Current Affairs Assam – November 2017
( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the month of November 2017 )
Current Affairs Assam – November 2017 e-Magazine
November 1
Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics Forum
The Balipara Foundation is holding the Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics Forum, 2017 at Guwahati on November 2 and 3.
At the Forum, the conversations will revolve around the theme of Communities, Conservation and Botany. The plenary sessions will explore the role of Botany and Communities in the Conservation of ecosystems through the lens of Naturenomics™, Innovation and Information.
The conference will serve as a platform to explore the importance of conservation in our world of botany, to understand the role of the Guardians of Creation and how they are engaging in conservation in a way that supports their local economies and livelihoods and, exploring reforms required in governance & policy that can have an impact on making conservation more participatory, hence, more effective.
India in Top 100 in Ease of Doing Business Report by World Bank
The rise to the 100th position from 130 last year made India one of the top 10 best-improved countries and rounded off a day of good news on the economic front for the government.
The World Bank’s ‘Doing Business 2018 — Reforming to Create Jobs’ report ranks 190 countries on the basis of a combined score on 10 parameters.
There is one major caveat: the WB report based its report by talking to stakeholders only in two cities: Mumbai and Delhi. If one were to also factor into the difficulties in starting a business in India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, or other states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, India’s ranking would take a big hit. To plug the lacunae in the WB report, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) is undertaking its own much wider evaluation across the country to find out where is real work is to be done.
Despite India’s phenomenal progress, its ranking comes below most of its fellow BRICS countries. Russia topped the BRICS with a ranking of 35 in 2018, followed by China (78) and South Africa (82). Of the BRICS, only Brazil (125) was ranked lower than India. However, India has shown more improvement over the past four years than the other BRICS members.
Meanwhile, India was outranked by a host of Northeast and Southeast Asian economies. South Korea (4), Hong Kong (5), Taiwan (15), Thailand (26), and Japan (34) all figure in the top 50 spots. Other Asian countries like Mongolia (62), Vietnam (68), and Indonesia (72) also outranked India.
Point2Remember –
- New Zealand has topped the Ease of Doing Business rankings in 2017 and 2018.
- Singapore topped the Ease of Doing Business rankings in 2007-2016.
FACTFILE – WB’s Ease of Doing Business Index
- The ease of doing business index is an index created by Simeon Djankov at the World Bank Group. The academic research for the report was done jointly with professors Oliver Hart (economist) and Andrei Shleifer.
- Higher rankings (a low numerical value) indicate better, usually simpler, regulations for businesses and stronger protections of property rights.
- Empirical research funded by the World Bank to justify their work show that the economic growth impact of improving these regulations is strong.
Lifetime Pensions for ‘Hindi Satyagrahis’- Haryana
The state government of Haryana has announced lifetime monthly pension of Rs 10,000 for ‘Hindi Satyagrahis’ and those from the state who were jailed during the Emergency.
The state government also announced that it would be providing enhanced financial assistance to World War-II veterans and their widows.
November 2
Rafael Nadal secures year-end World No 1 spot
The 31-year-old Nadal has become the oldest and first year-end No.1 over the age of 30 since the ATP Rankings were established in 1973.
This is his fourth time to be crowned world No.1 at the end of the season, after 2008, 2010 and 2013.
Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal secured a year-end top position in the ATP Rankings following his victory over South Korean talent Chung Hyeon in the second round.
FACTFILE – Rafael Nadal
- Known as “The King of Clay”, he is widely regarded as the greatest clay-court player in history.
- Nadal’s evolution into an all-court threat has established him as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
- Nadal has won 16 Grand Slam singles titles, 30 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles, 19 ATP World Tour 500 tournaments, and the 2008 Olympic gold medal in singles.
- In majors, Nadal has won 10 French Open titles, three US Open titles, two Wimbledon titles, and one Australian Open title.
- In 2010, he became the seventh male player in history and youngest of five in the Open Era to achieve the Career Grand Slam at age 24.
- He is the second male player, after Andre Agassi, to complete the singles Career Golden Slam.
- In 2011, Nadal was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.
Assam Signs MoUs with Singapore for Skilling State’s Youth
Assam government has MoUs and Terms of Reference (ToR) with Singapore for skilling youth of the state. The MoU and ToR for North East Skills Centre (NESC) were signed between Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department, of Assam government and ITE Education Service, Singapore. An MoU for Guwahati City Greening was inked between the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority and Singapore Corporation Enterprise.
Mukesh Ambani is the Asia’s Richest Person: Forbes
Mukesh Ambani overtook China’s Hui Ka Yan to become Asia’s richest person with a total wealth of $42.1 billion, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire’s list.
