IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 16, 17, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 16, 17, 2017

Cabinet Approvals on 17 February 2017

i. The Union Government chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved setting up of Food Legumes Research Platform (FLRP) at Amlaha, Sehore in Madhya Pradesh for meeting the emerging food security challenges.

ii. The Cabinet approved the signing of Air Services Agreement between India and Rwanda which will enable the airlines of the two countries to operate services in each others’ territory.

iii. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval to award contract in 31 contract areas under Discovered Small Fields Policy 2016 undertaken last year

iv. The Union Cabinet approved the merger of the State Bank of India with its 5 subsidiary banks namely State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur; State Bank of Hyderabad; State Bank of Mysore; State Bank of Patiala and State Bank of Travancore.

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 15, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 15, 2017

PSLV-C37 carrying CARTOSAT-2 series earth observation satellite lifts off from Sriharikota: ISRO

i. PSLV-C37 carrying CARTOSAT-2 series earth observation satellite and 103 nano satellites has lifted off from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

ii. PSLV-C37 successfully placed in orbit India’s CARTOSAT-2 series satellite and two other satellites.India successfully launched record 104 satellites, including CARTOSAT-2 series weather observation satellite, in a single mission onboard PSLV-C37 rocket.

Haryana govt imposes curbs on liquor consumption

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 14, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 14, 2017

• Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today inaugurated the 11th biennial edition of International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition and declared the Aero India 2017 open at Air Force Station, Yelahanka in Bengaluru. 
• Highlights of this Event : 
• This edition of Aero India, for the first time, combines the defence and civil aviation segments into a holistic event with the co involvement of the defence and civil aviation ministries in the event.  
• This exhibition sees the participation of 549 companies with 53 Aircraft gracing the event. 

