Current Affairs: November 22, 2016

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November 22, 2016

Twin trial of Prithvi-II missile successfully conducted

The twin trial of surface-to-surface nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile

was successfully conducted by the India Army from a test range at

Chandipur in Odisha During the test, two Prithvi-II missiles in

salvo mode were successfully test-fired in quick succession from

mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test

Range (ITR). Earlier, similar twin trial was conducted by Indian Army in October 2009 from the

same base where both tests were successful. Prithvi-II is the first missile to be indigenously

developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

India elected as new vice chair of Kimberly Process for 2018

India has been elected as the vice chair for 2018 and

chair for 2019 of the Kimberly Process Certificate

Scheme (KPCS). The decision in the regard was taken at

the recently held KP Plenary meeting in Dubai. It was

announced by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion

Council (GJEPC). KPCS is a joint initiative of the

governments, industry and civil societies to prevent the entry of conflict diamonds from the

mainstream rough diamond market. It was established in 2003 through a United Nations

General Assembly Resolution. India is founder member of the scheme.

Current Affairs: November 22, 2016

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PM Narendra Modi launches Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana (PMAY-G),

flagship housing for all scheme in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

Under PMAY-G Government aims to provide

affordable, environmentally safe and secure pucca

house to every rural household living below the poverty line by 2022. PMAY-G is part Union

Government’s flagship ‘Housing for All’ scheme and has replaced previous rural housing

scheme Indira Awas Yojana The beneficiaries for this scheme will be selected through a

completely transparent process using the Socio Economic Census 2011 data and validating it

through the Gram Sabha.

RBI proposes Islamic window in conventional banks

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed the

opening of Islamic window in conventional banks for

gradual introduction of Sharia-compliant or interest-free

banking in the country. In this regard, RBI has also

prepared a technical analysis report and submitted to

the Union Finance Ministry for its consideration. Islamic or Sharia banking is a finance system

based on the principles of not charging interest. The charging of interest is prohibited under

Islam. However, in recent times both the Union Government and the RBI have been exploring

the possibility of introduction of Islamic banking for a while to ensure financial inclusion of

those sections of society that have remain excluded due to religious reasons.

Current Affairs: November 22, 2016

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Thailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn conferred with first World Sanskrit

Award

Thailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was presented with the first ‘World Sanskrit

Award’ for her exemplary contribution for the

promotion of the language for the year 2015. Besides,

American linguist and Indologist Prof. George Cardona

was also presented with this award for the year 2016.

They were bestowed with the award by Vice President

Hamid Ansari at a function held in New Delhi. She is noted educator and scholar of Sanskrit

and Pali. She has been awarded with several awards and Honorary Doctorates including

Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature (Sanskrit) from Delhi University in 1987.

16 of 22 PSBs skip paying dividends to Government due to mounting NPAs

As many as 16 of 22 public sector banks skipped paying

dividends to Government in fiscal 2015-16 due to issue of

mounting bad loans. It has led to a 67% decline in

government receipts to Rs. 1,444.6 crore. Only six PSBs

have declared dividends, though at a lower rate for the

fiscal ended March 2016. PSBs which skipped dividend payments included Allahabad Bank,

Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Central Bank of India, Canara Bank, Corporation Bank, Punjab

National Bank, Dena Bank and Syndicate Bank. During 2015-16, the highest dividend was paid

by State Bank of India (SBI) to the government at Rs. 1,214.6 crore, 22% lower than in the

previous fiscal.

Current Affairs: November 22, 2016

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China launches world’s longest super-secure quantum communication line

China has launched world’s longest super-secure quantum

communication line connecting Hefei, capital of Anhui

province to Shanghai, the country’s financial hub. The super-

secure quantum communication line is 712-km in length. It

boasts of ultra-high security making it impossible to wiretap,

intercept or crack the information transmitted through them. The 712-km line is part of a 2,000-

km Beijing-Shanghai quantum communication. It has 11 stations and it took three years of

construction. In one of its first test communication, it had transmitted a secure video conference

between the two cities.

47th International Film Festival of India begins in Goa

The 47th edition of the International Film Festival of

India (IFFI) began in Goa. It is one of Asia’s oldest

and India’s biggest film festival. It was inaugurated

by Veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy in the presence

of Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M.

Venkaiah Naidu. This year over 300 films including

4 premieres, 6 international premieres, 26 Asian premieres 104 Indian premieres and Oscar-

winning entries from nearly 90 countries will be screened. South Korea is the focus country of

IFFI 2016. Polish film ‚After-Image‛ of filmmaker Andrzej Wajda’s is the opening film of the

festival.