Current Affairs 24th November 2017 (24/11/2017)

National Current Affairs

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for continuation of Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls, . Child Protection Services and National Creche Scheme till  30.11.2018 with an outlay of over Rs.41,000 crore.
• Indian Railways is preparing a comprehensive plan for imparting training to all employees of Indian Railways with a view to upgrade skill & knowledge. This comprehensive training programme named as Project Saksham will help boost productivity and efficiency.
• The government has launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – Saubhagya Web Portal. Through this online platform every State would feed in the current status of progress of electrification works, hence enabling the creation of a system of accountability for the State utility/ DISCOM and help in increasing their viability.
• The Ministry of Minority Affairs organised the fourth Hunar Haat exhibition at India International Trade Fair (IITF) at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. It was organised under USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills & Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) scheme.
• The Women and Child Development Ministry celebrated Hausala-2017, a Child Rights Week in the period between the Children’s Day on 14th November and the International Child Rights Day on 20th November.
• Birth anniversary of Birsa Munda was observed on November 15. In recognition of his impact on the national movement, the state of Jharkhand was created on his birth anniversary in 2000.
• India Expert Advisory Group on Measles & Rubella (IEAG-MR) has commended India on the progress of the measles and rubella vaccination campaign. The expert member group concluded that ‘the country is on the right track’.
• The Health Ministry has decided to change the treatment strategy for TB patients from thrice weekly to daily drug regimen using fixed dose combinations for treatment. Earlier, the Ministry was providing the thrice weekly regimen for the treatment of TB. Recently the government had announced the launch of daily regimen for TB patients across the country under The Revised National TB Control Programme.
• The Government has launched National Power Portal (NPP)- a centralised Platform for Collation and Dissemination of Indian Power Sector Information.
• Banglar Rasogolla of West Bengal and Mamallapuram stone sculptures of Tamil Nadu has been given Geographical Indication Tag by the Geographical Indication (GI) Registry and Intellectual Property India.

International Current Affairs

• The 31st Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit was Said in Manila, Philippines in the presence of world leaders including Narendra Modi, Donald Trump, Rodrigo Duterte and Aung San Sue Kyi.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 12th East Asia Summit and the RCEP Leader’s meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Manila. During his 3 day visit, Mr Modi met the U.S. President Donald Trump. He also held talks with the Prime Ministers of Australia, Vietnam, Japan, New Zealand, China and the Sultan of Brunei.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the significance of India-France Strategic Partnership is not limited to the bilateral context, but acts as a force for peace and stability in the regional and global context. Interacting with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian who called on him in New Delhi, Mr Modi said, he is looking forward to receive French President Macron in India at his earliest convenience.
• The military in Zimbabwe launched a ‘coup’ on November 15, 2017, calling it a “bloodless correction” to target “Criminals” surrounding long-time leader Robert Mugabe.
• Set to become a legal entity in December, the India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA) plans to  add 1,000 gigawatt (GW) of solar power across the globe by 2030 with an investment of nearly 1,200 billion euros. ISA’s future plans were made public in Bonn on the sidelines of the ongoing UN climate change conference (COP23).
• Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2018 has been released by environmental organisation Germanwatch. The report was made public on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change negotiations (COP23) in Bonn. India is ranked 14th, an improvement from its 20th position last year.
• Sampriti, 2017, a Joint Indo- Bangladesh Training Exercise was held in Mizoram. It is the seventh such exercise in the SAMPRITI series.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a ‘rice field laboratory’ named after him at International Rice Research Institute, IRRI in Los Banos in Philippines.
• World Diabetes Day was observed on November 14. The theme for World Diabetes Day 2017 was Women and Diabetes.

Business & Economics Current Affairs

• Union Cabinet has given its approval for the creation of the posts of Chairman and Technical Members of the National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) under GST. This paves the way for the immediate establishment of this apex body.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA has removed restrictions on export of all types of pulses. Briefing media after the              Cabinet Meeting in New Delhi, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, the decision will give farmers greater choice in marketing their produce and enhance their incomes. He said, opening of export of pulses will help the farmers to dispose of their products at remunerative prices and encourage them to expand the area of sowing.
• Moody’s Investors Service upgraded India’s local and foreign currency issuer ratings to Baa2 from Baa3 and changed the outlook on the rating to stable from positive. This upgrade comes after 13 years. India sovereign credit rating was last upgraded in January 2004 to Baa2 from Baa3.
• Taking into account the serious pollution levels in Delhi and adjoining areas, Petroleum Ministry in consultation with Public Oil Marketing Companies has decided for preponement of BS-VI grade auto fuels in NCT of Delhi w.e.f 01.04.2018 instead of 01.04.2020.
• Centre has given the go-ahead for setting up India’s first mega coastal economic zone (CEZ) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra as part of a plan to develop 14 such industrial clusters to spur manufacturing and generate jobs.
• Senior officials of India and European (EU) held discussions on the long stalled free trade pact, officially dubbed as Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) and expressed willingness to address issues in a timeboung manner
• RBI Governor Urjit Patel has been appointed to the Financial Stability Institute Advisory Board or the Bank of International Settlement (BIS), a global financial organisation owned by major central banks from across the world.

Sports Current Affairs

• Two-time Olympic-medalist Sushil Kumar, India’s lone woman Olympic medal winner Sakshi Malik and Geeta Phogat won gold medal in their respective categories in the National Wrestling championship in Indore.
• India’s campaign in the China Super Series Premier Badminton has ended. World No. 2 P V Sindhu suffered a shock straight-game loss to Hitherto unknown Chinese Gao
• Fangjie 21-11, 21-10 in the quarter-finals in Fuzhou. Newly crowned national champions Saina Nehwal and H S Prannoy were ousted in the pre-quarterfinals stage.