Hello and welcome to exampundit . Here are the Important Current Affairs from 20th to 24th of October, 2016. These are important for the upcoming IBPS PO VI Mains, IBPS Clerk VI Mains, IBPS RRB Mains and NICL and IPPB Mains 2016.
Current Affairs at a Glance – 20th to 24th October, 2016
- Luxury car maker BMW and taxi hailing app Ola have signed an MoU to provide on
demand luxury cab services in India. - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 20 October 2016 notified the amended norms for foreign investment in startups. For
this, the bank amended the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of
Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2000. - India on 21 October 2016 signed
a 650-million US dollar loan agreement with the World Bank for the Eastern
Dedicated Freight Corridor-III (EDFC-III) Project. The project will benefit
industries of Northern and Eastern India, which rely on railway network for
transportation of material inputs and exports. - AT&T Inc on 22
October 2016 agreed to buy Time Warner
Inc for 85.4 billion US dollars in a deal that will transform the phone
company into a media giant. - Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in October 2016
recommended imposition of 3050 crore rupees penalty on Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea cellular. The
penalty was imposed for allegedly denying interconnectivity to newcomer Reliance
Jio. - The State Bank of India (SBI) on 20 October 2016 declared Silchar as its 5th zone in North-East India. This zone will cater to the
banking needs of the people of Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur along with the
Barak Valley. - Maharashtra Government
on 19 October 2016 launched Kaushalya
SETU (Self-Employment and Talent Utilisation) initiative.
The initiative, which is a skill development programme for students, is likely
to generate employment for as many as 7.5 lakh people in state. - The Indian Coast Guard Ships
(ICGS) Aryaman and Atulya were commissioned on 21 October
2016 at Kochi by Sunil Kumar Kohli, Financial Advisor to Defence Services. - In a dramatic development, Tata Sons, the holding company of the
$103-billion (around Rs 6.88 lakh crore) Tata group, said its board has removed Cyrus Pallonji Mistry, 48, as
chairman of the conglomerate and named Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, the
largest shareholder in Tata Sons, as interim chairman for four months. - Vice Admiral S V Bhokare
on 20 October 2016 assumed office as the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy
at Ezhimala in Kerala. - The Milan city council on 20 October 2016 bestowed honorary
citizenship on the Dalai Lama. However, China has strongly
opposed another award given to him. - Noted British statistician Sir David Cox on 19
October 2016 was named the inaugural recipient of the International Prize in
Statistics. - India on 22 October 2016 lifted the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup.
- The Indian football team on 20 October 2016 achieved its best FIFA
ranking in over six years. The team jumped 11 placed to be 137th in the latest list. - Kochi on 19 October 2016 became the first Indian city to be
officially declared as one of the venues for hosting the 2017 FIFA U-17 World
Cup. The tournament will be hosted in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium of
the city. - The United Nations Day 2016 was observed across the world on 24 October
2016 - The Police Commemoration Day was observed on 21 October 2016 across
India - The book titled The Adivasi Will Not Dance, penned by
Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, was in news in the second week of October 2016. - Book titled The Sleepwalker’s Dream authored by Dhrubajyoti Borah released.
Finance/Banking/Industry –
BMW, Ola sign pact for on demand luxury cab services
- Luxury car maker BMW and taxi
hailing app Ola have signed an MoU to provide on demand luxury cab services in
India. - While BMW wants to expand the
luxury car market in the country, which is less than one per cent at present,
for Ola it is just another extension to its luxury segment “Ola Lux”
that it had launched in June this year and is present in just three cities. - The Bengaluru-based company plans
to extend the same to other markets soon. Ola targets to double its revenues
from this segment this year at a mere two per cent, said its COO, Pranay
Jivrajka. Currently the fleet size is 100. - Meanwhile, several global as well
as domestic auto majors across the world are re-thinking their strategies as
they witness decline in auto sales due to the growth of on-demand economy
globally. - Frank Schloeder, President
(Acting), BMW Group India, said that India is a very small market with only
35,000 cars and the young generation is not looking at buying cars and homes
anymore but believe in shared economy.
RBI eases norms for foreign investment in startups
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
on 20 October 2016 notified the amended norms for foreign investment in
startups. For this, the bank amended the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer
or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2000. - Investment in India by Foreign
Venture Capital Investors (FVCI), registered with SEBI, is governed by the
provisions of Schedule 6 of the aforesaid Regulations.
