India-Bangladesh joint military exercise SAMPRITI-2016 begins

The seventh edition of India-Bangladesh joint military exercise SAMPRITI-2016 has commenced to practise counter-terrorism and disaster-management operations.

The 14-day (from 05 to 18 November 2016) joint military exercise will be held at Shaheed Salauddin Cantonment in Tangail, Dhaka (Bangladesh’s Capital).

Key Facts

(i)      The SAMPRITI 2016 will simulate a scenario where both nations are working together in a Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism environment under the UN Charter.

(ii)      The exercise curriculum is progressively planned in which the participants will initially get familiar with each other’s organizational structure and tactical drills.

(iii)     Subsequently, the training will advance to joint tactical exercises wherein the battle drills of both the armies will be practiced.

It will culminate with a final validation exercise in which troops of both armies will jointly practice a Counter Terrorist Operation in a controlled and simulated environment.

Background

SAMPRITI Exercise is important bilateral defence cooperation between India and Bangladesh. Earlier six editions of the exercise were hosted alternately by both countries. The first edition of the exercise in this series was held at Jorhat in Assam in 2010.

World Tsunami Awareness Day: November 5

The First World Tsunami Awareness Day was observed across the world on 5 November 2016 to spread awareness among people across the world about Tsunami.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had constituted the day by adopting a resolution in December 2015. The proposal was first mooted by Japan after the 3rd UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai (Japan) in March 2015.

2016: “Effective Education and Evacuation Drills”.

Significance of the Day

(i) Spread awareness among people across the world in matters related to the dangers of tsunami.

(ii) Stress on the importance of early warning systems in order to mitigate damage from the devastating natural calamity.

Background

         November 5 was designated as World Tsunami Awareness Day by UNGA to coincide with the annual anniversary of the 1854 Inamura-no-hi (Fire of Inamura) event. On this day in 1854, a villager in Wakayama Prefecture in Japan through his quick action had saved countless lives after he had set fire to sheaves of rice on the top of a hill, thus warning people of the imminent danger of a tsunami. This was the first documented instance of a tsunami early warning.

Union Government launches Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan

The Union Government launched Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) to provide free health check-ups to pregnant women at government health centres and hospitals.

The Scheme was launched by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda in New Delhi. It was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat in June 2016.

Key Features

The national programme aims to provide pregnant ladies free ante-natal services (ANC) and required treatment for free on 9th of every month.

Objectives of the scheme are

(i) Provide healthy life to the pregnant women.

(ii) Lowering the maternity mortality rate.

(iii) Making pregnant women aware of their health issues and diseases.

(iv)  Making sure safe delivery and healthy life of the baby.

The scheme is applicable only for the pregnant women in their pregnancy period of 3 to 6 months. It will provide all kinds of medical checkups completely free to pregnant women.

These checkups will take place at the medical centres, government and private hospitals and private clinics across the country.

These free of cost tests will include blood pressure, sugar level, weight, haemoglobin test, blood test and screening.

Women will be marked differently using different colour stickers based on their health problems so that doctors can easily detect the problem.

Different colour stickers will be Red Sticker for Serious patients, Blue Sticker for High blood pressure and Yellow Sticker for Other diseases.

Latvia becomes first Baltic Sea country to link with China’s OBOR

Latvia has become the first country in the Baltic Sea area to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to link up with China’s One Belt and One Road (OBOR) Initiative.

The MoU was signed after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s meeting with his Latvian counterpart Maris Kucinskis in Riga (capital of Latvia). It was Chinese Premier’s first visit to the European Union country.

Besides, Latvia and China also singed five agreements on cooperation in such areas as small and medium-sized enterprises, transportation and logistics.

What is China’s One Belt and One Road (OBOR) Initiative?

1. OBOR initiative is China’s ambitious development strategy and framework that aims to boost its connectivity and trade across Asia, Africa and Europe.

2. It comprises two components viz. the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.

3. OBOR initiative is part of China’s revived 21st century Silk Road diplomacy that seeks to push it to take a bigger role in global affairs as a major global power.

Andhra Pradesh tops World Bank’s energy-saving rankings

The sunrise state Andhra Pradesh has been ranked number one in the World Bank’s ‘Energy Efficiency Implementation Readiness’.

