Monthly Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2017

Notes:
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is organizing a National Conference with the State Governments and Service Providers to brainstorm and showcase various utilization models leveraging BharatNet infrastructure in New Delhi on November 13, 2017. The Conference will be attended by IT Ministers and IT Secretaries from States. In it, DoT will sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with states for the implementation of BharatNet Phase II. Under BharatNet Phase I, Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connectivity has reached in over 1, 00, 000 Gram Panchayats (GPs) across different States in the country. By Dec 2017, all 1, 00, 000 GPs will be operational on the BharatNet infrastructure. As of today, almost 90,000 installations have been completed and Services are expected to commence in 80,000 GPs shortly.

Notes:
The 4th India-Canada Annual Ministerial Dialogue has started in New Delhi on November 13, 2017. The Indian delegation is led by the Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu and the Canadian International Trade Minister, François-Philippe Champagne is leading the Canadian delegation. As per official release, India and Canada will focus on some of the key commercial drivers to enhance the India-Canada partnership in the current round of the Ministerial Dialogue. The efforts would be made to work towards the expeditious conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement for a progressive, balanced, and mutually beneficial agreement covering both goods and services. The trade ministers of both countries are likely to discuss issues to explore ways of expediting the early conclusion of the CEPA and the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.

Notes:
The ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2017 (ABIS 2017) has started in Manila, Philippines from November 12 to serve as a platform for conversations among regional and global stakeholders in the ASEAN Economic Community. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the Indian delegation in the 3-day summit.

Notes:
The World Diabetes Day (WDD) is observed on November 14 to promote better diabetes management among people across the globe who are or have been suffering from the condition, which is initiated by International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The 2017 theme is “Women and diabetes – our right to a healthy future”. This year, the campaign will promote the importance of affordable and equitable access for all women at risk for or living with diabetes to the essential diabetes medicines and technologies, self-management education and information they require to achieve optimal diabetes outcomes and strengthen their capacity to prevent type 2 diabetes.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending 12th East Asia Summit and 15th ASEAN-India Summit at Manila in Philippines on November 14, 2017. At the 15th ASEAN-India Summit, Prime Minister and ASEAN Leaders will review the commemorative activities undertaken in 2017 to mark the 25 years of India’s dialogue partnership with ASEAN as well as review the broad spectrum of ASEAN-India cooperation in all its aspects. At the 12th East Asia Summit, Leaders will discuss matters of regional and international interest and concern including maritime security, terrorism, non-proliferation, irregular migration, etc. The Leaders are also expected to accept declarations on countering the spread of terrorist narratives, anti money laundering and countering financing of terrorism and poverty alleviation.

Notes:
India’s first offshore desalination plant will be set up by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) about 40km from the Ennore coast in Tamil Nadu with a capacity of about 10 million litres of water per day. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the plant, which is estimated to cost Rs 2,000 crore, has been submitted to the Centre for approval. The offshore plant is designed and built by NIOT scientists. The plant will operate on the indigenously developed Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD), a low cost and environment friendly technology to get potable water. The technology is based on the temperature difference in seawater at different depths.

Notes:
The Chail Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) is located at Chail, a hill station which is abode of wildlife, in Himachal Pradesh and covers an area of 110 square-kilometre. It houses rhesus macaque, leopard, Indian muntjac, goral, porcupine, wild boar, langur and Himalayan black bear. It also has prevented few endangered species of reptiles and birds. The sanctuary is well connected with major routes of Shimla and Chandigarh.

Notes:
As per Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat scheme, the Madhya Pradesh Government has partnered with Nagaland and Manipur to strengthen cultural relations between them. For this, the MP Govt has made its Higher Education Department as a nodal department to execute the scheme. The team of MP will participate in Sangai Mahotsav which is being organized in Manipur. Similarly, teams of Manipur and Nagaland will take part in Lok Rang and Bal Rang programmes to present their cultural programmes and to apprise people with their culture. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31, 2015 with the prime objective to celebrate the unity in diversity culture of the country and to embolden the sentimental bonds between the people of different states.

Notes:
The Hyderabad based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in association with the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) has developed Improved Samba Masuri (ISM) variety rice with low Glycemic Index. Rice with low Glycemic Index is considered suitable for people with diabetics. The new variety is also resistant to bacteria blight. The ISM has lowest Glycemic Index of 50.99 against the normal 53 to 70 in several rice varieties. It has shown better yield and fine grain type enhancing its market potential and profit for farmers. The scientists stated that the new variety is not a transgenic one and they did molecular breeding in CCMB and traditional rice breeding at the rice research institute. The ISM has been grown in 1.3 lakh hectares in 7 states including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The IIRR is a rice research institute located at Rajendranagar, Hyderabad.

Notes:
The sixth edition of India’s premier open water swimming competition ” Swimmathon” will be held at Colva beach in South Goa on December 3, 2017. The event had been accredited by the Swimming Federation of India (SFI) as the national selection trials. This year, the event will have four categories for both men and women. Around 1000 participants are expected to participate in the event across various categories.