Current Affairs - October 22, 2017 Current Affairs

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has become the top run-scorer at the 200 ODI-mark, after taking the field against New Zealand in the first ODI at Mumbai, on today. In his 200th ODI, Virat has 8,767 runs, 146 more than second-placed AB de Villiers. Virat is the 14th Indian cricketer to play 200 ODIs.

An Indian-origin teenager Akshay Ruparelia, has become UK's youngest millionaire by selling houses through his online estate agency www.doorsteps.co.uk. His company became the 18th biggest estate agency in the UK, just 16 months after his website went live. The firm already employs 12 people and is set to double in size with an investment of 500,000 pounds.

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to inaugurate 15 projects financed by New Delhi during her two-day trip to Bangladesh from October 23. India is planning to fund massive development projects in Bangladesh as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'neighbourhood first' policy.

Low-cost carrier SpiceJet will provide electricity to the remote village of Baruahchuck in Majuli district of Assam. It will setup a 'solar microgrid' in 75 days, which provides electricity to approximately 70 households, one school, an anganwadi, two temples and street lights. The airline has adopted the village of Baruahchuck for the 'Roshan Hoga Desh Hamara' scheme launched on Diwali.

The Punjab government will shut down 800 primary schools with less than 20 students, and merge them with schools nearby. The students and staff will be accommodated in adjoining schools situated within a one kilometre-radius. The decision is aimed at improving the utilisation of the teaching staff in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be launching India's first Roll On-Roll Off or 'Ro-Ro' ferry service between Ghogha in Saurashtra's Bhavnagar district and Dahej in Bharuch district of Gujarat. The service is expected to reduce the distance between the two coastal towns from 310 km by road to 30 km, saving time and money. The travel time will be cut by at least five hours. The ferry service will be able to carry up to 100 vehicles and 250 passengers.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) clarifies that linking bank accounts to Aadhaar is mandatory under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, dismissing media reports which suggested that such a linkage is not mandatory. The government had notified under PMLA that every bank account should be linked to Aadhaar by 31 December, failing which the accounts will become inoperative. The government in June had made Aadhaar mandatory for opening bank accounts as well as for any financial transaction of Rs. 50,000 and above.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) elected 15 States to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) of which Nepal topped the countries representing the Asian Group in the 47-member council. UNHRC, Geneva-based highest intergovernmental body looking into matters relating to protection and promotion of human rights globally, elects its members through a secret ballot. Nepal topped the Asia-Pacific group with 165 votes followed by Qatar with 155, Pakistan with 151, and Afghanistan by 130.

Indian-American Gitanjali Rao has won the 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge for her prototype water lead contamination detector 'Tethys'. The sensor-based device detects the quality of water and shares the results to a mobile application via bluetooth. The aim of the competition, open to citizens of the US who are enrolled from Class 5 to 8, is to identify a solution to an everyday problem that directly impacts either the contestant or the global population. The winner of the competition is awarded $25,000 along with the title of 'America's Top Young Scientist 2017'.

Karnataka government has decided to ban pillion riding on two-wheelers with less than 100 cc engine. It will not affect the existing two-wheelers but will be applicable for new vehicles. The ban comes in the backdrop of safety of the pillion riders, who are often victims of the road accidents.

The 4th ADMM (ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting)-Plus meeting will be held in Philippines from October 23, 2017 to deliberate extensively on the situation in Afghanistan and Syria besides China's growing military presence in the disputed South China Sea. The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight dialogue partners to strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region. The two-day meeting will discuss ways to enhance defence and security cooperation among the member nations to effectively counter various transnational security challenges facing the region. From India, Union defense minister Nirmala Sitharaman will attend the meeting.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, has launched the ambitious 'Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojna' for the farmers of the state at the Krishi Upaj Mandi in Khurai, Sagar. The scheme has launched as a guarantee to ensure reasonable prices to the farmers for their agriculture produces. To get benefits of the scheme, the farmers are required to sell their crops in the mandi and obtain a receipt for the same. As per the scheme, the government will provide subsidy and loan ranging from Rs 10 lakhs to two crores to the farmers willing to invest in industries. In addition, the state government has approved a web of irrigation projects across the Sagar District which will cover 96-hectare fields.