Daily Current Affairs 17 November 2013

18th International Children Film Festival of India

The 18th International Children Film Festival of India (ICFFI) was inaugurated on 15 November, 2013 at – Hyderabad (Out of the 18 ICFFIs held, Hyderabad has got the unique distinction of hosting this festival for nine times. ICFFI 2013 has been organized at Hyderabad’s Lalitha Kala Thoranam. Kauwboy, a Dutch film about a 10-year-old boy and a bird directed by Boudewijn Koole, won the Golden Elephant Award for best film in the 'International Live Action' category at the 18th International Children's Film Festival

Craig Reedie as the new President of the World Anti-Doping Agency

Who was elected as the new President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on 15 November, 2013? – Craig Reedie of Britain (Reedie, an IOC vice president from Britain, was the only candidate to succeed former Australian politician John Fahey. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is an independent foundation created through a collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It was set up on November 10, 1999 in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a result of what was called the "Declaration of Lausanne”. Headquarters - Montreal, Quebec.

Sachin Tendulkar for Bharat Ratan

Sachin Tendulkar became first sportsman to be conferred  with  bharat ratna  award and he is also the youngest-ever to win the award. Late Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was the last recipient of Bharat Ratna, who was conferred this award in 2008.

Bharat Ratna to CNR Rao

Union Govt. on 16 November, 2013 announced the award of “Bharat Ratna” to Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao (CNR Rao), the renowned chemist, along with Sachin Tendulkar. CNR Rao has contributed to painstaking advanced scientific research by publishing nearly 1,500 papers in leading scientific journals and 45 books over the past five decades.

INS Vikramadityainducted in Indian Navy

Defence Minister A.K. Antony on 16 November, 2013 inducted India’s second aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya into the Indian Navy. INS Vikramaditya was later renamed as Admiral Gorshkov and last sailed in 1995 in Russia, before being offered to India. It is now India’s biggest aircraft carrier. Other aircraft carriers to be inducted are INS Vikrant: 40,000 ton Vikrant class carrier. It is being built at Cochin Shipyard and is expected to enter service in 2017.INS Vishal: 65,000 ton Vikrant-class carrier. Expected to enter service in 2025.

India successfully launched its Maiden Mars Mission from Sriharikota

India's premier space agency, ISRO, on 5 November 2013 successfully launched its historic mission to Mars from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, about 100km from Chennai. It was India’s first mission to the red planet. The mission follows India’s successful 2008-2009 Chandrayaan-1 moon probe, which discovered water molecules in the lunar soil. The total cost of the Mars mission is 73 million US dollars.



The main features of the Mars mission are as following:
• The main objective of the mission is to develop the technologies required for design, planning, management and operations of an interplanetary mission.
• The main objective of the mission is to explore Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and search for methane in the Martian atmosphere using indigenous scientific instruments.
• The satellite carries instruments such as Lyman Alpha Photometer, a methane sensor, a composition analyser, a camera and an imaging spectrometer for studying the atmosphere, particle environment and surface imaging.
• The satellite is scheduled to reach the Mars orbit in September 2014 and is designed to circle the Red Planet in an elliptical orbit of 366 km X 80000 km.

IICT, Hyderabad received samples for detection of Chemical Weapons fromOPCW

The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, recently received over 50 samples for detection of chemical weapons from the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

The samples in the form of soil, water and organic solvents were sent twice a year since 2008 when IICT attained the status of designated laboratory for off-site analysis of weapons.



OPCW had been sending to IICT for analysis only blank samples collected from different parts of the world. Six samples which were coded to hide the identity of the substance and the originating country were sent by courier every six months as part of continuous evaluation of the lab. The report of the institute should be cent per cent accurate to be eligible to get three ‘A’ grades in succession and pass the proficiency test every year.

The institute has already got the proficiency certificate for this year (2013), but it was yet to enter into a technical agreement with OPCW to get authentic on-site samples.It had the technique to identify chemicals at parts per million (PPM) levels. A dedicated centre for analysis of chemical toxins was set up at the institute to attend to OPCW.

