UDAN SCHEME FOR REGIONAL AIR CONNECTIVITY

 The Centre unveiled a regional connectivity scheme, known as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam
Nagrik), with flights priced at Rs.2,500 for one hour of flying time to and from regional airports, but
raised the subsidy amount to be paid to regional airlines from the level proposed in a draft
scheme.
 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.
 It aims to increase ticketing volume from 80 million to 300 million by 2022.
 Airline operators will bid for up to 40 subsidised seats and minimum seats will be 9. There will be
50 percent seats on market based pricing.
 Airlines will get exclusive rights for three years to fly on a particular regional route.
URJA GANGA
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the highly ambitious gas pipeline
project in his Lok Sabha constituency, Varanasi.
 The gas pipeline project aims to provide piped cooking gas to residents of Varanasi within two
years and, in another year after that, cater to millions of people in states like Bihar, Jharkhand,
West Bengal and Odisha.
 The gas pipeline project aims to provide piped cooking (PNG) gas to residents of the eastern
region of the country and CNG gas for the vehicles.
 The project is being implemented by state-run gas utility GAIL. It envisages laying a 2,050-km
pipeline connecting Jagdishpur (UP) to Haldia (West Bengal) by 2018.
  25 industrial clusters in these 5 states will be developed using gas from this pipeline. Besides, 40
districts and 2600 villages will benefit from this project.

BIOTECH- KISAN
 The Union Ministry of Science and Technology has launched new scheme Biotech-KISAN in
order to apply science to boost rural economy.
 Biotech- KISAN (Krishi Innovation Science Application Network):
 Biotech-KISAN is a new programme that empowers farmers, especially women farmers.

Biotech-KISAN is
 Biotech-KISAN aims to link farmers, scientists and science institutions across the country in a
network that identifies and helps solve their problems in a cooperative manner.
 Empower women. It is important to empower the women farmer, help her meet her concerns for
better seed, storage of seed and protection of the crops from disease and pest. The scheme
includes the Mahila Biotech- KISAN fellowships, for training and education in farm practices, for
women farmers. The Scheme also aims to support the women farmers/ entrepreneur in their
small enterprises, making her a grass root innovator.

TELANGANA GETS 21 NEW DISTRICTS

 In a major administrative measure two years after carving out of the new state, the Telangana government created
21 new districts, taking the total number to 31 in the state.
 The events marking the creation of the new districts, coincided with the ‘Vijaya Dasami’ festival,
were a grand affair across the state.
 Telangana, carved out of Andhra Pradesh, came into existence on June 2, 2014, as the 29th state
of India.
 The reorganisation of new districts was aimed at better administration and effective
implementation of government programmes and schemes.

Old Map of Telangana

 New Map of Telangana

MAHARASHTRA TOPS IN 2016 AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND FARMER FRIENDLY

REFORMS INDEX
 NITI Aayog launches the first ever Agricultural Marketing & Farm Friendly Reforms Index.
Maharashtra ranks first in this index.
 NITI Aayog has identified three key areas for reform and is now persuading states to undertake
the reforms. The areas identified for immediate reforms are:
o Agricultural market reforms
o Land lease reforms
o Reforms related to forestry on private land – felling and transit of trees.
 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.

Top Five States’ score in terms of Agri Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms

JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS
 The Japanese Encephalitis has claimed 54 lives in Odisha’s backward Malkangiri district in just a
more than a month.
  As it is, a recent study conducted by researchers from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
Health has concluded that the cases of dengue and chikungunya have been under-reported in
India.
What is Jananese Encephalitis?
 Japanese encephalitis (JE), formerly known as Japanese B encephalitis to distinguish it
from Economo’s A encephalitis—is a disease caused by the mosquito-borne Japanese
encephalitis virus (JEV).
 The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) itself is a virus from the family Flaviviridae.
 JE primarily affects children.

KERALA BECOMES 3RD OPEN DEFECATION FREE STATE

 Kerala has become the third Open Defecation Free (ODF) state in the country. The
announcement was made on the state’s foundation day on 1 st November. Earlier, Himachal
Pradesh and Sikkim had declared themselves Open Defecation Free.
 Every individual household in the state has functional toilet under the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’.
 Recently, the State of Himachal Pradesh declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), making it the
second State in the country (after Sikkim) to achieve the feat.

About Swachh Bharat Mission

 The Government of India has launched “Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban)” on 2nd October, 2014
with the following objectives:-
(i) Eliminate open defecation,
(ii) Conversion of insanitary toilets to pour flush toilets,
(iii) Eradication of manual scavenging,
(iv) 100% collection and scientific processing/disposal reuse/recycle of Municipal Solid Waste,
The Mission has following components:-
(i) Construction of Household Toilets,
(ii) Community and Public Toilets,
(iii) Solid Waste Management,
(iv) Information, Education & Communication (IEC) and Public Awareness,
(v) Capacity Building and Administrative & Office Expenses (A&OE).
 The funding pattern between the Central Government and the State Government/ Urban Local
Bodies (ULBs) is 75% : 25% (90% : 10% for North Eastern and special category states).
 The gap in financing of the aforesaid components could be met by the beneficiary contribution,
private funding, funds with private companies under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and
the Swachh Bharat Kosh of the Ministry of Finance.

FOOD SECURITY ACT IMPLEMENTED

 The National Food Security Act (NFSA), which envisages supply of subsidised foodgrains, has
been implemented across the country.
 The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) was already being implemented in 34 States/UTs.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu have also rolled out the NFSA from November. With this, now the Act has
been implemented in all the States and Union Territories.

About The National Food Security Act 2013

 One of the major initiatives towards providing the food security to the people of the country,
government’s most ambitious bill passed in Parliament on 10th Sep, 2013.
Objective
 “To provide for food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach by ensuring adequate
quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life of dignity and for matters
connected therewith.”
 The act enshrines freedom of right to food and nutrition.

Salient features of the Act:

 The act promises to cover 67% of population(81.34 crore persons) which covers 75% rural
populations and 50% urban population

PRADHAN MANTRI SURAKSHIT MATRITVA ABHIYAN

 The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) is aimed to reduce maternal and infant
mortality rates through safe pregnancies and safe deliveries.
 The national programme will provide special free antenatal care to about 3 crore pregnant women
across the country in order to detect and prevent high risk pregnancies.

PRADHAN MANTRI YUVA YOJANA

 Minister of State(I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy,
recently launched the Pradhan Mantri YUVA Yojana, MSDE’s flagship scheme on
entrepreneurship education and training.
 The scheme spans over five years (2016-17 to 2020-21) 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).

PRADHAN MANTRI AWAS YOJANA

 Under the PM Awas Yojana Gramin affordable housing scheme, central government aims to
develop 3 Crore homes by the year 2022 in rural areas for poor families including BPL.
 PMAY-G is the revamped version of Indira Awas Yojana which was renamed earlier this year with
some pro-poor changes in the scheme.
 Housing units under the PMAY-G scheme are already being offered to the beneficiaries in rural
areas across the country.
 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin will be implemented across the country except Delhi and
Chandigarh. The immediate target of PMAY-G is to construct 1 Crore affordable homes in rural
areas by the year 2018-19.
 JALLIKATTU

 The Supreme Court recently refused to lift a ban on Jallikattu (taming the bull) and dismissed the
Tamil Nadu government’s petition seeking review of the May 7, 2014, judgment that put an end to
the annual event held in the state as part of Pongal celebrations.
 A bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Rohinton Nariman said the Tamil Nadu Regulation of
Jallikattu Act, 2009 that permitted jallikattu violated the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,
1960, that is dedicated to prevent “unnecessary pain and suffering caused to animals”.
Background
 The Supreme Court had banned Jallikattu in May 2014 and held that bulls could not be used as
performing animals. It ordered to completely stop use of bulls for Jallikattu events or bullock-cart
races across the country.
 The ban was imposed by SC as it violated provisions of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,
1960; fundamental duty Article 51A (g): compassion towards animal; Article 21 (Right to Life),
which prohibits any disturbance to the environment, including animals as it is considered
essential for human life.
 In January 2016, the Union Government through notification lifted this ban and allowed use of
bulls for Jallikattu events or bullock-cart races in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. But, the apex
court put on hold of the Union Government’s notification.

