CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 11 TO 20 2018
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Important
Current Affairs 11th November 2018
Art
and Culture (5 Nov – 10 Nov 2018)
· On 10 November
2018, the Delhi government announced ‘Jashn-e-Virasat-e-Urdu’, a festival to
celebrate Urdu culture and its heritage.
· The 24th Kolkata
International Film Festival began in Kolkata on 10 November 2018.
· The 49th
International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2018 will be held in Goa from 20th
to 28th November 2018.
11th
Asian Shooting Championship 2018 winners
· Divyansh Singh
won the silver medal in 10m Air Rifle Junior Men’s event.
· Elavenil
Valarivan won the bronze medal in 10m Air Rifle Junior Women’s event.
· Elavenil &
Hriday won the gold medal in 10m Air Rifle Junior mixed event.
· Saurabh
Chaudhary won the gold medal in the 10m Air pistol junior men’s event.
· Manu Bhaker
& Saurabh won the gold medal in the 10m Air pistol mixed team event
Miscellaneous
News (5 Nov – 10 Nov 2018)
· The Central and
Andhra Pradesh governments and the World Bank have signed the $172.20 million
loan agreement for an agriculture project.
· US researchers
have successfully produced electricity from a mushroom covered in bacteria.
· NASA’s Ralph and
Lucy are all set to explore Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids.
· Tesla has
appointed Robyn Denholm as the Chairman of the company’s board of directors.
Defence
News (5 Nov – 10 Nov 2018)
· INS Arihant,
India’s first nuclear-powered submarine, successfully completed its first
deterrence patrol.
· The ‘M777
howitzer’ and ‘K9 Vajra-T’ were formally inducted into Indian Army on 9
November 2018.
· The
‘Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise’ (SIMBEX) has started from 10
November 2018 at Port Blair.
Indexes
and Reports (5 Nov – 10 Nov 2018)
· According to a
report by Kaspersky Lab, India is ranked 12th worldwide when it comes to the
dangers associated with surfing the web.
· A report titled
‘Global Macro Outlook 2019-20’ was released by Moody’s Investors Service on 8
November 2018.
· According to a
report by Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the unemployment rate in
India rose to 6.9% in October 2018.
International
Affairs (5 Nov- 10 Nov 2018)
· India
participated in China’s first international import expo in Shanghai on 5
November 2018.
· More than 20
countries have committed to ‘Changsha declaration’ on agricultural and rural
development in Changsha, China on 2 November 2018.
· The 2018 ‘United
Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities’ was held on 5 November
2018.
Books
and Authors (5 Nov- 10 Nov 2018)
· AR Rahman
released his biography, ‘Notes of a Dream: The Authorized Biography of AR
Rahman’, written by Krishna Trilok on 3 November 2018.
· The book, titled
‘The Fire Burns Blue: A History of Women’s Cricket in India’, co-authored by
sports journalists Karunya Keshav and Sidhanta Pathak will be released on 30
November 2018.
Appointments
– II (5 Nov – 10 Nov 2018)
· The Government
of India appointed former journalist Ram Bahadur Rai, former Foreign Secretary
S. Jaishankar, journalist Arnab Goswami, and MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe as members
of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society.
· The tenure of
Snehlata Shrivastava, Secretary General of Lok Sabha, has been extended by
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for one year.
Appointments
– I (5 Nov – 10 Nov 2018)
· Ashok Kumar
Gupta has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Competition Commission of
India.
· Senior diplomat
Gaddam Dharmendra has been appointed India’s Ambassador to Iran.
· Retired Gauhati
High Court judge Pranoy Kumar Musahary was sworn in as the first Chairperson of
Meghalaya Lokayukta.
· Gafur Rakhimov
was elected as the President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA).
Sports
News (5 Nov – 10 Nov 2018)
· Tennis player
Luksika Kumkhum from Thailand won the L&T Mumbai Open.
· Russia’s tennis
player Karen Khachanov won the Paris Masters title.
· In Badminton,
Subhankar Dey has won the SaarLorLux Open in Germany.
· Angad Vir Singh
Bajwa won the gold medal in the men’s skeet final of the 8th Asian Shotgun
Championship.
· Rohit Sharma has
become India’s highest run-scorer in T20 international cricket.