Despite dropping to the second spot, Korea’s Lees of the Samsung empire still saw its wealth soar by $11.2 billion to $40.8 billion this year as shares of Samsung Electronics moved up 75% over the past year.
According to Asia’s 50 Richest Families compiled by Forbes, Hong Kong’s Kwok family, Asia’s richest real estate household that controls Sun Hung Kai Properties, ranked third this year with a net wealth of $40.4 billion. Thailand’s Chearavanont family of the Charoen Pokphand Group took the fourth spot on the list, with a net worth of $36.6 billion.
The Ambanis are the only Indian family on the top 10 richest families list in Asia. Other richest Indian families on the list feature the Premjis (rank 11, $19.2 billion net worth), the Hindujas (12th, $18.8 billion), the Mittals (14th, $17.2 billion), the Mistrys (16th, $16.1 billion) and the Birlas (19th, $14.1 billion).
21st World Congress of Mental Health inaugurated by President of India
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the 21st World Congress of Mental Health being organized by the World Federation for Mental Health in partnership with Caring Foundation and other institutions in New Delhi.
The World Congress of Mental Health is taking place in India for the first time.
Maximum Age of Joining NPS Increased from 60 to 65 years
The Ministry of Finance increased the maximum age of joining the National Pension System from the existing 60 years to 65 years under NPS – Private Sector (i.e. all citizen and corporate model).
In accordance with several initiatives undertaken by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) during the last few years, now any Indian citizen, resident or non-resident, between the age of 60 – 65 years, can join NPS and continue up to the age of 70 years.
FACTFILE– National Pension Scheme
- National Pension Scheme (NPS), a government-sponsored pension scheme, was launched in January 2004 for government employees.
- It was opened to all sections in 2009.
A subscriber can contribute regularly in a pension account during her working life, withdraw a part of the corpus in a lumpsum and use the remaining corpus to buy an annuity to secure a regular income after retirement.
Neelamani N. Raju appointed Karnataka’s First Woman Police Chief
Neelmani N. Raju has been appointed as Karnataka’s first woman Director General and Inspector General of Police.
She will take over from Rupak Kumar Dutta, who is retiring from service.
Delhi to Host 9th Global Green Film Fest
The ninth edition of CMS Vatavaran – an international film festival on environment and wildlife – has begun in New Delhi. It will showcase 113 films, including four from Kashmir, one of the most ecologically sensitive zones facing the threat of global warming.
Theme of the fest is- “Conservation 4 Water”.
November 3
Swiss agency to review Manipur Climate Change Plan
The Indian Himalayans Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP) team has reiterated that they will help Manipur in making a comprehensive policy on climate change issues.
IHCAP, which is a project under the global programme climate change and environment of the Swiss Agency for Development and Corporation (SDC), aims to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities in the Himalayas and enhancing the capacities of research institutions and decision makers and it being implemented in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
IHCAP is planning to train 2000 state level officials for climate change adaptation projects in 12 Indian Himalayan states. It also plans to train 300 journalists in the region besides awarding 12 media fellowships.
PM Modi inaugurated World Food India 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the most anticipated International Mega Food event- World Food India 2017, the biggest congregation of global investors and business leaders of major food companies.
The event is organised by the Food Processing Industries Ministry in Delhi. The three-day event aims to transform food economy and realise the vision of doubling of farmers’ income by establishing India as a preferred investment destination.
It is the first International mega event to encompass the entire food spectrum from production to consumption and to attract both investment and trading in the Food Processing Sector in India.
The main theme of World Food India 2017 is ‘Transforming the Food Economy’. The conferences will be organised at Vigyan Bhawan and the exhibition will be showcased at C-Hexagon Park, India Gate.
“PRABAL DOSTYK 2017” – Indo-Kazakhstan Joint Exercise begins
The joint exercise is aimed at enhancing the military ties between the two countries as also at achieving interoperability between the two armies. The training contingents comprise of platoon strength from the 11th Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army and a similar strength of the Kazakhstan Army.
A 14 days joint training exercise “PRABAL DOSTYK – 2017” between the Indian Army and the Kazakhstan Army commenced with the Opening Ceremony at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.
India’s First Black Buck Conservation Reserve in Allahabad
Uttar Pradesh cabinet decided to make India’s first conservation reserve for blackbuck in Allahabad’s Meja. The decision taken for the protection of black deer will also help in wooing tourists.
The other decisions taken by the UP cabinet includes developing eco-tourism in nearly two dozen places in the state. Apart from this, the decision to open 13 commercial courts in the state was also taken.
Blackbucks, known for their majestic spiral horns and coat colour contrasts, are found in grasslands and open forests.
They once ruled the open savannahs of north and central India, but are now restricted to just a few patches and habitats, primarily due to human population growth, ecosystem degradation and hunting.