About Jallikattu
 Jallikattu also known as Eruthazhuvuthal or Manju virattu , is an event held in Tamil Nadu as
a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day.
 Bulls are bred specifically by people of the village for the event and attended mainly by many
villages’ temple bulls (koil kaalai).
 A temple bull is like the head of all cattle in a village; special rituals will be performed for this
temple bull during important days. During the event, prizes are announced to encourage the
youth to participate.
 Jallikattu has been known to be practised during the Tamil classical period (Sangam Period-
spanning from c. 4th century BC to c. 2nd century AD).
 It was common among the ancient people aayars who lived in the ‘Mullai’ geographical division of
the ancient Tamil country.
 RBI CUTS REPO RATE BY 25 BPS IN 4TH BI-MONTHLY MONETARY POLICY
STATEMENT
 The Reserve Bank of India cut policy rate (repo rate) by 25 basis points to 6.25% from 6.5%
citing easing inflation.
 Consequently, the reverse repo rate adjusted to 5.75% and the marginal standing facility
(MSF) rate to 6.75%.
 This was the fourth bi-monthly monetary policy of the RBI.

What is Repo Rate?

 Repo rate is used by monetary authorities to control inflation.

What is Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate?

 Marginal standing facility (MSF) is a window for banks to borrow from the Reserve Bank of India
in an emergency situation when inter-bank liquidity dries up completely. The MSF rate is pegged
100 basis points or a percentage point above the repo rate.
BITCOINS
 After cracking down on drug trafficking being conducted through the ‘darknet’ recently, the
NCB(Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)) is set to freeze about 500 Bitcoins in the accounts of
traffickers, the first ever seizure of the virtual, unregulated currency in a criminal probe in the
country.
 A darknet (or dark net) is an overlay network that can only be accessed with specific software,
configurations, or authorization, often using non-standard communications protocols and ports.
What is Bitcoin?
 Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency and a payment system invented by an unidentified programmer, or
group of programmers, under the name of Satoshi Nakamoto.
 Bitcoin was introduced on 31 October 2008 to a cryptography mailing list and released as open-
source software in 2009.
ANDHRA PRADESH, TELANGANA JOINTLY TOPS EASE OF DOING BUSINESS LIST
 Andhra Pradesh and Telengana have jointly topped the 2016 all-India State/Union Territory-wise
Ease of Doing Business rankings, while last-year’s topper Gujarat slipped to the third spot.
 The rankings, announced by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, are on the
basis of a 340-point business reform action plan and their implementation by the States. This
covers the period from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.

The top ten ranks in 2016

 RS. 500, RS. 1,000 NOTES NO LONGER LEGAL TENDER
 The Union Government has announced that Rs. 500, Rs. 1,000 notes will cease to be legal
tender.

Key Facts of PM’s Address:

 The demonetisation drive of these two currency units was taken to root out the menace of
black money, corruption and fake currency from the country. The currency notes of 100, 50,
20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 rupee will remain unaffected by this decision and remain legal tender.
 Persons holding old 500, Rs. 1,000 notes must deposit these notes in their bank or post
office accounts from 10th November till 30th December 2016 without any limit.
 Those who are not able to deposit 30th December 2016 can go to the specified offices of RBI
up to 31st March 2017 and deposit the notes after submitting a declaration form.
 However, for immediate needs, old 500, Rs. 1,000 notes can be exchanged in any bank,
head post office or sub post office by showing identity proof like Aadhaar card, voter card,
ration card, passport, PAN card or other approved proofs.
 There will be limit for such exchange till 24th November, and will increase from 25th
November till 30th December 2016.
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will issue new 500 and Rs. 2,000 notes from 10 November
2016.
 There will no restrictions of any kind on non-cash payments by cheques, demand drafts, debit
or credit cards and electronic fund transfer.

MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICES (MSP) FOR KHARIF CROPS OF 2016-17 SEASON

 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, has given its
approval for the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all Kharif Crops of 2016-17
Season.
 The decision to increase MSPs is based on the recommendations of Commission for Agricultural
Costs and Prices (CACP) which takes into account the cost of production, overall demand-supply,
domestic and international prices, inter-crop price parity, terms of trade between agricultural and
non-agricultural sectors, the likely effect of the Price Policy on the rest of economy, besides
ensuring rational utilization of production resources like land and water, while recommending
MSPs.
 The Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) has been increased for all Kharif Crops of 2016-17 season :
 Paddy Jowar
Bajra Maize
Tur (Arhar) Ragi
Moong Urad
Groundnut-in-shell Soyabean
Sunflower Seed Nigerseed
Sesamum Cotton

What is MSP?
 Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a form of market intervention by the Government of India to
insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices. The minimum support
prices are a guarantee price for their produce from the Government.

19TH SAARC SUMMIT IN ISLAMABAD POSTPONED

 Pakistan decided to postpone the 19th SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation) Summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad on coming November 9-10.
 Earlier, India , Afghanistan, Bangladesh , Bhutan and Sri Lanka had informed the SAARC
Secretariat (Kathmandu, Nepal) that, their leaders will not attend the summit citing concerns over
cross-border terrorism in the region.

About SAARC
 SAARC is regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union in South Asia.
 Founded at: Dhaka ,(Bangladesh) in 1985.
 Secretariat : Kathmandu, Nepal.
 Member countries: (8 countries)
 Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
 Afghanistan is last joined member country in SAARC in 2007.
 SAARC launched the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) in 2006.
 Previous 18TH SAARC Summit : Kathmandu, Nepal-2014.

ABU DHABI CROWN PRINCE

 Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be the Chief Guest at the
2017 Republic Day parade.

About Abu Dhabi

 Earlier Chief guests of Republic Day parades:
o 2016- Francois Hollande (French President),
 o 2015- Barack Obama (US President),
o 2014- Shinzo Abe (Japanese Prime Minister).
8TH BRICS SUMMIT: GOA
 The eighth BRICS summit was held in Goa from 15 to 16 October 2016.
 The two day summit was attended by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi
Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazilian President Michel Temer and South African
President Jacob Zuma.
 Theme for the summit : “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions”.
 The summit concluded with adaptation of Goa Declaration.

About BRICS
 BRICS is the acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa.
 Originally the first four were grouped as “BRIC” (or “the BRICs”), South Africa joined in 2010.
 Since 2009, the BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits.
 7th summit: Ufa, Russia(July, 2015)
 8th Summit: Goa , India (October, 2016)
 9th Summit : China (2017)
 India is to assume the chair of the BRICS from February 2016 to December 2016.

BRICS-BIMSTEC OUTREACH SUMMIT

 BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit held in Goa on the sidelines of BRICS Summit 2016.
 In this summit, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) leaders met the heads of
government of the BIMSTEC countries.

About BIMSTEC
 BIMSTEC ( Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is a
multilateral grouping of seven countries: India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri
Lanka, and Thailand.
 Establishment: 6 June 1997.
 Chairmanship: Nepal (Since 2014)
 Headquarters: Dhaka (Bangladesh)

ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION SUMMIT

 The 2016 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum’s Leaders Summit will be held in
Lima, Peru from November 19 to 20, 2016.
 It marked the second time Peru played host to the APEC, previously hosting in 2008.
 The theme of the summit is “Quality Growth and Human Development” and the official logo is the
architecture of the ancient city of Caral.