Awards
and Honours – II (5 Nov – 10 Nov 2018)
· Journalist Swati
Chaturvedi has won the 2018 Press Freedom Award for Courage.
· ‘The LAMO
Center’ in Ladakh has won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage
Conservation.
· Jawahar Lal
Sarin was conferred with ‘Knight of the Legion of Honour’, France’s highest
civilian honour.
· Samay Godika won
the 2018 ‘Breakthrough Junior Challenge’ Prize.
Awards
and Honours – I (5 Nov – 10 Nov 2018)
· Woman Hockey
player Lilima Minz was honoured with the prestigious ‘Ekalabya Puraskar’.
· Veteran
journalist and The Hindu Publishing Group Chairman N. Ram has been chosen for
the prestigious Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award 2018.
· The prestigious
2018 IPI India Award for excellence in journalism has been given to Namrata
Ahuja of ‘The Week’ magazine.
Days
and Events (5 Nov- 10 Nov 2018)
· Ayurveda Day is
observed on 5 November.
· ‘World Tsunami
Awareness Day’ is observed on 5 November.
· ‘International
Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed
Conflict’ is observed on 6 November.
· World Science
Day for Peace and Development is observed on 10 November.
· The West Bengal
government will observe ‘Rosogolla Day’ on 14 November.
Business
& Economy (5 Nov – 10 Nov 2018)
· The Reserve Bank
of India (RBI) has initiated steps to set up a wide-based digital Public Credit
Registry (PCR) to capture all details of borrowers.
· HSBC has
executed India’s first financial transaction using blockchain for a deal
involving an export by Reliance Industries to Tricon Energy.
· RBI has
liberalised the norms governing external commercial borrowings for
infrastructure creation.
Appointment
of CJs of 4 HC cleared – II
· Justice S K
Seth, senior-most judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, has been appointed as
the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
· Justice Sanjay
Karol, the most senior judge of Himachal High Court, has been appointed as the
Chief Justice of Tripura High Court.
Appointment
of CJs of 4 HC cleared – I
· The government
of India cleared the appointment of Chief Justices of High Courts of Allahabad,
Patna, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura on 10 November 2018.
· Justice Govind
Mathur, a senior judge of Rajasthan High Court, has been appointed as the Chief
Justice of Allahabad High Court.
· Justice A P
Sahi, senior judge of Allahabad High Court, has been appointed as the Chief
Justice of Patna High Court.
· Peter inducted
into Agricultural Hall of Fame
· Peter Dhillon, a
Canadian Sikh farmer, has been inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of
Fame. He has joined the company of great Canadians who have made their mark in
agriculture and agro-food business. He is also the current Chairman of Ocean
Spray, a marketing cooperative of cranberry farmers in the U.S. and Canada.
NASA
to send organs on chips to space
NASA is planning
to send small devices containing human cells in a 3D matrix — known as tissue
chips or organs-on-chips — to the International Space Station (ISS). This will
help in knowing how the cells respond to stress, drugs and genetic changes. Tissue
chips are made of flexible plastic. They have ports and channels to provide
nutrients and oxygen to the cells inside them.
VP
inaugurated war memorial in France
On 10 November
2018, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated a war memorial in France to
pay tribute to thousands of Indian soldiers who died in the World War I. The
memorial is the first-of-its-kind built by India in France. Vice President M
Venkaiah Naidu is in Paris to represent India at the Armistice of World War I
centenary commemoration.
National
Education Day observed on November 11
National
Education Day is celebrated in India on November 11. The day is celebrated as a
mark of respect to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. He was a freedom fighter and
independent India’s first Education Minister (served from 1947 to 1958). He was
an eminent scholar of Urdu, Persian and Arabic. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna
in 1992.
Important
Current Affairs 12th November 2018
‘Quad’
to meet in Singapore on 14 November
Officials from
Australia, India, Japan and the United States will hold the third
‘Quadrilateral’ or Quad meeting in Singapore on 14 November 2018. The meeting
will be held on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit. The meeting will focus
on infrastructure projects, maritime security cooperation and discuss regional
challenges including development.