Highlights of the Notifications
- Any FVCI, registered with market
regulator SEBI, will not require any approval from Reserve Bank of India and
can invest in unlisted Indian companies. - FVCI can invest in following
sectors- Biotechnology, IT, Nanotechnology, Seed research and development,
pharmaceutical sector, Dairy industry, Poultry industry, Production of
bio-fuels, Hotel-cum-convention centres and Infrastructure sector. - FVCIs can also invest in Equity
or equity linked instrument or debt instrument issued by an Indian startup
irrespective of the sector in which the startup is engaged. - FVCIs can invest in units of a
Venture Capital Fund (VCF) registered under the SEBI or units of a Scheme or of
a fund set up by a VCF or by a Category I Alternative Investment Fund (Cat-I
AIF). - The downstream investments by a
VCF or a Cat-I AIF, which has received investment from FVCI, shall have to
comply with the provisions for downstream investment as laid down in Schedule 11
of the Principal Regulations.
India, World Bank sign $650 Million agreement for Eastern Dedicated
Freight Corridor
Freight Corridor
- India on 21 October 2016 signed a
650-million US dollar loan agreement with the World Bank for the Eastern
Dedicated Freight Corridor-III (EDFC-III) Project. The project will benefit
industries of Northern and Eastern India, which rely on railway network for
transportation of material inputs and exports. - These industries also depend on
railway network for transportation for the distribution of bulk processed and
semi-processed commodities and consumer goods. Railway passengers will also be
benefitted through decongestion of the existing passenger lines. - The project is being developed by
Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd. (DFCCIL). It would also
help in creating jobs in the northern and eastern regions of the country.
Objective
- The EDFC-III Project is to
augment rail transport capacity, improve service quality and enhance freight
carriage throughput on the 401 km Ludhiana-Khurja section of the Eastern
Dedicated Freight Corridor - It seeks to develop institutional
capacity of DFCCIL to build, maintain and operate the entire DFC network. - The third loan agreement that the
World Bank has signed for the Eastern Corridor, which is about 1840 km long and
extends from Ludhiana to Kolkata. EDFC is going to be a broad gauge corridor.
This will have double line and will be electrified. The corridor will also pass
through Dadri (The origin point of Western Dedicated Freight Corridor) which
will serve as a junction.
AT&T Inc agrees to buy Time Warner Inc for 85.4 billion US dollars
- AT&T Inc on 22 October 2016
agreed to buy Time Warner Inc for 85.4 billion US dollars in a deal that will
transform the phone company into a media giant. - AT&T agreed to pay 107.50 US
dollars a share, evenly split between cash and stock. The deal is expected to
close by the end of 2017.
Highlights of the Deal
- The new company will be headed by
AT&T Chief Executive Randall Stephenson. - Time Warner Chief Executive Jeff
Bewkes will stay for an interim period following the close of the deal. - AT&T will tap 40 billion US
dollars in bridge loans with 25 billion US dollars coming from JP Morgan Chase
& Co and 15 billion US dollars from Bank of America Corp. - Time Warner agreed to pay a 1.7
billion US dollars breakup fee if another company outbids AT&T’s offer.
AT&T, meanwhile, would pay 500 million US dollars if the deal gets blocked. - Once the deal is completed,
AT&T will rely on its entertainment business for more than 40 percent of
its revenue, based on second-quarter financial results.
Union Government launched UDAN for Regional Air Connectivity
- Union Government on 21 October
2016 unveiled the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam
naagrik), which seeks to get more people to fly in the smaller towns. The Civil
Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju who launched the scheme in New Delhi
said the scheme is expected to be rolled out by January 2017. - The scheme UDAN envisages
providing connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of the country
through revival of existing air-strips and airports. The scheme would be in
operation for a period of 10 years. - The Ministry of Civil Aviation
took a major step today towards making flying a reality for the small town
common man.
TRAI recommends Rs 3050 crore penalty on Airtel, Vodafone & Idea
- Telecom Regulatory Authority of
India (TRAI) in October 2016 recommended imposition of 3050 crore rupees
penalty on Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea cellular. The penalty was imposed
for allegedly denying interconnectivity to newcomer Reliance Jio. - TRAI, in its recommendation to
the Department of Telecom, said it has found the three companies to be
non-compliant with licence conditions regarding giving interconnection to
Reliance Jio customers. - Airtel: Penalty amounts to 1050
crore rupees for 21 service areas (all, except Jammu and Kashmir) - Vodafone: Penalty amounts to 1050
crore rupees for 21 service areas (all, except Jammu and Kashmir) - Idea: Penalty amounts to 950
crore rupees for 19 service areas (all, except Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
and North-eastern States).
SBI declares Silchar as its 5th zone in North East India
- The State Bank of India (SBI) on
20 October 2016 declared Silchar as its 5th zone in North-East India. This zone
will cater to the banking needs of the people of Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur
along with the Barak Valley. - The other four zones of SBI in
region are located in Guwahati, Shillong, Dibrugarh and Jorhat. - Earlier, Silchar was under
Guwahati zone and it was tough on the part of the bank to address the
complaints and issues of the customers with such a difficult terrain. The bank
has 736 branches across North East together with 3000 ATMs and 3000 customer
service points for customer facilitation. - Besides, SBI also opened its
administrative office at Silchar. This office will facilitate banking issues for
the customers of the region.
Union Government directs car makers to declare emission details of
every vehicle
every vehicle
- The Union Ministry of Road
Transport and Highways made it mandatory for all automobile manufacturers to
provide emission and noise pollution details for every vehicle they produce.
The new pollution norms will be made applicable from April 2017. - The step will help to keep a
check on whether the newly bought vehicle is emitting according to what the
manufacturer claims. The Union Government approved testing agencies will give
the approval for individual engine model after checking the emission levels. - The ministry has notified the
amendment of Form 22 under the Central Motor Vehicles Act. It is used to
provide the initial certification of compliance with pollution and safety
standards at the time of sale to buyers.
Key highlights of amended Form 22
- From 1 April 2017, the vehicle
manufacturers will have to provide emission details for each vehicle in the
revised Form 22 . - The Form will include the brand,
chassis number, engine number (motor number, in case of battery operated
vehicles) and emission norms, Bharat Stage – IV / VI /Bharat (Trem)
Stage-III/III etc of the vehicle. - The Form will also ask the
manufacturer to specify the levels of each pollutant like carbon monoxide,
hydro carbon, non-methane HC, NOx, HC + NOx, PM for petrol and diesel vehicles
and also sound level for horn and pass by noise values.
Union Government funds Ro Pax Ferry Service in Gulf of Cambay under
Sagarmala Programme
Sagarmala Programme
- The Union Ministry of Shipping on
17 October 2016 sanctioned the Capital Dredging Project for Ro Pax Ferry
Services between Gogha & Dahej, in Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat. - The step was taken as a part of
promoting coastal shipping in the country under Sagarmala programme. It is one
of the flagship projects under Sagarmala which aims to increase share of
waterways transportation in modal mix to 10% from present level of 7% by year
2025.
Key highlights
- The Ministry released 58.50 crore
rupees as first instalment of grant-in–aid to Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB). - The total project cost is
estimated to be 234 crore rupees of which 50% will be funded by Union
Government under the Sagarmala programme. - The project will result in
reduction in motorable distance of 231 kilometres between Gogha and Dahej to
mere 31 kilometres and reduce the travel time from 7 hours to 1 hour only by
crossing the Gulf in Cambay in 17 Nautical Miles. - The initiative will also result
in savings in fuel, reduction in CO2 emission and reduction in road congestion. - The project is first of its kinds
in India as it will be executed in the area of world’s second highest tidal
range.
Maharashtra launches Kaushalya SETU initiative
- Maharashtra Government on 19
October 2016 launched Kaushalya SETU (Self-Employment and Talent Utilisation)
initiative. The initiative, which is a skill development programme for
students, is likely to generate employment for as many as 7.5 lakh people in
state. - For the purpose of employing
skilled people, the state also signed 22 MoUs with various industries. The best
part of the initiative is that it would help in bridging the gap between
education and employment.
Highlights of Kaushalya Setu initiative
- Students of Maharashtra State
Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education, who fail to clear Class X
or SSC exam, would be accommodated in the skill development courses. This will
help in ensuring that these students do not lose a year. - The launch will play a leading
role in fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Skill India Mission-2020 - It is a mechanism launched by the
Union Government under NITI Aayog to support all aspects of start up businesses
and other self-employment activities, particularly in technology-driven areas.