About APEC
 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim member economies
that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
 It was established in order to leverage the growing interdependence of Asia-Pacific region’s
economies and promote free trade in the region.
 Establishment: 1989.
 Headquarters: Singapore.
 Executive Director: Alan Bollard
 21 Members Economies: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia,
New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China,
Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Peru, Russian and Vietnam.
 India is observer of APEC since 2011 and has applied for membership.

MENG HONGWEI ELECTED AS NEW INTERPOL PRESIDENT

 Meng Hongwei, high-level police official from China has been elected as the new President of
International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
 With this, he becomes first Chinese citizen to hold the four-year post.
 He was elected at the INTERPOL’s 85th annual general assembly held in Bali, Indonesia and
succeeds Mireille “Ballen” Ballestrazzi.

About Interpol
 The International Criminal Police Organization, ICPO or INTERPOL, is an intergovernmental
organization facilitating international police cooperation
 Countries : 190 member countries.
 Headquarters : Lyon, France.
 It was established as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) in 1923 and
adopted its telegraphic address as its common name in 1956.
 It is the second largest political organization after the United Nations in terms of international
representation.

15TH PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS

 António Costa, the Indian origin prime minister of the Republic of Portugal will be the chief
guest at the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention to be held from January 7 to 9,
2017 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
 Michael Ashwin Satyandre Adhin, 36, vice-president of the Republic of Suriname, will be the
special guest at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas(PBD).

INDIA BECOMES ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF CERN

 India and European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) signed an agreement making
India an Associate Member State of CERN.
 This follows CERN Council’s adoption of the resolution to this effect on September 15, 2016.

About CERN
 The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN, is a European research
organization that operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world.

 Established in 1954, the organization is based in a northwest suburb of Geneva on the Franco–
Swiss border.
 Members: It has 22 member states, four associate member states (including India and
Pakistan) and three International Organisations have observer status.
 Director General: Fabiola Gianotti ,
  CERN’s main function is to provide the particle accelerators and other infrastructure needed for
high-energy physics research – as a result, numerous experiments have been constructed at
CERN as a result of international collaborations.
 CERN is also the birthplace of the World Wide Web. The main site at Meyrin has a large
computer facility containing powerful data processing facilities, primarily for experimental-data
analysis; because of the need to make these facilities available to researchers elsewhere, it has
historically been a major wide area network hub.
 CERN operates the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) which is the world’s largest and most powerful
particle accelerator.
List of Reports by International InstitutionsSr. Name of ReportOrganization

S.N. Name of Report Organization

1. World Investment Report UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and

Development)

2. Human Development Index UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)

3. Gender Inequality Index UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)
4. Millennium Development Goals UNO (United Nations Organization)

5. Global Financial System Report BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards)

6. Global Innovation Index Published INSEAD

7. World Development Report IBRD (World Bank)

8. Ease of Doing Business IBRD (World Bank)

9. Global Talent Competitiveness Index INSEAD

10. Intellectual Property Rights WTO (World Trade Organization)

11. The Energy Report & Living Planet Report WWF (World Wildlife Fund)

12. Carbon Emission Index UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change)

13. Global Terrorism Index IEP (Individualized Education Programme)

14. Global Peace Index IEP (Individualized Education Programme)

15. Global Money Laundering Report FATF (Financial Action Task Force)

16. World Economic Outlook IMF (International Monetary Fund)

17. Global Competitive Index WEF (World Economic Forum)

18. Travel & Tourism Index WEF (World Economic Forum)

19. Environmental Performance Index WEF (World Economic Forum)

20. Global Information Index WEF (World Economic Forum)

 21. Levels and Trends in Child Mortality Report UN Inter-agency Group

22. India State of Forest Report Forest Survey of India

23. Interest Subvention Report 2015-16 Reserve Bank of India

24. Change the World List Data Fortune

25. Asian Development Outlook ADB (Asian Development bank)

KIGALI AMENDMENT
 One hundred and seven countries came to an agreement, so called Kigali Amendment which
amends the 1987 Montreal Protocol, in Kigali, Rwanda, to substantially phase out a potent
greenhouse gas by 2045 and move to prevent a potential 0.5 C rise in global temperature by
2050.
 In this meeting of parties to the Montreal Protocol at Kigali in Rwanda, India has announced that it
will eliminate the use of HFC-23, a greenhouse gas that harms the ozone layer, by 2030.

What is Montreal Protocol?

 The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was designed to reduce the
production and consumption of ozone depleting substances in order to reduce their abundance in
the atmosphere, and thereby protect the earth’s fragile ozone Layer.
 The original Montreal Protocol was agreed on 16 September 1987 and entered into force on 1
January 1989.
 Montreal Protocol stipulates that the production and consumption of compounds that deplete
ozone in the stratosphere-chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and
methyl chloroform-are to be phased out by 2000 (2005 for methyl chloroform.

About HFC 23
 HFC-23 is a potent greenhouse gas with Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 14,800 times more
than that of CO2. It is a by-product of HCFC-22, which is used in industrial refrigeration.
 IUNC TO DECLARE KASHMIR’S RED STAG AS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
 The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is going to declare the Kashmiri Red
Stag (also known as Hangul) as a Critically Endangered species.

About Kashmir Stag

 The Kashmir Stag or Hangul is a subspecies of elk native to India
 As per Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) nearly 3000 to 5000 Hanguls existed around the
1940s.

About IUCN
 The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is
an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use
of natural resources.
 It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy, lobbying and
education.
 Headquarters : Gland, Switzerland.
 Membership: Over 1200 governmental and non-governmental organizations.
 President : Zhang Xinsheng (China)
 The organization is best known to the wider public for compiling and publishing the IUCN Red
List, which assesses the conservation status of species worldwide.
 The IUCN aims to have the category of every species re-evaluated every five years if possible,
or at least every ten years.

IUCN Red List Categories

 Species are classified by the IUCN Red List into nine groups, set through criteria such as rate of
decline, population size, area of geographic distribution, and degree of population and distribution
fragmentation.
 Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining.
 Extinct in the wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population
outside its historic range.
 Critically endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
 Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild.
 Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild.
  Near threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the near future.
 Least concern (LC) – Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at-risk category. Widespread and
abundant taxa are included in this category.
 Data deficient (DD) – Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction.
 Not evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.
 When discussing the IUCN Red List, the official term “threatened” is a grouping of three
categories: Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable.

PARIS AGREEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE ENTERS INTO FORCE

 The Paris Agreement on climate change entered into force on November 4, as enough countries
have signed onto the landmark accord to bring it to the emissions threshold that will trigger its
implementation.
 India ratified the Paris climate agreement on Oct. 2, becoming the 62nd country to do so.
 The Paris Agreement to combat climate change officially entered into force after 55 parties to the
convention accounting for at least 55% of total GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions ratified it.
 At present, 111 Parties have ratified of 197 Parties to the Convention.
 The Paris Agreement inked in United Nations Climate Change Conference 2015.
 Location: Paris.
 Previous UNFCC summit : Lima, Peru (2014).
 Paris Summit is one of the most important environmental conferences because of the INDC
commitments made by major polluters.

FOUR-MEMBER TEAM FOR CONSERVATION OF LOKTAK LAKE

 The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has constituted a four-member team for
conservation and management of Loktak Lake in Manipur.

