Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: October 5, 2016
Hello readers,
Here are today’s important headlines with key details for UPSC, SSC, IBPS and other competitive examinations.
RBI releases fourth Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement, 2016-17
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)has released the fourth Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Statement for the year 2016-17. The key announcement under the policy was the interest cut of 25 basis points. This move may lead to banks in lowering EMIs for housing, car loan and corporate borrowers.
- This policy decision was not only RBI Governor Urjit Patel’s maiden policy announcement but was also the first to be announced by the newly constituted Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). All the six members of MPC unanimously decided to cut repo rate by 0.25 per cent; bring in to a nearly six-year low of 6.25 per cent. This was also the first interest rate cut in last six months.
- Repo Rate: The policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) was reduced by 25 basis points from 6.5 per cent to 6.25 per cent with immediate effect.
- Reverse Repo Rate: The reverse repo rate under the LAF stands adjusted to 5.75 per cent.
- Marginal standing facility (MSF) Rate: The MSF rate was fixed at 6.75 per cent.
- Bank Rate: The Bank Rate also stands at 6.75 per cent.
France becomes first country to ban plastic cups and plates
- The country has passed a law in September 2016 that will go into effect from January 2020. The law will require all disposable tableware to be made from 50% biologically-sourced materials that can be composted at home. That number will rise to 60% by January of 2025.
- As per the French Association of Health and Environment, ASEF One hundred and fifty single-use cups are thrown away every second in France, which counts to 4.73 billion per year. Only 1 percent of the cups are recycled, largely because they are made of a mixture of polypropylene and polystyrene.
- France enacted its Energy Transition for Green Growth Bill in August 2015 following an initial presentation at the 2012 environmental conference and nation-wide public consultation in 2013.
- The Act lays out a roadmap for transforming France’s energy model without hampering growth.
- Six objectives set by the Act are:
- i. Reduce GHG emissions by 40% by 2030 from 1990 levels.
ii. Halve final energy consumption by 2050 from 2012 levels.
iii. Reduce fossil fuel consumption by 30% by 2030 from 2012 levels.
iv. Have renewable energies account for 32% of final energy consumption and 40% of electricity generation by 2030.
v. Halve the amount of landfilled waste by 2025.
vi. Reduce the share of nuclear power in the energy mix to 50% by 2025.
Union Cabinet approves amendments to HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014
The Union Cabinet on October 5, 2016 approved the amendments to the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014. The HIV and AIDS Bill, 2014 was drafted to safeguard the rights of people living with HIV and affected by HIV.
Provisions of the Bill:
- It seeks to address HIV-related discrimination, strengthen the existing programme by bringing in legal accountability and establish formal mechanisms for inquiring into complaints and redressing grievances.
- It seeks to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS.
- It seeks to provide for informed consent and confidentiality with regard to their treatment, places obligations on establishments to safeguard rights of persons living with HIV.
- It lists various grounds on which discrimination against HIV positive persons and those living with them is prohibited. These include the denial, termination, discontinuation or unfair treatment with regard to employment, educational establishments, health care services, provision of insurance, etc.
- It prohibits any individual from publishing information or advocating feelings of hatred against HIV positive persons and those living with them.
- It also asks Central and State governments to take measures to prevent the spread of HIV or AIDS, provide anti-retroviral therapy, facilitate their access to welfare schemes, lay guidelines for the care and treatment of children with HIV or AIDS.
- It makes provision for appointment of an ombudsman by State Governments to inquire into complaints related to the violation of the Act and penal actions in case of non-compliance.
World Teachers’ Day 2016 observed across the world
- The World Teachers’ Day (WTD) 2016 was observed across the world on October 5, 2016. The theme for the World Teachers’ Day 2016 was Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status. The theme for the 2016 WTD embodies the fundamental principles of the fifty-year-old Recommendation. It also throws light on the need to support teachers as reflected in the agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A specific education goal, SDG4, pledges to Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
- The 2016 WTD also marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. It is also the first world Teachers’ Day to be celebrated within the new Global Education 2030 Agenda adopted by the world community in 2015.
Jean-Pierre Sauvage, J Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L Feringa won 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- The 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir James Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L Feringa, on October 5, 2016.
- The trio were bestowed with the prestigious award for the design and synthesis of molecular machines.
- Jean-Pierre Sauvage is a French coordination chemist. Sir James Fraser Stoddart is a Scottish chemist. He works in the area of supramolecular chemistry and nanotechnology. Bernard L Feringa is a synthetic organic chemist, specializing in molecular nanotechnology and homogenous catalysis.
Here is a list of last few articles on Current Affairs and the Monthly Bullet on Current Affairs for SSC
Monthly Bullet Pdf for October 2016
Current Affairs Bullet for October 4
Current Affairs Bullet for October 2,3
Current Affairs Bullet for October 1
Current Affairs Bullet for September 29, 30
Current Affairs Bullet for September 28
Current Affairs Bullet for September 27
Current Affairs Bullet for September 26