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2017

• PM Narendra Modi extends greetings on World Radio Day 2017
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on the World Radio Day on 13 February 2017. Terming radio as “a wonderful way to interact, learn & communicate”, the PM stated.  The theme for the 2017 edition of World Radio Day is 'Radio is You'.
• World Radio Day is observed every year on February 13 to celebrate radio as a forum for entertainment and information, as a bridge of communication for remote communities and its role in empowering people. 
• In 2011, the Unesco General Conference had proclaimed February 13 as World Radio Day, the day United Nations Radio was established in 1946. Radio is the most prevalent mass medium, with the ability to reach up to 95 percent of the world’s population.
• National Women’s Parliament begins in Andhra Pradesh
• The three-day National Women’s Parliament, being organised by Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly with the theme of ‘Empowering Women - Strengthening Democracy’, began  in the state capital region Amaravati. 
• The vision of NWP is to enable and encourage social, political and economic empowerment of women in all strata of the society.
• One of the objectives of NWP is to generate new ideas, concepts, theories and ideologies for women empowerment.An ‘International Woman Icon of the World’ award and 12 best young achievers awards for women in different fields will be presented at the NWP.
• MRPL launches skill development centre
• Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) launched a skill development centre (Kaushal Vikas Kendra) in Mangaluru. Speaking at the alunch programme, H Kumar, Managing Director of MRPL stated that the centre will train 60 youths in areas such as ‘industrial electrician’ and ‘CNC operator-turning’.
• He also stated that all expenses, including food, lodging, tutorial expenses, will be borne by MRPL Kaushal Vikas Kendra. MRPL has got the approval to launch a start-up fund of ₹10 crore, which will be used to support the new ventures and start-ups. 
• At another function, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP from Dakshina Kannada, launched the smoke-free village campaign of MRPL. As a part of oil and gas conservation month, MRPL has identified villages under four panchayats in its surroundings to make them smoke-free.
• Under this campaign, families in the below poverty level category are identified and given free LPG kits and gas stoves. MRPL will bear the cost of the gas kit and the gas stove provided to these beneficiaries. In the first phase, the company distributed free LPG kits to nearly 200 families from Soorinje and Chelaru village panchayats.
• Second edition of International Spice Conference Begins at Thiruvanantapuram
• The second edition of the International Spice Conference began at Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala from February 12, 2017.
• The three days conference has been hosted by All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF) in association with the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The conference was inaugurated by the Nestle India Limited Chairman and Managing director Suresh Narayanan. 
• The theme of the conference is '21st Century Spic Industry-Disrupt or be Disrupted' the main aim of the event is to deliberate on effective strategies and innovative technologies to improve the livelihood of spice farmers, address spice industry challenges, food safety concern, demand supply disparity and foster sustainable growth.
• Government Approves Setting Rs. 6,831 crore Electronics Development Fund 
• The centre has approved setting up the Electronic Development Fund Tele communication Ministerwith a total corpus of Rs. 6,831 crore to support entrepreneurship and innovation in electronics and IT.
• The Minister of Law and IT, Ravi Shankar Prasad approved a seed capital of Rs 681 crore on the basis of which more venture capital will be raised.The Electronic Development Fund will help to contribute to various other funds under it forthose who invest the money in companies for creation of intellectual property rights in the field of electronics and IT.
• FSSAI sets up panel to finalise laws on food fortification
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has set up a 11 member scientific panel to frame final regulations on fortification of foods and prepare strategies to address malnutrition problem.
• Fortification means deliberately adding or increasing the content of essential micro nutrients in food items to improve quality.The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has already issued the draft guidelines on fortification for five food items including salt, milk, wheat flour, rice and edible oil to boost production and consumption of fortified foods.
• Sandeep Jajodia appointed Assocham president
• Monnet Ispat & Energy Ltd. CMD Sandeep Jajodia has been appointed the new president of industry chamber Assocham. Balkrishan Goenka, Chairman, Welspun Group and Kiran Kumar Grandhi, vice-chairman of GMR Infrastructure Ltd, have taken over as senior vice-president and vice-president respectively. 
• Assocham will continue to play a transformational role both nationally and globally and the chamber will empower Indian enterprises by focusing on the most critical and relevant issues in a highly impact-oriented manner stated Jajodia who took over from Sunil Kanoria former President of ASSOCHAM
• Narinder Chauhan appointed as Ambassador of India to the Republic of Philippines
• Former IFS officer Narinder Chauhan  has been appointed as the next Ambassador of lndia to the Republic of the Philippines .
• Currently Narinder is working as the Ambassador of lndia to the Republic of Serbia.
• Diego Maradona Gets Ambassador Role at FIFA.
• The FIFA governing body has named Argentina’s former soccer player Diego Maradona as the new Ambassador of the FIFA .The 56 year old will have major role in FIFA’s activities to promote the game across the globe and will also be be involved in relevant development projects. 
• The Fédération Internationale de Football Association is the international governing body of association football, futsal, and beach soccer. President is Gianni Infantino and Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland
• Yo-Yo Ma and his ensemble win Best World Music Grammy
• Cello virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma won a Grammy with his Silk Road Ensemble for Sing Me Home, an exploration of the musical connections across Eurasia.
• The French-born Chinese American cellist had previously won an impressive 17 Grammys, but his latest is his first for Best World Music Album.
• Ma set up The Silk Road Ensemble to bring together musicians from the historic route that connected the Middle East and Asia, in hopes both of finding artistic commonalities and furthering the cause of intercultural understanding.
• BAFTA 2017: La La Land takes 5 trophies, Dev Patel wins for Lion
• Director Damien Chazelle’s musical 'La La Land' continued its award dominance by taking five trophies, including the best film and best actress for Emma Stone, at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards , which also recognised British-Indian star Dev Patel in the best supporting actor category for 'Lion'.
• 'La La Land', which also won Chazelle a best director Bafta, is expected to sustain its momentum at the Oscars on February 26 where it has scored a record 14 nominations.
• Eminent journalist and Laughter Persona Pandit Dharmsheel Chaturvedi Dies 
• The eminent thinker, writer and journalist Pandit Dharmsheel Chaturvedi passed away. 
• The Hindi Kavi Pt. Dharmsheel Chaturvedi was considered ‘Swayam Mein Benaras’ means ‘Banaras in Himslef’ in elite circle.
• Jiro Taniguchi, a Japanese manga legend Dies at 69
• Jiro Taniguchi, a Japanese manga writer died in Tokyo on February 11, 2017. He was 69.
• Taniguchi began his career as an assistant to the artist Kyota Ishikawa.
• His own first piece of manga was published in the year 1970 named 'A Desiccated Summer'.
•  Taniguchi first shot to fame in Japan at the end of the 1980s with the first volume of 'The Times of Botchan'
•  Ravichandran Ashwin Becomes Fastest Bowler To Claim 250 Wickets
• Indian off-spin specialist Ravichandran Ashwin became the fastest cricketer to take 250 wickets in Test matches. 
• He achieved this feat in his 45th test match against Bangladesh on 12 February 2017, when he dismissed captain of Bangladesh team Mushfiqur Rahim at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium in Hyderabad.
• Ashwin surpassed Australian fast bowler Dennis Keith Lillee, who played 48 matches to reach the milestone of 250 Test wicket.
• NBA & Take Two to Launch NBA 2K E-League
• The National Basketball Association (NBA), an American professional basketball league is creating a brand new e-sports league called NBA 2K e-League in partnership with Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., the developers of the popular NBA 2K video games.
• This is the first time that a professional sports organization will operate an e-sports league. The competitive gaming league will be launched in 2018.
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IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 11, 12, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 11,12, 2017