The IICT was one of the 21 labs in 17 countries that were designated by OPCW for off-site analysis of chemical weapons.

Apart from IICT, the Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior, under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is also one of the 'designated laboratories' of the OPCW.

A 'designated laboratory' has to participate every year in the OPCW proficiency test and consistently attain the 'A' grade benchmark to retain its status. From 2008, IICT has retained its status though it has been associated with OPCW since 1998.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on 11 October 2013 won the Nobel Peace Prize for the year 2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.

About Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT)

Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, (established in 1989) is a national-level research center located in Hyderabad, India under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India.

IICT conducts research in basic and applied chemistry, biochemistry, bioinformatics, chemical engineering and provides science and technology inputs to the industrial and economic development of the country.

Abraham K Techi Appointed International Weightlifting Referee

Indian Weightlifting Federation Joint Secretary Abraham K Techi on 4 November 2013 appointed as an international Weightlifting referee. Budapest–based International Weightlifting Federation issued the honour to Abraham, making him the fourth international referee from North East India. Abraham K Techi, President of the Arunachal Weightlifting Association (AWA), is the first international referee from Arunachal Pradesh and fourth from the North East.

The other three referees from the region include Sunil Elangbam of Manipur, Birendra Prasad Baishya (IWF president and Rajya Sabha member) and Bhabajyoti Goswami both from Assam. Besides being the Eastern Indian Body Building Association vice president, Abraham was member of the organising committee, in charge of sports presentation and medal ceremony (weightlifting) during the 2010 Commonwealth Games and manager of the Indian weightlifting teams that went to Cyprus, Uzbekistan and Malaysia.

Yuki Bhambri won the Traralgon title

Yuki Bhambri on 4 November 2013 won the ATP men’s singles title of Traralgon event in Australia. He defeated Bradely Klahn of America in the summit clash that was hit by rain. This is the second win of his career.

Yuki, the 21 years old Indian defeated higher ranking Bradely by 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 in the finals in a match played on two days due to rain. This is the third straight win of Yuki over a higher ranked opponent in this tournament. The 277 ranked Yuki earlier defeated, Tatsuma of Japan ranked 191 and the James Duckworth of Australia ranked 147 in the tournament to reach the finals.

Government decided to extend the sale of 5 kg LPG cylinders at petrolpumps

The Government of India on 4 November 2013 decided to extend the sale of the non-subsidized 5 kg cooking gas (LPG) cylinders at petrol pumps across the country. The proposal to extend the scope of the scheme was approved by M. Veerappa Moily, the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Earlier, the scheme was in operation in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. The scheme was launched on 5 October 2013 by Moily in Bangalore for sale in selected company owned and company operated petrol pumps in the four cities. The cylinders will be sold at market rates.

The scheme will be delayed in poll bounding states like Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The scheme has allowed to sale the 5 kg LPG cylinders with just proof of Identity through Petrol Stations to students, IT professional, BPO employees and people with odd duty timings. As per the decision, the sale of the cylinders would be done with or without regulator for the first time.

The cylinders will be charged 1000 rupees and the regulator will be available at 250 rupees. Whereas, the cost of refills of the LPG will be as per to the non-domestic rates applicable in the market. A 5 kg is sold at about 340 to 350 rupees.

India defeated Australia 3-2 in the seven ODI series

India won the series 3-2 against Australia on 2 November 2013 by beating Australia in the seventh match by 57 runs at Bangalore. In the seventh One Day International (ODI) match India scored Score 383/6 in 50 over and Australia scored 326 in 45.1 over.

In the seventh ODI, Rohit Sharma scored 209 in 158 balls and became the third players to score more than 200 runs. Rohit hit 16 sixes, while scoring the 209.

The rest of two scorers are Indian cricketers namely Sachin Tendulkar (who scored 200 runs in 147 balls) and Virender Sehwag (who scored 219 in 140 balls). While chasing, Faulkner of Australia broke the Australian record of fastest century in an ODI in 57 balls. Glenn Maxwell also equaled the Australian record of fastest fifty in 17 balls, while scoring 60 runs in 22 balls.

In the seven ODI series two successive matches were washed out at Ranchi and Cuttak. India was successful to equal the level in series 2-2 at Nagpur, during the sixth match.

Series Report 

• Man of the Match in the seventh match: Rohit Sharma
• Man of the Series: Rohit Sharma

Europe's cargo-carrier, the ATV-4 accomplished its Mission

The heaviest-ever cargo-carrier of Europe to the International Space Station burned up in the Earth’s Atmosphere in the controlled manoeuvre after a five month mission on 2 November 2013. When the cargo was burnt, it carried about six tonnes of garbage and waste produced on the board of the ISS. The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) was burnt over the uninhabited zone of the southern Pacific Ocean.

The ATV-4 set the record for the heaviest Ariane 5 launch and its mission started on 5 June 2013 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The record cargo of 2480 kg included more than 1400 individual items.
Albert Einstein performed a series of delicate manoeuvres to reenter below the Station in order for the astronauts to observe the spacecraft’s fragmentation in the upper atmosphere, providing unique information on reentry physics.

Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATVs)
Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATVs) are the most complex space vehicles ever developed in Europe and are the largest and most capable resupply ships to dock with the Space Station.

European Space Agency (ESA)
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space and its mission is to shape the development the space capability of Europe ensuring that the investments done in the space can deliver benefits to the people of Europe and the world.

ESA is an international organisation with 20 Member States. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.

Rohit Sharma Became Third Cricketer in the World to Score a DoubleHundred in ODI

Rohit Sharma, the Indian batsman on 2 November 2013 became the third cricketer in the world to score a double hundred in an ODI match. He scored 209 runs off 158 balls against Australia in seventh and final ODI (One-Day International) match at Bangalore's M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.

His runs included 12 fours and 16 sixes, which also means that he re-wrote the record of highest number of sixes in an ODI match. He out-beat Shane Watson’s record of 15 sixes in the ODI which he hit in the match against Bangladesh.  It is worth noticing that all the three batsmen who scored double hundred in one day match are Indians. The milestone was at first achieved by Sachin Tendulkar who scored 200 runs against South Africa in the year 2010. The second one to do so was Virendra Sehwag who scored 219 against West Indies in the year 2011 and the third one is Rohit Sharma to score 209 runs against Australia in 2013.

Yet another record was that of the partnership between Rohit Sharma and Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni, who collectively added 167 runs for the fifth wicket, a record against Australia. It is also important to note that India’s score of 383 for six is the highest ever total against Australia.

Records broken by Rohit Sharma

• The highest scorer against Australia
• Highest number of sixes in the ODI innings
• Second highest ODI score (209) after Virendra Sehwag (219) -

Nitish Sengupta, the former Member of Parliament Died

Nitish Sengupta, the former Lok Sabha and Revenue Secretary died on 3 November 2013 due to the cardiac arrest. He was of 80 years. Now he is survived by two daughters.

About Nitish Sengupta
• He joined politics in the year 1996 and was elected as the Member of Parliament to the 13th Lok Sabha from 1999 to 2004
• Sengupta was selected as the member of the Public Accounts Committee, Petitions Committee and the standing committee for Ministry of Railways and Consultative committee for the Ministry of Finance
• He became an IAS in 1957 and held different positions like Revenue Secretary, Member Secretary, Planning Commission, Director-General Tourism, Controller of Capital Issues and Secretary, Department of Supply in the Government of India and Secretary, Information and Cultural Affairs and Director of Food Rationing in the Government of West Bengal
• He retired in 1992 and then took over as the Director General of International Management Institute in New Delhi and held the post till January 2005
• He held the position of United Nations Commission on Transnational Corporations (1981-82) as Chairman
• He was the chairman of the Committee on Prasar Bharati Act 1996
• In 1996 he conducted Amarnath Yatra Tragedy Enquiry
• He was the chairman committee on Restructuring of Sector Petroleum Companies in 19998 to 1999
• IN 1996 he was the Non-Alignment Movement observer for the presidential election in Palestine