The ranking of the states were released in the World Bank’s study report titled: ‘India’s State Level Energy Efficiency Implementation Readiness’.

Key Facts

1. Andhra Pradesh topped with overall score of 42.01 followed by Rajasthan (41.89), Karnataka (39.34) and Maharashtra (39.29).

2. Kerala, Gujarat, Delhi (UT), Punjab, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh are the other states in the top ten ranking in that order.

3. Andhra Pradesh topped the list by achieving an energy saving of 1,500 million units (MU) i.e. around 650 MW in two years through use of LED lighting.

4. The World Bank study suggests adoption of achievable energy savings targets against the identified energy efficiency interventions.

5. It also calls upon the states to Endeavour to bring sector-specific energy efficiency policies with definite goals and time-bound action plans.

Google ties up with ASI for virtual tour of monuments

 Technology giant Google has tied up with Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) for 360 degree virtual tour of 280-odd monuments across the country.

ASI has given its permission to Google for creating the virtual tour of the monuments which would be available in the Google maps.

Some of the major monuments are Taj Mahal, Victoria Memorial and the ruins of Hampi. Of the total 280 monuments 30 are in West Bengal and eight are from Kolkata.

 

About Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

1. The ASI is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of the country.

2. The prime objection of ASI is to maintain the archaeological sites, ancient monuments and remains of national importance.

3. Headquarters: New Delhi.

4. Established: 1861 by Alexander Cunningham.

5. It regulates all archaeological activities as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

          6. It functions under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Culture. It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.

India, Venezuela sign deals to increase oil production

India and Venezuela have signed an oil production deals worth about 1.45 billion US dollar to increase oil production.

The agreement was signed between Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Venezeulas Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA), and Venezuela’s consortium Delta Finance BVin Caracas.

The Indo-Venezuelan partnership created in 2009 is expected to double the daily oil production of San Cristobal field from 20,000 to 40,000 barrels of oil.

Comment

The agreement comes amid a severe economic crisis in Venezuela. It is seen as a way to boost oil production, pay off debts, obtain funds from other foreign partners, and increase the country’s oil income.

Venezuelan crisis

Venezuela’s economy relies on oil exports and it accounts for half of the Venezuelan government’s revenues. Recently, it has been severely hit by a drastic fall in oil prices and resulted in the Venezuela’s economic crisis. The inflation rate in Venezuela is out of control leading to hyperinflation like condition resulting in shortages of goods and essential commodities. The inflation rate of Venezuela is highest in the world which is expected to reach 475% by the end of 2016.

Food Security Act implemented throughout country

CURRENT AFFAIRS – NOVEMBER 2016

Current Affairs 2016 with Latest Current Affairs for preparation of IAS, UPSC, Banking, IBPS, Railways, TNPSC and other exams. Current Events November 2016 news summary on current events of national and international importance.

Food Security Act implemented throughout country

The Union Government has announced that the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 which envisages supply of subsidized food grains has been implemented across the country. Announcement in this regard was made by Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan after last two remaining states Kerala and Tamil Nadu rolled out the NFSA from November 2016.

Key Facts

With this, now NFSA has been implemented in all States and Union Territories. As a result, 81.34 crore persons will get subsidized wheat at Rs. 2 per kg and rice at Rs. 3 per kg.

At the current coverage, the monthly allocation of food grains to States and UTs under the Act is about 45.5 lakh tones.

The subsidy implication of about Rs. 11,726 crore per month and it is overall about Rs. 1,40,700 crore per year.

Now Union Government will focus on further reforms in the public distribution system (PDS) including end to end computerization in order to check leakages and diversion of food grains.

About National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013

The NFSA aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two thirds of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas).

It converts into legal entitlements for existing food security programmes of the Central Government. It includes the Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services scheme and the Public Distribution System.

Grains like wheat, rice and coarse grain will be distributed at the subsidized price of 3 Rs. 3, Rs. 2 and Rs. 1.

Pregnant women and lactating mothers and children are entitled to get meals under the prescribed nutrition by MDM and ICDS.

         NFSA 2013 will provide high nutrition food to the children from age group of 6 months to 14 years. Pregnant women and lactating mothers will be entitled to get maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000