Latest Current Affairs of October 2016

The theme of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas observed on 31 October 2016Integration of India
The Indo-Nepal Joint Military Exercise which is being held at Army Battle School, Saljhandi, Nepal from 31 Oct to 13 Nov is namedSurya Kiran-X
The veteran Indian cricketer who has been named the Stroke Ambassador for India at the 10th World Stroke Congress by the Indian Stroke AssociationSunil Gavaskar
The Yazidi human rights activists who have been chosen for the 2016 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European ParliamentNadia Murad Basee and Lamiya Aji Bashar
The state which has become the second state in the country to be declared open defecation free after SikkimHimachal Pradesh
The US writer who has become the first from his country to be awarded the Man Booker Prize for his racial satire The SelloutPaul Beatty
The official mascot for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia unveiled by FIFA is named (The mascot is a wolf designed by Ekaterina Bocharova)Zabivaka
The comic character who has been appointed United Nations’ honorary ambassador in support of the UN’s sustainable development goal number five – "to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls"Wonder Woman
The Portuguese professional football player (midfielder for Bayern Munich club) who has been chosen for the 2016 European Golden Boy AwardRenato Sanches
The micro satellite launched by China from the experimental space lab Tiangong-2 to take photographs of Tiangong-2 and the Shenzhou 11 spacecraft is namedBanxing-2
The fourth edition of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Military Exercise being conducted at Sinha Regimental Centre in Ambepussa, Sri Lanka from 24 October to 06 November 2016 is namedMitra Shakti 2016
The rank of Indian football team (the best in 6 years) in latest rankings released by FIFA, the list is topped by Argentina, Germany and Brazil137
The state which has launched Kausalya Setu, a skill development programme for Class 10 failed studentsMaharashtra
The prominent British statistician who has been chosen for the first International Prize in Statistics by the International Prize in Statistics Foundation for his well-known Cox Model used in the analysis of survival dataSir David Cox
The automobile company which has unveiled India's first indigenous circuit electric bus at its corporate office in ChennaiAshok Leyland
The political party launched by human rights activist Irom Sharmila is namedPeoples Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA)
The state in which the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has dedicated three hydro power stations - Kol Dam, Parvati Project and Rampur Hydro Station to the NationHimachal Pradesh
The day long exercise on Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) held by Indian and Chinese armies in Ladakh under the provisions of Border Defense Cooperation Agreement, 2013Sino India Cooperation 2016
The second of the four follow-on Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (FO-WJFAC) (named after an island in the Nicobar group) which was commissioned into the Indian Navy at VisakhapatnamINS Tihayu
The committee which has submitted its report to the Union Water Resources Ministry concluding that Saraswati River so far considered mythical, actually existed was headed byKS Valdiya
The city in Madhya Pradesh where the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated a war memorial Shaurya StambhBhopal
The rank of India in the 2016 Global Hunger Index released by the International Food Policy Research Institute recently97th
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of the Chakri Dynasty, the world's longest serving head of state (having served for over 70 years), who passed away on 13 October 2016 was the king ofThailand
The city in Jammu and Kashmir where the Union Cabinet has approved setting up of an Indian Institute of ManagementJammu
The country which has won the first BRICS U-17 Football tournament held in Goa defeating South Africa in the finalsBrazil
The city in which India's first international arbitration centre was inaugurated by Maharashtra CM Devendra FadnavisMumbai
The public sector undertaking which has appointed Indian badminton star P.V. Sindhu as its brand ambassadorVizag Steel
The high altitude research station established by the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Reseach (NCAOR) Goa in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh to better study and quantify the Himalayan glacier responses towards the climate change is namedHimansh
The airport which has been conferred with IBC award and Trophy for excellence in built environment in infrastructure projects at the 21st Annual Convention Inaugural function held in New DelhiChandigarh International Airports Limited (CHIAL)
The former Portuguese Prime Minister who has been formally selected by the United Nations Security Council to be the next Secretary General succeeding Ban Ki-moon next yearAntonio Guterres
The theme of the first World Sustainable Development Summit 2016 being held from 05 to 08 October at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi (The 2016 'Sustainable Development Leadership Award' during the summit was conferred upon the Sikkim CM Shri Pawan Chamling)Beyond 2015: People, Planet & Progress
The Professor at Ashoka University, Haryana who has been awarded the 2016 John F. Richards Prize by American Historical Association for her book Ashoka in Ancient IndiaNayanjot Lahiri
The former chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation who has become the first Indian to be inducted into the inducted into the 2016 IAF Hall of Fame by the International Aeronautical Federation (IAF).Prof U.R. Rao
The public sector bank which has become the first Indian bank to open a branch in Yangon, capital of MyanmarState bank of India
The Indian wildlife Film-maker and elephant researcher who has been appointed Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite (Knight in the National Order of Merit), one of the highest civilian recognitions of the French governmentPrajna Chowta
The state in which the first BRICS U-17 football tournament was inaugurated by Union Minister of State (I/C) Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel Goa
The Chief Guest at 2017 Republic Day celebrations as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs, GoICrown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
The tributary of River Brahmaputra which has been blocked by China owing to construction of Lalho hydro-electric project on itXiabuqu River
The state which has become the first in the country implement Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Kerosene in four identified districtsJharkhand (in Chatra, Hazaribagh, Khunti and Jantara dists)
The two Indian states which have become the first in the country to be declared ODF (Open Defecation Free) in urban areas on 02 October 2016Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat

Important Days of October

International Day of Older Persons: 01 October 2016

Established by : United Nations General Assembly

First Observed in: 1991

International Day of Non-Violence: 02 October 2016

Established by : United Nations General Assembly

First Observed in: 2007

World Habitat Day: 1st Monday of October (03 October)

Established by : United Nations General Assembly

Theme: Housing at the Centre

First Observed in: 1986

World Space Week: O4 to 10 October

Established by : United Nations General Assembly

Theme: Remote Sensing - Enabling our future

First Observed in: 2000

World Teacher's Day: 05 October

Established by : UNESCO

Theme: Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status

First Observed in: 1994

World Post Day: 09 October

Established by : Universal Postal Union

Theme: Innovation, Integration and Inclusion

First Observed in: 1969

World Mental Health Day: 10 October

Established by : World Health Organisation

Theme: Psychological first aid

First Observed in: 1992

International Day of the Girl Child: 11 October

Established by : United Nations General Assembly

Theme: Girls' Progress = Goals' Progress: What Counts for Girls

First Observed in: 2012

International Day Disaster Reduction: 13 October

Established by : United Nations General Assembly

Theme: Live To Tell: Raising Awareness, Reducing Mortality

First Observed in: 2010

World Sight Day: 13 October (2nd Thursday of October)

Established by : International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness

Theme: Stronger Together

First Observed in: 2000

International Day of Rural Women: 15 October

Established by : United Nations General Assembly

First Observed in: 2008

World Food Day: 16 October

Established by : Food and Agriculture Organisation

Theme: Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too

First Observed in: 1980

International Day for Eradication of Poverty: 17 October

Established by : United Nations General Assembly

Theme: Moving from humiliation and exclusion to participation: Ending poverty in all its forms

First Observed in: 1993

United Nations Day: 24 October

The day marks the coming into effect of the UN Charter (the founding document of UNO) in 1945.

UN Day Concert was held at United Nations General Assembly Hall to celebrate and reflect on the work of the UN through the universal language of music, featuring the Hungarian State Opera with performances by soprano Andrea Rost and other notable artists. The theme of this year's concert is Freedom First.


