WEEKLY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR WEEKS 45/52 & 46/52 WEEKLY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR WEEKS 45/52 & 46/52 (05 NOV – 18 NOV 2017) 1. DRDO successfully test fired indigenously built Light Weight Glide Bomb “SAAW” (a) On 3 Nov 2017, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force successfully test fired an indigenously built lightweight “Glide Bomb” at the Integrated test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. (b) The Glide Bomb has been designated as “Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon” (SAAW) and can be fired from the Air Force Aircraft at a target with high accuracy. (c) The SAAW is a long-range Precision-Guided Anti-Airfield Weapon, designed to be capable of engaging ground targets with high precision out to a range of 100 km. 2. World Tsunami Awareness Day observe on 05 November (a) On 5 Nov 2017, World Tsunami Day observed with the aim to spread awareness among people across the world in matters related to the dangers of Tsunami. (b) The theme of World Tsunami day, 2017 was “Reduce the Number of Affected People”. (c) The United National General Assembly has designated the 5th November as Tsunami Awareness Day in Dec 2015 and the first World Tsunami Day was celebrated on 5 Nov 2016. 3. Saad al-Hariri, the Prime Minister of Lebanon resigned (a) On 4 Nov 2017, Saad al-Hariri, the Prime Minister of Lebanon has resigned from his post due to Political Problems in the Country. (b) He has announced his resignation after his visit to Saudi Arabia following which he was made hostage by the Saudi Arabia. (c) Lebanon is a Sovereign State in Western Asia bordered by Syria to the North and East, Israel to the South and Cyprus to the West across the Mediterranean Sea. (d) Beirut is the capital of Lebanon and Lebanese Pound is the Currency. (e) Michel Aoun is the incumbent President of Lebanon. 4. Mary Kom appointed as Ambassador of AIBA Women’s Youth World Championships (a) Five times World Champion Mary Kom has been choosen as the Ambassador of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Women’s Youth World Championship, 2017. (b) The Championship is scheduled to be held in Guwahati in November 2017. 5. Bajaj Allianz launched India’s first Insurance Cover for Individual Victims of Cyber Crime (a) On 2 Nov 2017, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance launched “Individual Cyber Safe” Policy for providing coverage to Customers who fall victim to Cyber Attacks, Cyber Bullying and other Cyber Risks such as Identity Theft, Malware Attack, Phishing, E-Mail Spooling, Cyber Extortion and Cyber Stalking (b) The sum insured for the Policy ranges from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 1 Crore, however, the Premium rates and Multiple Plans under the Policy will be decided by the Company in coming days. (c) With this, Bajaj Allianz became the first Insurer in India to launch Insurance Product for Individuals Victims of Cyber Attack. (d) It will also cover Financial Loss resulting from being an innocent Victim of e-Mail Spoofing and Phishing, Losses and Expenses related to Defence and Prosecution cost related to Identity theft, IT Theft loss, Restoration Cost to retrieve or Reinstall Data or Computer Program damaged by the entry of the Malware. 6. Hasmukh Adhia named as new Finance Secretary (a) On 6 Nov 2017, the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved the Proposal of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to appoint Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia as new Finance Secretary. (b) He will replace Ashok Lavasa, who was superannuated on 31 October 2017. (c) There are five Departments in Finance Ministry such as Expenditure, Economic Affairs, Financial Services, Revenue and Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM). 7. Indian Short Film “The School Bag” won Best Short Film Award at South Asian Film Festival (a) Indian Short Film “The School Bag” won the Best Short Film Award at the South Asian Film Festival of Montreal (SAFFM). (b) The Movie based on the Story of Peshawar, Pakistan about the relationship between a Mother and her seven year son who wants a new School Bag on his birthday. (c) The Short Film has been directed by Dheeraj Jindal. Leading Institute for Banking, Railway & SSC B – 61 A & B, Saheed Nagar & 1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRPF Square, Bhubaneswar 1 Ph. : (0674) 6556677, 8093556677. Web : www.vanik.org, E-mail : [email protected] WEEKLY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR WEEKS 45/52 & 46/52 8. HDFC Bank to offer RTGS & NEFT free of cost from 01 November 2017 (a) Private Sector Lender HDFC Bank has made Online Transactions through RTGS and NEFT Free of Cost effecting from 01 November 2017 with an aim to promote Digital Economy. (b) The revision in NEFT/RTGS online charges is applicable across all retail Savings, Salary and Non-Resident Customers. (c) On the other hand, the Bank also hiked various charges for Cheque related Transactions as well as Request for Additional Leaves. 