Latest Current Affairs of November 2016

The country which has won the 2016 Davis Cup tennis tournament defeating Croatia in the finalsArgentina
The new Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan ArmyGeneral Qamar Javed Bajwa
The committee announced by the Central Govt to form a strategy to expedite the process of transforming India into a cashless economy is headed byAmitabh Kant
The Indian woman boxer who has been chosen to be awarded the Legends Award by the International Boxing AssociationMary Kom
The revolutionary leader, Prime Minister (1959 to 1976), President (1976 to 2006) of Cuba who passed away on 25 Nov 2016Fidel Castro
The Indian actor who has been awarded the Best Performance by an Actor Award at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2016 in Brisbane, AustraliaManoj Bajpayee
The state in which Airtel has launched India's first payments bank offering 7.25% interest on savings bank accountsRajasthan
The Indian journalist who has been conferred the International Press Freedom Award for her reporting from the Naxal-infested Bastar area by the Committee to Protect Journalists, New YorkMalini Subramaniam
The Governor of South Carolina who has been chosen to be the US Ambassador to the United Nations by the President-elect Donald TrumpNikki Haley
The theme of 13th World Robot Olympiad being held for the first time in India from 25 to 27 Nov 2016 at ndia Expo Mart, Greater NoidaRap the Scrap
The Indian golfer who has won the BANK-BRI JCB Indonesia Open golf tournament for the second time in his careerGaganjeet Bhullar
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who has been conferred the first 'World Sanskrit Award' by the Vice-President Hamid Ansari for her contribution towards promotion of the language is the Princess ofThailand
The Times of India journalist who has been awarded the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize 2016 for his book Gita Press and the Making of Hindu IndiaAkshaya Mukul
The Carnatic vocalist, musician, multi-instrumentalist, playback singer and composer (Padma Vibhusan in 1991) who passed away on 22 NovM. Balamuralikrishna
India's first female captain in merchant navy who has become the first woman in the world to be awarded International Maritime Organisation Award for Exceptional Bravery at SeaRadhika Menon
The venue of third World Internet Conference held from 16 to 18 Nov 2016Wuzhen, China
The geostationary weather satellite launched aboard Atlas 5 rocket by NASA from Capa Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on behalf of National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationGOES-R (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R)
The third in the series of Kolkata class guided missile destroyer (last of the ships in the Project 15A) which was commissioned into the Indian Navy by the Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in MumbaiINS Chennai
The sprinter from Haryana who has been banned by National Anti-Doping Agency for a period of eight years for having tested positive for an anabolic steroidDharambir Singh
The Indian badminton player who has won the China Open Badminton tournament women's singles title defeating Sun Yu of China in the finals (this being her first Super Series title)P.V. Sindhu
The country which has decided to withdraw from the membership of the International Criminal CourtRussia
The state which has become the first in the country to adopt a resolution on demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notesChhattisgarh
The Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV which was successfully tested in its maiden flight by DRDO at Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), ChitradurgaTAPAS 201 (RUSTOM-II)
The Indo-China joint training exercise which began in a military camp in Pune is namedHand-in-hand
The toll-free Aadhaar helpline number launched by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in its revamped version1947
The chess player who has won the National Women Chess Championships 2016 for the third time in a rowPadmini Rout
The task force formed by the government to speed up the process of recalibration of ATMs to dispense the new denomination notes is headed bySS Mundra, Dy Governor of RBI
The word which has been chosen as the word of the year by Oxford Dictionary (meaning of the word is "Relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief")Post-truth
The Hockey India president who has been elected the President of International Hockey FederationNarindra Batra
The well-known action movie star, martial artist, film director and producer who has been awarded an honorary Oscar at the Eighth Annual Governors Awards at the Hollywood and Highland Center in Los AngelesJackie Chan
The Indian golfer who has become the first woman from India to win a Ladies European Tour title (Indian Open at Gurgaon)Aditi Ashok
The x-ray pulsar navigation satellite launched by China from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center to conduct in-orbit experiments using pulsar detector is namedXPNAV-1
The venue of 1st International Agro-biodiversity Congress that was held from 6 November to 9 November 2016 with participation of 900 delegates from 60 countriesNew Delhi
The quarterly magazine launched by the Union Govt in English and Hindi to cater to health related information and raise awareness about healthy living is namedHealthy India Initiative/Swastha Bharat-ek pehal
The venue of seventh session of the Conference of the Parties (COP7) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) held from 07 to 12 Nov 2016Noida, U.P.
The city in which the country's first LNG fuelled bus was launched by the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan (It is a joint effort of Petronet LNG Limited (PLL), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Tata Motors Ltd)Thiruvananthapuram
The team India defeated to win the women's Asian Hockey Champions trophy tournament held at SingaporeChina
The joint military exercise by the defence forces of India and Bangladesh being conducted at Tangail, Dhaka from 05 to 18 November is namedExercise Sampriti
The veteran film actress who has been chosen to be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Dubai International Film Festival in December 2016Rekha
The renowned South Korean film director who has been chosen to be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 47th International Film Festival of India in GoaIm Kwon-taek
The founder of Sulabh International who has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador for Swachh Rail Mission of the Indian RailwaysDr. Bindeshwar Pathak
The new Chairperson of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)Sushil chandra
The State which has become the third State overall and the largest State so far to be declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) (Gramin)Kerala

