11th November 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

Dear Great Ambitionists, here are today's (11th November 2017) Important Current Affairs updates. Happy Reading :)

Daily Current Affairs of 11th November 2017

National Current Affairs

Today (11th November) is National Education Day.
- This day is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of independent India, who served from 15 August 1947 until 2 February 1958.
- The Bharat Ratna recipient was not only responsible for streamlining Indian education system but also foresaw the establishment of the first IIT, IISc, and the University Grants Commission in his tenure.
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) launched 4 electric buses in Mumbai, 45 years after electric buses were first discontinued in the city.
- The new buses will run on lithium-ion batteries and are emission-free.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today announced World Bank-backed ₹6,000 crore scheme to improve the irrigation facilities and water accessibility capacity in several states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana.
- Gadkari also announced ₹25,000 crore-worth Daman Ganga-Pinjar inter-state river connectivity project, which is expected to resolve the domestic water supply demand of Mumbai.
The Union Cabinet today approved the creation of the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an autonomous and self-sustaining testing organisation to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions.
- The NTA will initially conduct entrance examinations which are currently being conducted by the CBSE and will eventually take up other examinations once it is fully functional.

International Current Affairs

A NASA-funded study has found that India would soon overtake China as the World's Top Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) emitter after its emissions rose by 50% since 2007, while the latter's declined by 75% for the same period.
- Note : SO2, mainly produced by coal-burning power plants, is an air pollutant that causes acid rain, haze, and many health-related problems.

New Appointments

UNESCO member states today appointed former French Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay as the new Director-General of the cultural agency.
- She will take office on November 15.
- Important Note : Azoulay is the 11th Director-General of UNESCO and the second woman to occupy the position.
- UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
For the first time in the country's history, Qatar has appointed 4women to the Shura Council, one of its most important consultative bodies.
- The women will be part of the 45-member council responsible for discussing draft laws, general government policy, and the state's draft budget.
- The council members also have the right to question cabinet members on policy issues.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

The GST Council chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has reduced tax rate on several items.
- The GST Council has lowered tax rates on 178 mass consumption products like shampoos, chocolates, chewing gums, deodorants, and beauty products to 18%.
- GST on 13 items including condensed milk, pasta, spectacle frames, and refined sugar has been reduced from 18% to 12%.
- Tax rate on cattle feed, bangles of lac/shellac, and unbranded frozen/dried fish has been reduced to nil.
India's industrial output grew 3.8% year-on-year in September.
- The Index of Industrial Production for mining sector rose 7.9%, while that for manufacturing grew 3.4% in September.
- The highest growth was registered in the coal sector, which posted 10.6% growth year-on-year, followed by petroleum refinery at 8% and natural gas at 6.3%.

Deaths

Nepal’s former Prime Minister Kirti Nidhi Bista (90) passed away.
- Bista served as prime minister of Nepal during the Panchayat system from 1969 to 1970, 1971 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979.

Sports Current Affairs