Scientists
discovered two planets
Astronomers have
discovered two new rogue planets that do not have stars to orbit. Researchers
found the planets in the regions called the Galactic bulge and disk. As planets
don’t orbit stars and are ‘free-floating,’ it’s difficult to determine the
size. One planet could be similar in size to Earth, while another one may be
similar to Jupiter.
NASA
spotted new iceberg in Antartica
NASA has spotted
an enormous new Antarctic iceberg while on a mission to survey the region’s
shifting sea ice and glaciers. NASA’s Operation IceBridge flight spotted the
giant berg which broke off from Pine Island Glacier in October 2018. The US
National Ice Centre estimates the iceberg named B-46, is 66 square nautical
miles (87 square miles) in size.
ISRO
invites foreign experiments
The Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) has taken its first step towards its mid-2023-planned
mission to Venus. It issued an announcement of opportunity (AO) to the
international space community to propose their scientific payloads to be
carried on the mission. This AO for space-based experiments to study Venus is
open to international scientists from various space agencies.
ISRO
looking at pool of 10 experiments
After the
announcement of Gaganyaan mission, ISRO has now drawn up a list of experiments
to be conducted ahead of the mission. ISRO is looking at a pool of 10
experiments to be conducted in low earth orbit, where it plans to send
astronauts. The experiments could include testing of medical equipment to
micro-biological experiments such as biological air filters and biosensors.
Cyclone
Gaja to cross Tamil Nadu & Andhra
A deep depression
in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm named Cyclone Gaza. It
is likely to cross the north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast on 15
November 2018. It is moving at a speed of 12 kmph is likely to intensify into a
‘severe cyclonic storm’. The coastal areas of north Tamil Nadu would experience
moderate rainfall and heavy rainfall.
Voting
began in Chattisgarh
The voting for
the first phase of the assembly election in Chhattisgarh began on 12 November
2018. The Election Commission has set up five all-women polling booths called
‘Sangwari’ booths in various constituencies of Chhattisgarh. This will
encourage women voters to exercise their franchise in the Assembly elections. These
women friendly booths are being manned by all-female staff.
ASEAN
countries inked 1st e-commerce agreement
Economic
ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 12
November 2018 signed an agreement to facilitate cross-border e-commerce
transactions within the region. The agreement is the grouping’s first agreement
on e-commerce. It also aims to deepen cooperation among ASEAN member states so
as to spur the use of e-commerce as a way of driving regional economic growth.
Kochi
signed a MoU with Vilnius
Kochi
Corporation and Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 10 November 2018. The MoU is a part of the
European Union (EU) project ‘International Urban Cooperation’. The primary
focus of the cooperation would be urban planning, corporate planning,
transport, solid water management and water management.
Power
Minister inaugurated INSPIRE 2018
R K Singh, Union
Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy inaugurated the
‘International Symposium to Promote Innovation & Research in Energy
Efficiency’ (INSPIRE 2018) on 11 November 2018. It is being organised by Energy
Efficiency Services Limited and World Bank. It will focus on enhancing grid
management, e-Mobility, and technologies for energy efficiency in India.
India
and Morocco signed an Agreement
An Agreement on
mutual legal assistance in criminal matters was signed between the Government
of India and Government of the Kingdom of Morocco. It will strengthen bilateral
cooperation with Morocco. It will provide a broad legal framework for the
prevention, investigation and prosecution of crimes as well as in tracing,
restraint and confiscation of funds meant to finance terrorist acts.
Delhi’s
air quality in severe category
Delhi’s air
quality continues to be in a severe category. An Air Quality Index between 401
and 500 is considered as severe. There are 6 AQI categories, namely Good,
Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. The AQI is an
index for reporting daily air quality. AQI focuses on particulate matter,
ground-level ozone, Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide.
WEF
Global Future Councils began in Dubai
The two-day
annual meeting of World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Future Councils began in
Dubai on 11 November 2018. The objective of the Annual Meeting of the Global
Future Councils is to convene the world’s best network of experts to identify
new ideas and models that can be applied to critical global challenges. The
theme of the meeting is ‘Globalisation 4.0’.
Six-month
ban on fish import
Goa government
introduced a six-month ban on fish import effective from 12 Nov 2018. The
decision has been taken in view of continuing uncertainty about the presence of
formalin in imported fish in Goa. The decision has been taken by Goa Health
Minister Vishwajit Rane. This is the second ban this year on fish import, the
earlier one was for fifteen days in July.