Important Days of November

Vigilance Awareness Week: 31 October to 05 November 2016

Theme: Public participation in promoting integrity and eradicating Corruption

First World Tsunami Awareness Day: 05 November 2016

Established by : United Nations General Assembly

First Observed in: 2016

World Science Day for Peace and Development: 10 November

Established by : UNESCO

Theme: Celebrating Science Centres and Science Museums

First Observed in: 2001

World Pneumonia Day: 12 November

Established by : WHO

Theme: VKeep the Promise, Stop Pneumonia Now

First Observed in: 2009

World Diabetes Day: 14 November

Established by : International Diabetes Federation

Theme: Eyes on Diabetes

First Observed in: 1991 by IDF, adopted by UN in 2006

International Day for Tolerance: 16 November

Established by : United Nations General Assembly

First observed in : 1995

The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence awarded every two years on the occasion has been awarded to the Federal Research and Methodological Center for Tolerance Psychology and Education (Tolerance Center) of Russia.

World Philosophy Day: (3rd Thursday of Nov) 17 November

Established by : UNESCO

First Observed in: 2002

World Toilet Day: 19 November

Established by : World Toilet Organisation

Theme: Toilet and Jobs

First Observed in: 2001

International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women: 25 November

Established by : United Nations General Assembly

Theme: Orange the World - raise funds to end violence against women

First Observed in: 2000

National Milk Day: 26 November

Established by : Indian Dairy Association

Occasion: Birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien

First Observed in: 2014



Books in News

Charaiveti Charaiveti written by Shri Ram Naik (Governor of U.P.)

An Era of Darkness written by Shashi Tharoor

Death under the Deodars written by Ruskin Bond


47 International Film Festival of India 2016

Held from 20.11.16 to 28.11.16 at Goa

Lifetime Achievement Award: Im Kwon Taek, Korean filmmaker

Centenary Award for the Film Personality of the Year: SP Balasubramaniam

Opening Film: AfterImage by Polish writer and director, Andrzej Wajda

Focus Country: Republic of Korea

Best Film (Golden Peacock Award): Daughter, Directed and Produced by Reza Mirkarimi (Iran)

Best Director: Baris Kaya and Soner Caner for the film Rauf (Turkey)

Best Actor Male: Farhad Aslani for Daughter

Best Actor Female: Elina Veska for Mellow Mud (Latvia)

Special Jury Award: The Apology directed by Tiffany Hsiung (Canada)

ICFT UNESCO GANDHI Award: Mustafa Kara for the film Cold of Kalander (Turkey)

Opening Film of the Indian Panorama: Ishti (Sanskrit film)


Jamnalal Bajaj Awards 2016

  1. Award for Constructive Work following Gandhian principles in India: Mohan Hirabai Hiralal
  2. Award for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development: BonBehari Vishnu Nimbkar
  3. Award for Development and Welfare of Women and Children: Dr. Nannapaneni Manga Devi
  4. International Award for Promoting Gandhian Values Outside India: Sheikh Rached Ghannouchi, President of Tunisia's Ennahdha Party

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA)

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) was launched by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda recently.

