Current Affairs 27th October 2017

Updated : 27-Oct-2017

Current Affairs 27th October 2017 - Important Points

• New deployment plan for warships in Indian Ocean on - 25th October 2017
•  World's oldest navigational tool 'Astrolabe' discovered on - 24th October 2017
• India and Sri Lanka sign MoU to build 1200 houses in Hambantota  on - 26th October 2017
•  Indian Railways to get its first set of solar plants on - 27th October 2017
• Union Government to send Cotton Corporation of India officials to  - Telangana
• Infantry Day observed on - 27 October 2017
• Delhi Olympic Games to be held in -  December 2017
• Union Government to send Cotton Corporation of India officials to  - Telangana
• Malayalam writer Punathil Kunjabdulla passed away on - 27th October 2017
• Rajasthan Assembly passes bill increasing OBC quota to 26 percent on - 26th October 2017
• 'Dadagiri','Surya Namaskar' 'Jugaad', among 70 Indian words added to -  Oxford English Dictionary
•  Special centre for disaster research inaugurated at JNU on - 26th October 2017

Current Affairs 27th October 2017 - Details

New deployment plan for warships in Indian Ocean on - 25th October 2017

The Indian Navy on 25th October 2017 agreed to a new mission-based deployment plan that demands deploying mission-ready ships and aircraft along  critical sea lanes of communications in the Indian Ocean.
The Navy in an formal release specified that Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba had approved the plan on the 2nd day of the four-day naval commanders' meeting held in New Delhi.
The warships have been posted to handle any possible event ranging from acts of maritime terrorism and duplicacy to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief programs. The postings are supposed to be sustained round-the-clock. Apart from this, the Indian navy and the Ministry of External Affairs has agreed to focus efforts on developing the capacity and potential of the navy in the area.
The posting of the mission-ready ships and aircraft is also detailed to counter China’s growing presence in the strategically key waters.  The warning was the key issues that was brought up for cross-talks on the nd day of the four-day long naval commander’s congrese.

 World's oldest navigational tool 'Astrolabe' discovered on - 24th October 2017

David Mearns, Britain based shipwreck searcher, on 24th October 2017 disclosed that the 'Astrolabe' located by him on a shipwreck off the coast of  Oman in year 2014 is the world’s aged navigational tool.
The astrolabe directed the Portuguese discoverers on their dangerous journey to India in the 16 century. Alongside astrolabe, other items which were explored on the shipwreck were a bronze bell, a precious silver coin  and gold coins known as the ‘ghost coin of Dom Manuel.'
Mearns’s firm Blue Water Recoveries found the shipwreck in 1998 after investigating it but unearthing on the site did not begin until year 2013,  when the excavations began in alliance with Oman’s Culture Ministry. Currently, the astrolabe is with Oman’s National Museum.
More about World's oldest 'Astrolabe'

• Reported in-between 1496 and 1500, this astrolabe is approximately 30 years older than the previously known oldest astrolabe.
• The foregoing oldest astrolabe was on a ship reported back to 1533.
• Warwick University professor Mark Williams tried 3D scanning technology to carry out the scans of the astrolabe, finding that its carves are separated by five degrees measurement to calculate the sun's height.
• The bronze astrolabe measures 17.5cm in diameter and less than 2mm of thickness.
• The astrolabe carries the personal symbol of Emperor Manuel I of Portugal, who came to throne in October 1495 and is marked with the Portuguese royal coat of arms.
• It is supposed that the shipwreck is of the ship 'Esmeralda', which was the part of Vasco da Gama’s 2nd journry to India of 1502-1503.
• Da Gama was the 1st European to come India by sea in year 1498. The ship sank off the coast of Oman during a tempest in May 1503.
  Astrolabes definition and its use
• Astrolabes are the navigational instruments that sailors used to calculate the altitude of the sun.
• Though being used since the very old times, the sailors’ version of the astrolabe was evolved by Portuguese travellers by using the altitudes of the sun or stars to estimate the latitude of a ship at ocean.
• The Portuguese were at the front line of evolving astrolabes at ocean. The oldest remarks of them using astrolabe at ocean is of 1480.

