Employees Online (EO) Mobile App of DoPT launched

•  The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has launched Employees Online (EO) App.
• Enables its users to stay updated on vacancies and postings on a real time basis

India, Russia agree to double the range of BrahMos Missile

• India and Russia have agreed to double the range of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from 290 km to over 600 km
• This decision was taken during the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin

Spain's conservative Rajoy voted back to power

• Spain's parliament voted conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy back into power Saturday.
• One hundred and seventy lawmakers voted for Rajoy, 111 against, and 68 abstained

World Bank appoints Kristalina Georgieva as chief executive

• Kristalina Georgieva has been appointed chief executive of World bank.
• She has been appointed CEO of  International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD and International Development Association (IDA), lending arms for middle-income and poor countries known collectively as the World Bank.

SBI to allot shares to government for capital infusion

• The country’s largest lender SBI Saturday said it would issue shares on preferential basis to the Government for capital infusion of Rs 5,681 crore.
• The bank has also sought approval from government and RBI to increase the issued capital by raising additional equity share capital up to Rs 5,681 crore by way of preferential issue to the government

Startups can raise USD 3 million via ECBs annually

• Startups were permitted to raise External Commercial Borrowings(ECB) USD 3 million by RBI
• The borrowing should be denominated in any freely convertible currency or in Indian Rupees (INR) or a combination thereof.

October 31^st has been declared in India as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas

• Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) is observed across India on 31 October to commemorate birth anniversary of Independent India’s first Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
• 2016 Theme:  “Integration of India”.

The world is observing October 31^st as World Cities Day

• The World is observing Cities Day globally on 31st October to work together for a planned and sustainable urban life.
• 2016 Theme: “Inclusive Cities, Shared Development“. It highlights the role of urbanization as a source of global development and social inclusion.
  
  
  
  

First meeting of NCTF held in New Delhi

• The first meeting of National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF) was held in New Delhi.
• Ways for developing roadmap for implementation of WTOs trade facilitation agreement was discussed
  It was headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha and was attended by all 24 members along with secretaries of various ministries and departments like Home, Shipping, Civil Aviation.
  
  
  

EU, Canada sign CETA

• The European Union (EU) and Canada have signed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a landmark trade deal.
• The deal was signed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and top European Union officials in Brussels, Belgium
  
  
  

Fishing cat sighted in Andhra Pradesh

• A fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) was sighted in the moderately dense mangrove surrounding of the Gilalakalandi harbour near Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• The fishing cat is a medium-sized wild cat of South and Southeast Asia. It is the state animal of West Bengal.
  

       Sunil Bharti Mittal appointed as Chairman of GSMA

• Sunil Bharti Mittal ,founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises has been appointed as the chairman of GSMA for a period of 2 years
• Mittal will take over from Jon Fredrik Baksaas, who will step down from the GSMA board at the end of 2016

         Sania Mirza-Martina Hingis March Into WTA Finals Semis

• Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis entered  WTA semifinals in Singapore defeating Chinese Taipei pair Hao-Ching Chan and Yung-Jan Chan on Friday.

 Cabinet gives in-principle approval for strategic sale of over dozen PSUs

• The proposal of NITI Aayog for strategic sale of over dozen PSU’s was given an in-principle approval by Union Government.
• Each case would be considered separately after it has been examined by the Department of Disinvestment and the Ministries concerned.

Union Cabinet approves Cadre Review of Indian Posts & Telecommunications Accounts and Finance Service

• The first Cadre Review of Indian Posts & Telecommunications Accounts and Finance Service has been approved by Union Government chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Total strength of the cadre has been reduced from 420 to 376.

Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar wins 2016 Sakharov Prize

•  Europe’s top human rights award Sakarov prize was won by two Yazidi women, Nadia Murad Basee and Lamiya Aji Bashar, who escaped sexual enslavement by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq
• The Sakharov award ceremony will be held in Strasbourg on 14 December.

Union Cabinet approves establishment of National Academic Depository

• The establishment of National Academic Depository was given a green signal by Union Cabinet.
• Under it all academic degrees, certificates and awards in the country will be made digitally available for verification on single spot.
  

ISRO Eyes Record With Launch Of 83 Satellites On Single Rocket In Early 2017

•  Indian space agency ISRO is aiming for a world record by putting into orbit 83 satellites - two Indian and 81 foreign - on a single rocket in early 2017.

• All 83 satellites will be put in a single orbit and hence there will not be any switching off and on of the rocket.

New IMF chief to be selected soon

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday started  the selection process for its next managing director to replace Christine Lagarde.
• The IMF board is expected to complete the selection process by March 3, and the new managing director's term will begin on July 5.

World Bank appoints first adviser to tackle LGBTI discrimination

• The World Bank has appointed its first adviser  to promote the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) issues in its development work.
• Clifton Cortex with almost 2 decades of experience in development has been asked to fill the position.

India, New Zealand sign three pacts including avoidance of double taxation

• India and New Zealand on 26 October 2016 signed three agreements in the areas of double taxation avoidance, food security and sports.
• The agreements were inked in New Delhi in presence of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. John Key was on a three-day (25 October to 27 October 2016) visit to India

Union Government constitutes Munialappa Committee to monitor bird flu situation

The Union Agricultural Ministry on 26 October 2016 constituted a High-Level Committee to monitor the bird flu situation and help state governments take steps to contain the disease.

The Committee will be headed by Munialappa, Joint Commissioner in the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries (DADF).

India, South Korea sign revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement

India and South Korea on 26 October 2016 signed a revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.The Provisions of the new DTAA will have effect in India in respect of income derived in fiscal years beginning on or after 1 April 2017.

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2016 observed globally.

27 October: World Day for Audiovisual Heritage

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage was observed across the world on 27 October 2016. The theme for the day was It's Your Story - Don't Lose It.

Borje Ekholm appointed as President and CEO of Ericsson

Borje Ekholm was on 26 October 2016 appointed as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of  Ericsson, Swedish communication technology firm, with effect from 16 January 2017