• Neelu Rohmetra is the first woman to be appointed director of an IIM at Sirmaur
• The government recently appointed heads of 10 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), including the first woman to head one of the 20 premier B-schools in the country.
• The IIMs that got new directors are in Bodhgaya (Bihar), Sirmaur (Himachal Pradesh), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Trichy (Tamil Nadu), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Sambalpur (Odisha), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Rohtak (Haryana), Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Bangalore.
• Prof Neelu Rohmetra of Jammu University is the first woman to be appointed director of an IIM at Sirmaur. She specialises in HRD and cross-culture management. 

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 10, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 10, 2017

1. National Women’s Parliament begins in Amaravati

• Today, India’s first a-political three days National Women’s Parliament (NWP) has begun in the new capital of Andhra PradeshAmaravati.
• The theme of the conference is 'Empowering Women - Strengthening Democracy'.
• The conclave will be a common platform for women from diverse backgrounds like politics, arts and culture, sports, education, industry, media, cinema, judiciary and social sector to share their knowledge and research in the area of women's social, economic and political empowerment.

2. Govt. decides to open 56 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 9, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 9, 2017

• Cabinet approves 'PM Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan' for digital education
• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved 'Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan' (PMGDISHA) to make 6 crore rural households digitally literate. The outlay for this project is Rs.2,351.38 crore to usher in digital literacy in rural India by March 2019. This is in line with the announcement made by Finance Minister in the Union Budget 2016-17. 
• PMGDISHA is expected to be one of the largest digital literacy programmes in the world. Under the scheme, 25 lakh candidates will be trained in the FY 2016-17; 275 lakh in the FY 2017-18; and 300 lakh in the FY 2018-19. To ensure equitable geographical reach, each of the 250,000 Gram Panchayats would be expected to register an average of 200-300 candidates. 

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 7,8, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 7, 8, 2017

• RBI's Monetory Policy February 2017 : Keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.25%
• RBI governor Urjit Patel led Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept the key repo rate unchanged at 6.25% in the first monetary policy review of 2017 and after Budget 2017. 
• Limit on cash withdrawal from savings banks accounts to be relaxed in 2 stages. From 20 February, 2017 limit to be increased from Rs 24k to Rs 50K. From 13 March, 2017 there will be no limit on cash withdrawal from savings bank accounts. 
• 9.92 lakh crore new notes infused into market as on January 27, 2017.Inflation seen at 4-4.5% for April-September,2017. For January-March, 2017 CPI stay below 5%
• Policy rates:
• Repo Rate- 6.25%
• Reverse Repo Rate- 5.75%

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 6, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 6, 2017

• Health Ministry launches Measles Rubella vaccination campaign
• Health Ministry launched Measles Rubella vaccination campaign in the country at a function in Bengaluru.
• The campaign against these two diseases Measles and Rubella will start from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Goa and Lakshadweep, covering nearly 3.6 crore children.
• Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Faggan Singh Kulaste launched this initiative at a function in Bengaluru, Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kulaste stated that the centre is committed to eradicating Measles and Rubella from the country. 
• Vijay Goel lays foundation stone of 1st centre of excellence for differently abled sportsmen