SETU is a Techno-Financial, Incubation and Facilitation Programme.
India –
ICGS Aryaman and Atulya commissioned into Indian Coast Guard
- The Indian Coast Guard Ships
(ICGS) Aryaman and Atulya were commissioned on 21 October 2016 at Kochi by
Sunil Kumar Kohli, Financial Advisor to Defence Services. - The ICGS Aryaman and Atulya are
the eighteenth and nineteenth respectively in the series of twenty Fast Patrol
Vessels (FPVs). They are designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
Key highlights of Aryaman and Atulya
- The ships have been christened
ICGS Aryaman and Atulya. - Aryaman literally means Possessor
of Greatness. It will be based at Kochi under the administrative control of the
Commander, Coast Guard Region (West). - Atulya means Unrivalled. It will
be based at Visakhapatnam under the administrative control of the Commander,
Coast Guard Region (East).
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Indo-Italy Scientific and Technological Cooperation re-launched
- The Indo-Italian Joint Committee
established under the Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement on 21
October 2016 re-launched the cooperation in the sectors of science, technology
and innovation. The original agreement was signed between Italy and India in
2003. - The Indian delegation was led by
Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology while the
Italian delegation was led by Vincenzo De Luca, Director General for Cultural
and Economic Promotion and Innovation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation.
Highlights of the Indo-Italy Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
Cooperation
- The Joint Committee approved
several initiatives in bilateral scientific R&D projects of significance
with the aim of facilitating the mobility of researchers who will be jointly
selected within the framework of the 2017-2019 Indo-Italy Executive Programme
of Scientific and Technological Cooperation. - IT, energy, environment and
sustainable agriculture, health care, biotechnology, nanotechnology, physics
and cultural and natural heritage are the areas for joint projects. - A new scientific and technological
cooperation programme on applied science was launched aiming at developing
technologies and processes to be applied in industry.
Union Government holds tripartite talks with Manipur government, KNO,
UPF
UPF
- The Union Government held
tripartite talks with Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s
Front (UPF) of Manipur to find an amicable solution to their long standing
demand. - The second round of the
tripartite talks was held on 19 October 2016 in New Delhi. During the dialogue
the KNO and the UPF indicated their demands in the presence of senior
representative of Manipur government. The first meeting was held in June 2016. - The talks were held in a cordial
atmosphere and the next round of dialogue will be held in consultation with
Manipur government, KNO and UPF. - To find a permanent solution to
their demand for homeland and political future, the Home Ministry in June 2016
had decided to hold tripartite talks with government of Manipur, KNO and UPF of
Manipur.
India and China conduct Sino India Cooperation 2016 in Ladakh
- The Indian and Chinese armies on
19 October 2016 held second joint exercise Sino India Cooperation 2016 in
Ladakh. The exercise was held as a part of the ongoing initiative to enhance
interaction and cooperation between India and China, under the provisions of
Border Defense Cooperation Agreement, 2013. - The Exercise was held as a sequel
to the first Joint Exercise held on 6 February 2016 in the area of Border
Personnel Meeting Hut at Chushul Garrison of Eastern Ladakh, along with Chinese
troops of Moldo Garrison.
Key highlights of the exercise
- During the day long exercise on
Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR), a fictitious situation of
earthquake striking an Indian Border village was painted. Thereafter, joint
teams carried out rescue operations, evacuation and rendering of medical
assistance. - The Indian Team was led by
Brigadier RS Raman. - The Chinese Team was led by
Senior Col Fan Jun.
Union Government to establish Krishi Vigyan Kendra in each district
- Union Government in October 2016
decided to establish at least one Krishi Vigyan Kendra in each of the districts
in country. These Kendra’s will be developed to provide technical assistance to
farmers. - The decision was announced by the
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh while interacting via video conference
with all the Krishi Vigyan Kendra experts, district level officers associated
with agriculture development and progressive farmers of 12 States. - Besides, Singh also called upon
the farmers to use the residual husk after paddy farming to make organic
fertilizer, in paper making and card-board industry and as animal feed. The
Minister said this will prevent the adverse effect of husk burning on the environment.