9. Guinea became the new Member of International Solar Alliance (ISA) (a) On 6 Nov 2017, Guinea, a West African Country has joined as new Member of International Solar Alliance (ISA). (b) The ISA is also known as International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (IASPA). (c) Under the International Solar Alliance Framework, India has set a Target of generating 100GW of Solar Energy and 175GW of Renewal Energy by 2022. Facts about International Solar Alliance (ISA) (a) In January 2016, PM Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande jointly laid the Foundation Stone of the ISA with the headquarters at Gwalpahari, Gurgaon, Haryana and currently, it is operated with the Interim Secretariat at the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE). (b) The main objective of the ISA is for efficient exploration of Solar Energy to reduce dependence on Fossil Fuels. (c) The initiative was launched by PM Modi at the India-Africa Summit in the sidelines of 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015 and the Framework Agreement of the ISA was opened for Signature in Marrakech, Morocco in November 2016, where 121 Countries had joined. (d) For the establishment of ISA, the Indian Government has contributed Rs. 175 crore equivalents to US $ 27 million to build the ISA Campus and for meeting expenditures for the ISA’s first five years. (e) Upendra Tripathy has been appointed as Interim Director General of ISA. 10. Union Government and World Bank signed $ 119 million for Odisha’s Higher Education (a) On 7 Nov 2017, the Union Government and the IBRD of World Bank has signed a Financing Agreement Loan of $ 119 million for the Odisha Higher Education Programme for Excellence & Equity (OHEPEE) Project. (b) The Financing Agreement was signed by Sameer Kumar Khare, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of Government of India and Hisham A Abdo Kahin, Acting Country Director, World Bank (India) on behalf of the World Bank. (c) The Objective of the Project is to improve the Quality of 'Students’ equitable access to selected Institutions and enhance Governance of the Higher Education System in Odisha. 11. India pledged $ 100 million Additional Amount for UN Partnership Fund (a) India has pledged an additional amount of US $ 100 million towards the United Nations Partnership Fund to support to Sustainable Development Projects across the Developing World. (b) The India-UN Development Partnership Fund was set up in January 2017 as a Partnership between India and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). 12. Long Range Subsonic Cruise Missile “NIRBHAY” successfully Test Fired at ITR, Odisha (a) On 7 Nov 2017, the DRDO successfully test fired India’s first indigenously designed and developed long range Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile “Nirbhay” from Interim Test Range (ITR), Chandipur-On-Sea, Off Coast Odisha. (b) The Nirbhay Missile has an Operational Range between 1000 km and 1500 km and capable to carry up to 300 kg of warhead. (c) The Missile was first test fired in March 2013 and it was its 5th experimental test. 13. Maharashtra Government set up a Fund of Rs. 4000 crore for Climate Resilient Committee (a) On 8 Nov 2017, the Maharashtra Government has decided to set up Committees to focus on Climate Resilience in over 5000 villages of 15 Districts in the State mostly from Marathwada and Vidarbha Regions of Nashik Revenue Division. (b) As per the Resolution issued by the Maharashtra State Government, a Village Climate Resilient Agriculture Management Committee (VCRAMC) will be set up in selected 5000 villages under the Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivanee Project against a cost of Rs. 4000 crore. (c) The Committee will recommend the Use of Seed Technology, Precision Farming along with Diversification of Agriculture to coarse Grains etc. Leading Institute for Banking, Railway & SSC B – 61 A & B, Saheed Nagar & 1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRPF Square, Bhubaneswar 2 Ph. : (0674) 6556677, 8093556677. Web : www.vanik.org, E-mail : [email protected] WEEKLY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR WEEKS 45/52 & 46/52 14. Mary Kom won Asian Boxing Championship, 2017 (a) Mary Kom won the Gold at her 5th Asian Boxing Championship, 2017 by beating South Korea’s Hyang Mi Kim in the Light Flyweight 48 kg category during the final held in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam. (b) Before this Medal, Mary Kom had won the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, where she became the first Indian Woman Boxer to win Gold in the Women’s Flyweight 51 kg category. 15. Chennai nominated as 3rd City in India designated among 64 UNESCO Creative Cities (a) Chennai, the capital City of Tamil Nadu has been included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) “Creative Cities Network” for Contribution in Music.