[CA/Econ] India to be 5th largest economy in 2018

[CA] TN signs agreement with World Bank for Irrigation projects

The Government of India, the Government of Tamil Nadu and the World Bank (on Dec26, 2017) signed a $318 million loan agreement for the Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project to promote climate resilient agriculture technologies, improve water management practices, and increase market opportunities for small and marginal farmers. About 500,000 farmers, of which a majority are small and marginal, are expected to benefit from improved and modernized tank irrigation systems. The project will rehabilitate and modernize about 4,800 irrigation tanks and 477 check dams, spread across 66 sub-basins, in delivering bulk water to irrigation systems.

Tamil Nadu, being a water-stressed state, continues to experience water shortages which are expected to further exacerbate in the future. Rehabilitating and modernizing irrigation tanks will improve the reliability and availability of irrigation water for farming communities, making them less prone to climatic hazards. More than 160,000 ha of currently partially irrigated lands will come into full irrigation under this project.

This project will help Tamil Nadu scale up its efforts to unlock the full potential of its agriculture sector. It will support farmers improve the efficiency of water used in farming, diversify into high value crops, and produce crops that are resilient to the increasing threats of climate change. Such efforts will be a win-win for all, leading to better use of scarce water resources and raising household incomes of farmers.

Though significant progress has been made during the past decade in crop diversification, still there is scope for achieving a higher level. Paddy is the dominant crop occupying 34 percent of total cropped areas, whereas fruits and vegetables are grown on 11 percent and pulses and oilseeds on 14 percent of total cropped areas. By helping farmers’ access modern technologies, linking them to markets, and providing postharvest management support, the project will enable farmers to shift from a mono crop paddy system to mixed cropping including high-value crops (fruits, vegetables, and spices), pulses, oilseeds, and millets.

To enhance the ability of crops to withstand expected adverse impacts of climate change, the project will support smallholder producers adopt new conservation technologies such as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Sustainable Sugar Initiative (SSI). They reduce average water usage by 35 percent and increase yields by 22 percent per ha. The project is expected to increase the yield of rice, maize, and pulses by 18–20 percent.

The project will also coordinate with other World Bank-supported projects in Tamil Nadu and at the national level, including the Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project, National Hydrology Project, and National Groundwater Improvement Project to ensure synergy and enhance long-term project impact. The $318 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a 5-year grace period, and a maturity of 19 years.

[CA] 2017 Asia Cup Hockey

[CA] WUD

India’s first and only Design University – World University of Design (WUD) has opened it’s campus at Sonipat, Haryana. The University has International Collaborations with foreign Universities like UWS University of West Scotland, VFS the Vancouver Film School, and IAAD the Italian University of Design.

[CA] Joint Exercise by India in 2017

Joint Exercise Carried by India in 2017

Exercise Name	Country	Forces	Date	Place
Khanjar IV	Kyrgyzstan	Military	Feb 20 – Mar 05	Kok Jhangak, Kyrgyzstan
Bold Kurukshetra	Singapore	Military	Mar 04 -21	Madhya Pradesh, India
Surya Kiran XI	Nepal	Military	Mar 07 – 20	Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand), India
Al Nagah-Ii II	Oman	Military	Mar 07 – 10	Bakloh, India
Nomadic Elephant XII	Mongolia	Military	Apr 05 – 21	Vairengte (Mizoram), India
Maitree	Thailand	Military	Jul 03 – 17	Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh
MALABAR 2017	India, USA, Japan	Naval	Jul 10 – 18	Chennai & Bay of Bengal
Surya Kiran XII	Nepal	Military	Sep 03 – 16	Saljhandi, Nepal
Yudh Abhyas XIII	USA	Military	Sep 14 – 27	Washington
Mitra Shakti	Sri Lanka	Military	Oct 13 – 25	Pune, India
Indra	Russia	Tri Services	Oct 19 – 29	Sergeevisky, Russia
Prabal Dostyk II (Roboust Friendship)	Kazakhstan	Military	Nov 02 – 15	Bakloh (Himachal Pradesh) India
Sampriti-7	Bangladesh	Military	Nov 06 – 19	Vairengte in Mizoram and Umroi in Meghalaya

[CA] INS Kiltan

INS Kiltan (P30), third Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes built under Project 28 (Kamorta Class) was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam

• The ship gets her name from old INS Kiltan (P79), a Petya class ASW ship that served the nation for 18 years before being decommissioned in June 1987.
• Named after the coral island belonging to the Lakshadweep group of islands in India, the ship has a total complement of 15 officers and 180 sailors.
• The sleek and magnificent ship spans 109 meters in length, 14 meters in breadth with a displacement of 3,300 tonnes and can rightfully be regarded as one of the most potent Anti Submarine Warships to have been constructed in India.