Appointments –
Cyrus Mistry removed as Tata group chief, Ratan Tata returns
- In a dramatic development, Tata
Sons, the holding company of the $103-billion (around Rs 6.88 lakh crore) Tata
group, said its board has removed Cyrus Pallonji Mistry, 48, as chairman of the
conglomerate and named Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, the largest
shareholder in Tata Sons, as interim chairman for four months. - In a letter to Tata group
employees, Tata said the board has requested him to perform the role of
chairman and he has agreed to do so “in the interest of stability of and reassurance
to the Tata group”. - However, a brief statement by
Tata Sons did not give any reasons for Mistry’s ouster, though sources close to
the development said it was because of “performance” issues and the issue has
been brewing for some time. The turnover of India’s largest conglomerate
dropped to $103 billion in 2015-2016 from $108 billion the previous year. Net
debt rose to $24.5 billion (about Rs 1.63 lakh crore) in March 2016 from $23.4
billion a year ago. - Sources close to the developments
said Tata has been expressing his displeasure to Mistry about the way the group
is being run. - The board has constituted a
selection committee to choose the new chairman. Apart from Ratan Tata himself,
the committee comprises TVS Chairman Venu Srinivasan, Bain Capital’s Amit
Chandra, former diplomat Ronen Sen and Kumar Bhattacharyya of Warwick. All of
them, except Bhattacharyya, are on the board of Tata Sons.
Vice Admiral SV Bhokare assumes office as the Commandant of Indian
Naval Academy
Naval Academy
- Vice Admiral S V Bhokare on 20
October 2016 assumed office as the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy at
Ezhimala in Kerala. - With this, Bhokare became the
first officer from the submarine arm of the Indian Navy to take over the charge
of the Indian Naval Academy.
Japan’s Morinari Watanabe elected President of International Gymnastics
Federation
Federation
- Japan’s Morinari Watanabe on 20
October 2016 was elected the new President of the International Gymnastics
Federation (FIG). - Watanabe emerged victorious in
the election after defeating rival candidate Georges Guelzec of France by a
huge margin in a vote at the governing body’s Congress. - Watanabe, who is the
secretary-general of Japan Gymnastics Association (JGA), won 100 of the 119
votes. Guelzec, the head of the European Union of Gymnastics (UEG), received a
mere 19 votes.
Sunil Mishra appointed as Odisha’s CIC
- Retired bureaucrat Sunil Kumar
Mishra was on 19 October 2016 appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner
(CIC) of Odisha. Governor Dr. S C Jamir approved the name of Mishra, an
official release said. - Earlier on 6 October 2016, a
selection committee chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recommended
Mishra’s name to the Governor for appointment as the CIC. - Former director general of income
tax Mishra will succeed former chief secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra. The post of
CIC was vacant since February 2015. TK Mishra had resigned six months before
his scheduled retirement on personal ground.
Awards & Honors –
Doctors from AIIMS and SGRH chosen for Dr BC Roy Award
- Two doctors each from the All
India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
(SGRH) in the third week of October 2016 were selected for the prestigious Dr
Bidhan Chandra Roy Award for excellence in the field of medicine. - Randeep Guleria, Head of
Pulmonology, and CS Yadav of Department of Orthopaedics from the All India
Institute of Medical Sciences were selected for the award. - Chairman of Board of Management
at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital D S Rana and Arvind Kumar were also chosen for
the coveted award. - The awards will be presented by
the President in July 2017.
Milan confers honorary citizenship on Dalai Lama
- The Milan city council on 20
October 2016 bestowed honorary citizenship on the Dalai Lama. However, China
has strongly opposed another award given to him. - Lamberto Bertole, Chairman of the
Council of Milan, honoured the Dalai Lama with the Milan Honorary Citizenship
award at a ceremony held at the Arcimboldi Theatre in Milan, Italy.
International Prize in Statistics awarded to Sir David Cox
- Noted British statistician Sir
David Cox on 19 October 2016 was named the inaugural recipient of the
International Prize in Statistics. He is honoured for Survival Analysis Model
Applied in Medicine, Science, and Engineering. - The International Prize in
Statistics Foundation is recognizing Cox specifically for his 1972 paper in
which he developed the proportional hazards model that today bears his name.
