October 2017 Current Affairs

Tourism in India – Current Status, Opportunities and Challenges

India is a land of great tourism potential. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat, every region has its own uniqueness and flavour - be it cold/hot desert (Ladakh/Rajasthan), rivers (Ganges and Brahmaputra), forests (Niligiri & North East), islands (Andaman and Nicorbar) each landform bound to mesmerize tourists. Moreover, the wide variety in the landscape offers a range of choices to tourists from within India and the abroad.

World Bank releases Doing Business Report 2018: India ranks 100 among 190 countries

India jumped over 30 ranks this year to attain 100th spot in the ease of doing business list. It was ranked at 130th position in the 2017 Doing Business Report. India is the only country in South Asia and BRICS economies to feature among most improved economies of the DB Report this year.

Indian Air Force to participate in air exercise ‘Blue Flag-17’ in Israel

The Indian Air Force (IAF) would be participating in a two-week-long multilateral air exercise- 'Blue Flag-17'- in Israel. It is a bi-annual exercise that aims to strengthen military cooperation amongst participating nations.

Union Government constitutes Arun Jaitley led committee to oversee PSU bank mergers

Earlier in 2017 itself, the banking sector witnessed the consolidation of State Bank of India (SBI), which merged operations of its five associate banks and Bharatiya Mahila Bank with itself, marking the first consolidation move following the bad loan crisis.

Morning Current Affairs: 1 November 2017

The World Bank has released the Doing Business (DB) Report 2018. India was ranked 100 among the 190 countries assessed, a jump of 30 places, as it was ranked 130 in the previous year’s business report.

Top 5 Current Affairs: 31 October 2017

The Supreme Court of India questioned the state governments on the lack of separate schools and trained teachers for students who suffer from autism, blindness and deafness.

India tops list of new tuberculosis cases in 2016: WHO

The World Health Organisation has released Global TB Report 2017, according to which, India has topped the list of seven countries that account for almost 64 per cent of the 10.4 million new tuberculosis (TB) cases worldwide in 2016.

Carbon-free tourism initiative to be launched in Assam's Majuli district

The Assam Tourism Development Corporation(ATDC) announced to launch the Majuli Sustainable Tourism Development Project (MSTDP) on 2 November 2017 to encourage carbon-free tourism experience in the country's largest river island, Majuli.

Girish Karnad to be honoured with Tata Literature Lifetime Achievement Award 2017

Versatile actor and playwright Girish Karnad will be honoured with Tata Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award 2017 on 19 November 2017. The award will be presented to the veteran actor at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Nariman Point in Mumbai. The actor will receive the award as a playwright.

World's fastest, shortest laser pulse created

Scientists from Switzerland have succeeded in generating the world's shortest laser pulse with a duration of only 43 attoseconds.

Why no separate schools for children suffering from autism: Supreme Court of India

he Supreme Court questioned the lack of separate schools and trained teachers for students who suffer from autism, blindness and deafness on 31 October 2017.

India’s first indigenously built offshore patrol vessel handed to Coast Guard

OPV Vikram, the first-ever defence vessel to be entirely built in a private shipyard, was handed over by Larsen and Toubro (L&T) to the Indian Coast Guard, ahead of the March 2018 delivery schedule.

Union Minister launches Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana in Mumbai

Union Minister for state for social justice and empowerment, Ramdas Athawale launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana during the fourth workshop of ''Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana'' in Mumbai.

World Cities Day 2017 observed globally

The World Cities Day was observed across the world on 31 October 2017 with the theme 'Innovative Governance, Open Cities'. While, the general theme of World Cities Day is 'Better City, Better Life'. Every year, a different sub-theme is selected to celebrate the day to promote successes of urbanization and to address specific challenges resulting from urbanization.

Virat Kohli and Mithali Raj top the ICC ODI Rankings

Indian cricket team captains Virat Kohli and Mithali Raj became number one on 30 October 2017 at ICC ODI rankings for batsman and batswomen.

India, World Bank sign USD 200 million loan agreement for Assam Rural Transformation Project

The project will be implemented through a geographic cluster approach to make use of synergies and pool resources to increase the competitive advantage of these products. Successful clusters will also continuously innovate and adapt ‘best practices’ across agricultural value chains.

India, Tunisia sign agreements to boost bilateral relations

India and Tunisia have jointly agreed to enhance cooperation in various sectors including in the fields of renewable energy, infrastructure, transport and automobiles, textiles, agriculture, drugs & pharmaceuticals, healthcare, ICT, SMEs and energy.

Oldest recorded solar eclipse occurred 3200 years ago

Previously, historians used these two texts to depict the date of the possible eclipse but were not successful. Historians failed to consider that this solar eclipse was instead an annular eclipse, in which the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun.

Union Government launches MSME Samadhaan Portal

The portal was launched with an aim to empower micro and small entrepreneurs (MSEs) across the country to directly register their cases related to delayed payments by Central Ministries, Departments, CPSEs or State Governments. It will also empower the MSEs to access the portal and monitor their cases.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas observed on 142nd birth anniversary of Sardar Patel

The nation observed Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on 31 October 2017. The day is celebrated annually to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who has played a huge role in unifying the country.