Launch of GSAT-18

Launch date: 05 Oct 2016

Launched from: Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana

Launched aboard: Ariane 5 ECA

GSAT-18 is India's latest communication satellite. Weighing 3404 kg at lift-off, GSAT-18 carries 48 communication transponders to provide Services in Normal C-band, Upper Extended C-band and Ku-bands of the frequency spectrum. GSAT-18 carries Ku-band beacon as well to help in an accurately pointing ground antennas towards the satellite. After its injection into GTO, ISRO's Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan took control of GSAT-18 and performed the initial orbit raising maneuvers using the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) of the satellite, placing it in circular Geostationary Orbit. The designed in-orbit operational life of GSAT-18 is about 15 years.


India vs New Zealand ODI Series

#VenueWinnerMan of the Match
1.DharamsalaIndiaHardik Pandya
2.DelhiNZKane Williamson
3.MohaliIndiaVirat Kohli
4.RanchiNZMartin Guptill
5.VisakhapatnamIndiaAmit Mishra
Player of the Series - Amit Mishra


First Ever National Day of Ayurveda

Observed on 28 Oct 2016 on the occasion of Dhanwantari Jayanti.

Theme of the day: Madhumeh Mission.

National Dhanwantari Ayurved Awards

  1. Prof. Premavati Tewari
  2. Vaidya P.Y. Khadiwale
  3. Vaidya P.R. Krishna Kumar

Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index

NITI Aayog has launched an index to rank States and UTs that is based on implementation of seven provisions proposed under model APMC Act, joining eNAM initiative, special treatment to fruits and vegetables for marketing and level of taxes in mandis.

The Index is named as "Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index" and it has a score which can have minimum value 0 implying no reforms and maximum value 100 implying complete reforms in the selected areas. States and UTs have been ranked in terms of the score of the index.

#StateScore#StateScore
1.Maharashtra81.725.Tamil Nadu17.7
2.Gujarat71.526.Meghalaya14.3
3.Rajasthan7027.Lakshadweep7.4
4.Madhya Pradesh69.528J & K7.4
5.Haryana63.329.Delhi UT7.3
6.Himachal Pradesh59.530.Puducherry4.8

World Bank Doing Business 2017 Report

The World Bank’s annual Doing Business 2017 report released recently recognizes India’s achievements in implementing reforms in four of its ten indicators – Trading Across Borders, Getting Electricity, Enforcing Contracts and Paying Taxes. This is the first time in its history that India has been recognized for improvement in four indicators.

The Doing Business report ranks countries on the basis of Distance to Frontier, an absolute score that measures the gap between India and the global best practice. India’s absolute score improved from 53.93 to 55.27 in the previous year.

Reforms Recognized by World Bank

  1. On Getting Electricity, the report recognized the efforts of Tata Power in Delhi to make it faster and cheaper to obtain an electricity connection. These efforts, combined with efforts in Mumbai last year, have allowed India to improve its rank on this indicator from 137 in Doing Business 2015 to 26 in this year’s report, a 111 rank improvement.
  2. The report has also recognized the establishment of Commercial Divisions within the High Courts in Delhi and Mumbai to deal with commercial cases above Rs. 1 crore. This has allowed India to improve its rank by 14 places in 2 years.
  3. In the area of Trading Across Borders, the report recognized the implementation of the Single Window Interface for Trade (ICEGATE), which integrates approvals and risk-based frameworks of customs and nine departments to provide traders with a single online interface for import clearances.
  4. On Paying Taxes, the report recognized online filing and payment of returns at the Employee’s Social Insurance Corporation.

UDAN - Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik

UDAN launched by the Civil Aviation Minister Shri P Ashok Gajapathi Raju is an innovative scheme to develop the regional aviation market. The scheme UDAN envisages providing connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of the country through revival of existing air-strips and airports. The scheme would be in operation for a period of 10 years.