It is a fixed day strategy under which a minimum package of antenatal care services is to be provided to the beneficiaries on the 9th day of every month at the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Clinics to ensure that every pregnant woman receives at least one checkup in the 2nd/ 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

Target beneficiaries: All pregnant Women who are in the 2nd & 3rd Trimesters of pregnancy.

Public Health Facilities to access services under PMSMA: Rural Areas - Primary Health Centers, Community Health Centers, Rural Hospitals, Sub-District Hospital, District Hospital, Medical College Hospital
Urban Areas - Urban Dispensaries, Urban Health Posts, Maternity Homes

Provision of services during PMSMA : All basic laboratory investigations to identify High Risk status (like anemia, gestational diabetes, hypertension, infection etc.) MCP cards to be issued to all beneficiaries.

MCP cards will be marked using a sticker indicating the condition and risk factor of the pregnant women
Green Sticker - for women with no risk factor detected
Red Sticker – for women with high risk pregnancy
Blue – for women with Pregnancy Induced Hypertension
Yellow – pregnancy with co-morbid conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, STIs

Counselling session to focus on various issues like care during pregnancy, importance of nutrition including iron - folic acid consumption and calcium supplementation, entitlements under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), post-natal care, breastfeeding and complementary feeding.


Qaumi Ekta Saptah (National Integration Week)

From 19 Nov to 25 Nov 2016

Programmes to be observed during Qaumi Ekta Week

  1. November 19 – National Integration Day
  2. November 20 – Welfare of Minorities Day
  3. November 21 – Linguistic Harmony Day
  4. November 22 – Weaker Sections Day
  5. November 23 – Cultural Unity Day
  6. November 24 – Women's Day
  7. November 25 – Conservation Day

The National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), an autonomous organisation with the Ministry of Home Affairs, organises Communal Harmony Campaign coinciding with the Qaumi Ekta Week and observes the Communal Harmony Flag Day on 25th November.


Pradhan Mantri YUVA Yojana

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship's flagship scheme on entrepreneurship education and training, the Pradhan Mantri YUVA Yojana was launched by the Minister of State(I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

The scheme spans over five years (2016-17 to 2020-21) with a project cost of Rs. 499.94 crore, and will provide entrepreneurship education and training to over 7 lakh students in 5 years through 3050 Institutes. It will also include easy access to information and mentor network, credit, incubator and accelerator and advocacy to create a pathway for the youth.

The institutes under the PM’s YUVA Yojana include 2200 Institutes of Higher Learning (colleges, universities, and premier institutes), 300 schools, 500 ITIs and 50 Entrepreneurship Development Centres, through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).


State-wise Ease of Doing Business rankings

Released by: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

The rankings are on the basis of a 340-point business reform action plan and their implementation by the States for the period from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.

The top ten ranks in 2016 are Andhra Pradesh & Telangana (98.78 per cent each implementation rate), followed by Gujarat (98.21 per cent), Chhattisgarh (97.32 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (97.01 per cent), Haryana (96.95 per cent), Jharkhand (96.57 per cent), Rajasthan (96.43 per cent), Uttarakhand (96.13 per cent) and Maharashtra (92.86 per cent).


Saur Sujala Yojana

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 01 Nov 2016 launched the Saur Sujala Yojana in Chhattisgarh that would provide solar powered irrigation pumps to farmers at a subsidized price.

Chhattisgarh would be the first state to implement the scheme. Under the scheme, solar powered irrigation pumps of 3HP and 5HP capacity worth Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh respectively would be distributed to the farmers by March 31, 2019. The beneficiaries would get the pumps at the subsidised price. An estimated 51,000 farmers would be benefitted in the state with the launch of the scheme in next two years. The scheme will be given priority in those areas where electricity connection has not reached yet.


Freedom of Press Index 2016

Released by: Freedom House.

Highlights

  1. Press freedom declined to its lowest point in 12 years in 2015, as political, criminal, and terrorist forces sought to co-opt or silence the media in their broader struggle for power.
  2. 13 percent of the world's population enjoys a Free press.
  3. Forty-one percent of the world’s population has a Partly Free press, and 46 percent live in Not Free media environments.
  4. Among the countries that suffered the largest declines in 2015 were Bangladesh, Turkey, Burundi, France, Serbia, Yemen, Egypt, Macedonia, and Zimbabwe.
  5. India is included among nations which have Partly Free press
  6. The press freedom score of India is 41/100.