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 3, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 3, 2017

• Rs 10,000 penalty for late filing of income tax returns
• As with the presentation of the Union Budget 2017, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has made it easier for the small tax-payers, the budget has however proposed a fee for delayed filing of income tax return. If the income tax return is furnished after the due date but on or before the December 31 of the assessment year, there will be a fine of Rs 5,000 imposed. In other cases, there will be an imposition of a fine of Rs 10,000. 
• However, in a case where the total income does not exceed Rs 5 lakh, the Budget proposed that the fee amount shall not exceed Rs 1,000.
• Sanjeev Sanyal appointed Principal Economic Adviser

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JAN 5, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JAN 5, 2017

• On Jan 4, 2017 World Braille Day was observed.
• World Braille Day celebrates the 208th Birth anniversary of French Innovator Louis Braille (4 January 1809 – 6 January 1852).
• He was a French educator and inventor of a system of reading and writing for use by the visually impaired.
• His system remains known worldwide simply as braille.
• Myanmar celebrated 69th Independence Day On Jan 4, 2017.
• European Union lifts its 3-year ban on import of some vegetables including bittergourd, snakegourd& aubergines from India.

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF DECEMBER 6, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF DECEMBER 5, 2016

• On December 5, 2016 World Soil Day was observed.
• Theme of 2016 : 'Soils and pulses, a symbiosis for life'
• On December 5, 2016 International Volunteer Day was observed.
• This day is an international observance designated by the United Nations since 1985.
• It offers an opportunity for volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to make visible their contributions - at local, national and international levels - to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF DECEMBER 4,5, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF DECEMBER 4, 5, 2016

• India is going to train the Qatari police for handling the security during the FIFA World Cup in the nation, scheduled to be held in 2022. 
• The agreement for the training was reached upon by the visiting Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and India's Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh On December 4, 2016.
• The US Senate has unanimously passed a legislation to extend sanctions against Iran by 10 years. 
• It was forwarded to President Barack Obama, who is expected to sign it into law delaying any potentially tougher actions until next year. 

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 24, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 24, 2016

• Thailand On November 23, 2016 halved its visa on arrival fees, to 1000 baht (around ₹1900), for tourists from India and 18 other countries. 
• The move, intended to boost tourist arrivals, comes less than two months after Thailand increased its visa fees to 2000 baht. 
• Thailand also extended its long-stay visa, for foreigners aged above 50, from one to ten years.
• Boudhanath Stupa, a UNESCO heritage site in Kathmandu that was severely damaged in the 2015 Nepal earthquake, reopened to the public On November 23, 2016 after its reconstruction was completed. 

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 22, 23, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 22, 23, 2016

• India On November 22, 2016 became an Associate Member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), the world's largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory. 
• CERN's Director General said that India's membership will open opportunities for Indian industries to participate directly in CERN projects. 
• Note : As a member nation, CERN requires India to make an annual contribution of approx ₹77 crore.
• India was placed at the 20th rank among the 58 countries on the 2017 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI). 
• The index was released by Germanwatch, an independent German NGO and Climate Action Network Europe.

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 20, 21, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 20, 21 ,2016

• On November 21, 2016 World Hello Day was observed.
• Aim : To express that conflicts should be resolved through communication rather than the use of force.
• This day began in 1973 in response to the conflict between Israel and Egypt and since then over 180 countries have taken part in the event.
• On November 21, 2016 World Television Day was observed.
• The United Nations has designated this day, recognising that television plays a major role in presenting different issues that affect people. 
• It seeks to celebrate the philosophy of television, a tool which represents a symbol for communication and globalisation in the contemporary world. 
• 21st of November has been chosen for this day because on November 21-22, 1996 the UN held the first World Television Forum.