India and Sri Lanka sign MoU to build 1200 houses in Hambantota  on - 26th October 2017

India on 26th October 2017 accepted a Memorandum of Understanding with Sri Lanka to construct 1200 houses in Hambantota, at southern city of Sri Lanka. The MoU was signed today by Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Sri Lanka's Secretary to the Ministr of Housing and Construction W.K.K. Athukorala.

Key Highlights

• The 1200 houses will be built through 50 replica villages using Indian grant support of Rs 600 million.
• Out of total 1200 houses, 600 will be built in the Southern region, and the remaining will be built across Sri Lanka with one replica village in all 25 districts.
• The project will focus low income landless and homeless inheritors.
• A cash grant worth Rs 500000 will be issue to each beneficiary in 5 parts.
  India's Infrastructural support to Sri Lanka
• These projects are in etansion of India's loyalty to support Sri Lanka in the development of residential infrastructure.
• India has already promised 50000 houses in the North and East regions of Sri Lanka, however, aproximately 46000 houses have been completed.
• Construction of 4000 houses is currently under-way in the plantation region in Central and Uva areas of Sri Lanka.
• In May 2017, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised additional 10000 houses for beneficiaries in the plantation area.
• The coastal city of Hambantota obtained planned significance after former President Mahinda Rajapaksa construct a huge port and an airport with huge Chinese advance credit. In July 2017, Rajpaksa government sold maximum stakes of the port to China to manage outstanding of USD 8 billion.
• Local residents, including promoters of Rajapaksa, earlier opposed the selling of national assets to foreign bodies.
• Prior in October 2017, protesters contend with the police outside the Indian ambassador office in Hambantota after media published government’s move to contract out a nearby airport to India.

 Indian Railways to get its first set of solar plants on - 27th October 2017

Indian Railways’ first pairs of solar plants with a total capacity of 5 megawatt peak would be inaugurated in New Delhi on 27th October 2017. The launch would be directed by The Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. The plants constructed on the roof tops of Hazrat Nizamuddin, Anand Vihar, New Delhi and Delhi railway stations will generating 76.5 lakh units of solar power approximately every year, that are expected to complete about 30% of the power requirement of these stations.
Key Highlights

• The project would facilitate the railways to save aproximate Rs 421.4 lakh per year and reduction of 6082 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
• This project is a segment of the  National Solar Mission of the government  according which Indian Railways proposed to commission around 1000 MWp solar plants across its broad railways network.
• It was granted in December 2016.
• The value of the project is aproximate Rs 37.45 Cr and has been granted in by the developer under the PPP project.
• The developer would be maintaining it for next 25 years and the Railways will pay for energy consumed at Rs 4.14 per unit only.
• The launch would be directed at the launch of the International Conference on Green Initiatives and Railway Electrification.
• This conference primarily focus to plan and come up with a roadmap for identifying different solutions to attain mega goal of modifying Indian Railways as a 100% carbon-free, most energy efficient and major electrified railways network across the world.

Union Government to send Cotton Corporation of India officials to  - Telangana

The Union government has determined to send an officials team of Cotton Corporation of India to Telangana to resolve the problem related to cotton procurement there.
The details were shared by Pushpa Subramanyam, the Additional Secretary in Textiles Ministry, who explained that the CCI executives will soon visit the state to look into the probles of cotton farmers.
Former Union Minister and Lok Sabha Member, Bandaru Dattatreya, had prior wrote a letter to Textiles Minister Smriti Irani looking for her immediate involvement to resolve the problem.
In his message, Dattatreya had shown concern about the cotton farmers of the state, as they were on a alarm mode due to their request of least support price for their crop. He explained that 48 lakh bales of cotton in 12.50 lakh hectares land is estimated to come into the market during the present season and the procurement amount being given to farmers is only Rs 2,000 against the MSP of Rs 5,100 per quintal in year 2016.
More about Cotton Corporation of India

• It is a public sector company responsible for fair distribution of cotton among the various constituents of the industry.
• The company engages in various activities related to trade, obtaining and export and import of cotton.
• Its primary aim is to support cotton farmers by ensuring profitable price for their crop and thereby safeguard their interest.
• It was found on 31st July 1970 under the Companies Act 1956.
  The organisation is dominated by Textile Policy 1985 issued by the Ministry of Textiles.

