Indian Current Affairs, October 2011 (Part - 1)

Hello viewers. This time I bring the current affairs of the last month that is October 2011 which is totally India related. I hope visitors may like it.
This is the first set of Indian Current Affairs, October 2011.

• For the first time in India, the genome and coding parts of multi-utility neem plant, Azadirachta indica, was sequenced and analyzed.
• The Assam government launched the social auditing programme of Gram Panchayats at Aamlokhi Gram Panchay under Baajia Development Block in Nagaon district.
• The ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the decision to set up the National Institute of Sports Science and Medicine (NISSM).
• On 4 October 2011 the credit rating of the State Bank of India was downgraded by the Global ratings firm Moody’s.
• On 4 October 2011 India signed three agreements with Afghanistan for both the countries' greater strategic partnership.
• India and Iran agreed to set up a mechanism for payment of crude oil and ensure bilateral trade.
• The Goa Legislative Assembly on 5 October 2011 unanimously passed Goa Lokayukta Bill 2011. The bill is a modified version of Goa Lakayukta Bill 2003.
• The Sports Authority of India and the All India Football Federation signed an agreement to develop the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as the football hub in India.
• The largest ever water supply scheme in Himachal Pradesh was inaugurated on 6 October 2011 in Kangehan area of Kangra district.
• Delhi state government on 8 October 2011 launched a micro-finance project for women. The project aims at providing financial support to over one-lakh vulnerable women in the capital.
• The world’s highest webcam was installed on Kala Patthar, a smaller mountain facing the Everest.
• Tata Motors announced the launch of luxurious Tata Manza sedan and the international Tata Prima range of premium commercial vehicles at the Johannesburg International Motor Show 2011.
• The tea production touched 85 million kg in August 2011, compared to 78.63 million kg in August 2010.
• The Election Commission of India raised the cap of minimum votes a political party must secure in election to get the status of a State party or maintain it further.
• Veteran ghazal singer Jagjit Singh passed away on 10 October 2011 in Mumbai. He was awarded Padmabhushan, India’s third highest civilian honour, in 2003.
• India took over as the Chairman of United Nations South Asian Regional Commission for tourism. This was announced at the ongoing United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference at Gyeongju in South Korea.
• India and South Africa signed a pact to facilitate exchange of Knowledge and experience in the field of election management and administration in New Delhi.
• Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju was appointed as the new chairman of media regulator Press Council of India on 5 October.
• Indian government in October 2011 decided not to discontinue circulation of higher denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000.
• Environmentalist, lawyer & former Union Minister, Mohan Dharia was selected as the winner of the 26th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration.
• All India Football Federation appointed Dutchman Robert Baan as the Technical Director for a period of two years.
• India and Japan on 10 October 2011 agreed to cooperate in the field of tourism and infrastructure. India and Japan also discussed opportunities for investment in tourism infrastructure in India.
• Sistema Shyam TeleServices on 12 October 2011 announced the launch of High Speed Data (HSD) connectivity.
• A 14-day long India-Bangladesh joint military exercise started on 9 October 2011 at Jalalabad Cantonment in Sylhet division, some 240 km northeast of capital Dhaka.
• The Union Cabinet of India on 13 October 2011 approved the introduction of the Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2011 in the winter session of Parliament.
• Noted economist Vishnudutt Nagar passed away on 10 October 2011.
• Indian swimmers won eight gold medals on 10 October 2011 at 7th Asian age group swimming championship.
• India’s foreign exchange reserves fell by $1.23 billion to $311.48 billion, for the week ended 30 September 2011.
• Commerce and Industry Ministry announced a Rs. 900-crore package for exporters to support exporters against slowdown in the U.S. and Europe.
• Supreme Court directed the states and Union Territories (UTs) to appoint child welfare officers in every police station for monitoring and extending better treatment to juveniles by the police.
• India and United States agreed to explore new models for educational institutions to take knowledge partnership to a higher level.
• In Jammu and Kashmir, the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna, jointly sponsored by the Centre and State governments was formally launched by State Health and Family Welfare Ministry in Srinagar.
• Kamal Nath Minister of Urban Development, Government of India and Gregory Clark, Minister of State for Decentralization and Cities agreed to work towards a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and UK at London.
• Vinod Kumar of RSPB (Railway Sports Promotion Board) on 14 October 2011 won the 55 kg freestyle gold medal in the 56th Senior National wrestling championships at Nandininagar, Uttar Pradesh.
• Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Mahipal Maderna was dropped from the Cabinet for his alleged involvement in Bhanwari Devi missing case.
• Union Agriculture Commissioner Gurbachan Singh was appointed Chairman of the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board for a seven-year term.
• Delhi state cabinet on 17 October 2011 hiked monthly pensions of senior citizens who are 70 years old and above.
• Bombay High Court upheld the death sentence awarded to four convicts for murdering 10 people in 2003 in Maharashtra.
• India's Suresh Rana won the extreme four wheeler categories in the 13th Raid de Himalaya motor rally.