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 18, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 18, 2016

• On November 17, 2016 World Philosophy Day was observed.
• This day was was introduced in 2002 by UNESCO to honour philosophical reflection in the entire world by opening up free and accessible spaces.
• Pakistan conducted Raad ul Barq (Strike of Thunder) military exercise in a strategically located area in Punjab province, bordering India. 
• It was the comprehensive joint exercise carried out jointly by Pakistan Army and Air Force to reflect the preparedness of our armed forces to respond to any threat to its national security.
• Indian government On November 17, 2016 announced that over 12 lakh houses have been sanctioned for urban poor under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 17, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 17, 2016

• On November 16, 2016 International Day for Tolerance was observed.
• This day is an annual observance declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance.
• The aim of this day is to enhance the awareness about dangers of intolerance and its implications in maintaining the peace among people.
• Theme of 2016 : Promoting Tolerance
• Over 20 countries, including Brazil and France, have become signatories to the framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) – launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Paris Climate summit last year. 

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 15, 16, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 15, 16, 2016

• Russia has detained Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev for allegedly receiving over $2 million (around ₹13.5 crore) in bribes, over an acquisition by state oil company Rosneft. 
• The deal worth $5 billion (₹33 thousand crore) involved Rosneft purchasing a stake in oil producer Bashneft, with the deal being opposed by several government officials believing Bashneft should go to private investors.
• Jharkhand is celebrating the birth anniversary of noted freedom fighter Birsa Munda & 17th State Formation Day.

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 14, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 14, 2016

• On Novemer 13, 2016 World Kindness Day was observed.
• This day was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement a coalition of nations kindness NGOs, aiming for more kindness in the world.
• This day encourages individuals to overlook boundaries, race and religion.
• The India-China Joint Training Exercise "Hand in Hand 2016" is scheduled to be held in Pune from November 15-27. 
• This would mark the 6th annual joint training exercise between the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army of China. 

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 12, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 12, 2016

• G Mahalingam is SEBI’s new Full-Time Member
• Gurumoorthy Mahalingam took charge as Full-Time Member of SEBI on 10th November. 
• He will be responsible for leading the Integrated Surveillance Department, Investment Management Department, Enforcement Department (ED), Foreign Portfolio Investors and Custodians, Collective Investment Schemes, and Department of Economic and Policy Analysis, among others.

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 10, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 10, 2016

• Billionaire-turned-politician Donald Trump of Republican Party was elected the 45th President of the United States. 
• He secured the support of 276 of the 538 members of the electoral college, beating Democratic party rival Hillary Clinton. 
• He will formally take charge of the Oval Office on January 20, 2017, dubbed as the 'Inauguration Day'.
• Trump, aged 70, will become the oldest president ever to assume office. 
• This record was earlier held by Republican President Ronald Reagan who assumed office in 1981 when he was 69-years-old. 
• Note : US presidents serve a four-year term and can serve a maximum of two terms.

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 11,2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 11, 2016

• On November 10, 2016 World Science Day for Peace and Development (WSDPD) / World Science Day was observed.
• This day is annually observed on November 10 to raise awareness of the benefits of science worldwide.
• World Science Day for Peace and Development 2016 Theme : “Celebrating Science Centres and Science Museums”
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi left on a 3 day visit to Japan On November 10, 2016's morning. 
• During this visit, he will attend the India - Japan Annual Summit. 
• The summit will be an occasion for Mr. Modi and his counterpart Shinzo Abe for an in-depth exchanges on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest to further deepen the broad-based and action-oriented partnership between the two countries. 

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 26, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 26, 2016

• Taiwan has announced a simplified group visa policy to encourage tourist groups from Southeast Asian countries, including India and Indonesia, to visit the nation. 
• The group visa is free of cost for five or more people and is aimed at promoting Taiwan as a destination for exhibitions and conferences. 
• Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha began his 6-day visit to Russia On Oct 25, 2016.
• The visit comes after India and Russia announced deals worth over $12 billion.
• Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin is on a visit to North Korea.
• This is the first visit by a high-ranking Chinese official since February.

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 20, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 20, 2016

• Mumbai has been ranked 39th in the 2016 Global Power City Index report, which was released by the Mori Memorial Foundation’s Institute for Urban Strategies. 
• The report ranks 42 cities across six key measures of economy, research and development, culture, accessibility, environment, and livability. 
• Note : London topped the rankings for the fifth consecutive year while New York stood second.
• India and Myanmar On Oct 19,2016 agree to enhance engagement in several areas includingAgriculture, Renewable energy & Power sector.