Infantry Day observed on - 27 October 2017

Infantry Day was celebrated across the India on 27th October 2017 to honour the sacrifices done by the soldiers who fought against Pakistan in J&K in 1947. This was the 1st post-independence infantry action by the Indian Army.
Important Highlights

• In 1947, J&K was captured by tribals who were getting help from Pakistani Army.
• Then after Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru instructed the Indian Army for rapid action against the terrorists. As per the order, the first Battalion of the SIKH Regiment was sent to Kashmir.
• On 27th October 1947, the Regiment was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar to liberate Kashmir from the terrorists.
• It must be noted that the same order was also made by Nehru after Maharaja Hari Singh accepted the ‘Instrument of Accession’ treaty J&K to India.
   Instrument of Accession
• Accession simply means to obtain or attain. The Instrument of Accession is a legal documentation accomplished on 26th October 1947 by Maharaja Hari Singh who was the ruler of the splendid state of J&K. 
• After accepting ‘The Instrument of Accession’ Maharaja Hari Singh agreed to merge J&K with India.

Delhi Olympic Games to be held in -  December 2017

The Delhi State Olympic Association declared on 26th October 2017 to arrange Delhi Olympic Games in the capital city. This sporting events will be held from 9th to 18th December 2017. The statement to conduct a sporting event of Olympic level is to boost Olympics and also the spirit of sports and sportsmen in Delhi.
The 9 days sporting events will be conducted in 25 various stadiums in different parts of Delhi including Talkatora Stadium, Thyagaraj Sports Complex, Indira Gandhi Stadium, National Stadium, Siri Fort, and others. The games will include hockey, weightlifting, boxing, swimming, karate, wrestling, wushu and 28 other events. Olympic wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt was committed as the brand ambassador of Delhi Olympic Games year 2017.
Delhi Olympic Association 

• The Delhi Olympic Association, came under the huge sunshade of Indian Olympic Association.
  The objective of the Association is to boost-up sports in Delhi.
• It is chairpersoned by Kuldeep Vats.
• Its headquarters is situated in New Delhi.
  Did you know?
• The first Indian participation in Olympics was in year 1900 held in Paris.
• Norman Pritchard, an Anglo Indian sportsperson represented India at that time.
• In year 1919, Sir Dorabji Tata laid the foundation for initiating a National level Sports body for promoting the Olympic events in India.

Malayalam writer Punathil Kunjabdulla passed away on - 27th October 2017

Well renowned Malayalam author Punathil Kunjabdulla passed away on 27th October 2017 in Kozhikode after a prolonged illness. He was 77 years old. Kunjabdulla is honoured as one of the major figures of modernism in Malayalam literature.
More about Punathil Kunjabdulla

• He was born in Vadakara near Kozhikode, Kunjabdulla completed his MBBS from the Aligarh Muslim University and after that worked in the government medical sector.
• Apart from being a professional doctor and an author, Kunjabdulla also fought the 2001 assembly election from the Beypore assembly constituency on a BJP ticket.
• His other major works include Marunnu, Kathi, Kanyavanangal and Aligarh Kathakal.
• He was honoured Sahitya Akademi award for his novel Smarakasilakal in year 1980 and the Kerala Sahithya Akademi award twice for the same novel in year 1978 and for Malamukalile Abdulla in year 1980.
• In year 2013, he won Mathrubhumi Literary Award, the highest literature award in Malayalam.

