Current Affairs Update – 15 Nov, 2014

• ·        
  The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) on 14 November 2014
  approved the HDFC Bank proposal to raise foreign investment ceiling of the bank
  to 74 percent.
• ·        
  According to FDI norms, foreign investment up to 49 percent in banks is
  permitted under the automatic route and beyond 49 percent FIPB clearance is
  required.
• ·        
  In 2013, HDFC Bank had approached the FIPB for increasing the foreign
  holding in the bank to 67.55 percent from 49 percent. However, FIPB did not
  clear taking consideration HDFC Ltd’s 22 percent holding is FDI, the total
  foreign holding was more than 67.55 percent.
• ·        
  In 2014, HDFC Bank provided all the clarification required by FIPB and
  sent a revised proposal raising its foreign holding ceiling request to 74
  percent from earlier proposal of 67.55 percent.

• ·        
  Union Finance Ministry on 14 November 2014 announced that Goa and Kerala
  became the first states in the country to achieve 100 percent Financial
  Inclusion under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).
• ·        
  Also, three Union Territories (UTs) namely Chandigarh, Puducherry and
  Lakshadweep achieved 100 percent financial inclusion.
• ·        
  According to official data, 11.26 lakh bank accounts were opened in
  Kerala, followed by 77485 accounts in Goa, 1.36 lakh accounts in Chandigarh,
  69819 accounts in Puducherry and 3588 accounts in Lakshadweep under the Pradhan
  Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).
• ·        
  States of Kerala and Goa, union territories of Chandigarh, Puducherry
  and Lakshadweep and three districts of Gujarat — Porbandar, Mehasana,
  Gandhinagar have been declared as 100 per cent saturated in terms of coverage
  of all households with at least one bank account.
• ·        
  The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana has so far managed to bring over 5000
  crore rupees into the formal banking system as account holders started
  depositing cash. A large chunk of this money would have been kept at home in
  the absence of accounts, with little or no productive use.
• ·        
  According to the initial results, on an average about 80% of the
  households surveyed have now got at least one bank account. As in the first
  week of November 2014, 7.24 crore accounts have been opened under PMJDY of
  which 4.29 crore in rural and 2.95 crore are in urban areas. RuPay Cards have
  been issued in case of 3.97 crore accounts.
• ·        
  Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the scheme on 28 August 2014
  with the goal of eradicating financial untouchability of the poor by opening at
  least one bank account for every family in the country in less than six months.
• ·        
  At the time banks had been given a target of opening 7.5 crore accounts
  under the scheme. Each of the accounts come with a debit card, 1 lakh rupees
  accidental insurance policy and 30000 rupees free medical insurance cover.

• ·        
  Chairman Emeritus Tata Sons Ratan Tata on 14 November 2014 announced to
  invest in online furniture company Urban Ladder.
• ·        
  The company did not disclose the amount and other details about the
  investment. The investment is his second personal investment in an e-commerce
  firm after Snapdeal in August 2014.
• ·        
  The investment comes four months after Urban Ladder raised ‘Series B
  funding’ from Steadview Capital and existing investors SAIF Partners and
  Kalaari Capital.
• ·        
  The company was launched in July 2012. Urban Ladder was co-founded by
  IITian Ashish Goel and IIM Graduate Rajiv Srivatsa. It offers over 1000
  products across 25 categories in furniture such as wardrobes, beds, sofas,
  dining tables and coffee tables.

• ·        
  The Indian government had 461.6 billion rupees ($7.48 billion)
  outstanding loans with the central bank under its ways and means advances in
  the week ended Nov. 7, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s weekly
  statistical supplement released on Friday.
• ·        
  The central government also had no outstanding loans in the previous
  week.
• ·        
  State governments had 17.39 billion rupees of loans from the RBI in the
  week ended Nov. 7, compared with 7.43 billion rupees in the previous week, the
  release showed.

• ·        
  Taking forward the government’s Budget proposal to provide finance to
  landless farmers, RBI today set out detailed guidelines for banks for giving
  such loans and asked them to ensure meeting targets.
• ·        
  The banks would also have to provide regular progress reports to NABARD
  in this regard.
• ·        
  In the Union Budget 2014-15, it was declared that 5 lakh Joint Liability
  Groups (JLGs) of land-less farmers will be financed through NABARD in the
  current financial year.
• ·        
  NABARD has evolved a revised approach for financing of JLGs on a mission
  mode both for farm and non-farm activities.
• ·        
  As a few members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) may move faster to start or
  expand their economic activities and requiring much higher levels of loans than
  other members in the group, RBI said a JLG may be created consisting of such
  members of one or more SHGs.

