Current Affairs 18th November 2014

Current Affairs 18th November 2014

Updated : 18-Nov-2014

Current Affairs 18th November 2014 - Important Points
Current Affairs 18th November 2014 - Details
Gunjan Sarma got first state bravery award by Assam government
On 17th November 2014, Assam government honoured Gunjan Sarma with very first state bravery award in Guwahati.

Brave girl of Assam Gunjan Sarma was given this award for her courage to save lives of 10 school children who were taken hostage by a gunman. She volunteered to be taken hostage by a gunman to save other lives but later she was abandoned in a dense forest along Assam-Nagaland border at night, from there she managed to find her way back. Assam government instituted state bravery award after being impressed by her saga of bravery.
Pandit Jasraj honoured with Sumitra Charat Ram Award 2014
On 17th November 2014, Noted classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj was conferred with the Sumitra Charat Ram Award 2014 for Lifetime Achievement. This is very prestigious award, in past Pt Birju Maharaj, Kishori Amonkar and Mayadhar Raut were also recipient of same.
Five pacts signed between India and Australia and agreed on early closure of Civil Nuclear Deal
On 18th November 2014, India and Australia signed five pacts on social security, transfer of sentenced prisoners, combating narcotics trade, tourism and Arts & Culture.
These pacts were signed to boost bilateral relationship of two countries.
Apart from these pacts, India and Australia agreed on early closure of the civil nuclear agreement which will give Australia a chance to participate in one of the most secure and safe nuclear energy programme in the world.
Uranium trade will be facilitated between the two countries by concluding the civil nuclear pact.

Do You Know :
Asutralia has about 40 percent of total world's uranium reserves and it exports approx 7000 tonnes of uranium annually.
Kisan Vikas Patra scheme restarted by Union Government
On 18th November 2014, Indian Government relaunched Kisan Vikas Patra scheme to encourage the small savings among the citizens. After the relaunch this scheme will be available across the country through designated branches of nationalized banks.
maturity period of Kisan Vikas Patra is 8 years 4 months.
Do You Know :
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) which is a certificate savings scheme was launched by the Union Government on 1st April 1988. Under this scheme a person can do unlimited investment by way of purchase of certificates from post offices in various denominations.
Nepal hosted International Buddhist Conference 2014
Four day long International Buddhist Conference 2014 was held in Lumbini, Nepal with an aim of preserving Buddhist culture and heritage. This was attended by more than 400 Buddhist experts and intellectuals.
Akash missile test fired successfully in Odisha
On 17th November 2014, Indian Air Force successfully test fired surface-to-air missile Akash from Chandipur, Odisha. It was a part of user trail by Air Force.

It is a medium range surface-to-air anti-aircraft defence system with a strike range of 25 km and can carry a warhead of 60 kg. It is designed in such a way that it can track and attack several targets simultaneously.
2014 Global Terrorism Index
On 18th November 2014, Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) released Global Terrorism Index 2014 in which ranks of 162 countries are provided with fact based understanding of terrorism and its impact.
As per report terrorism has become a global phenomenon. There is increase of 61 percent if we talk about the number of people killed in terrorist attacks in 2013 as compared to 2012.
82 percent of all terrorism occurred in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria.