Daily Current Affairs Updates–31st October 2016

Daily Current Affairs Updates–31st October 2016:

Daily Current affairs News Updates about the National and International events were listed here. Candidates those who are preparing for IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk exam and all other competitive exams can use this.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Cities Day observed with theme 'Inclusive Cities, Shared Development'

The World is observing Cities Day today with the commitment to work together for a planned and sustainable urban life in the wake of rapid growth of population and problems. This year theme of the Day is "Inclusive Cities, Shared Development" to highlight the role of urbanization as a source of global development and social inclusion.

Vigilance Awareness week commences from today (31st October 2016)

The Central Vigilance Commission, as part of its efforts to promote probity in public life and to achieve a corruption free society, observes Vigilance Awareness Week every year. The week in which 31st October, the birthday of late SardarVallabhbhai Patel falls is observed as Vigilance Awareness Week.

The observance of the Vigilance Awareness Week has commenced from today (31st October 2016), with pledge taking by public servants in the Ministries/Departments/Central Public Sector Enterprises/Public Sector Banks and all other Organizations.“Public participation in promoting integrity and eradicating Corruption” has been chosen as the theme for Vigilance Awareness Week this year by the Commission.

Mahagovt organizes “Run for Unity” on 'RashtriyaEktaDiwas'

On the occasion of RashtriyaEktaDiwas, that is the Birth Anniversary of SardarVallabhbhai Patel, Maharashtra Government today organized “Run for Unity” a special event in Mumbai. The Governor of Maharashtra CH VidyasagarRao flagged off the ‘Run. The birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, Independent India’s first Home Minister, is celebreated as ‘RashtriyaEktaDiwas’.

Hundreds of youths and college students participated in the Run for Unity. The Run started from NCPA, Nariman Point and culminated at Grant Medical College Gymkhana ground. Earlier, the Governror and Chief Minister DevendraFadnavis gave the ‘RashtriyaEktaDiwas’ pledge to the assembled gathering. Union Minister of State for Coal, Power, Mines, New and Renewable Energy PiyushGoyal, Mayor of Mumbai SnehalAmbekar, MLA Rajpurohit and other officials were present on the occasion.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan: Govt, organisations making efforts to clean Ganga

Inspired by Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, the Government and voluntary organisations along with a number of people are making wholehearted efforts to make river Ganga clean and ensure its continuous flow in Uttrakhand.

Swami ChidanandSaraswati of ParmathNiketan in Rishikesh stressed on the need to create awareness and develop green corridor along with green crematoriums on the river banks. Head of GayatriParivaar, Haridwar, Dr. ParnavPandya said their organisation will undertake greenery development and construction of bio-digester toilets along the Ganga.

Ganga and its tributaries in Uttrakhand are not fully free from pollution. The Co-ordinator of Ganga AahwanAkhara, Haridwar, Rameshwar Gaur said people throng to Haridwar during KumbhMela and Shivratri. They should be sensitised about the ill effects of dumping garbage into the river.

Punjab to observe No Tobacco Day tomorrow

Punjab government will observe No Tobacco Day all over the state tomorrow. State's Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani said Punjab government is committed to ensure better health for the people of state. He said the concerted efforts of Punjab government got due recognition with state getting WHO World No Tobacco Day award.

He said the aim of this campaign is to reduce prevalence of Tobacco/Nicotine use in Punjab in order to reduce prevalence of Non Communicable diseases and to enhance public awareness about preventing various non-communicable diseases such as Cancer and Cardiovascular diseases by pledging not to use Tobacco, Nicotine, Scented, processed, flavoured chewable tobacco products. He said that the sale of loose cigarettes, tobacco & E-Cigarettes has completely been banned in Punjab.

PM Modi pays tribute to Sardar Patel on his 141st birth anniversary

Prime Minister NarendraModi on Monday paid rich tribute to SardarVallabhbhai Patel on his 141st birth anniversary. The day is being celebrated as ‘RashtriyaEktaDiwas’ (National Unity Day). Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of the Indian Republic, played a key role in the country’s struggle for independence.The Prime Minister also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary.

Gujarati new year being celebrated today; PM greets on occasion

New Year BestuVaras is being celebrated with traditional zeal and fervour in Gujarat. Lots of social events and gatherings are being organised in the state today. Prime Minister NarendraModi has greeted people on this occasion. In a tweet, MrModi hoped that the new year will bring happiness, prosperity and good health for the people.

The next day after Diwali is marked as the beginning of Hindu New Year VikramSavanstar, which is celebrated across Gujarat as a new year. The BestuVaras celebration began today with bursting of crackers by children in the morning. People are visiting temples to offer puja to deities. Dressed up in festival finery, people have started seeing their relatives and friends to wish them a new year since the morning.

Portals of Gangotri shrine in Uttarakhand closed

Amid chanting of Vedic hymns, the sacred portals of the famous Gangotri shrine in Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand have been closed today in view of the onset of winter. Devotees and locals thronged in large number to witness the annual event. The head priest of the shrine locked its doors at 12.30 pm in the presence of religious heads and administrative officials.

After the closure ceremony, the idol of Goddess Ganga is being carried in a palanquin to nearby Mukhba village for worship during the winter. The portals of Yamunotri shrine will be closed tomorrow. The portals of the shrines, which draw a large number of devotees, are closed in October-November every year due to frequent snow fall.

Assam joins country in observing RashtriyaEktaDiwas

The RashtriyaEktaDiwas is being observed in Assam. Chief Minister SarbanandSonowal has taken part in a commemorative meeting at Dibrugarh on this occasion. Unity Run has been organized across the State on this occasion to strengthen the bonding of unity.Chief Secretary and Director General of Police also took part in Run for Unity in Guwahati. Legislators, students , administrators , security personnel, senior citizens have taken part in Unity Run across Assam. Pledge has also been taken on the occasion of RashtriyaEktaDiwas.

K'taka gears up to celebrate State formation day tomorrow

Karnataka is gearing up to celebrate 60th anniversary of state formation day tomorrow on November 1st. This was the day in 1956 when all the Kannada language-speaking regions of South India were merged to form the state of Karnataka.

Known by the name of Rajyotsava Day, it is customary on this day to take pride in the language, literature, culture and traditions in vogue within the state and also to honour eminent persons in various fields. The state Government has announced Rajyotsava Awards to 61 eminent personalities to be presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru tomorrow.

Kerala govt declares the state as drought-hit

Following a decrease in rainfall during the South-West Monsoon, Kerala government on Monday declared the state as drought-hit. The state would approach the Centre for necessary assistance to meet the emergency situation. "According to IMD figures, there has been a sharp decrease in rainfall to the tune of 34% during the South-West monsoon," Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan said.

INTERNATIONAL

Singaporean navy's vessel arrives at Vizag

As a part of “SIMBEX-16”, the ongoing Bilateral Naval Exercise between Navies of the Republic of Singapore and India, RSS Formidable, of Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) reached Visakhapatnam on a five-day visit to the Eastern Naval Command, ENC yesterday.

RSS Formidable is the first of the six multi-role stealth frigates which forms part of the 185 Squadron based at Changi. A senior Singapore Navy delegation is also visiting ENC during the period. The visit will encompass interaction between personnel of both the Navies in various professional, cultural, social and sports events.

India, China hold discussions on NSG issue in Beijing

India and China today held discussions on Nuclear Suppliers Group, NSG issue in Beijing. Sources said, Joint Secretary, Disarmament and International Security Affairs in Ministry of External Affairs met DG of Department of Arms Control in Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Qun.

The first such meeting was held in New Delhi on the 13th of last month. Sources added that talks were substantive and constructive. The two countries will continue engagement to discuss India's membership in the elite group.

EU, Canada sign landmark CETA deal

European Union, EU and Canada have signed a landmark trade deal. The deal was signed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and top European Union officials in Brussels yesterday.

Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia, which currently holds the EU Presidency, said, the final approval of the deal is a milestone in the European Union's trade policy. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, known as CETA, required all European Union member states to endorse it. All 28 European Union states approved the deal on Friday when consensus was reached.

300 million children live with polluted outdoor air: UNICEF

United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF has said, about 300 million children live with polluted outdoor air and it can cause serious physical damage, including harming their developing brains. In a study published, it said, nearly one child in seven around the globe breathes outdoor air that is at least six times dirtier than international guidelines.

The study said, air pollution is a leading factor in child mortality. Executive Director of UNICEF, Anthony Lake, has said, air pollution is a major contributing factor in the deaths of around 600,000 children under five every year, and it threatens the lives and futures of millions more every day. He said, pollutants do not only harm children's developing lungs but can actually cross the blood brain barrier and permanently damage their developing brains.

South Asia has the largest number of children living in such areas at about 620 million, followed by Africa with 520 million and the East Asia and Pacific region with 450 million. The report said, the air is poisoned by vehicle emissions, fossil fuels, dust, burning waste and other airborne pollutants.

BANKING NEWS

GST Network To Borrow Rs. 800 Crore To Fund Infra Costs

Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), the company that is building the world's biggest and most complex tax system, will borrow Rs. 800 crore from banks to fund infrastructure costs to support the rollout of Goods and Services Tax from April 1 next year.

