Notes:
The 5th edition of Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS) has inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on November 23, 2017. The theme of the conference is “Cyber for All: A Secure and Inclusive Cyberspace for Sustainable Development”. The main objective of the conference is to have mutual understanding of latest practices in cyberspace, more coordination and security measures. For the first time, the event is being organized in India. The representatives from 124 countries and 33 Ministerial delegates from 31 countries including Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremasinghe will attend the conference. nternational leaders, policymakers, industry experts, think tanks and cyber experts will deliberate on issues and challenges for optimally using cyber space. The conference will promote the importance of inclusiveness and human rights in global cyber policy.

Notes:
Emmerson Mnangagwa, the former Vice President, will be sworn in as the President of the Zimbabwe on November 24, 2017 after the resignation of Robert Mugabe following a military intervention. The ruling ZANU-PF party has nominated him to fill the vacancy left by Mr Robert Mugabe. Mr Mugabe stepped down on November 21 after 37 years ruling the country. Mr Mnangagwa’s dismissal from the Vice President post led the ruling party and the military to intervene and forced Mr Mugabe to resign.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has recently approved the setting up of the 15th Finance Commission which will assess the tax resources of the nation and suggest a formula for their devolution among states. Its recommendations will have to be in place before April 1, 2020 and will takes 2 years for Finance Commission to give its recommendations. As per Article 280 of the Constitution, the Commission is required to make recommendations on the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes between the Centre and the states. The Commission also suggests the principles which should govern the grants in aid of the revenues of the states out of the Consolidated Fund of India. The 14th Finance Commission was set up on January 2, 2013. Its recommendations cover the period from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2020.

Notes:
The Union Government has recently constituted a task force to review the Income Tax Act 1961 and draft a new direct tax law in consonance with current economic needs. CBDT member Arbind Modi will be the convener of task force while Chief Economic Adviser Dr. Arvind Subramanian will be a permanent Special Invitee. The task force will draft an appropriate direct tax legislation keeping in view the direct tax system in various countries, international best practices and economic needs of the country. It will submit its report within six months.

Notes:
Indian railways has installed Asia’s largest Solid State Interlocking (SSI) system at Kharagpur in West Bengal, which will enable station masters to set 800 different routes for trains in a matter of minutes. Interlocking is a railway signal apparatus that prevents conflicting movements of trains through an arrangement of tracks such as junctions or crossings. The cutting-edge technology is installed at a cost of Rs 39 crore, which replaces the pre-1989 route relay system that only allowed operators to set maximum 423 routes, ensures that no cross-movement takes place. The SSI software will also detect the routes a particular train can take and inform the station masters working at the panel, bringing down the operation time and the possibility of human error. It will reduce the possibility of accidents.

Notes:
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) will conduct a multi-State mega mock exercise on tsunami preparedness on November 24, 2017. The exercise will be simultaneously conducted in 31 coastal districts across four States – West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu – and Union Territory Puducherry along the entire East Coast. The participants from 11 Pacific Island countries will observe the entire exercise to take away key lessons and best practices to be adopted while preparing for and responding to a disaster situation. The exercise is one of the various activities planned on the occasion of the 2nd World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD) held on November 5 this year. India’s eastern coast is susceptible to both floods and tsunamis and many coastal districts have conducted similar mock exercises for better preparedness over the years.

Notes:
Shubhangi Swaroop, a native of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, has become the first-ever female pilot to be inducted into the Indian Navy and will soon be fly Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft. Besides Swaroop, Astha Segal from New Delhi, Puducherry’s Roopa A and Sakthi Maya S from Kerala also created history by becoming the country’s first women officers at the Naval Armament Inspection (NAI) branch of the Navy. They are among the 328 midshipmen and cadets who had passed out of the Ezhimala Naval Academy in Kerala on November 22, 2017. All the four will be undergoing subsequent professional training in their respective chosen branches before being employed on duty. The NAI branch looks after the inspection and assessment of the arms and weapons of the country’s naval force.

Notes:
The Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS) is located in Tripura and covers an area of only 0.86 square kilometres. The sanctuary is known for varies rare species plants and animals providing immense scope for the botany and zoology experts. According to statistics, the small sanctuary is a safe abode for 150 species of birds, wild beasts and primates.

Notes:
The Rajasthan government has launched an educational mobile app “Dishari” that will provide free study materials for youths preparing for competitive examinations. The app was developed by Imran Khan, a Sanskrit teacher and web developer from Alwar. The app has over 9,400 questions on topics ranging from current affairs and general knowledge to mathematics and reasoning. It will also send updates to students regarding exam forms, exams and job opportunities. The app will also provide the current Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) statuses of the colleges.

Notes:
The first- ever North East Development Summit (NEDS) 2017 was inaugurated by President of India Ram Nath Kovind in Imphal, Manipur, which was held on November 21-22, 2017. The NEDS 2017 was jointly organized by Manipur State Government in collaboration with Union Commerce Ministry and India Foundation. The main purpose of this summit was to showcase the economic potential and to attract investments in food processing, bamboo industry, real estate and other businesses within the state. During the course of this Summit, approx 20 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed between various Departments of Manipur State Government and National and International Companies/Investors. Approx 175 delegates including various foreign delegates attended the event.