Slab Rates of GST

The GST Council decided to have four slabs under the GST regime. The four-tier GST rate structure would be 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%.

Most of the food items would attract zero% rate. As much as 50% of consumer price index would be zero rated.

5% rate would be on other necessary goods such as soaps and others needed for daily uses.

Bulk of goods and services would be levied GST of 12 per cent and 18 per cent. This includes fast-moving consumer goods.

The highest slab of 28 per cent will include white goods and all those items on which the current rate of incidence varies from 30-31 per cent.


Current Affairs 2016

Current Affairs of December 2016 Current Affairs of November 2016 Current Affairs of October 2016 Current Affairs of September 2016 Current Affairs of August 2016 Current Affairs of July 2016 Current Affairs of June 2016 Current Affairs of May 2016 Current Affairs of April 2016 Current Affairs of March 2016 Current Affairs of February 2016 Current Affairs of January 2016

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Current Affairs of December 2016 Current Affairs of November 2016 Current Affairs of October 2016 Current Affairs of September 2016 Current Affairs of August 2016 Current Affairs of July 2016 Current Affairs of June 2016 Current Affairs of May 2016 Current Affairs of April 2016 Current Affairs of March 2016 Current Affairs of February 2016 Current Affairs of January 2016

Current Affairs Questions

1. In which of the following fields are the Ramnath Goenka Awards given?

  1. Excellence in music
  2. Excellence in journalism
  3. Excellence in film-making
  4. Excellence in sports

2. Which of the following universities conferred an Honorary Doctorate on the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee?

  1. Kathmandu University
  2. University of Dhaka
  3. Royal University of Bhutan
  4. Maldives National University

3. As per instructions issued by the CVC, banks have been asked to report frauds above which amount to the Central Vigilance Commission?

  1. Rs. 10 lakhs
  2. Rs. 50 lakhs
  3. Rs. 1 crore
  4. Rs. 10 crore

4. With which of the following sports is Pratul Joshi associated?

  1. Tennis
  2. Table-tennis
  3. Squash
  4. Badminton

5. Recently the Indian Army completed laying an irrigation pipeline for residents of villages in the Demchok despite a face-off last week with Chinese troops over the work. Demchok is located in -

  1. Leh
  2. Himachal Pradesh
  3. Uttarakhand
  4. Arunachal Pradesh

6. Recently a 3-nation Friendship Motor Car Rally was flagged off from India Gate in New Delhi. Apart from India which are the other two nations participating in the rally?

  1. Bangladesh, Myanmar
  2. Bhutan, Bangladesh
  3. Myanmar, Thailand
  4. Myanmar, Cambodia

7. With which of the following sports is Surjit Trophy associated?

  1. Football
  2. Hockey
  3. Cricket
  4. Handball

8. With which of the following sports is Tajamul Islam associated?

  1. Kickboxing
  2. Judo
  3. Gymnastics
  4. Swimming

9. November 16 is observed in India as

  1. National Education Day
  2. National Press Day
  3. National Readers Day
  4. National Health Day

10. Whose autobiography is the book A Soldier Recalls?

  1. Gen VK Singh
  2. Gen Dalbir Singh
  3. Gen Krishna Rao
  4. Lt Gen SK Sinha

11. What kind of disease is Brucellosis?

  1. Viral
  2. Protozoan
  3. Bacterial
  4. Fungal

12. Where are the headquarters of European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) located?

  1. Paris
  2. London
  3. Berne
  4. Geneva

13. Which US President established the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

  1. Harry Truman
  2. John F Kennedy
  3. Theodore Roosevelt
  4. F.D. Roosevelt

14. Who of the following is scheduled to be the Chief Guest at the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention at Bengaluru from 7 to 9 January, 2017?

  1. PM of Portugal
  2. PM of Belgium
  3. President of Cuba
  4. President of Spain

15. Dileep Padgaonkar who passed away recently was a well-known -

  1. Journalist
  2. Film maker
  3. Sportsperson
  4. Dancer

16. Akodara, India's first digital village is located in -

  1. Rajasthan
  2. Punjab
  3. Gujarat
  4. Maharashtra