GSTN, a not-for-profit, non-government, private limited company promoted by the central and state governments, is borrowing Rs. 250 crore for working capital needs and another Rs. 550 crore as long-term loan from domestic lenders, its chairman Navin Kumar told PTI here. The government of India has a 24.5 per cent stake in GSTN and the state government an equal share. The remaining 51 per cent is with private financial institutions.

BUSINESS NEWS

Ease of Doing Business: A.P., Telangana top in 2016 all-India ranking

Commerce and Industry Minister NirmalaSitharaman has released the report on State-wise Ease of Doing Business rankings on 31st October 2016. The rankings are on the basis of 340-point business reform action plan and their implementation by the States. This covers the period from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.

Andhra Pradesh and Telengana topped the all-India ranking with 98.78 per cent each, followed by Gujarat with 98.21 per cent; Chhattisgarh with 97.32 per cent and Madhya Pradesh with 97.01 per cent. Haryana ranked sixth with 96.95 per cent followed by Jharkhand with 96.57 per cent; Rajasthan with 96.43 per cent; Uttarakhand with 96.13 per cent and Maharashtra completed the top 10 with 92.86 per cent.

APPOINTMENTS

Ashok Chawla Takes Over As Non-Executive Chairman Of Yes Bank

Former finance secretary and Competition Commission of India chairman Ashok Chawla has taken charge as Non-Executive Chairman of Yes Bank from Sunday. MrChawla took over after non-executive part-time Chairperson Radha Singh completed her tenure as the bank's director yesterday, Yes Bank informed the stock exchanges.

Maharashtra most farmer friendly state: NITI Aayog

Maharashtra has been adjudged as the country's most farmer friendly state followed by Gujarat and Rajasthan, according to NITI Aayog's 'Agriculture Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index'. The ranking is based on initiatives taken by the states in implementing farm sector reforms. The report added that almost 20 out of 29 states have done poorly with regard to agri-sector reforms.

Over 130 authors to attend Mumbai LitFest

The seventh edition of the Mumbai LitFest, beginning November 17, has lined up over 130 authors and thinkers from over 30 countries for its latest outing. According to the organizers the four-day festival, the event will be held at the iconic National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) at Nariman Point and the Prithvi Theatre in Juhu. This year the festival will have three new awards to recognize excellence in the literature-for-children category and playwriting.

Noted novelist AmitavGhosh, literary critic and descendant of Shakespeare, Nicholas Shakespeare, political philosopher and author of False Dawn John Gray and legendary Lyricist Gulzar are some of the prominent names to attend the festival. Other key speakers to attend the festival would be noted historian RamachandraGuha, famous witty British poet Simon Armitage, Congress leaders and columnists P Chidambaram, ShashiTharoor among others.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

'India to get electricity from offshore wind plants in 5yrs'

India will start getting electricity generated from offshore wind energy plants installed in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat in next five years, an energy expert has said. A 100-megawatt offshore pilot project will likely to be installed in Gujarat in about three years, and other prospects of generating electricity from solar and tidal wave energies are being explored, he added.

Technology to find sex of chickens before they hatch

Texas-based egg manufacturer Vital Farms and Israel-based electronics firm Novatrans are partnering on TeraEgg, a technology that identifies the sex of a chicken before it hatches. The technique captures and uses terahertz spectroscopy to analyse the gas emanating from the pores of eggs. This could prevent the unnecessary hatching and killing of male chickens.

SPORTS NEWS

Lewis Hamilton wins Mexican Grand Prix

British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton won the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday to keep his title hopes alive. Second-placed Hamilton trails his Mercedes' teammate NicoRosberg in the driver standings by 19 points with just two races left this season. With his 51st career win, Hamilton is now level with Alain Prost for second-highest wins in F1 history.

India beat Pakistan 3-2, lifts Asian Champions Trophy

In Hockey, India has lifted the Men's Asian Champions Trophy. In a thrilling Final at Kuantan, Malaysia, India defeated arch-rivals and defending champions Pakistan, 3-2 to win the tournament for the second time. It had won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2011. Rupinder Pal Singh, the tournament's leading goal scorer, took his tally to 11 when he opened the scoring

SaniaMirza retains World Number One ranking in Women's Doubles for 2nd consecutive year

SaniaMirza will end the season as world's top doubles Tennis player for the second straight year. Sania finished this season with seven Women's Tennis Association, WTA titles, a Grand Slam and a semifinal finish in the year ending WTA Finals in Singapore.

She was close to being uprooted by BethanieMattek-Sands from the top spot, if the American would have taken WTA Finals Doubles title. However, Bethanie lost in the final and ensured that Sania will end the year at the top once again. Sania made history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the No.1 ranking in doubles in April last year. She has gone on to hold the No.1 ranking for 81 consecutive weeks.