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 19, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 19, 2016

• US President Barack Obama has invited Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi as the guest of honour for the last state dinner that Obama will host at the White House. 

• Brazil On Oct 18, 2016 announced that it will work with member countries of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to facilitate India's entry into the group that controls global trade in the atomic field. 
• Brazil's support was conveyed by its President Michel Temer to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first National Tribal Carnival in Delhi on 25th October 2016.

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 18, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 18, 2016

• On Oct 17, 2016 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was observed.
• This day has been observed every year since 1993, when the United Nations General Assembly, by resolution  designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries.
• Fighting poverty remains at the core of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the development of the post-2015 development agenda.
• Theme of the year 2016 : “Moving from humiliation and exclusion to participation: Ending poverty in all its forms”

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 16, 17, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 16,17, 2016

• On Oct 16, 2016 World Food Day was observed.
• This day is celebrated every year around the world on 16th October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945.
• World Food Day 2016 Theme : Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too
• Note : Themes of World food day 2016 and International Day of Rural Women 2016 are same.
• On Oct 16, 2016 is World Spine Day.
• Theme of World Spine Day 2016 : Straighten Up and Move
• Finland has been declared the safest country in the world according to the 'Global Travel and Terrorism Report' by the World Economic Forum. 

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 14, 15, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 14, 15, 2016

• On Oct 14, 2016 World Standards Day / International standards day was observed.
• This day was initially launched in 1970, and is now recognized and celebrated by nations around the globe.
• This day honors the efforts of the thousands of experts who develop voluntary standards within standards development organizations such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 13, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 13, 2016

• The 28th India and Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) and Second Bilateral Maritime Exercise have commenced at Belawan, Indonesia in the Andaman Sea. 
• The 17-day-long bilateral exercise will demonstrate India’s commitment to its ties with Indonesia and to maritime security in Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• China and Russia will hold their second anti-missile drills in 2017.
• This comes after South Korea and the US announced their plans to deploy the USTerminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)system in South Korea to protect against any North Korean threats. 
• Note : North Korea conducted its fifth and biggest nuclear test recently.
• The World Health Organisation has asked all countries to introduce a sugary drinks tax (around 20%) as a way of curbing the obesity rate, especially in children. 

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 7, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 7, 2016

• ISRO successfully launches GSAT-18 from Kourou in French Guiana
• India's latest communication satellite GSAT-18 has been successfully launched by a heavy duty rocket of Arianespace from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana. 
• GSAT-18, built by the ISRO, aims at providing telecommunications services for the country by strengthening ISRO's current fleet of 14 operational telecommunication satellites.
• J&K Bank appoints Parvez Ahmed as Chairman & CEO
• Jammu and Kashmir Bank today appointed Parvez Ahmed as Chairman and CEO of the bank.

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 6, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 6, 2016

• World Teachers’ Day: 5 October
• The World Teachers’ Day (WTD) 2016 is being observed across the world on 5th October. 
• The theme for the World Teachers’ Day 2016 is Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status.
• Important Union Cabinet approvals
• Cabinet approves India-EU MoU on water cooperation
• Cabinet approves amendments to HIV/AIDS bill
• Cabinet approves setting up of country’s first Medipark

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 4,5, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 4,5,2016

• RBI announces 4th Bi-monthly Policy Statement
• RBI's 24th Governor Urjit Patel, who has been recently appointed, has announced his first and country's 4th Bi-monthly Policy Statement for the  year 2016-17.
• The RBI has reduced the policy Repo Rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points from 6.5% to 6.25% with immediate effect. 
• Three researchers share 2016 Nobel prize in physics
• The Nobel Prize in Physics for 2016 has been awarded to scientists - David J Thouless, who receives half the prize, and Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz, who share the other half.

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 2,3, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 2,3,2016

• Nation pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi & former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversary
• The nation pays homage to Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his 147th birth anniversary on 02nd October, 2016. 
• The nation also remembers the former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary. Born in 02nd October 1904, he joined the Indian independence movement in the 1920s and held several important portfolios in the Jawaharlal Nehru's government including Railways and as Home Minister.