Daily GK Updates: 16th November 2016

International Day for Tolerance 2016 observed across the world

i. The International Day for Tolerance is observed globally on 16 November every year. 

ii. The Day aims at educating masses about the need for tolerance in society and helping them understand the negative effects of intolerance. 

Union Budget to be presented on February 1

i. The government has announced that it will present the Union Budget for 2017-18 on February 1 and the budget session may begin in January.

ii. The government had issued the customary budget circular in September. Notably, the Centre earlier approved the scrapping of the 92-year old practice of presenting a separate Railway Budget and merged it with the Union Budget.

India, ADB sign $500 million loan pact to build 9.8-km Ganga bridge in Bihar

i. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India on 15 November 2016 signed a 500 million US dollar loan to build a 9.8 km long road bridge across the Ganges River. 

ii. This will be India’s longest river bridge.

Nitish Kumar launches free power connection programme

i. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has launched a key programme to provide free electricity connection to about 50 lakh households above the poverty line.
ii. The chief minister launched “Har Ghar Bijli Lagataar” programme, which was key development thrust for the Assembly polls.

DRDO's combat drone Rustom-2 flies for the first time

i. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested its unmanned combat aerial vehicle, Rustom-2.

ii. The medium-altitude long endurance (MALE) category vehicle met all the expectations during the first flight. 

iii. The first flight by the Rustom-2, which is developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment, was three years delayed than the schedule.

Doctors perform brain implant for the first time in history

i. Netherlands-based doctors have performed the first-ever brain implant on a 58-year-old woman paralysed by Lou Gehrig's disease, enabling her to communicate in day-to-day life via a speech computer.

ii. The disease-caused nerve degeneration had left her with control only over her eyes. The implant enabled her to control the computer using brain signals, spelling out messages at two letters per minute.

Hockley 1st woman to head a Test nation's cricket board

i. Debbie Hockley has been elected as president of New Zealand Cricket, becoming the first woman to hold that role in the 122-year history of the sport's national governing body.

ii. New Zealand Cricket said Wednesday that Hockley, who was captain of New Zealand's women's team and is a member of the International Cricket Council's hall of fame, will replace Stephen Boock and will serve a three-year term.

Padmini Rout wins National Women Premier Championship for third time

i. International Chess Master Padmini Rout on 14 November 2016 won the National Women Premier Chess Championship for the third time.

ii. The Rout played out a draw with her Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB ) teammate Eesha Karavade that made her achieve the hat-trick of title wins.

iii. S Vijayalakshmi of Air India won the silver medal while Karavade grabbed the bronze.