33rd
ASEAN summit began in Singapore
The 33rd edition
of the ASEAN Summit began in Singapore on 11 November 2018. Prime Minister of
Singapore Lee Hsien Loong is the Chairman of the Summit. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the East Asia Summit and Associated
meetings of ASEAN on 14th and 15th November 2018 in Singapore.
FinTech
festival kicks off in Singapore
The 3rd edition
of the FinTech Conference was inaugurated in Singapore alongside the ASEAN
summit on 12 November 2018. The Conference will focus on themes including
Artificial Intelligence, AI in Finance, ASEAN FinTech Opportunities;
Cyber-Security, Financial Inclusion; Future of Banking; Future of Money. Singapore
FinTech Festival 2018 is organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Global
IT Challenge for Youth concluded
The three-day
event of Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities- 2018 concluded in New
Delhi on 11 November 2018. This year 96 youth with disabilities from 18
countries including India, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri
Lanka, Bangladesh, Philippines, UK and UAE participated in it. On occasion, 55
awards were presented to youth with disabilities.
Union
Minister Ananth Kumar passed away
Union Minister
for Parliamentary Affairs, and Chemicals and Fertilizers H.N. Ananth Kumar,
passed away in Bengaluru on 12 November 2018. He is a six-time member of
parliament from Bengaluru South Lok Sabha seat and was representing it
continuously since 1996. He held civil aviation, urban development and tourism
portfolios in Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet during 1999-2004.
NTPC,
3 other PSUs included in CPSE ETF
The Finance
Ministry has rearranged the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) Exchange
Traded Fund (ETF). It has included in the basket the scrips of four State-owned
companies NTPC, SJVN, NLC and NBCC. The Ministry has removed GAIL, Engineers
India Ltd. (EIL) and Container Corporation of India in the ETF basket.
ADB
signed a US$13 million loan pact with EESL
The Asian
Development Bank (ADB) will provide US$13 million loan to Energy Efficiency
Services (EESL) to promote efficient energy usage in India. The loan amount
will be provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The grant, to be
administered by ADB, is tied to the USD 200 million ADB-financed Demand-Side
Energy Efficiency Sector Project.
Important
Current Affairs 13th November 2018
Lewis
Hamilton won Brazil Grand Prix
Formula One
champion Lewis Hamilton won the Brazilian Grand Prix on 11 November 2018. The
win was Hamilton’s 10th of the season and 72nd of his career. Hamilton’s win
helped Mercedes secure the constructors’ championship. Verstappen finished
second while Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen took third.
Renaming
of two divisions in UP approved
The Uttar
Pradesh government approved the renaming of Faizabad and Allahabad divisions as
Ayodhya and Prayagraj respectively on 13 November 2018. Prayagraj division will
comprise Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Fatehpur and Pratapgarh districts. Ayodhya
division will include Ayodhya, Ambedkarnagar, Sultanpur, Amethi and Barabanki
districts.
Six
professors won Infosys Prize 2018 – II
Kavita Singh was
awarded in the field of Humanities. Roop Mallik was awarded in the field of
Life Sciences. Nalini Anantharaman was awarded in the field of Mathematical
Sciences. SK Satheesh was awarded in the field of Physical Sciences. Sendhil
Mullainathan was awarded in the field of Social Sciences
Six
professors won Infosys Prize 2018 – I
Six eminent
professors have been awarded the ‘Infosys Prize 2018’ across different
categories of science and research. The prize has been constituted by the
‘Infosys Science Foundation’ (ISF). The annual award includes a pure gold medal,
a citation and a prize purse worth US$ 100,000. Navakanta Bhat was awarded in
the field of Engineering and Computer Science.
Sunscreens
banned in Palau
Palau is set to
become the first country to impose a widespread ban on sunscreen in an effort
to protect its vulnerable coral reefs. The government has signed a law that
restricts the sale and use of sunscreen and skincare products that contain a
list of ten different chemicals. The ban comes into force in 2020.
