Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the Important Current Affairs of 22 to 24 November, 2017. These are important for the upcoming IBPS PO, Clerk Mains, NICL Assistant, OICL AO exams.
Banking & Financial News
NCSK suggests NITI Aayog to bring some welfare schemes for Safai Karamcharis under its purview
- The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) on 23 November 2017 suggested NITI Aayog to bring some welfare schemes for Safai Karamcharis and Manual Scavengers under its purview.
- Manhar Valji Bhai Zala, Chairman of National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, along with the members Manju Diler, Dilip K Hathibed and Swami Sadanand Maharaj shared their views and concerns on various issues of Safai Karamcharis and Manual Scavengers.
- The commission raised the issue of empowering the Commission by making it a statutory or constitutional body and confer it with the powers of a civil court so that it can discharge its mandate effectively.
- It suggested for speedy implementation of The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
- It suggested for getting the survey of Manual Scavengers done through an independent third party having adequate representation of volunteers or activists from communities engaged in manual scavenging.
Government approves Rs 1 Lakh crore worth projects for Tamil Nadu
- The Union Government has approved Highway and Shipping Projects worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore for the state of Tamil Nadu.
- The information was shared by Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari while addressing a joint press conference with Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami after a review meeting of the Central and State government.
- The projects will cover Highways, Shipping and Port. They are also aimed at finding a permanent solution to the irrigation and drinking water requirements of the state.The total expenditure of the projects is expected to be around Rs 40,000 crore.
Following are the proposed projects with cost details:
1. Three New Elevated Corridors have been approved:
- Tambaram- Chengelpatu – the project is expected to cost around Rs 2250 crores
- Poonamalee- Maduravoyal Corridor – The financial outlay of the project is expected to be around Rs 1500 crores
- Tiruvallur Corridor – The budget for this corridor has been set at Rs 1000 crore
2. The Tambaram- Vandalur, Vandalur -Guduvanchery section of the Highway will be upgraded to 8 lane Highway at a cost of Rs 72 crores. The move is expected to solve the traffic congestion at the Tambaram -Perungalathur bridge.
3. The Chennai- Bengaluru Expressway will be constructed at a projected cost of Rs 20,000 crore. The move is expected to boost industrialisation and development activities along the Expressway.
4. The Koyambedu- Poonamalee -Wallajahpet road will be converted to a six-lane road at a cost of Rs 1500 crore to ease the congestion in the extended suburban areas of Chennai.
List of New Projects
- Tiruchi-Chidambaram Highway project: The budget outlay of the project is expected to be around Rs 4000 crore
- Upgradation of the Villupuram- Nagapattinam section: It is expected to be completed at a cost of Rs 6000 crore.
Projects under Bhartmala
- The six projects approved under the mega construction plan include Nagapattinam to Tuticorin (355 km), Vellakoil-Erode (71 km), Madurai- Kollam (62 km), Madurai -Theni (44 km), Musiri -Namakkal (44 km) and Madurai-Natham (38 km).
- Besides this, ring road development will also be taken up in Madurai, Tiruchi and Salem.
Other Approved Construction Projects
- The Union government would be sanctioning Rs 2000 crore to the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department (PWD) to develop the Dindigul-Kottampati road into a National Highway.
- Almost 1300 kms of State Highways will be upgraded to National Highways. The highways that will be upgraded include Perambalur- Attur (55kms), Thoppur- Mettur-Erode (85kms), Tirupur-Ottanchatiram (91kms) and Salem-Vanniyampadi (141kms).
- The centre will also be sanctioning amount worth Rs 2300 crore to the state to take preventive measures in 61 identified black spots where frequent accidents take place, in order to reduce the number of traffic accidents.
- The detailed project reports for the creation of Madurai, Coimbatore and Salem bus ports – terminals with the latest facilities like an airport will be prepared and submitted soon.
- The state’s three ports will be enhanced to facilitate exports and industrialisation and value addition under the Sagarmala programme.
- The depth of the Tuticorin port, the second-largest port in Tamil Nadu, is also going to be increased from 14m to 16.5 meters at a cost of Rs 3000 crore. It would help the port handle 1,30,000 tonnage vessels from the present capacity of 60,000 tonnage ships and reduce logistic cost by 30 percent.
