News

1. The 33 Years old Indian lawyer, Aniruddha Rajput has been elected as a member International Law    Commission (ILC), a top body of legal experts of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

2. India’s women hockey team on 5 November 2016 lifted the Asian Champions Trophy 2016 in Singapore. In the final match, India defeated China 2-1. Deep Grace Ekka and Deepika Thakur scored for India. The Asian Hockey Champions Trophy is held annually by the Asian Hockey Federation since 2011. The tournament features the Asian Games top six field hockey teams competing in a round robin format.

3. The sixth edition of Indo-Bangla joint military exercise ‘SAMPRITI’ started on 5 November 2016 at Tangail, Dhaka. The exercise simulates a scenario where both nations are working together in a counter insurgency and counter terrorism environment under the UN Charter.

4. The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict was observed globally on 6 November 2016 as the environment has often remained the unpublicized victim of war. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has found that over the last 60 years, at least 40 percent of all internal conflicts have been linked to the exploitation of natural resources.

5. The GST council has approved four tier tax structure of 5, 12%, 18% and 28% percent under the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST). Essential items including food will be taxed at zero rate. The lowest rate of 5 percent will be for common use items. Most white goods like washing machines, air conditioners, refrigerators will be taxed 28%. Ultra luxuries, demerit and sin goods, will attract 28% GST along with a GST cess for a period of 5 years.

6. The Union Government launched Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) with the objective to provide healthy life to the pregnant women by lowering the maternity mortality rate and making pregnant women aware of their health issues and diseases .And to ensure safe delivery and healthy life of the baby. Pregnant women and lactating mothers will be entitled to get maternity benefit of atleast Rs. 6,000/-.

7. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) observed 5 November 2016 as first World Tsunami Awareness Day with the theme- Effective Education and Evacuation Drills.

8. Latvia has become the first Baltic country to sign MoU with China to linkup with China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. OBOR aims at strengthening China’s connectivity & trade across Asia, Africa & Europe.

9.India’s ONGC and Venezueula’s  Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) have signed oil production deals worth about 1.45 billion US Dollars.

10. The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 which envisages supply of subsidised food-grains has been implemented across the country. The NFSA aims to provide subsidized food grains to 75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas. NFSA 2013 will provide high nutrition food to the children of the age group of 6 months to 14 years.