Daily Current Affairs-17th November 2016

Dear Readers, we are presenting Daily Current Affairs for All Exams- 17th November 2016.

1. Higher withdrawal limit for farmers, marriages; note swap limited to ₹2,000 per person

1. To ease the difficulties being faced following demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1,000 currency notes, the Finance Ministry has now extended relaxations for the agriculture sector and those in the midst of marriage preparations.

2. However, the Finance Ministry has also lowered the limit for converting old notes from ₹4,500 to ₹2,000 per person.

3. Based on representations, farmers will now be allowed to withdraw up to ₹25,000 each week against loans sanctioned to them or payment received through cheque or RTGS.

4. To enable smooth procurement, traders registered with the APMC market will be allowed to withdraw ₹ 50,000 per week.

5. For those preparing for a marriage in the family, the father, mother, bride or bridegroom will be permitted to withdraw up to ₹2.5 lakh in cash. Only one such withdrawal will be permitted per marriage.

2. DRDO successfully carries out maiden flight of UAV RUSTOM-II

1. The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on 16 November 2016 successfully carried out maiden flight of TAPAS 201 (RUSTOM – II), a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

2. The test flight took place from Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at Chitradurga, a newly developed flight test range for the testing of UAVs and manned aircraft. 

Highlights of TAPAS 201 (RUSTOM – II)

• It was designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), the Bangalore-based premier lab of DRDO. 

• It is the first R&D prototype UAV which got the certification and qualification for the first flight from the Center for Military Airworthiness & Certification and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance.

• It will carry out the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the three Armed Forces with an endurance of 24 hours. 

3. CRPF for first time deploys women commandos for anti-Maoists operations

1. In a first, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployed a team of 135 women commandos in anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand.

2. The 135 women commandos belong to the 232 battalion’s Delta company. At present, they are undertaking operations under the guidance of the CRPF’s 133 battalion near Khunti on the outskirts of Ranchi.

Key highlights

• The 135 women commandos will be equally capable of neutralising Naxals in par with men commandos.

• They hold expertise in carrying out all types of anti-Maoists operations and will play important role in tackling women Naxals.

4. Doctors from Netherlands perform brain implant for the first time in history

1. Doctors from Netherlands have performed the first-ever brain implant on a 58-year-old woman paralysed by Lou Gehrig’s disease (also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-ALS). 

2. With this, she became the first patient to use a brain-computer interface. The implant has enabled paralysed women to communicate in day-to-day life via a speech computer.

5. Rajat Gupta assumes new role as Chairman of non-profit

1. India-born former Goldman Sachs Director Rajat Gupta has assumed a new role as Chairman of a US-based non-profit organisation, a gradual return to a normal life after completing a two-year prison term on insider trading charges.

2. Gupta, 67, is Chairman of WHEELS Global Foundation (WGF), a non-profit organisation focussed on applying technology to uplift rural communities and provide technological solutions to global challenges in six areas; water, health, education, energy, lifestyles, and sustainability.

3. The non-profit was founded in 2013 by a group of alumni from IIT, all prominent entrepreneurs and financial executives.

6. Gowtama takes charge as BEL chief

1. MV Gowtama has taken charge as the Chairman and MD of Bharat Electronics Ltd. He joined BEL at Ghaziabad unit in January 1983 as a probationary engineer. He was posted to the D&E-Radar Division where he contributed to the development of receiver sub-system of Cyclone Warning Radar.

7. NADA slaps eight-year ban on sprinter Dharambir Singh

1. Haryana sprinter Dharambir Singh, who was barred from representing the country in the Rio Olympics 2016 at the last minute for failing a dope test, has been slapped an eight-year ban by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

2. The 200-metre runner had returned positive for an anabolic steroid in an in-competition test conducted by the NADA during the Indian Grand Prix Meet in Bengaluru on July 11.

8. Russia withdraws from International Criminal Court

1. Russia has officially withdrawn from International Criminal Court (ICC) after President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order in this regard. 

2. The executive order mentioned that Russia is pulling out of the 2002 Rome Statute, which establishes the ICC’s status and powers. However, Russia had never ratified the statue meaning it was never member subject to its jurisdiction.

9. Pakistan conducts military exercise close to Indian border

1. Pakistan conducted Raad ul Barq (Strike of Thunder) military exercise in a strategically located area in Punjab province, bordering India. It was the comprehensive joint exercise carried out jointly by Pakistan Army and Air Force to reflect the preparedness of our armed forces to respond to any threat to its national security.

2. The exercise showcased the combat readiness of the country’s defence line with live firepower demonstration using heavy artillery fighter jets and air defence weapons. During the military exercise, JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, helicopter gunships and Al-Khalid tanks hit designated targets on the ground.

10. November 16: International Day for Tolerance

1. The International Day for Tolerance is observed globally on 16 November to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance The observance of the day seeks to educate masses about the need for tolerance in society and help them understand the negative effects of intolerance. 

2. Besides, the 2016 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence was bestowed upon Russia’s Federal Research and Methodological Centre for Tolerance Psychology and Education (Tolerance Centre).