations. 7. MoU between India and UK in Urban Transport Sector: India and UK have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in urban transport sector by sharing expertize and latest technology to find out efficient mobility solutions. 8. IISc ranks 29 th in the Global University Employability Ranking 2017: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has achieved 29 th spot among 129 universities in the Global University Employability Ranking 2017 published by Times Higher Education. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi ranked 145 th and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay ranked 148 th. 9. MoU between India and Italy in health sector: India an d Italy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for increasing bilateral cooperation in health sector. There will be exchange and training of doctors, officials, healthcare professionals and experts. Mou also provides for short term training of human resources in health to upgrade the material and infrastructural resources involved in the health care, medical education and training. 10. India- Singapore signs Bilateral Agreement for Naval Cooperation: India and Singapore have signed a Bilateral Agreement for Naval Cooperation to provide logistical support to the Indian Navy ships at the Singapore s Changi Naval Base located near the disputed South China Sea. The agreement will allow the refuellingand restocking of the Indian ships at Singapore s Naval Base.
New Appointments & Person in News 1. GautamLahiri- New President of Press Club of India: Senior journalist GautamLahiri has been elected as the President of Press Club of India. ManmohanBharati has become its new Vice-President. 2. Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters wins Miss Universe 2017: South Africa s Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters has been crowned as the Miss Universe 2017. With this, she has become the second South African Woman to win this title. 3. Karan Pierce- UK s first ever female ambassador to UN: Karan Pierce has become the UK s first ever female ambassador to the United Nations. 4. Shaktikanta Das: India s Sherpa for G20: The former Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das has been appointed as the India s Sherpa for G20. In this capacity, he will represent India s leader in G20 by coordinating on the agenda of the summit. 5. Pradeep Singh Kharola: New Air India CMD: Senior IAS officer Pradeep Singh Kharola has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Air India. He will succeed Rajiv Bansal. 6. Justice SatrughanaPujahari- New Madras HC Judge: Justice SatrughanaPujahari has been sworn in as a judge of the Madras High Court. He has been transferred from Orissa High Court to the Madras High Court. 7. First Sikh woman elected as Mayor in US: PreetDidbal has been elected as the Mayor of Yuba city in California. With this she has become the first Sikh woman to achieve the position in US. 8. DiaMirza becomes UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India: Actor DiaMirza has been appointed as UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India.
She has been chosen by the United Nations for her contribution to environment conservation. Defence & Science 1. Ajeya Warrior 2017: India-UK combined Military Exercise: Indo-UK combined Military Exercise Ajeya Warrior 2017 was recently started in Rajasthan. It was the third joint military exercise between the two countries. The 14 day long exercise aims to increase the mutual cooperation and coordination between the two countries. 2. North Korea tests Hwasong-15: North Korea has successfully test fired Hwasong-15 which is nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It is North Korea s most powerful ICBM. 1. 1 st December: World AIDS Day: Important days With an aim to spread awareness about Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrom (AIDS), the World Aids Day is celebrated every year on 1 st December across the Globe. The theme for this year is- Right to Health. 2. 29 th November: International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People: International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People is observed every year on 29 th November by the United Nations. The day marks the anniversary of passing the Resolution 181. Sports 1. RavichandranAshwin breaks Dennis Lillee s record of fastest 300 Test wickets: Indian Off Spin bowler RavichandranAshwin has become the fastest bowler to get 300 wickets in his 54 th test match. With this, he broke Dennis Lillee s recordof fastest 300 Test wickets.
2. France beats Belgium to win first Davis Cup Title in 16 years: France has defeated Belgium by 3-2 to win Davis Cup for the first time in 16 years. It is the 10 th overall victory of France in Davis Cup. 3. India beats Pakistan to win Asian Men s Kabaddi Championship: The Indian Men s team has defeated Pakistan 36-22 to win the Asian Kabaddi Championship 2017 in Iran. 4. India s women team beats South Korea to win Asian Kabaddi Championship: The Indian women s team has beaten South Korea by 42-20 in the finals of Asian Kabaddi Championship 2017 in Iran. 5. G Sathiyan clinches gold at the Spanish Open: Indian Table-Tennis player G Sathiyan has won the gold medal at the Spanish Open. He has defeated Japan s Kazuhiro Yoshimara by 4-2. Awards 1. Professor Hiroshi Marui receives 3 rd ICCR Distinguished Indologist Award: Professor Hiroshi Marui has been awarded with the 3 rd Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Distinguished Indologist Award for the year 2017. Indology is a subset of Asian studies that includes the academic study of history, cultures, languages and literature of India.