UDAN has a unique market-based model to develop regional connectivity. Interested airline and helicopter operators can start operations on hitherto un-connected routes by submitting proposals to the Implementing Agency. The operators could seek a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) apart from getting various concessions. All such route proposals would then be offered for competitive bidding through a reverse bidding mechanism and the route would be awarded to the participant quoting the lowest VGF per Seat. The operator submitting the original proposal would have the Right of First Refusal on matching the lowest bid in case his original bid is within 10% of the lowest bid. The successful bidder would then have exclusive rights to operate the route for a period of three years. Such support would be withdrawn after a three year period, as by that time, the route is expected to become self-sustainable.

The selected airline operator would have to provide a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 40 UDAN Seats ( subsidized rates )on the UDAN Flights for operations through fixed wing aircraft and a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 13 Seats on the Flights for operations through helicopters. On each such route, the minimum frequency would be three and maximum of seven departures per week. Route networks would also be encouraged under the scheme to achieve economies of scale and optimal usage of aircraft.

The fare for a one hour journey of appx. 500 km on a fixed wing aircraft or for a 30 minute journey on a helicopter would now be capped at Rs. 2,500, with proportionate pricing for routes of different stage lengths / flight duration.


Kabaddi World Cup 2016

Venue: The Arena (stadium), Ahmedabad.

Held from 07 Oct to 22 Oct 2016.

Winners: India (Captain - Anup Kumar).

Runners-up: Iran (Captain - Meraj Sheykh)

Participants: 12 (Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Poland, South Korea, Thailand, Argentina, United States.


Kigali Agreement

197 countries including India signed an agreement to amend the Montreal Protocol in Kigali, Rwanda.

The agreement aims to phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbon or (HFC) gases, primarily found in air conditioners.

In the agreement, the countries have consented to reduce the use of HFCs by about 85% of their baselines by 2045.

The agreement binds India to reduce the use of HFC gasses by 10 per cent by 2032, while developed countries have to start making reductions by 2019. In exchange to this, India has agreed to a 'freeze year' of 2028 by when its HFC use cannot grow any further.

Since HFCs have several thousand times capacity in retaining heat in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide (CO2), this step has the potential to prevent a rise of about 0.5 degrees Celsius in global temperatures by the end of the century. No other intervention comes even close in terms of returns offered, ease of implementation, or cost impacts.

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is legally binding and will come into force from January 1, 2019.


Nobel Prizes 2016
#FieldWinnersContribution
1.MedicineYoshinori Ohsumifor his discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy.
2.ChemistryJean-Pierre Sauvagefor the design and synthesis of molecular machines.
Sir J. Fraser Stoddart
Bernard L. Feringa
3.PhysicsDavid J. Thoulessfor theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter.
F. Duncan M. Haldane
J. Michael Kosterlitz
4.LiteratureBob Dylan (U.S.A.)For having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.
5.PeaceJuan Manuel Santos (Columbia)for his resolute efforts to bring the country's more than 50-year-long civil war to an end
6.Economic SciencesOliver Hart and Bengt Holmstromfor their contributions to contract theory.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2015