Sports –
India wins 2016 Kabaddi World Cup
- India on 22 October 2016 lifted
the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. Team India, under the captaincy of Anup Kumar,
defeated Iran 38-29 in the final held at the Arena By TransStadia in Ahmedabad,
Gujarat. - This was India’s 3rd World Cup in
the Standard Style version of Kabaddi.
Indian football team achieves highest FIFA ranking in six years
- The Indian football team on 20
October 2016 achieved its best FIFA ranking in over six years. The team jumped
11 placed to be 137th in the latest list. - India, who defeated 114th ranked
Puerto Rico in an International Friendly in Mumbai in September 2016, garnered
230 points for the month. - In August 2010, India were ranked
137th which stayed India’s best ever FIFA Ranking since then. - The Indian team was ranked 171st
in February 2015 and slipped to 173rd in March 2015. - At present, Argentina tops the
FIFA World Rankings, followed by Germany and Brazil.
Kochi becomes first Indian city to host FIFA U-17 World Cup
- Kochi on 19 October 2016 became
the first Indian city to be officially declared as one of the venues for
hosting the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The tournament will be hosted in the
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium of the city. - A 23-member high-level delegation
comprising experts from FIFA and Local Organising Committee (LOC) ratified
Kochi as the venue for next year’s mega event. Earlier, the delegation visited
the Jawarharlal Nehru International Stadium. - With this, the event also became
the first FIFA event to be held in the subcontinent. - Tournament Director of the LOC,
Javier Ceppi said that besides Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the team also visited
the prospective training grounds in Kochi — Parade Ground, Fort Kochi Veli
Football Ground, Maharajas College Ground and Government Boys High School
Panampilly Nagar.
Days –
United Nations Day 2016 observed across the world
- The United Nations Day 2016 was
observed across the world on 24 October 2016. The day marks the anniversary of
the entry into force of the UN Charter (the founding document of UNO) in 1945. - In 2016, UN Day will be used to
highlight concrete actions people can take to help achieve the Sustainable
Development Goals. - On this day, the UN also organise
a concert to celebrate and reflect on the work of the United Nations through
the universal language of music. This year, Korean Traditional Music Orchestra,
Lang Lang, world famous Harlem Gospel Choir, the Hungarian State Opera with
performances by soprano Andrea Rost and other notable artists will be organised
at the UN General Assembly Hall. In 2016, the theme of the concert is Freedom
First.
Police Commemoration Day observed across India
- The Police Commemoration Day was
observed on 21 October 2016 across India. The day commemorates the sacrifices
of ten policemen while defending the borders with China in 1959. - Home Minister Rajnath Singh laid
wreath and paid homage to the police martyrs at Police Memorial Ground,
Chanakyapuri in Delhi. - On 21 October 1959, Chinese Army
personnel opened fire and threw grenades at the police party of 20 personnel.
Books & Authors –
The Adivasi Will Not Dance authored by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar
- The book titled The Adivasi Will
Not Dance, penned by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, was in news in the second week
of October 2016. - The book was recently shortlisted
for The Hindu Prize 2016. - The characters of the book are
set in the fecund, mineral-rich hinterland and the ever-expanding, squalid
towns of Jharkhand. - The book, a collection of
stories, offers the glimpse in the lives of troupe-master Mangal Murmu, who
refuses to perform for the President of India and is beaten down; Suren and
Gita, a love-blind couple, who wait with quiet desperation outside a neonatal
ward; Panmuni and Biram Soren, who move to Vadodara in the autumn of their
lives, only to find that they must stop eating meat to be accepted as citizens,
and several other characters.
The Sleepwalker’s Dream authored by Dhrubajyoti Borah released
- Book titled The Sleepwalker’s
Dream authored by Dhrubajyoti Borah released. The book authored by Borah,
President of Asam Sahitya Sabha, narrates the journey of a group of militants
towards an elusive freedom and an uncertain future. - The Sleepwalker’s Dream is about
June, Ron and several other rebels fleeing their hideout in Bhutan after an
army attack. With them is their injured, unconscious leader, who is unlikely to
survive the ordeal of their journey towards the Assam border. - Through this book, the author has
tried to give life to their journey to be an insurgent and the memories that
hunts them. June is the only woman in the group who is strangulated in memories
of her long-lost family, her village, her innocent childhood and the tragic
circumstances under which she had become an insurgent.
Regards
Team ExamPundit