Union Government promulgates ordinance to amend Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
- The Union Government on 23 November 2017 promulgated ordinance to amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
- The Ordinance aims to prevent unscrupulous, undesirable persons from misusing the provisions of the Code. The amendments aim to bar individuals who are wilfully defaulters and are associated with non-performing assets or are habitually non-compliant, therefore, pose a risk to the company.
- The Ordinance amends Sections 2, 5, 25, 30, 35 and 240 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and inserts new Sections 29A and 235A in the Code.
- Clause (e) of Section 2 of the Code has been substituted with three Clauses to facilitate the commencement of Part III of the Code relating to individuals and partnership firms in phases.
- Clause (25) and (26) of Section 5 of the Code which define “Resolution Plan” and “Resolution Applicant” are amended to provide clarity.
- Section 25(2)(h) of the Code is amended to enable the Resolution Professional, with the approval of the Committee of Creditors (CoC) to specify eligibility conditions while inviting Resolution Plans from prospective Resolution Applicants.
Centre suggests Odisha Government to enhance rural road construction target to 10000 km
- The Union government on 23 October 2017 suggested to the state government of Odisha to enhance its rural road construction target under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) from 7,000 km to 10,000 km during the current fiscal year.
- The suggestions were made by the Union Secretary to Rural Development Minister, Amarjit Sinha to the state after attending a high-level review meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of Odisha, A P Padhi.
- Though the state government had set an earlier target of constructing 7,000 km roads during this fiscal year, Amarjit Sinha said that the target should be revised considering the good progress of the Yojana’s implementation.
- The target for this year was 7,000 km of road connecting 2,800 habitations, out of which the state has already completed more than 2,100 km.
Union Government constitutes Task Force for drafting New Direct Tax Legislation
The Union Government on 22 November 2017 constituted a Task Force to review Income-tax Act, 1961 and to draft a new Direct Tax Law in consonance with economic needs of the country.
Arbind Modi, Member (Legislation) of CBDT, will be the Convener of the task force.
The other members of the task force are:
- Girish Ahuja, non-official Director of State Bank of India
- Rajiv Memani, Chairman & Regional Managing Partner of E&Y
- Mukesh Patel, Practicing Tax Advocate, Ahmedabad
- Mansi Kedia, Consultant, ICRIER, New Delhi
- G.C. Srivastava, Retd IRS (1971 Batch) and Advocate
Besides, Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) Arvind Subramanian will be a permanent Special Invitee in the Task Force.
The task force will draft an appropriate Direct Tax Legislation keeping in view the direct tax system prevalent in various countries, international best practices and economic needs of the country.
The Task Force will set its own procedures for regulating its work and will submit its report to the Government within six months.
CCEA approves expansion of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao for Pan India coverage
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 22 November 2017 approved the expansion of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme for Pan India reach covering all the 640 districts (as per census 2011) of the Country.
- The committee approved a total outlay of Rs 1132.5 Crore for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao expansion for the duration 2017-18 to 2019-20.
- The expansion under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme came following the successful implementation of the scheme in 161 districts of the country.
Key Highlights
- Out of 640 districts, BBBP is currently getting implemented in 161 districts.
- The expansion includes Multi sectoral intervention in 244 districts in addition to existing 161 districts and 235 districts will be covered through Alert District Media, Advocacy and Outreach.
- The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on 22 January 2015 at Panipat, Haryana.
- It is a comprehensive programme that aims to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and issues related to empowerment of women.
- The CSR, defined as number of girls per 1000 boys in the age group of 0-6 years, declined sharply from 976 in 1961 to 918 in Census 2011. Resultantly, Union Government launched this scheme to improve this ratio.
Union Cabinet approves Wage Policy for workmen in Central Public Sector Enterprises
- The Union Cabinet on 22 November 2017 approved the Wage Policy for the 8th Round of Wage Negotiations for workmen in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
- There are about 12.34 lakh employees in 320 CPSEs in the country.
- CPSEs Management will be free to negotiate wage revision for workmen where the period of wage settlement of five years or ten years has expired generally on 31 December 2016.
- Union Government will not bear any budgetary burden for any wage increase. The entire financial implication will be borne by the respective CPSEs from their internal resources.
- In those CPSEs for which the Government has approved restructuring or revival plan, the wage revision will be done as per the provisions of the approved plan only.
Union Cabinet approves continuation of Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs Scheme
- The Union Cabinet on 22 November 2017 approved the continuation of the scheme on Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) for another three financial years from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
- Moreover, the Cabinet also approved the provision of Grants-in-aid of Rs 18 crore to the Institute.