About Loktak Lake

 Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, and is famous for the phumdis
(heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matter at various stages of decomposition)
floating over it.
 It is located near Moirang in Manipur state, India.
 Keibul Lamjao is the only floating national park in the world is an integral part of Loktak Lake.
 The Keibul Lamjao National Park is the last natural refuge of the endangered sangai (state animal
of Manipur) or Manipur brown-antlered deer , one of three subspecies of Eld’s deer.
 Considering the ecological status and its biodiversity values, Loktak lake was initially designated
as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1990. Later it was also
listed under the Montreux Record in 1993.

About the Ramsar Convention

 The Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) — called the “Ramsar Convention” — is an
intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the
ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the “wise use”,
or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories.
 The most recent COP12 was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, in 2015. COP13 will take place
in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2018.

About Montreux Record

 The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International
Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to
occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is
maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
List of Indian wetlands of International importance included in the Montreux Record are -
(1) Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan
(2) Loktak Lake, Manipur.
(Chilika Lake was removed from the register in 2002 in light of the improved conditions of the
lake. In fact, Chilika lake is the first Ramsar site in Asia to be removed from the Montreux record)

FLY ASH UTILIZATION POLICY

 Maharashtra has become the first state to adopt Fly Ash Utilisation Policy, paving way for
prosperity by generating “wealth from waste”, and environment protection.
 Maharashtra Cabinet approves a policy for 100 per cent use of fly ash generated from thermal
power plants and biogas plants for construction activities.
 This fly ash will be used to make bricks, blocks, tiles, wall panels, cement and other construction
materials.
 It will save soil excavation and protect environment. Earlier, use of fly ash was allowed within 100
kms radius of power plant, now it has been extended to 300 kms.
 The policy will create new employment opportunities in the power plant areas and also make
available raw material for construction at low cost to help ‘Housing for All’ projects.
 Fly ash is a byproduct from burning pulverized coal in electric power generating plants.

MONITORING COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE OUTBREAK OF H5 AVIAN INFLUENZA

 Acting swiftly on the reports of mortality among the birds in National Zoological Park, Delhi NCR
and other parts of the country due to H5 Avian Influenza Virus, Minister of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change, Shri Anil Madhav Dave, has directed to constitute a monitoring committee
for overseeing outbreak of H5 Avian Influenza in the country.
 The committee will oversee the daily incidences of H5 Avian Influenza in National Zoological Park
and other Zoos of the country and submit a daily report to the Environment Minister.
 This sudden outbreak of bird flu in capital’s has shocked the authorities as it came after the
recent declearation of India free from Avian Influenza (H5N1) in September, 2016 by the
department of animal husbandry, dairing and fishries in the ministry of agriculture and farmers.
However, to control the disease following actions are being taken :-
1. Active surveillance continues in the zoo;
2. Zoo is being screened regularly for any dead bird;
3. Bio-security measures continue;
4. Zoo remains closed for the safety of visitors and to control the disease;
5. A team of doctors from Animal Husbandry Department visited Delhi Zoo for monitoring;
6. A team of medical doctors visited and examined exposed employees of the zoo and medication
was provided.
 LIGO INDIA PROJECT
 Maharashtra Government has allocated 40.68 hectare land to Department of Atomic Energy
(DAE) to build LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory) India Project at
Dudhala village in Hingoli district.
 LIGO-India project is piloted by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Department of Science
and Technology (DST) in collaboration with the LIGO Laboratory in the U.S. run by Caltech and
MIT.
 The major purpose of IndIGO is to set up the LIGO-India detector, which would help enhance the
network of gravitational wave detectors worldwide. The network includes the two LIGO detectors
in the US (in Hanford and Livingston), the Virgo and GEO600 detectors in Europe, and the
proposed KAGRA detector in Japan

What are Gravitational Waves?

 Gravitational waves are ripples in the curvature of spacetime that propagate as waves at the
speed of light, generated in certain gravitational interactions that propagate outward from their
source.
 Predicted in 1916 by Albert Einstein on the basis of his theory of general relativity, gravitational
waves transport energy as gravitational radiation, a form of radiant energy similar to
electromagnetic radiation.
 Potential sources of detectable gravitational waves include binary star systems composed
of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.
 On February 11, 2016, the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration teams
announced that they had made the first observation of gravitational waves, originating from
a pair of merging black holes using the Advanced LIGO detectors.
 On June 15, 2016, a second detection of gravitational waves from coalescing black holes was
announced.
 Information extracted by these transmitted waves will help to address unsolved questions and
mysteries of physics and astronomy.

ASHOK LEYLAND LAUNCHES FIRST INDIA-MADE ELECTRIC BUS

 The Hinduja flagship Ashok Leyland has launched its first locally designed, engineered and
produced battery electric bus series Circuit.
 The company has developed the circuit series electric bus, a zero-emission product, with some
technology inputs sourced from its UK subsidiary Optare, which is a pioneer of electric buses.
 These buses were unveiled in lines with National Electric Mobility Plan which aims at a 20%
penetration of electric/hybrid (eco-friendly) vehicles by 2020. They enjoy a subsidy under the
Central government’s Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles
(FAME) scheme.
 The electric bus will have a minimum seating capacity of 35 to a maximum of 65, and can run up
to 120 kilometres on a single recharge under standard test conditions.
 These buses can be used in heritage sites, metro stations, tarmacs, rural areas, hill stations and
by IT firms and educational institutions.

‘INS TIHAYU’
 The Indian Navy commissioned a highly maneuverable fast attack craft ‘INS Tihayu’, which will
now be deployed along the eastern coast for patrolling.
 Named after Tihayu island (presently known as Katchal island) in the Nicobar group of islands,
the 320-tonne INS Tihayu, measuring 49 metres in length, can achieve speeds in excess of 35
knots.
 The ship is capable of operating in shallow waters at high speeds and is equipped with enhanced
fire power.
 The ship is fitted with three water jet propulsion systems, powered by marine diesel engines
generating 2,720 KW of power.
 Built for extended coastal and offshore surveillance and patrol, the warship is fitted with advanced
MTU engines, water-jet propulsion and the latest communication equipment.
 INS Tahiyu is the sixth WJFAC Car Nicobar Class vessel to be commissioned .
 The Car Nicobar class Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts(WJFAC) are high-speed offshore patrol
vessels built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy.

GSAT-18
 India’s latest communication satellite, GSAT-18 was inducted into the INSAT/GSAT system on
October 06, 2016 from Kourou, French Guiana.
 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.
 GSAT-18 was launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) by Ariane-5 VA-231 launch
vehicle. After its injection into GTO, ISRO’s Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan took control
 of GSAT-18 and performed the initial orbit raising manoeuvres 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.
 GSAT-18 that aims at providing telecommunications services for the country by strengthening
Isro’s current fleet of 14 operational telecom satellites.

HIMANSH
 A high altitude glaciological research station in Himalaya called Himansh (meaning a slice of ice)
began functioning above 13,500 ft (4000 m) in a remote region in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.
 It is part of the Indian government’s initiatives to better study and quantify the Himalayan glacier
responses towards the climate change.
 National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa, under the Ministry of Earth
Sciences has established this research station.
 This centre is established for understanding the behaviour of Himalayan glaciers and their
contribution to the sustainable supply of water for mankind and agriculture is one of the grand
challenges of Indian scientific community.
 The station houses many instruments to quantify the glacier melting and its relation to changing
climate. Some of the instruments that are available at this research facility include, Automatic
Weather Stations for weather monitoring, water level recorder for quantifying the glacier melt,
ground penetrating radar to know the thickness of glaciers, geodetic GPS systems to study the
glacier movements, snow fork for studying snow thickness, steam drill, snow corer, temperature
profilers, as well as various glaciological tools.
 Further, the researchers would be using this as a base for undertaking surveys using Terrestrial
Laser Scanners (TLS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) that would digitize the glacier motion
and snow cover variations with exceptional precision.

CHANDRAYAAN-2 MISSION
 ISRO has started conducting tests for its ambitious Chandrayaan-2 mission at its facility in
Challakere in Karnataka, where simulated lunar craters have been created for landing mission.
 Chandrayaan-2 is India’s second lunar exploration mission after Chandrayaan-1. Developed by
the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the mission is planned to be launched to
the Moon by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk II).
 India is planning to launch Chandrayaan-2 by early 2018.
  On 12 November 2007, representatives of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and
ISRO signed an agreement for the two agencies to work together on the Chandrayaan-2 project.
 It includes a lunar orbiter, lander and rover, all developed by India.

Orbiter
 The orbiter will orbit the Moon at an altitude of 100 km.The mission would carry five instruments
on the orbiter. The Orbiter High Resolution Camera (OHRC) will conduct high-resolution
observations of the landing site prior to separation of the lander from the orbiter.

Lander
 Unlike Chandrayaan-1’s Moon Impact Probe, which impacted the Moon’s surface, the lander will
make a soft landing to then deploy the rover.

Lander payload
Seismometer for studying Moon-quakes near the landing site.
 Thermal probe for estimating the thermal properties of the lunar surface
 Langmuir probe for measuring the density and variation of lunar surface plasma
 Radio occultation experiment for measuring the total electron content

Rover
 The rover’s mass will be about 20 kg and will operate on solar power. The rover will move on
wheels on the lunar surface, pick up samples of soil or rocks, perform on-site chemical
analysis and send the data to the orbiter above, which will relay it to the Earth station.

Rover payload
 Laser induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) from Laboratory for Electro Optic Systems
(LEOS), Bangalore.
 Alpha Particle Induced X-ray Spectroscope (APIXS) from PRL, Ahmedabad.

About Chandrayaan-1
 Chandrayaan-1 was India’s first lunar probe.
 It was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation in October 2008, and operated until
August 2009.
 The mission included a lunar orbiter and an impactor.
RANGE OF BRAHMOS TO BE DOUBLED
 India and Russia have agreed to double the range of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile that
the two produce together.
 This follows India’s recent accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Earlier,
India was denied access to the missile technology with range over 300 km as it was not a
member state.
About BrahMos
 The BrahMos is a short-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched
from submarines, ships, aircraft or land.
 It is a joint venture between the Russian Federation’s NPO Mashinostroeyenia and
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) who have together
formed BrahMos Aerospace.
  The name BrahMos is a portmanteau formed from the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra of
India and the Moskva of Russia.
 It is the one of the world’s fastest anti-ship cruise missile in operation. The missile travels at
speeds of Mach 2.8 to 3.0. (Mach is the ratio of the speed of a body to the speed of sound in the
surrounding medium. speed of sound at sea level = 340.29 m / s)
 Operational Range: 290km – 300 km.
 Warhead:200 kg conventional semi-armour-piercing and nuclear 300 kg (air-launched)
 A hypersonic version of the missile, BrahMos-II, is also presently under development with speed
of Mach 7-8 to boost aerial fast strike capability. It is expected to be ready for testing by 2017.

RUSSIA INVITES INDIA TO JOIN FAST-NEUTRON REACTOR PROJECT

 An official of Russia’s nuclear corporation Rosatom said the country has invited India to join in
developing nuclear reactors and participate in its fast reactor research project.
 The multipurpose fast research reactor project, also known as MBIR, is coming up at the
International Research Center in Dimitrovgrad, located in the Ulyanovsk region.
 The purpose of the programme is the creation of a new technological platform for nuclear energy,
which will be based on the closed fuel cycle with fast neutron reactors.

About MBIR Project

 The MBIR project is based on the closed fuel cycle which involves recycling the nuclear waste as
new fuel.
 It essentially signifies research on a sodium-cooled Generation 4 fast reactor to design an
advanced fast neutron reactor for use in nuclear power plants.
 A fast neutron reactor, also known simply as a fast reactor, is a type in which nuclear fission
chain reaction is sustained by fast neutrons. Such a reactor needs no neutron moderator.
 Transition to the closed fuel cycle, which is based on the fast neutron reactors, will lead to the
solution of the five key problems — safety, competitiveness, shortage of fuel, reprocessing and
refabricating the used nuclear fuel and radioactive waste — as well as in enforcing non-
proliferation of fission materials and weapons technologies
 MBIR’s design includes three independent loops that can be used to test different coolants like
gas, lead, molten salt, among others, and therefore it will be possible to conduct material testing
research in those different environments.

IISER RESEARCHERS DEVELOP GELATOR TO SCOOP OUT MARINE OIL SPILLS

 A compound (Gelator) , efficient and cost-effective, developed by researchers at the Indian
Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Thiruvananthapuram for recovering marine
oil spills.
 A team led by Dr. Kana M. Sureshan from the School of Chemistry used glucose as a starting
material and through several chemical reactions produced compounds (gelators) that selectively
congeal oil, including crude oil, from an oil-water mixture.
 Unlike other alternatives, the gelators, which are in a powder form, can be easily applied over oil-
water mixture and do not cause any environmental damage.
 Unlike current methods, our gelator can recover oil from oil-water mixture and the gelator can be
reused several times
 The gelator molecule is partly hydrophobic and partly hydrophilic. While the hydrophilic part helps
in self-assembling to form gelator fibres, the hydrophobic part is responsible for its diffusion into
the oil layer.
 When the researchers applied the compound on a benzene-water mixture and diesel-water
mixture, it was able to congeal all the benzene and diesel within a short span of time. The gel was
strong enough to be scooped with a spatula.
 In the case of crude oil, it took a longer time for the compound to form a gel that was strong
enough to be scooped off.

RUSTOM-II DRONE (TAPAS 201)

 Rustom-II, India’s indigenously developed long-endurance combat-capable drone, recently

successfully completed its maiden-flight, giving a boost to India’s development programme for
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).
 The DRDO successfully carried out the maiden-flight of TAPAS 201 (RUSTOM–II), a Medium
Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV.
 It has an endurance of 24 hours and can conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions for
the country’s armed forces.
 The UAV can also be used as an unmanned armed combat vehicle on the lines of the US’s
Predator drone. The test flight took place from Aeronautical Test Range(ATR), Chitradurga, 250
km from Bangalore, which is a newly developed flight test range for the testing of UAVs and
manned aircraft.
 TAPAS 201 has been designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment
(ADE), the Bangalore-based lab of DRDO with HAL-BEL as the production partners.
 TAPAS 201, a multi-mission UAV is being developed to carry out Intelligence, Surveillance and
Reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the three armed forces with an endurance of 24 hours.
 It is capable to carry different combinations of payloads like Medium Range Electro Optic
(MREO), Long Range Electro Optic (LREO), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Electronic
Intelligence (ELINT), Communication Intelligence (COMINT) and Situational Awareness Payloads
(SAP) to perform missions during day and night.

AGNI-I BALLISTIC MISSILE

 The Indian Army recently successfully conducted a user trial of the Agni-I, a surface-to-surface
medium-range ballistic missile [MRBM] developed by the Defence Research and Development
Organisation [DRDO].
 The nuclear-capable missile took off from launch complex-IV [LC-IV] on Abdul Kalam Island
where the DRDO’s Integrated Test Range [ITR] is located off the Odisha coast.
 Agni-I is a medium-range ballistic missile developed by DRDO of India under the Integrated
Guided Missile Development Program.
 Agni-I was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program and tested in
1989.
 It is a single-stage missile developed after the Kargil War to fill the gap between 250 km range
of Prithvi-II and 2,500 km range of Agni-II.
 The Agni I has a range of 700–1250 km.
 Indian Agni Series of Ballistic Missile

Name Type Range

Agni-I MRBM 700 – 1,250 km (Operational)
Agni-II IRBM 2,000 – 3,000 km (Operational)
Agni-III IRBM 3,500 – 5,000 km (Operational)
Agni-IV IRBM 3,000 – 4,000 km (Operational)
Agni-V ICBM 5,000 – 8,000 km (Testing)
Agni-VI ICBM 8,000 – 10,000 km (Under development)

What is a Ballistic Missile?

 A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a ballistic trajectory with the objective of delivering one
or more warheads to a predetermined target.
 A ballistic missile is only guided during relatively brief periods of flight; there are unguided ballistic
missiles as well.
  MRBM - Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (Range of between 1,000 and 3,000 km.)
 ICBM - Intercontinental Ballistic Missile ( a minimum range of 5,500 kilometres)

CHINA’S PULSAR NAVIGATION SATELLITE XPNAV-1

 China recently successfully launched a navigation satellite which will conduct in-orbit experiments
using pulsar detectors to demonstrate new technologies.
 The satellite operates in a Sun-synchronous orbit and will conduct in-orbit experiments using
pulsar detectors to demonstrate new technologies.
 While in orbit, the satellite will undergo tests on its detector functions and space environment
adaptability.
 The X-ray pulsar navigation will help reduce the spacecraft’s reliance on ground-based navigation
methods and is expected to lead to autonomous spacecraft navigation in the future.

What is X-ray Pulsars?

 X-ray pulsar navigation is an innovative navigation technology in which periodic X-ray signals
emitted from pulsars are used to determine the location of a spacecraft in deep space.
 X-ray Pulsars: X-ray pulsars or accretion powered pulsars are a class of astronomical objects
that are X-ray sources displaying strict periodic variations in X-ray intensity.
 An X-ray pulsar consists of a magnetized neutron star in orbit with a normal stellar companion
and is a type of binary star system.
 The magnetic-field strength at the surface of the neutron star is typically about
108 Tesla(The tesla (symbol T) is a unit of measurement of the strength of a magnetic field. SI
base units: kgÅ”s”2Å”A”1), over a trillion times stronger than the strength of the magnetic field
measured at the surface of the Earth (60 µT).
 Neutron Star: A neutron star is the collapsed core of a large (10–29 solar masses) star.
Neutron stars are the smallest and densest stars known to exist.
 Binary Star: A binary star is a star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their
common barycenter. Systems of two or more stars are called multiple star systems.

FIRST MEDIPARK IN INDIA

  Giving a “Make in India” a push in the field of medical technology, the Union Cabinet approved
“mini Ratna” public sector undertaking HLL Lifecare to sub-lease its land for setting up the
country’s first medical devices manufacturing park(Medipark) .
 The Union Cabinet has given its approval to HLL Lifecare to sub-lease 330.10 acres of land at
Chengalpattu, located in the outskirts of Chennai.
 The Medipark project will be the first manufacturing cluster in the medical technology sector in the
country, envisaged to boost local manufacturing of hi-end products at a significantly lower cost,
resulting in affordable healthcare delivery, particular in diagnostic services to a large section of
people.
 The project will also reduce the dependence on imports and create a strong base for the growth
of indigenous and domestic industry by providing access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and
technology.
 The firm will develop plug-and-play state-of-the-art infrastructure and industrial plots, and lease
them out to investors for setting up manufacturing units.

ZED SCHEME
 The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the National SC/ST hub, and the Zero
Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) scheme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
 The ZED Maturity Assessment Model has been conceived and structured to offer graded
benchmark levels of an organisation’s performance through a set of standard enabler and
outcome parameters focusing on quality and environmental performances.
 It aims to rate and handhold all MSMEs to deliver top-quality products using clean technology.

Important features of the ZED scheme:

 The aim is to help MSMEs evolve and grow by providing them adequate training and funding to
move up the value chain and produce quality products
 The ZED model will sensitise MSMEs to emphasise delivery of high quality products with zero
defects i.e. which had minimal negative impact on environment
 Clean energy will be a very important aspect of the model. Enterprises will be encouraged and
hand-held to adopt clean technology into their processes to attain a sustainable growth trajectory
 There will be sector-specific assessment parameters for each industry such as food processing,
textiles, leather, auto parts, etc.
 The PM first mentioned Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) in his Independence Day speech in 2014.
INDIA’S FIRST TITANIUM PROJECT IN ODISHA
 The first titanium project of India being established by Saraf Group in Ganjam district of Odisha
started its test production.
 One of its four furnaces became functional for test run.
 This titanium plant, which is first of its kind and the only one in the country would be ready for
inauguration in next few months. After inception this plant is expected to produce 36,000 tons of
titanium slag and 20,000 tons of pig iron per year.
 In the first phase, Saraf group has invested 350 crore rupees in this titanium project, which will
produce titanium slag. Its raw material, ilmenite would be procured from Odisha Sands Complex
(OSCOM), a unit of Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) in Ganjam district of Odisha as well as a
private company which has its unit in Srikakulam of adjoining Andhra Pradesh.
 Earlier in August 2015, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had fully commissioned and
started commercial production at the first indigenous Titanium Sponge Plant at Chavara in
Kerala. This plant had commercially started producing Titanium Sponge exclusively for the space
programme and strategic areas especially in aerospace and defence areas. With this
 commissioning India became the seventh country in the world producing Titanium sponge
commercially.

About Titanium
 Titanium is a chemical element with symbol Ti and atomic number 22.
 It is a lustrous transition metal with a silver color, low density and high strength.
 It is highly resistant to corrosion in sea water, aqua regia, and chlorine.
 Titanium can be alloyed with iron, aluminium, vanadium, and molybdenum, among other
elements, to produce strong, lightweight alloys for aerospace (jet engines, missiles,
and spacecraft), military, industrial process (chemicals and petro-chemicals, desalination plants,
pulp, and paper), automotive, agri-food, medical prostheses, orthopedic implants, dental and
endodontic instruments and files, dental implants, sporting goods, jewelry, mobile phones, and
other applications.

SARASWATI RIVER EXISTED

 The Saraswati river, so far considered mythical, did exist, a government-constituted expert KS
Valdiya committee has found.
 This committee’s report is based on the study of the land texture of states of North-West India
including- Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab. It has also taken account of the geological changes
that had occurred in the past.

 The report is an assertion of the assumption that River Saraswati originated from Adibadri in
Himalaya to culminate in the Arabian Sea through the Runn of Kutch.
 Two-third stretch of river measuring nearly 3000 km in length fell in India and reaming one-third of
the river stretch fell in present-day Pakistan.
  This river was once upon a time the lifeline of the north- western states of India and a vibrant
series of civilizations from Mahabharat period to Harappa had flourished on the banks of this
river.
 This report will be studied by the Central Ground Water Board as well as the Experts in her
ministry for its optimum use.

GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION
 As many as 272 products have been registered as geographical indications since September
2003, according to a government data.
 The data of the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, under the
Commerce and Industry Ministry, also showed that during this fiscal so far, 11 products have
been registered as GI from states including Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. In 2015-16, 26 items
got GI status.

What is Geographical Indiacation?

 A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a
specific geographical location or origin (e.g. a town, region, or country).
 India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical
Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 has come into force with effect from
15 September 2003.
 Under the law, a product is identified as a good or an item manufactured or produced in a
particular region. It enjoys the specific reputation which is attributable to that geographical region.
 It is a legal right under which the GI holder can prohibit others from using the same name.
 Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged product in India, in 2004-05.