Eminent
Odia singer Chitta Jena passed away
Eminent Odia
singer Chitta Jena passed away on 13 November 2018 in Cuttack, Odisha. He had
made his debut as a playback singer in the movie Mana Akasha in 1974. He was
honoured with the prestigious ‘Prafulla Kar Samman’ for his outstanding
achievement in the field of music.
Retail
inflation softens to 3.31% in October
According to the
Central Statistics Office data, India’s retail inflation eased to 3.31% in
October 2018 driven by cheaper food items. The retail inflation number is the
lowest since September 2017 Vegetable
prices declined by 8.06% in October 2018. Retail inflation, measured by
Consumer Price Index (CPI), stood at 3.7% in September 2018 and 3.58% in
October 2017.
Award
given to Aung San Suu Kyi revoked
Amnesty
International revoked the ‘Ambassador of Conscience Award’ given to Myanmar’s
leader Aung San Suu Kyi on 13 November 2018. She received the award in 2009
when she was living under house arrest. The award was revoked because of her
failure to speak out for the Rohingya minority. She was also stripped of her
honourary Canadian citizenship in October 2018.
Largest
brain-like supercomputer switched on
The world’s
largest supercomputer designed to work in the same way as the human brain has
been switched on for the first time. The ‘Spiking Neural Network Architecture’
(SpiNNaker) machine is capable of completing more than 200 million actions per
second. The SpiNNaker machine has been designed and built in the University of
Manchester in the United Kingdom.
‘Water
handloom hut’ inaugurated in Manipur
The first ever
‘water handloom hut’ in Manipur was inaugurated at Loktak Lake on 11 November
2018. Five ‘water handloom huts’ have been built on phumdis (floating biomass)
at Loktak Lake in Bishnupur district. The objective of ‘water handloom hut’ is
to improve the socio-economic conditions of the weavers residing in the phumdis
at Loktak Lake.
‘EXERCISE
INDRA’ to be conducted from 18 Nov
The joint
military exercise between India and Russia named ‘EXERCISE INDRA 2018’ on
combating insurgency will be conducted from 18 November 2018. The exercise is
being held under the aegis of United Nations (UN) at Babina Field Firing Ranges
in Madhya Pradesh. The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning and
conduct to enhance the interoperability of the two Armies.
BIS
appointed Siddharth Tiwari as Chief Rep
The Bank for
International Settlements (BIS) has appointed Siddharth Tiwari as the Chief
Representative for Asia and the Pacific on 1 November 2018. He succeeds Eli
Remolona, who was Chief Representative of the Asian Office from 2008 to 2018. He
has served as Executive Secretary to the ‘G20 Eminent Persons Group’ on Global
Financial Governance.
Mountaineer
Satyarup climbed Mt Giluwe
Indian
mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta became the first Indian to climb Mt Giluwe on 11
November 2018. The summit of the mountain is at an elevation of 4,367 metres. He
had successfully climbed the Mt Everest in June 2016. Mt Giluwe is the second
highest mountain in Papua New Guinea. Mt Wilhelm is the highest mountain of
Papua New Guinea.
Stan
Lee passed away
The comic writer
Stan Lee passed away on 12 November 2018. He is the co-creator of iconic
characters including Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Daredevil and
the X-Men. He teamed up with artists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko to
revitalise the comics industry.
Dr
Debabhuson won the ‘Munin Barkotoki Award’
Dr Debabhuson
Borah won the prestigious ‘Munin Barkotoki Literary Award 2018’ on 12 November
2018. He won the award for his book on literary criticism titled ‘Nirbochon’. The
award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000 along with a citation and a plaque. The
award was named after the renowned writer, critic, and journalist Munin
Barkotoki.
Statue
commemorating Indian soldiers unveiled
A new statue
commemorating the role of Indian soldiers in World War I was unveiled in France
on 11 November 2018. The seven-foot bronze statue commemorates over 4,700
soldiers and labourers from British India who lost their lives on the Western
Front during World War I. Another memorial was inaugurated by Vice President
Venkaiah Naidu at Villers Guislain in France on 10 November 2018.
Shuttler
Kento Momota won China Open
Kento Momota won
badminton’s Fuzhou China Open on 11 November 2018. He defeated Chou Tien-chen
of Taiwan in the final match. This was his 7th title of the year. The Fuzhou
China Open is a part of the HSBC world tour events, and is designated as a
super 750 level tournament.