- With the continuation, the training programs, research activities and projects conducted by the Institute will enhance the skill sets resulting in increased employability of students as well as professionals.
- It will lead IICA to become an Institute of National importance, thereby becoming an engine of growth leading to increased economic activity.
- It will help the professionals in tapping employment opportunities in emerging corporate areas including those in overseas.
Cabinet approves setting up of the 15th Finance Commission
- The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 November 2017 approved the setting up of the 15th Finance Commission.
- The decision was a constitutional obligation under Article 280 (1) of the Constitution. The Terms of Reference for the 15th Finance Commission will be notified soon.
- According to Article 280(1) of the Constitution, a Finance Commission (FC) should be constituted within two years from the commencement of this Constitution and thereafter at the expiration of every fifth year or at such earlier time as the President considers necessary.
- The general practice has been to set up the next Finance Commission within five years of the date of setting up of the previous Finance Commission.
Union Cabinet approves India's Membership for European Bank for Reconstruction & Development
- The Union Cabinet on 22 November 2017 approved India's Membership for European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD).
- The Department of Economic Affairs under the Union Ministry of Finance has been tasked to acquire the membership of the EBRD.
Impact of India's Membership for European Bank for Reconstruction & Development
- It will enhance India's international profile and promote its economic interests.
- It will provide access to EBRD's Countries of Operation and offer sector knowledge.
- It will increase the scope of cooperation between India and EBRD through co-financing opportunities in manufacturing, services, Information Technology, and Energy.
- It will help India leverage the technical assistance and sectoral knowledge of the bank for the benefit of development of private sector.
- It will enhance the competitive strength of the Indian firms and provide an enhanced access to international markets in terms of business opportunities, procurement activities, consultancy assignments etc.
Cabinet approves expansion of umbrella scheme ‘Mission for Protection and Empowerment for Women’
- The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for expansion of the schemes of WCD Ministry under umbrella Scheme ‘Mission for Protection and Empowerment for Women’ for a period 2017-18 to 2019-20.
- The cabinet also approved a new scheme called ‘Mahila Shakti Kendra', which will empower rural women through community participation to create an environment in which they realise their full potential. The cabinet has also approved expansion under BetiBachaoBetiPadhao based on the successful implementation in 161 districts.
- The total cost incurred during the expansion period will be Rs 3,636.85 crore with the Centre’s share being around Rs 3,084.96 crore.
Key Benefits
- The approved sub-schemes are all social sector welfare schemes, the main focus of which are care, protection and development of women.
- The schemes will also aim at improving the declining Child Sex Ratio, ensuring survival and protection of the girl child, ensuring her education and empowering her to fulfil her potential.
- It will provide an interface for rural women to approach the government for availing their entitlements and for empowering them through training and capacity building.
Key activities of the Umbrella Scheme
- The new scheme "Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK)" is pictured to work at various levels.
- While, National level (domain based knowledge support) and State level (State Resource Centre for Women) structures will provide technical support to the respective government on issues related to women, the District and Block level Centres will provide support to MSK and also give a foothold to BBBP in 640 districts to be covered in a phased manner.
- Community engagement through Student Volunteers is envisioned in 115 most backward districts as part of the MSK Block level initiatives.
Union Cabinet approves revised salaries, pension for Supreme Court and High Court judges
- The Union Cabinet on 22 November 2017 approved the revision in the salaries, gratuity, allowances, pension of the Judges and retired Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts.
- The move came following the implementation of recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission in respect of Civil Servants.
- The revision in salaries and allowances will pave the way for necessary amendments in the two laws such as Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958 and High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954.
- Both of these Acts govern the salaries of Chief Justice of India (CJI), Judges of Supreme Court of India, Chief Justices and all Judges of High Courts.
- The increase in the salary and allowances will benefit 31 Judges of Supreme Court of India (including the CJI) and 1079 Judges and Chief Justices of High Courts.
News related to India & states
PM Narendra Modi launches UMANG App
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 23 November 2017 launched the UMANG App, a platform that brings 162 government services on a single mobile app.
- The UMANG App was launched with an aim to make the government accessible on the mobile phone of the citizens.
- The app was launched during the fifth edition of the Global Conference on Cyberspace.
- The app provides a unified approach where you can install one application to avail multiple government services.
- UMANG stands for 'Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance' and is envisaged to make e-governance.
- It contains 162 services of 33 departments or applications and 4 States.
- It is a single mobile app that have an access to 1200 services of various government offices from Centre, State and utility services.
- It supports 13 Indian languages and caters to on-demand scalability.
- It provides all pan India e-Gov services like Aadhaar and Digilocker on one single platform.
Home Ministry to conduct mega mock exercise on tsunami preparedness
- The Ministry of Home Affairs through National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) would be conducting a multi-State mega mock exercise on tsunami preparedness on 24 November 2017.
- The exercise will be simultaneously conducted in 31 coastal districts across four States including West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and Union Territory Puducherry along with the entire Eastern Coast.
- The disaster scenario will simulate tsunami waves originating due to a high-intensity earthquake near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which will lead to a massive tsunami along the East Coast.
- Participants from 11 Pacific Island countries will observe the entire exercise to take away key lessons and best practices to be adopted while preparing for a disaster situation.
- The exercise is one of the various activities planned on the occasion of the 2nd World Tsunami Awareness Day, which was observed on 5 November.
Union government initiates 'safe-city' plan for women in 8 metropolitan cities
- The Union government has initiated the process of formulating comprehensive 'safe-city' plans for women in eight metropolitan cities of the country. The process was kick-started during a Steering Committee meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba on 22 November 2017.
- During the meeting, a comprehensive review was undertaken to measure the progress and examine steps taken by the police and civil administration for women's safety.
- The plan will be implemented in cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Hyderabad.
- The steering committee decided during the meeting that the police and municipal corporations of these metropolitan cities will frame a plan of action.
India is one of top global cybercrime hotspots: study
![]()
- According to the latest study, Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than half of the world’s Internet users and is the biggest region globally in terms of e-commerce sales, has seen a massive rise in cybercrime.
- As per the APAC Cybercrime Report 2017 by Threat Metrix, cybercrime in the Asia-Pacific region is growing with attacks becoming more organized and sophisticated. It is because of the rapid digital transformation spurred by massive economic growth.
- India, China, Japan, and Vietnam are now some of the top cybercrime hotspots in the world, with China ranking second behind the US as the biggest source of global threats.
- This region continues to display its susceptibility to malware, with India, Indonesia, and the Philippines among the top countries with the maximum number of malware infections.
- Online banking is a key target for fraudsters as they try to monetise stolen and spoofed identity credentials resulting from various data breaches around the world.
Brahmos missile successfully flight-tested from Sukhoi fighter aircraft
- World’s fastest Supersonic Cruise Missile Brahmos on 22 November 2017 created history after it was successfully flight-tested from the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) frontline fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30MKI for the first time.
- After being dropped from the Sukhoi-30MKI, the missile’s engine fired up and propelled towards the intended target at the sea in Bay of Bengal. Weighing 2.5 ton, Brahmos is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on Su-30 fighter aircraft modified to carry weapons.
- This successful maiden test firing of this Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) will boost the IAF’s air combat operations capability.
Google Doodle honours first Indian woman physician Rukhmabai on her 153rd birth anniversary
- Google Doodle on 22 November 2017 honoured Rukhmabai Raut, the first Indian woman to practice medicine in colonial India, on her 153rd birth anniversary.
- The Doodle, designed by illustrator Shreya Gupta, shows Rukhmabai among her patients, doing the dedicated work of a skilled physician.
- Rukhmabai was also known for asserting her right to consent in marriage at a time when rights for women were rarely given any kind of importance.
Union Government bans LED lights on mechanised fishing vessels
- The Union Government has banned the use of LED lights and other artificial lights on mechanised fishing vessels in an attempt to protect the marine ecology.
- The information was shared by Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on 21 November 2017, on the occasion of the World Fisheries Day.
- The government has also placed a ban on the practice of bull- trawling, purse seining and gill netting operations in the Indian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) beyond territorial waters.
- The decision was taken after coastal states including Goa made a representation to the Centre to prohibit these activities in order to save the marine ecology.
- The government has also stopped the letter of permit (LoP) system since January 2017. The move has been made to boost the fishery sector.
Appointments
Shubhangi Swaroop becomes first woman to be inducted as Pilot in Indian Navy
- In a first, Indian Navy inducted Shubhangi Swaroop as its first woman pilot on 23 November 2017. Shubhangi Swaroop, a native of Uttar Pradesh, will soon be flying Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft.