Akademi Fellow: C.V. Chandrasekhar for Bharat Natyam

Krishna BishtHindustani Music (Vocal)
Mashkoor Ali KhanHindustani Music (Vocal)
Kartick KumarHindustani Music (Sitar)
Brij NarayanHindustani Music (Sarod)
R. N. Thyagarajan & R. N. Tharanathan (Joint Award)Carnatic Music (Vocal)
Suguna VaradhachariCarnatic Music (Vocal)
Lalgudi G.J.R. KrishnanCarnatic Music (Violin)
Mamalam M.K. SivaCarnatic Music (Nagaswaram)
Bhupinder SinghOther Major Traditions of Music (Sugam Sangeet)
Hridyanath MangeshkarOther Major Traditions of Music (Sugam Sangeet)
Prafulla KarOther Major Traditions of Music (Sugam Sangeet)
Ranganayaki JayaramanBharatnatyam
K. Kunhiraman NairKathakali
G. Padmaja ReddyKuchipudi
Aloka KanungoOdissi
Sharodi SaikiaSattriya
Mandakini TrivediMohiniattam
Sadashiva PradhanChhau
W. Lokendrajit SinghContemporary /Expeimental Dance
Rajkumar Bharathi Music for Dance
Nand Kishore AcharyaTheatre (Playwriting)
Shafaat KhanTheatre (Playwriting)
Parvez AkhtarTheatre (Direction)
Mushtaq KakTheatre (Direction)
Manoj N. JoshiTheatre (Acting)
Himani ShivpuriTheatre (Acting)
Pradeep Mulye Theatre (Allied Theatre - Scenic Design)
Sarojini NangiarammaMajor Traditions of Theatre (Kutiyattam)
Rani Balbir KaurOverall Contribution/Scholarships (Theatre)
Khuman Lal SaavFolk Music (Chhatisgarh)
Ramchandra SinghFolk Theatre (Bihar)
Khem RajFolk Dance (Jammu & Kashmir)
S. R. D. PrasadMartial Arts (Kerala)
Chhaya & Maya Khutegaonkar (Joint Award)Lavani (Maharashtra)
Gangmei Aluna KabuiniTraditional Dance & Music (Manipur)
Paramjit Singh SidhuFolk Music (Punjab)
Sayeed Sabri JaipuriQawwali (Rajasthan)
K. K. Ramachandra PulavarPuppetry
T. N. SankaranathanPuppetry
Shanta GokhalePerforming Arts (Overall contribution)
Chaman Lal AhujaPerforming Arts (Overall contribution)

Books in News

Modi's Midas Touch in Foreign Policy written by Ambassador Surendra Kumar

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness written by Arundhati Roy


Current Affairs 2016

Current Affairs of December 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

PDF Downloads

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. With which of the following fields was Yusuf Arakkal, who passed away recently, associated?

  1. Music
  2. Dance
  3. Painting
  4. Martial arts

2. Which country recently became the first in the world to ban disposable plastic cups and plates?

  1. France
  2. Italy
  3. United Kingdom
  4. Spain

3. Which State recently reorganised and increased the number of districts from 10 to 31?

  1. Haryana
  2. Chhattisgarh
  3. Telangana
  4. Jharkhand

4. Antonio Guterres, who will be taking over as the new Secretary General of the United Nations belongs to which country?

  1. Australia
  2. Austria
  3. Ghana
  4. Portugal

5. With which of the following sports is Neeraj Goyat associated?

  1. Boxing
  2. Archery
  3. Badminton
  4. Martial Arts

6. The airport in which of the following cities has become the second eco-friendly airport in the country, after Kochi?

  1. Madurai
  2. Hyderabad
  3. Vadodara
  4. Puducherry

7. Recently Rosneft Oil Co acquired Essar Oil. Rosneft is a company based in

  1. Sweden
  2. Russia
  3. Iran
  4. Saudi Arabia

8. India’s first roll-on roll-off passenger ferry (Ro Pax) service is expected to be launched between Ghogha (Bhavnagar district) and Dahej (Bharuch) in Gujarat by April next year. The service will pass through

  1. Gulf of Khambat
  2. Gulf of Kutch
  3. Sir Creek
  4. Narmada River

9. HE-MRO Pvt Ltd, a joint venture of HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines (SafranHE), was inaugurated by the Defence Minister at Sattari District, North Goa recently. Safran Helicopter Engines is a company based in -

  1. Switzerland
  2. France
  3. Russia
  4. U.S.A.

10. Which country recently unveiled the first image of its nuclear missile called the RS-28 Sarmat, also known as Satan-2?

  1. China
  2. North Korea
  3. South Korea
  4. Russia

11. Air India recently flew the longest flight in the world with a flight distance of 9,389 miles. The flight was from New Delhi to

  1. Buenos Aires
  2. Washington D.C.
  3. San Francisco
  4. Los Angeles