Rajasthan Assembly passes bill increasing OBC quota to 26 percent on - 26th October 2017

The Rajasthan government on 26th October 2017 passed a resolution that added the reservation quota for Other Backward Classes from 21% to 26%.
The Backward Classes Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions in the State and of stste employment and Posts in Services Bill will provide reservation to the 5 ‘most backward’ OBC classes:

• Gujjars
• Banjara,Labana, Baldiya
• Gadoliya, Gadiya Lohar
• Debasi, Raika, Rebari
• Gadariya, Gayari, Gadri
  Key Highlights
• The 5 communities were earlier combined as the special backward classes.
• The government had presented the Bill in assembly's monsoon 2017 session.
• The main objective of the bill is to provide reservation in various educational institutions and jobs for the category of more backward classes within backward classes.
• The government presented the Bill in the realization of global agitation by the Gujjar community desiring reservation under the backward class’s lists.
• With this 5% rise in OBC quota, the total percentage of reservation in Rajasthan has crossed 50%. Now the total quota in the state remains at 54% which includes 26% for OBC, 16% for SCs and 12% for STs.
• This act is in disobedience of the Supreme Court guidelines which states that the total reservation in government jobs and educational institutes for different reserved classes in the state should not exceed more than 50%.
• In year 2016, however, the Rajasthan High Court had blocked the state government's attempt to accept 5% quota to Gujjars as it would have shot the net reservation quota.

'Dadagiri','Surya Namaskar' 'Jugaad', among 70 Indian words added to -  Oxford English Dictionary

Indian words 'Dadagiri', 'Surya Namaskar','Jugaad', 'Anna', 'Achcha', 'Bapu' and some others were added to the Oxford English Dictionary in September 2017. These words are among 70 Indian words from different regional languages like Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati and Bengali that were added to the dictionary.

Key Highlights

• The dictionary added more than 1000 new words in their September edition.
• Indian Words in the September 2017 edition of Oxford English Dictionary-
• Various Indian food items names got their place in the dictionary this year. These food items are Bhindi, Gosht, Mirch, Keema, Gulab Jamun , Vada, Namkeen and Mirch Masala.
  Commonly used terms like natak, funda, chup, jugaad, timepass and achcha also got a place in the dictionary.
• Alongside respectful words 'jai', 'mata' and 'ji', this free online dictionary comprises the words like 'chaudhuri', 'dadagiri', 'chamcha'.
• Few Indian English words 'namkeen' (a small savoury snack), 'mirch masala' (an Indian spice blend) and 'chakka jam' (traffic jam) too got their entry this year.
  Famous Telegu word ‘Anna’ that means elder brother was also placed in the dictionary. Till date ‘Anna’ meant a former monetary unit of India and Pakistan.
• Taking into the account, the popularity of Indian Yoga across the world, 'Surya Namaskar' was also added to the dictionary.
• Urdu word 'Abba' that means father, found a place in the dictionary.
• The Oxford English Dictionary publishes 4 updates every year in the months of March, June, September, and December respectively. The Oxford University Press considers all phases of life while adding various words, be it sports, gossips, politics, social media or movies and education.

 Special centre for disaster research inaugurated at JNU on - 26th October 2017

The Special Centre for Disaster Research was launched by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju on 26th October 2017 at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.
Marking the fact that India is a disaster-prone country and disasters will only grow in stregth and frequency, the Minister said that the country should equip itself to face disasters. He said that Disaster Risk Management education should be incorporated into the educational institutions’ program to boost up the culture of disaster readiness. Furthermore, complimenting JNU for taking the initiative in this regard, Rijiju said that he wish more educational institutions will come forward to perform same specialized studies in DRM.
The launch programme was a part of 2 days conference being arranged by JNU on ‘Disasters and Community Resilience in the Northeastern States’.
Key Highlights-

• The multi-disciplinary Centre will provide Masters and Doctorate programmes in Disaster Risk Management.
• It primarly focus to take a trans-disciplinary approach for research without impounding it to just social or natural sciences.
• It also plans to incorporate scientific detections and social sciences to decode and direct the detections to communities and institutions for decision making.
• The aim of the new Centre for the 1st year will be the north-eastern states.
  As its initial event, the centre would be organising a two-days workshop on different topics.
• The idea of setting up the centre was planned three years ago.
• JNU had accepted a MoU to set up the centre with the National Institute of Disaster Management on 6th August 2015.
• Besides starting the centre, the Union Minister also initiated the centre's official website and launched a book titled, ‘Disaster Law, Emerging Thresholds’ by Professor Amita Singh, the first Chairperson of the new Centre.