11 GI products added in 2015-16:

 Sangli Raisins (Maharashtra),
 Banaras Metal Repouse Craft (Uttar Pradesh),
 Beed Custard Apple (Maharashtra),
 Jalna Sweet Orange (Maharashtra),
 Uttarakhand Tejpat (Uttarakhand),
 Waigaon Turmeric (Maharashtra),
 Purandar Fig (Maharashtra),
 Jalgaon Brinjal (Maharashtra),
 Solapur Pomegranate (Maharashtra)
 Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet (Jammu & Kashmir),
 Parmigiano Reggiano (Italy)
The other famous goods which carry this tag include Basmati rice, Darjeeling Tea, Chanderi Fabric,
Mysore Silk, Kullu Shawl, Kangra Tea, Thanjavur Paintings, Allahabad Surkha, Farrukhabad Prints,
Lucknow Zardozi and Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving.
 PERSONS IN NEWS
DONALD TRUMP
 Republican Donald J. Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States, the first public
office that the 70-year-old real estate mogul-turned politician will hold.
 Mr. Trump defeated Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.
 He will be the oldest person to be elected as President for first time.
 He will succeed Barack Obama and is scheduled to take office as the President of the USA on 20
January 2017.
 Donald Trump gained 48% of the votes and 279 votes in the Electoral College to defeat
Democrat Party opponent Hillary Clinton who gained 47% votes.
 Counting Still going on , as of Nov. 23, Clinton was leading in the popular vote, 64.4 million to
Trump’s 62.3 million.
 According to Article II, Section 1 of the US Constitution, presidents are elected by electors, not a
popular vote. Each state has a set number of electors, and Americans technically vote for a
party’s slate of electors in their state, not directly for the presidential candidate. The 538 electors,
divvied up according to the population of a state, cast their votes for the candidate on Dec. 19.
 At last count, Trump had 290 electoral votes to Clinton’s 232.
SUSHIL CHANDRA
 The Union Government appointed Indian Revenue Service officer Sushil Chandra as the
Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
 Chandra took over from the CBDT Chairperson Rani Singh Nair, who retired on 31 October 2016.
 Sushil Chandra is an IRS officer of 1980 batch.
 Before this, he was serving as a member of CBDT.

About CBDT
 CBDT is nodal policy-making body of the Income Tax (IT) department under the Union Finance
Ministry.
 It is a statutory authority established under The Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963.
 It is also the supreme body in India for framing policies related to direct taxes.

ANTONIO GUTERRES
 The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has formally elected Antonio Guterres (67) as the
new Secretary-General of the United Nations.
 He will have five-year term beginning January 1, 2017.
  He will succeed retiring Ban Ki-moon who has completed two five-year terms.
 Antonio Guterres is Portuguese politician and diplomat.
 He was Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002.

BINDHESWAR PATHAK
 With an aim to promote cleanliness at rail premises, Indian Railways appointed Sulabh
International founder Bindeshwar Pathak as a brand ambassador for Swachh Rail Mission.

Bindeshwar Pathak
 Bindeshwar Pathak is an Indian sociologist and the founder of Sulabh International.
 Sulabh International is an India-based social service organization which works to promote human
rights, environmental sanitation, non-conventional sources of energy, waste management and
social reforms through education.
 His work is considered pioneering in social reform, especially in the field of sanitation and
hygiene.
 He received various national and international awards for his work with this organization. Awards
and recognitions felicitated on him includes
 Awards: Padma Bhushan Stockholm Water Prize Energy Globe Award.
 In June, 2013, he also received the Legend of Planet award from the French senate in Paris,
ahead of World Environment Day.

Swachh Rail Mission

 The initiative will help push the cleanliness drive of the Railway.
 As a pilot project, Sulabh has started cleaning and maintenance of five important railway stations
from September 2016. These railway stations are Gorakhpur, Old Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and
Gwalior.
 Railways will also form local committees at station level involving station masters, local schools
and colleges and other concerned groups to spearhead the sanitation drive at rail premises.
 Besides, to ensure cleanliness of the tracks, the government is installing bio-toilet at various
trains. It has also introduced vaccum-bio-toilet which will be installed in trains.
 Few of the initiative undertaken by Indian railways to ensure cleanliness as part of the swachh rail
mission includes Swachh Stations (Clean Stations), Swachh Rail Gaadi (Clean Train), Swachh
Sahyog (Cleanliness Participation), Swachh Parisar (Clean Complex), Swachh Neer (Clean
Water), Swachh Samvad (Cleanliness Dialogue), Swachh Samarpan (Dedication for ensuring
Cleanliness), and Swachh Aahar (Clean Food) among others.

M BALAMURALIKRISHNA
 Veteran carnatic musician M. Balamuralikrishna passed away in Chennai. The much revered
artist was 86.

About M Balamuralikrishna
 Balamuralikrishna was born on 6 July 1930 in Sankaraguptam, East Godavari District,
Andhra Pradesh.
 He had started his musical journey as a child prodigy at a tender age of 8. Since then, he has
performed in over 25 thousand concerts.
 Born Murali Krishna, the singer was given the title ‘Bala,’ by distinguished Harikatha
performer Musunuri Suryanarayana Murty Bhagavatar.
  An innovator of the tala system in Carnatic music, the singer is credited with pioneering and
engineering distinguished styles, having created his own Ragas, including the much practised
Raag Lavangi.
 The multi-faceted musician also played other instruments like Mridangam ,Viola and Kanjira.
 He had also played the role of ‘Narada Muni’, in the cult Telugu movie ‘Bhakta Prahlada’.
 He was conferred the Padmavibhushan, the second highest civilian honour, in 1991.

SPORTS
BRICS U-17 FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
 Brazil has lifted the 1st BRICS U-17 Football Tournament 2016 held at Goa. In the Finals they
defeated South Africa 5-1.
 Earlier in the match for the 3 rd place between Russia and China, Russia defeated China 2-1.
 The BRICS U-17 Football Cup is a under 17 Football tournament played among teams of five
BRICS countries viz. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
 Ten-day BRICS tournament transcends the traditional spheres of interaction and opens new
vistas in the field of sports.
 A first of its kind, the Tournament will be a harbinger for further exchanges in other sports.
 The enthusiasm evoked by the scintillating display of skills will be an inspiration for the youth of
the country and spur India’s impetus towards ‘Khelo India’ and ‘Mission 11 Million’.

INDIA WINS 2016 KABADDI WORLD CUP

 India on 22 October 2016 lifted the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup.
 Team India, under the captaincy of Anup Kumar, defeated Iran 38-29 in the final held at the
Arena By TransStadia in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
 Kabaddi World Cup is an event since 2004. India always dominated the event by winning all the
gold medals in both men’s and women’s category.
Participating countries
 12 countries: India, USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Iran, Poland, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Korea,
Japan and Kenya.
 This year Pakistan was barred from Kabaddi World Cup.
SAINA NEHWAL
 Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal has been appointed as a member of the International Olympic
Committee’s (IOC) Athletes’ Commission.
 Saina has received a letter to the effect from the IOC President Thomas Bach mentioning that
she has been appointed in consultation with Chair of Athletes’ Commission.

About Saina Nehwal

 Saina Nehwal is the first Indian to win Olympics medal in Badminton (Bronze Medal , London
Olympics 2012).
 In 2015 that she was able to attain the world no. 1 ranking and thereby becoming the only female
player from India & overall the second Indian player – after Prakash Padukone – to achieve this
feat.
Awards
 Padma Bhushan (2016)
  Padma Shri (2010)
 Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2009–2010)
 Arjuna Award (2009)

About International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Athletes’ Commission:

 The IOC Athletes’ Commission is a body maintained by the International Olympic Committee for
the purpose of representing athletes. It was established in 1981.
 The Commission is a consultative body whose function is to act as “the link between active
athletes and the IOC”.
 It makes recommendations to the IOC’s executive bodies. Its chair serves as a member of the
IOC Executive Board.
 12 members are elected to the Commission by Olympic athletes for a term of eight years. In
addition, the President of the IOC may appoint up to seven further members, “to ensure a
balance between regions, gender and sports”, and there are two ex-officio members: one from
the World Olympians Association, and one from the International Paralympic Committee.

