1) India urges UN to declare 2018 as 'International Year of Millets'
•Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh has sent a proposal to United Nations for declaring 2018 as "International Year of Millets" to raise awareness among consumers, policy makers, industry and research sector.
•Promotion of production and consumption of millets through conscious efforts at global level is likely to contribute substantially in the fight against targeted hunger and mitigate the effect of climate change in long run.
2) Shubhangi Swaroop Indian Navy's First Female Pilot
•In a first, a woman has been inducted as a pilot in the Indian Navy. Shubhangi Swaroop, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, will soon be flying Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft.
•Three other women cadets, Astha Segal from New Delhi, Roopa A from Puducherry and Sakthi Maya S from Kerala, also created history by becoming the country’s first women officers at the Naval Armament Inspectorate (NAI) branch of the Navy.
3) SDefence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Exercise (DANX-17)
•Defence of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Exercise (DANX) was conducted under the aegis of Andaman & Nicobar Command. The five day exercise started on 20 Nov 2017 and culminated on 24 Nov 2017.
•From the planning stage onwards, joint planning and integrated approach was adopted for synergistic application of forces. Main objective of the exercise was to practice & validate procedures and drills of all the Command forces aimed at defending Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
4) HBamboo not a ‘tree’ any more: President Clears Ordinance Amending Forest Act
•President Ram Nath Kovind has cleared an ordinance amending the Indian Forest Act, 1927. The ordinance omits bamboo grown in non-forest areas from the definition of trees, thereby exempting it from requiring permits for felling or transportation.
•Before the ordinance was issued, the definition of tree in the Act included palm, bamboo, brushwood and cane. Bamboo grown in forest areas shall continue to be governed by the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
5) FDI up 17% to $25.35 bn during April-Sept this fiscal
•Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country increased by 17 percent to USD 25.35 billion during April-September fiscal (2017-18).
•The department of industrial policy and promotion stated on its 'Make in India' twitter handle, FDI equity during the current FY 2017–18,up to September surged by 17 per cent to USD 25.35 billion from USD 21.62 billion in the year-ago period.
6) Lionel Messi wins fourth European Golden Shoe Award
•Lionel Messi drew level with Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally of four European Golden Shoes after receiving the award at a ceremony in Barcelona, Spain. The FC Barcelona superstar claimed the prize – handed to Europe’s top goalscorer – for his 37 LaLiga strikes in 2016-17.
•It is the fourth time Messi has taken the honours, after his successes in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