Project 28

·        Anti – Submarine Warfare Corvettes

·        Started in 2003

·        To built 4 submarines indigenously

Project 28
#	Submarines	Year Commissioned	Docked at
1	INS Kamorta	2014	Visakhapatnam
2	INS Kadmatt	2016
3	INS Kiltan	2017
4	INS Kavaratti	Under Construction

[CA] World Food Day 2017 & World Food Prize 2017

October 16

• World Food Day
• Theme: "Invest in Food Security and Rural Development"

World Food Prize 2017 was won by Dr. Akinwumi Adesina (Nigeria) for innovation in funding and financing of African agriculture

[CA] 86th birth anniversary of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Oct 15, 2017: 86th Birth anniversary of former President, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam.

·        Children who arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan from Rameswaram by the bus ‘Dr Kalam Sandesh Vahini Vision 2020’ called on the President,Mr. Ram Nath Kovind

·        The Kalam Sandesh Vahini was launched by House of Kalam and Chinmaya University.

·        The Vahini depicts various incidents from Dr Kalam’s life as well as key highlights of India’s scientific achievements, with an aim to educate and inspire the masses.

·        It was flagged off by Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi from Rameswaram on July 27, 2017, during the inauguration ceremony of Dr Kalam’s memorial.

·        The Vahini has travelled from Rameswaram, through various states, to finally arrive at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

[CA] International Railway Equipment Exhibition-2017

International Railway Equipment Exhibition-2017 (IREE-2017) was held in New Delhi (Oct 11 - 13, 2017).

·        IREE is India's largest international event for the Railway Sector.

·        Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML),a Public Sector Company under the Ministry of Defence and the premier manufacturer of rail products participated in the event

·        BEML is the Nation’s first Rail coach manufacturing Company. Rail products manufactured by the Company for Indian Railways include Overhead Inspection Car, Postal Vans, AC/DC Electric Multiple Units, Stainless Steel EMUs, Utility vehicle, Track Laying Equipment Board Gauge Railbus, Treasury Vans, Spoil Disposal Unit etc.

·        BEML is the only Indian Company manufacturing State-of-the-Art Metro Cars and holds the Market share of about 50% in Metro segment competing with Global Players and is the sole supplier to Bangalore and Jaipur Metro Corporations.

[CA] International India Science Festival 2017

3rd International India Science Festival 2017 in Chennai

From Oct 13-16, 2017

Theme "Science for New India"

[CA/Polity] List of Governors of all Indian States & UTs

State/UT	Governors
Andhra Pradesh	Mr. Biswabhusan Harichandan
Arunachal Pradesh	Mr. B. D. Misra
Assam	Mr. Jagdish Mukhi
Bihar	Mr. Phagu Chauhan
Chhattisgarh	Ms. Anusuiya Uikey
Goa	Mr. Satya Pal Malik
Gujarat	Mr. Acharya Devvrat
Haryana	Mr. Satyadev Narayan Arya
Himachal Pradesh	Mr. Bandaru Dattatreya
Jharkhand	Ms. Draupadi Murmu
Karnataka	Mr. Vajubhai Vala
Kerala	Mr. Arif Mohammad Khan
Madhya Pradesh	Mr. Lalji Tandon
Maharashtra	Mr. Bhagat Singh Koshyari
Manipur	Ms. Najma Heptullah
Meghalaya	Mr. Tathagata Roy
Mizoram	Mr. P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
Nagaland	Mr. R. N. Ravi
Odisha	Mr. Ganeshi Lal
Punjab	Mr. V. P. Singh Badnore
Rajasthan	Mr. Kalraj Mishra
Sikkim	Mr. Ganga Prasad
Tamil Nadu	Mr. Banwarilal Purohit
Telangana	Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan
Tripura	Mr. Ramesh Bais
Uttar Pradesh	Ms. Anandiben Patel
Uttarakhand	Ms. Baby Rani Maurya
West Bengal	Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar
Union Territories
Andaman & Nicobar Is*	Mr. Devendra Kumar Joshi
Chandigarh**	Mr. V. P. Singh Badnore
Dadra and Nagar Haveli **	Mr. Praful Khoda Patel
Damanand Diu**	Mr. Praful Khoda Patel
Delhi*	Mr. Anil Baijal
Lakshadweep**	Mr. Dineshwar Sharma
Puducherry*	Ms. Kiran Bedi
Jammu & Kashmir*	Mr. G. C. Murmu
Ladakah*	Mr. R. K. Mathur
* --> Lieutenant Governors; **--> Administrators
All the above info are updated on Nov 29, 2019

Women Governors (7)

Ms. Anusuiya Uikey  (Chhattisgarh) Ms. Draupadi Murmu (Jharkhand) Ms. Najma Heptullah (Manipur) Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan (Telangana) Ms. Anandiben Patel (Uttar Pradesh) Ms. Baby Rani Maurya (Uttarakhand) Ms. Kiran Bedi (Puducherry)* * à Union Territory