ASIAN HOCKEY CHAMPIONS TROPHY

 In the 2016 Asian Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy India defeated Pakistan 3–2 in the final to
win the trophy for the second time.
 After India men’s team triumph, India women’s hockey team follows suit and wins the Asian
Champions Trophy after beating China 2-1 in the final.

About Asian Hockey Champions Trophy

 It was the 4th edition of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy .
 The Men tournament was held in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia from 20–30 October 2016.
 The Women tournament was held in Singapore from 29 October 2016 – 5 November 2016.
 The Asian Hockey Champions Trophy is held annually by the Asian Hockey Federation since
2011.

2016 CHINA OPEN SUPER SERIES PREMIER TITLE

 P V Sindhu clinched her maiden Super Series Premier title after edging out Sun Yu of China in
the finals of China Open of women’s category.

Other Category winners

Men’s Singles
 Jan Jorgensen (Denmark) won the title in men’s single category by defeating I Z Zainuddin
(Malaysia) by 22-20,22-20, 7-21 score.

Men’s Doubles
 Chinese pair of Chai B and Hong W won the title by defeating Indonesian pair of M F Gideon and
K S Sukamuljo by 21-16, 24-26 and 19-21 score.

Mixed Doubles
 Indonesian paor Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir won the title by defeating South Korean pair
of Choi S-g and Chae Y-j by 21-17 and 25-23 score.
 AWARDS
MATHRUBHUMI LITERARY AWARD 2016
 Eminent writer C Radhakrishnan selected for the Mathrubhumi Literary Award 2016 in recognition
of his contribution to the field of literature.

About C Radhakrishnan
 He is the editor of Malayalam magazine Piravi, published by the School Of Bhagavad Gita.
 He was the former chief editor of Madhyamam daily from 16 August 1999 to 1 September 2001.
 He has been honoured by both the National Literary Academy of India (1989) and the Kerala
Literary Academy (1962).

About Mathrubhumi Literary Award:

 Mathrubhumi Literary Award (also known as Mathrubhumi Sahitya Puraskaram) is a literary
award instituted in 2001 by leading Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi.
 The award is conferred as a recognition of a writer’s overall contribution to the Malayalam
literature.

MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2016

 Paul Beatty has become the first US author to win the Man Booker Prize for his novel “The
Sellout”.

 The Man Booker Prize for Fiction (formerly known as the Booker-McConnell Prize and
commonly known simply as the Booker Prize) is a literary prize awarded each year for the best
original novel, written in the English language and published in the UK.
 The Man Booker Prize is the world’s most prestigious English-language literary award.
 It was launched in 1969 and presented by the Man Group.
 From its inception, only Commonwealth, Irish, and Zimbabwean citizens were eligible to receive
the prize; in 2014, however, this eligibility was widened to any English-language novel.
 The winner of the Man Booker receives £52,500, ($64,100).

KALIDAS SAMMAN
 The Madhya Pradesh government selected renowned theatre personality and Padma Shri,
Prof Raj Bisaria for its prestigious ‘Kalidas Samman’ national award for 2015-16 for
achievement in theatre.

About Raj Bisaria

  Raj Bisaria (born November 10, 1935) is an Indian director, producer, actor and
educationalist, described by the Press Trust of India as “the father of the modern theatre in
North India”.
 He founded Theatre Arts Workshop in 1966, and Bhartendu Academy of Dramatic Arts in
1975 and the repertory company of Bhartendu Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1980.
 He has blended artistic concepts of the East and the West, and the traditional and the
modern.

About Kalidas Samman

 The Kalidas Samman is a prestigious arts award presented annually by the government of
Madhya Pradesh in India.
 The award is named after Kâlidâsa, a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer of ancient India. The
Kalidas Samman was first awarded in 1980.
 It was initially conferred in alternate years in the fields of Classical Music, Classical Dance,
Theatre and Plastic Arts.
 From 1986-87 onwards, the awards were presented in all four fields every year.
 The award is presented for outstanding achievement in one of the four categories.
 The winners are selected by a five-member committee appointed by the Government of Madhya
Pradesh, which consists of eminent artists, art critics and officials from the Sangeet Natak
Akademi (India’s National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama).

SUMITRA CHARAT RAM AWARD 2016

 Noted flautist Pandit Hari Prasad Chourasia (78) was conferred 2016 Sumitra Charat Ram
Award for lifetime achievement in the field of Indian classical music.

About Sumitra Charat Ram Award

 The prestigious award has been named after Sumitra Charat Ram who had played a key role
in revival of the performing arts traditions, specially kathak and Hindustani music in north
India.
 It is bestowed upon individuals who have excelled in field of Indian classical dance and music
or other disciplines of Indian art and culture, including theatre during last 15 years.

About Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia

 He is an Indian classical flutist .
 He plays in the North Indian tradition.
 Chaurasia was born in Allahabad in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on 1 July 1938.
 Chaurasia had started learning vocal music at the tender age of 15 from his neighbour Pandit
Rajaram. Later, he had switched over to playing the classical flute under the tutelage of Pandit
Bholanath Prasanna of Varanasi.

AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL

BRAVERY AT SEA
 India’s first female Merchant Navy captain Radhika Menon be awarded by the International
Maritime Organisation (IMO) for her exceptional bravery in the dramatic rescue of seven
fishermen from a sinking fishing boat in tumultuous Bay of Bengal waters last year.
 She became the first woman in the world to receive the Award.
  International Maritime Organisation (IMO): It UN’s specialised agency responsible for the
safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
 Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea: It is an annual Award established by IMO. It seeks to
provide international recognition for those who perform acts of exceptional bravery at the risk of
losing their own life.

FIRST WORLD SANSKRIT AWARD

 Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand conferred with the first ‘World Sanskrit Award’ 2016
for her contribution towards promotion of the language.
 Thailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was presented with the first ‘World Sanskrit Award’
for her exemplary contribution for the promotion of the language for the year 2015.
 Sirindhorn is an educator and scholar of Sanskrit and Pali.
 Besides, American linguist and Indologist Prof. George Cardona was also presented with this
award for the year 2016.
 The award presented by Vice President Hamid Ansari at a function, attended by Union Minister M
J Akbar, among others.

About World Sanskrit Award

 The award, instituted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), is presented to eminent
Sanskrit scholars to recognise their outstanding contribution to the study/teaching /research in
Sanskrit language and literature.

NOBLE PRIZE
 Recently, Prestigious Noble Prizes has been declared in Chemistry, Literature, Peace, Physics,
and Physiology or Medicine .
 The list is as below:
 The Nobel Prize in Physics 2016
 David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz - “for theoretical
discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter”

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016

 Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L. Feringa - “for the design and
synthesis of molecular machines”
 The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2016
 Yoshinori Ohsumi - “for his discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy”
The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016
 Bob Dylan - “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”
The Nobel Peace Prize 2016
 Juan Manuel Santos - “for his resolute efforts to bring the country’s more than 50-year-long civil
war to an end”
The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2016
 Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmström - “for their contributions to contract theory”
About Noble Prize
 The Nobel Prize is a set of annual international awards bestowed in a number of categories by
Swedish and Norwegian institutions in recognition of academic, cultural, and/or scientific
advances.
 The will of the Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel established the prizes in 1895. The prizes in
Chemistry, Literature, Peace, Physics, and Physiology or Medicine were first awarded in 1901.
 The prize ceremonies take place annually in Stockholm, Sweden (with the exception of the peace
prize, which is held in Oslo, Norway).