Current Affairs of 26 November 1. Modi proposes Saarc business traveller card Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday proposed a Saarc business traveller card for making it easier for traders and merchants in the region to travel and access one another’s markets. “India will now give business visa for 3-5 years for Saarc. Let’s make it even easier for our businesses through a Saarc business traveller card,” the prime minister said as the two-day, 18th Saarc Summit began at Kathmandu. According to Modi, intra-regional relations become stronger as connectivity is increased and people-to-people contacts encouraged. He said this will also provide for boosting opportunity for tourism in the region. “Connectivity and services by rail and road are so important. We should also connect ourselves more by air. We will not only make a difference... but also promote tourism in the region,” Modi said. “We could begin with the Buddhist circuit, but we don’t have to stop there.” In the area of health-based tourism and connectivity within Saarc region, the Indian prime minister added: “Those coming to India for medical treatment, India will provide immediate medical visa for the patient and an attendant.” 2. Public sector banks face tough sell on capital raising plan Public sector banks face major obstacles in their plans to raise as much as $60 billion in new capital over the next few years, with investors sceptical about the prospects for most of them and workers wary of the governments grip loosening. With the tailwind of a strong recent stock market performance on optimism about a new government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the banks are preparing to raise capital to meet upcoming global regulations and to build a buffer against rising bad loans. Banks such as State Bank of India have appointed advisers for share sales. But with their asset-quality deteriorating and credit demand slackening due to a sluggish economy and politically motivated lending, tapping the capital markets wont be easy for them. Moreover, about a quarter of Indias 26 state-owned lenders have a leadership vacuum. United Bank of India, which has the countrys heaviest bad-loan burden, has had no chairman for nine months now. The government stakes in the state-run banks range from 56 per cent to 84 per cent. If these lenders, who account for 70 per cent of Indias total outstanding loans of about $1 trillion, are unable to raise the full capital sought or only some of it, the government will have to step in. 3. Indian cyclist Deborah won four gold medals at Track Asia Cup 2014 Indian Cyclist Deborah on 23 November 2014 won four gold medals at the Track Asia Cup Cycling Championship 2014. The Track Asia Cup Cycling Championship was held from 21 to 23 November 2014 at Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi. Deborah won two gold medals - in the womens elite keirin (8 laps) and sprint finals (3 laps) - on the concluding day of the championship for an overall individual tally of four gold medals. 4. Kiran Gurrala appointed as CEO of CMDA IAS officer Kiran Gurrala was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) on 24 November 2014. At the time of appointment, Gurrala was Additional Director of Agriculture. He has been appointed as CEO in place of A Karthik, who was holding the post of Member-Secretary of planning authority as well as the CEO. 5. International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women observed on 25 November International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women observed across the world on 25 November 2014. The day was observed to raise awareness about violence against women and discuss solutions that would work for women community. The campaign called Orange Your Neighbourhood to raise awareness against Gender-Based Violence will be held from 25 November to 10 December 2014. 6. Assam NGO Aaranyak nominated for UN Lighthouse Activities award Aaranyak, an Assam-based NGO working for the conservation of nature and a Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on 25 November 2014 won United Nations Lighthouse Activities award for the year 2014. They won the award under the focus area of information and communication technology (ICT) solutions. 7. Haryana government reduced retirement age of government employees from 60 to 58 Haryana government on 25 November 2014 reversed the retirement age of government employees from 60 to 58 years. It also reversed the retirement age of Class IV, visually impaired and handicapped employees from 62 to 60 years. Government notification will come in effect from 30 November 2014. While, the upper age limit for fresh recruitment would remain 42 years. The decision was made during a Cabinet meet chaired by Chief Minister Mahohar Lal Khattar at Chandigarh. 8. Iran Nuclear deal deadline extended by 7-months to 30 June 2015 Iran and P5 + 1 Countries on 24 November 2014 agreed to extend the deadline on Iran Nuclear deal by 7-months to 30 June 2015. The deadline, which was to be met by 24 November 2014, was extended after both the parties failed to reach an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme at an emergency meeting held in Vienna, Austria. As per the agreement, Iran and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany would seek to strike an outline deal by 1 March 2015 and a full technical accord by 1 July 2015. 9. US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel resigned S Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel on 24 November 2014 resigned after remaining at the top military post for less than two years (February 2013 to November 2014). He will stay on as secretary until his successor is confirmed. 10. Bilal Tanweer won Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize 2014 Lahore-based author Bilal Tanweer on 24 November 2014 won the 2014 Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize for his novel The Scatter Here Is Too Great (Random House India). Bilal Tanweer was selected by the jury of the award consisting of authors Amit Chaudhuri, Aatish Taseer and Mridula Koshy. The award comprised of the price money of 2 lakhs rupees and a trophy. 11. West Bengal Governor KN Tripathi appointed as Governor of Bihar West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi was appointed as Governor of Bihar by the President Pranab Mukherjee on 23 November 2014. He will discharge the functions of the Governor of Bihar in addition to his own duties as Governor of West Bengal. He will take the charge from Bihar Governor D Y Patil, who completes his tenure on 26 November 2014.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 11:14:45 +0000
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