Current Affairs Assam – November 2017 e-Magazine
November 7
New industrial policy for NE likely before Summity
The Centre is likely to announce the latest version of the North East Industrial and Investors Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) ahead of the Global Business Summit in Guwahati, this was assured by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Assam CM had called on him to discuss about the forthcoming Summit scheduled to be held in February, which is likely to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister. “Early announcement of NEIIP is very critical for industrial investment in Assam and the Northeast. This policy will leverage industrial growth in the entire region,” he said.
Apprising the Union Minister about the preparations for the Summit, the Chief Minister also sought his cooperation for turning the event into a launchpad for industrial growth of the State.
Consultation on Brahmaputra river basin from Nov 10
The Water, Climate and Hazard (WATCH) Division of Aaranyak a city-based leading environmental research and advocacy organisation, is organising a ‘Regional Consultation on Cooperation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the Brahmaputra River Basin’ with a two-day programme from November 10.
The purpose of the consultation is to deliberate on the changing scenario of water-induced disasters (flood, flash flood, river bank erosion, excessive sedimentation of river beds and banks etc.), and climate change impact (erratic rainfall, extreme events, drought like situations, effect on agriculture etc.) in the Brahmaputra river basin as a whole.
It is also going to discuss new and emerging issues like development of waterways in the Brahmaputra river basin both in India and Bangladesh in relation to hazard mitigation and overall sustainable management of the water resources of the Brahmaputra.
India, Bangladesh Joint Military Combat Exercise ‘Sampriti’ Begins
Army personnel of India and Bangladesh are going to take part in a joint training exercise ‘Sampriti-7’ in Meghalaya and Mizoram. This is the 7th edition of the joint training exercise.
The 13-day exercise will be conducted at India’s Jungle Warfare School at Vairengte in Mizoram and at the Joint Training Node at Umroi in Meghalaya.
Long-Range Cruise Missile- ‘Nirbhay’ Test-Fired
India conducted a flight test of its indigenously designed and developed long-range sub-sonic cruise missile ‘Nirbhay’. It can carry warheads of up to 300 kg from a test range at Chandipur along the Odisha coast.
This was the fifth experimental test of the homegrown missile system. The test fire was carried out by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
FACTFILE – Nirbhay
- It is a long range, all-weather, low-cost subsonic cruise missile designed and developed in India by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
- The missile can be launched from multiple platforms and is capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads.
- It is currently under development and undergoing flight trials
November 8
Indian Short Film ‘The School Bag’ Wins Award in Montreal
Indian short film ‘The School Bag’ has won the ‘Best Short Film Award’ at the South Asian Film Festival of Montreal (SAFFM). It tells a story based in Pakistan. The movie is directed by Dheeraj Jindal. Actress Rasika Dugal plays the mother in the short film.
Surat bags ‘Best City Bus Services Award’
Gujarat state is considered as one of the best models that have provided employment, economy, infrastructure and law and order to the state. It has been chosen for the ‘Best City Bus Services Award’ by the Central government. Notably, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs gave the award to Surat Municipal Corporation for operating the ‘best city bus services’.
The corporation bagged the award for attracting 87 percent of a private vehicle and auto-rickshaw users to its buses. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs announced these awards to promote the best practices in urban transport and these are presented at the annual conference.
‘Grahak Sadak Koyla Vitaran App’ -launched by Coal India
Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Railways & Coal has launched ‘Grahak Sadak Koyla Vitaran App’ benefitting customers of Coal India Limited (CIL) lifting coal through road mode.
The customer friendly app, launched recently in Kolkata on CIL’s Foundation Day, helps achieve transparency in despatch operations, as a tool to monitor, whether the despatches are made on the fair principle of ‘First in First Out’.
November 9
Kerala Govt launched ‘She Pad’ Scheme for school girls
Kerala government launched “She Pad,’’ a scheme to distribute free sanitary napkins to girl students from classes VI to XII in government and aided private schools affiliated to the state school board.
This is the first time that a state government is distributing sanitary napkins to school students. In this academic year, the scheme will be implemented in 300 schools in 114 panchayats by the Kerala Women Development Corporation.
India tops Commonwealth Shooting Championship with 20 Medals
The Indian shooting contingent finished the Commonwealth Shooting Championship 2017 with the best tally of 20 medals. Indian shooters won a total of six gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals in the competition. On the competition’s final day, Satyendra Singh and Sanjeev Rajput won a gold and a silver respectively in the men’s 50m rifle three positions.
FACTFILE – The 2017 Commonwealth Shooting Federation Championships
- It was held at the Belmont Shooting Complex in Brisbane, Australia from 28 October to 8 November 2017.
- It was held in tandem with that year’s Oceania Shooting Championships and served as a test event for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Saina Nehwal Beats PV Sindhu to Become National Champion for 3rd Time
Saina Nehwal became the national champion for the third time. She defeated PV Sindhu in world Level Ranking in the women’s singles final of Senior National Badminton Championships, in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Saina played nationals thrice winning the title each time.
FACTFILE – The Indian National Badminton Championships
- The Indian National Badminton Championships is a tournament organized to crown the best badminton players in India since 1934.
- Until into the 1960s years were open the championships and also foreign players could play the championships.
“Operation Digital Blackboard” campaign soon to run in every school
HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar envisaged Operation Digital Blackboard in every school in the next few years. The main focus will be five themes – Digital Education, Physical Education, Value Education, Life Skills Education and Experiential Learning. The main aim of the workshop is to provide holistic education relevant for 21st century India and to bring together key stakeholders from various NGOs, private sector and individuals to deliberate on key themes in the education sector.
Over the course of two days a total of 157 organizations/experts will be making their point via presentations. The participants will be divided theme-wise and detailed discussion would be held amongst the participants.