- She will now head to INS Garuda in Kochi and then will undergo training at the Dundigal Air Force Academy in Hyderabad, which trains pilots of the Army, Navy and the Air Force.
- Swaroop was among four women officers who had passed out of the Ezhimala Naval Academy in Kerala. The other three women officers are Aastha Segal, Roopa A and Sakthimaya S.
Indian-origin Quarraisha Abdool Karim appointed as UNAIDS Special Ambassador for Adolescents and HIV
- Acclaimed South African Indian-origin Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim was on 21 November 2017 appointed as a UNAIDS Special Ambassador for Adolescents and HIV.
- Professor Abdool Karim is one of the world's leading AIDS researchers. She has made pioneering contributions in understanding the HIV epidemic among young people, especially among young women.
- As a UNAIDS Special Ambassador, Abdool Karim will focus on adolescents and HIV while focussing on involving young women in science.
- The United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS- related deaths.
Awards & Honors
Five Indian films nominated for ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal
- The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has nominated nine movies for this year’s International Council for Film, Television and Audio-visual Communication (ICFT) UNESCO Gandhi Medal.
- Among the total nine nominated films, five are from India. The Indian films competing for the prestigious ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal include Kshitij - A Horizon, Manusangada, Poorna, Railway Children and Take-Off.
- The competing foreign films include Amok from Poland, Khibula - a co-production of Germany, France and Georgia, The Last Painting from Taiwan and Women of the Weeping River - a joint production of the US and UK.
- All the nine films are being screened at the ongoing IFFI’s 48th edition in Panaji, Goa.
Days & Observances
Union Government sends a proposal to UN for declaring year 2018 as International Year of Millets
- Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh on 22 November 2017 sent a proposal to United Nations (UN) for declaring the year 2018 as ‘International Year of Millets’.
- If accepted by UN, the proposal will raise awareness about millets among consumers, policy makers, industry and Research and Development sector. This will directly benefit the future generations of farmers as well as consumers.
- As per the government, Millets are Smart Food as they are 'Good for You, Good for the Farmer and Good for the Planet'.
World Television Day 2017 observed across the world
![]()
- The World Television (TV) Day was observed across the world on 21 November 2017.
- The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the Association of Commercial Television in Europe (ACT) and the association of television and radio sales houses 'egta' jointly produced a 30-second video clip emphasising the role of TV around the world as provider of trusted content.
- This UN Video was aired by broadcasters across Europe, Asia, Canada, USA and Australia. In order to celebrate the day, the TV viewers were encouraged to use the hashtags #WeloveTV and #WorldTVDay on social networks.
- The video features an Oscar awarded for a short documentary on people with disabilities; a documentary on UN peacekeeping; an urgent call for action on climate-change by UN Secretary-General Antonio; a human rights award for an act of courage in South Sudan.
- Launched in 1947, UN Video is produced in the six official languages of the UN- French, Spanish, English, Chinese, Arabic, Russian.
Lists
Beyonce named World's Highest-Paid Woman in Music in 2017 by Forbes
![]()
- Forbes on 21 November 2017 released the list of World's Highest-Paid Women in Music 2017. The list is topped by Singer-Songwriter Beyonce Knowles.
- Beyonce’s hit album 'Lemonade' and her world tour made her the highest-paid woman in music in 2017, followed by Britain’s Adele and pop star Taylor Swift in second and third position respectively.
- Beyonce Knowles earned a total wealth of USD 105 million from record sales and from her “Formation” concert tour. She also has her own Ivy Park fashion line and other business interests.
- Adele fetched the second spot with a total worth of USD 69 million, boosted by her first proper tour since 2011.
- Taylor Swift ranked third with a wealth of USD 44 million.
- Celine Dion ranked fourth with USD 42 million net worth, followed by Jennifer Lopez at fifth position with USD 38 million wealth.
- The other women in top 10 are Dolly Parton at 6th position (USD 37 million), Rihanna at seventh (USD 36 million), Britney Spears at eighth (USD 34 million), Katy Perry at ninth (USD 33 million) and Barbra Streisand at tenth (USD 30 million).
EP Recommends: Toprankers Mock Tests
EP Recommends: Oliveboard Mock Tests
EP Recommends: Gradeup Mock Tests
Sponsored
Regards
Team ExamPundit