• ·        
  Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari on 14 November 2014 decided to shift
  question hour in Rajya Sabha from 11 A.M. to 12 noon from the upcoming Winter
  Session.
• ·        
  The move aimed to ensure disruption-free proceedings during this
  segment.
• ·        
  Question Hour in Rajya Sabha will be between 12 PM and 1 PM instead of
  11 AM and 12. Accordingly, the Zero Hour will be between 11 AM and 12 PM,
  marking the start of a day’s proceedings. The Zero Hour is a period during
  which Member of Parliament (MPs) get chance to raise matters of public
  importance that need immediate attention of the government.
• ·        
  Rajya Sabha Secretariat has issued the notification to this effect and
  it has been communicated to all Ministries.
• ·        
  Question Hour, which marks the beginning of a day’s proceedings of a House
  of Parliament, is often witness to disruptions by members who want to raise
  issues.
• ·        
  Normally, no issues can be raised during the Question Hour except those
  related to the questions listed for the day. Other issues can be raised during
  the Zero Hour.
• ·        
  In 2011, the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha was shifted for a few days to
  2-3 PM so that the House could function normally in the first half. But, it was
  subsequently discontinued and the Question Hour switched back to its usual
  timing of 11 am.

• ·        
  Union Ministry of Minorities Affairs on 11 November 2014 launched the
  Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS) to impart training to youths.
  It was launched on a pilot basis on the 125th birth anniversary of Maulana Abul
  Kalam Azad.
• ·        
  MANAS signed two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to train the youth
  in the health and security sectors.
• ·        
  MANAS signed MoU with Health Sector Council for training programmes for
  200 girls and boys for Bed-Side Attendant and Home Healthcare Attendant through
  Skill Tree Consultant Ltd.
• ·        
  MANAS signed with the Security Sector Council for a security services
  training programme for 100 persons.
• ·        
  Under MANAS, the union ministry of minorities has increased the income
  eligibility criterion for trainees from 1.03 lakh rupees to 6 lakh rupees per
  annum to facilitate provision of training and concessional credit. This will
  benefit 12 to 13 crore people.

• ·        
  Surface-to-surface nuclear-capable Dhanush ballistic missile was
  test-fired from a naval ship off the Odisha coast on 14 November 2014. Dhanush,
  a naval variant of India’s indigenously-developed Prithvi missile was fired from
  a ship in the Bay of Bengal by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the defence
  force.
• ·        
  The missile launch was part of an exercise by the armed forces and it
  reached the designated target with high precision. Missiles launch and flight
  performance was monitored from the ITR at Chandipur, Odisha.
• ·        
  Dhanush missile is capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear
  payload of 500 to 1000 kilogram and can hit both land and sea-based targets.
• ·        
  The single-stage, liquid-propelled Dhanush already inducted into the
  armed services is one of the five missiles developed by the Defence Research
  and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile
  Development Programme (IGMDP).

• ·        
  Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) in the second week of
  November 2014 decided to use Sanskrit as a third language in schools of
  Kendriya Vidyalaya (KVs) in place of German language.
• ·        
  The decision to discontinue German was taken after the meeting of Board
  of Governors of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) on 27 October 2014. The
  meeting was headed by Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani.
• ·        
  German, which was taught as an option to Sanskrit, has now been made an
  additional subject or hobby class (not a third language) for students from
  classes 6 to 8.
• ·        
  The decision is expected to affect about over 70000 students across 500
  KVs from classes 6 to 8 who will be asked to switch from German to Sanskrit.
  However, students will be given an option to pick any Indian language of their
  choice as annual exams are barely three months away.
• ·        
  German was taught as a third language from classes 6 to 8 in KV schools
  after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between KVS and Goethe
  Institute—Max Mueller Bhawan in 2011. However, the MoU was not referred to HRD
  Ministry at any stage.
• ·        
  Earlier at the start of 2014, Sanskrit Shikshak Sangh had  moved the Delhi High Court alleging that KVS
  had introduced German as a third language in place of Sanskrit against the
  education policy.
• ·        
  The three language formula as enunciated by the National policy on
  Education states and subsequently by the National Curriculum Framework 2005
  states that Sanskrit may be studied as a modern Indian language apart from
  Hindi and English.

• ·        
  Prasar Bharti announced to re-launch DD National with new tagline
  Doordarshan National – Desh Ka Apna Channel. Also, new colours of purple and
  pink are added with a fresh palette of programming.
• ·        
  The new look promises fresh content and will provide wholesome
  entertainment to the viewers from 17 November 2014. The move is aimed at
  attracting more viewers.
• ·        
  The channel will continue to focus on traditional family values –
  Rishtey, Nation before Self, Rashtra Gaurav and Trustworthiness – Dilon Mein
  Vishwas.
• ·        
  DD Director General Vijayalaxmi Chhabra said that the channel had also
  adopted competitive procurement guidelines which were attracting major
  producers towards the pubcaster.

• ·        
  The Union Government on 14 November 2014 launched the National Bal
  Swachhta Mission in New Delhi. 14 November is the birthday of first Prime
  Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru and is celebrated as Children’s Day in
  India.
• ·        
  On the occasion, Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka
  Sanjay Gandhi also released a book on Bal Swachtta Mission prepared by NIPCCD.
  Apart from this, Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani,
  who launched the Bal Swachhta Mission at the National Bal Bhavan also launched
  Udaan programme for girls.
• ·        
  The Bal Swachhta Mission is a part of the nationwide sanitation
  initiative of Swachh Bharat Mission that was launched by the Prime Minister on
  2 October 2014.

