News sent on 31/10/16 31-10-2016. News 31/10/16 1. Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) was observed across India on 31 October with the theme: “Integration of India”, to commemorate birth anniversary of Independent India’s first Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhai Patel.2. The World observed Cities Day globally on 31st October to work together for a planned and sustainable urban life in the wake of rapid growth of population and problems. It emphasised the role of urbanization as a source of global development and social inclusion.3. The State of Himachal Pradesh has been officially declared Open Defecation Free (ODF). Every individual household in the state has functional toilet under the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’. With this, Himachal Pradesh becomes the second State in the country after Sikkim to achieve the feat. 4. Sunil Bharti Mittal, the Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises has been appointed as Chairman of GSM Association (GSMA) which represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. 5. India and Russia have decided to double the range of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from 290 km to over 600 km. India’s recent signing of MTCR, has allowed Russia to provide the critical systems and technology to extend the range of the missile beyond 300km.6. Antartica’s Ross Sea has been declared as world’s largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) to protect the Earth’s most pristine marine ecosystem. It covers 1.6 million square kilometers. With MPA status to Ross Sea the commercial fishing has been banned across the three quarters of its area for 35 years. 7. The Union Cabinet has given its in-principle approval for strategic sale of over a dozen public sector undertakings (PSUs). 8. The Union Cabinet approved establishment and operationalisation of a National Academic Depository (NAD). Under it all academic degrees, certificates and awards in the country will be made digitally available for verification on single spot. It will be rolled out throughout the country in 2017-18. NAD will maintain the authenticity, integrity and confidentiality of its database. It will root out fake degrees.9. Technology giant Microsoft has launched its first full-scale Cybersecurity Engagement Center (CSEC) in Delhi. It is first-of-its-kind Cybersecurity Centre in India and overall 7th in the world. 10. The Union Cabinet has approved a new agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit between India and Bhutan. The Agreement provides for a free trade regime between two countries. It also provides duty free transit of Bhutanese merchandise for trade with third countries. < < Back