• 1.    
  Clean Anganwadis
• 2.    
  Clean Surroundings like Playgrounds
• 3.    
  Clean Self (Personal Hygiene/Child Health)
• 4.    
  Clean Food
• 5.    
  Clean Drinking Water
• 6.    
  Clean Toilets

• ·        
  Apart from this, Bal Swachhta Week is being observed from 14 November to
  19 November 2014.
• ·        
  The Udaan programme for girls is designed to provide a comprehensive
  platform to girl students to pursue higher education in engineering and assist
  them in preparing for the IIT-JEE while studying in Classes XI and XII. There
  is no financial burden as the entire programme is free for the beneficiaries.

• ·        
  Bollywood Actor Farhan Akhtar was on 14 November 2014 appointed as UN
  Women Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia. Farhan is the first male ever to be
  chosen as a Goodwill Ambassador in the organization’s history.
• ·        
  Farhan will dedicate his efforts as UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador for
  South Asia towards the empowerment of women and girls and will serve as an
  advocate for UN Women’s newly launched HeForShe initiative in advocating for
  gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• ·        
  UN Women’s other Goodwill Ambassadors include British actress Emma
  Watson, Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman and HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha
  Mahidol of Thailand.
• ·        
  In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the
  United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. UN
  Women is the UN organization dedicated to accelerate progress on meeting women
  needs worldwide.

• ·        
  The UK, France and Nepal on 13 November 2014 supported candidature of
  India, Germany, Brazil and Japan (G4 nations) for permanent member of a
  reformed UN Security Council (UNSC). They also emphasized African
  representation and expansion of the non-permanent seats.
• ·        
  The decision to support the G4 nation’s candidature was expressed by
  these nations during the debate Equitable Representation and Increase in
  Security Council in the UN General Assembly.
• ·        
  During the debate many participating nations noted that it had been 50
  years since the council underwent its first and only reform and almost 10 years
  since the 2005 World Summit, where the world leaders agreed to initiate a
  reform process.

• ·        
  China on 15 November 2014 launched remote sensing satellite Yaogan-23
  from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre. The satellite was carried by a Long
  March-2c rocket, which marks the 198th mission for Long March rocket family.
• ·        
  The Yaogan-23 will be used mainly for scientific experiments, natural
  resource surveys, crop yield estimates and disaster relief.
• ·        
  In 2006, China launched the first satellite in the Yaogan series that is
  Yaogan-1.
• ·        
  In future, China planned to launch about 70 remote sensing satellites to
  detect the near-Earth space environment and predict extreme events.
• ·        
  China will also launch about 20 communication satellites to meet
  communication demand in national security and public services.
• ·        
  Besides, China will launch about 30 navigation satellites to provide
  accurate and reliable global positioning and navigation services.

• ·        
  The 2014 G-20 Australia summit was the ninth meeting of the G-20 heads
  of government
• ·        
  It was held in Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia, on
  15–16 November 2014. The hosting venue was the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition
  Centre at South Brisbane.
• ·        
  The Leaders’ Summit is the most important event in the G20 year. The
  summit provides a valuable opportunity for leaders to discuss a wide range of
  global economic issues and to use their collective power to improve people’s
  lives. The summit is informed by the policy discussions held throughout the
  year. At the end of the summit, leaders release a communiqué which outlines the
  G20 policy discussions and commitments.
• ·        
  European leaders expressed their desire to support the recovery as the
  global economy moves beyond the global financial crisis. European Commission
  President Barroso and European Council President Van Rompuy stressed the
  importance of coordinated growth strategies as well as finalising agreements on
  core financial reforms, and actions on tax and anti-corruption.

• ·        
  It was double delight Mitchell Johnson as the Australian fast bowler was
  on Friday declared ICC Cricketer of the Year as well as the ICC Test cricketer
  of the Year.
• ·        
  The 33-year-old has won the coveted Cricketer of the Year award for the
  second time in his career while he is only third Australian after Ricky Ponting
  (2006) and Michael Clarke (2013) to win the Test Cricketer of the Year award.
• ·        
  During the voting period between 26 August 2013 and 17 September 2014,
  Johnson claimed 59 Test wickets at an average of 15.23, with best bowling
  figures of seven for 40 runs against England in Adelaide last December.
• ·        
  In ODIs, Johnson claimed 21 wickets in 16 games.
• ·        
  Since the inception of the awards in 2004, Johnson is only the second
  player after compatriot Ricky Ponting to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy
  twice.
• ·        
  While Johnson previously won this trophy in 2009, Ponting lifted it
  back—to—back in 2006 and 2007. Other winners include Rahul Dravid (2004),
  Jacques Kallis and Andrew Flintoff (2005), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (2008),
  Sachin Tendulkar (2010), Jonathan Trott (2011), Kumar Sangakkara (2012) and
  Michael Clarke (2013).