MoU
signed between ADNOC and ISPRL
Abu Dhabi
National Oil Company (ADNOC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. (ISPRL). Under the MoU, ADNOC
is expected to store crude oil in the underground oil storage facility at
Padur, Karnataka. ISPRL is an Indian government-owned company mandated to store
crude oil for emergency needs.
‘Samudra
Shakti’ exercise inaugurated
Indian and
Indonesian Navy’s Bilateral Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ is being held from 12 to
18 November 2018. The aim of the exercise is to strengthen bilateral relations,
expand maritime co-operation, enhance interoperability and exchange best
practices. INS Rana of the Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam under the
Eastern Naval Command is participating in the exercise.
ISRO
to launch communication satellite GSAT-29
The Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch ‘GSLV MkIII-D2’ mission on 14 November
2018. The mission will carry India’s high throughput communication satellite
‘GSAT-29’. ‘GSAT-29’ is a multibeam, multi-band communication satellite
weighing 3,423 kgs. The satellite will be carried by Geosynchronous Satellite
Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III.
Important
Current Affairs 14th November 2018
Neomi
Rao to replace Kavanaugh on DC Circuit
U.S. President
Donald Trump has nominated Indian-American Neomi Rao to replace Supreme Court
Justice Brett Kavanaugh on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. The powerful U.S.
Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit is considered next to the U.S. Supreme
Court. Ms. Rao is currently the administrator of the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).
AIM
& UNICEF announced Young Champions Awards
The NITI Aayog’s
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and UNICEF have announced ‘UNICEF – Atal
Tinkering Labs Young Champions Awards’ on 14 November 2018. The awards were
presented to the top six most innovative solutions from across the country,
which was shortlisted through the Atal Tinkering Marathon. AIM and UNICEF have
also launched a 72-hour ‘Tinkering Hackathon’ from 14 to 17 November 2018.
India
voted against UNGA draft resolution
India has voted
against a United Nations General Assembly draft resolution on the use of death
penalty. India said that it goes against the statutory law of the country where
an execution is carried out in the ‘rarest of rare’ cases. The draft
resolution, taken up in the 3rd Committee (Social, Humanitarian, Cultural) of
the General Assembly, was approved on 13 November 2018.
India
International Trade Fair inaugurated
Culture Minister
Dr Mahesh Sharma inaugurated the 38th India International Trade Fair (IITF) at
Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on 14 November 2018. The theme of the fair for 2018
is ‘Rural Enterprises in India’. For the year 2018, Afghanistan is the Partner
Country, while Nepal is the Focus Country. Jharkhand is participating as a
Partner State in the event.
Dr.
Martha received lifetime achievement award
Late Dr Martha
Farrell has been honoured with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the 6th
Indian Social Work Congress in New Delhi on 13 November 2018. Dr Martha is
being recognised for her lifelong work towards gender equality, women’s
empowerment and prevention of sexual harassment at workplace. In 1991, she
co-founded the NGO named Creative Learning for Change.
Prime
Minister Modi launched APIX technology
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi launched the APIX (Application Programming Interface Exchange) in
Singapore on 14 November 2018. APIX is a banking technology platform designed
to reach nearly two billion people worldwide who are still without bank
accounts. APIX will support banks to reach out to those without bank accounts
in 23 countries including the 10 ASEAN members countries.
WPI
inflation in October jumps to 5.28%
Wholesale
inflation based on the wholesale price index (WPI) stood at 5.28% in October
2018. Wholesale inflation in primary articles, which include food articles,
cereals, paddy, onions, food, and milk, among others, rose by 1.79% in October
2018. WPI is computed by the Office of the Economic Advisor, Department of
Industrial Policy and Promotion, and Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
7th
RCEP Ministerial Meeting concluded
The two-day 7th
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Inter-Sessional Ministerial
Meeting concluded in Singapore on 13 November 2018. Commerce and Industry and
Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu led the Indian delegation to the meeting.
The Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore Mr Chan Chun Sing was the
Chair of the meeting.
WCO’s
regional meet began in Jaipur
A four-day
regional meeting of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) began in Jaipur on 14
November 2018. Representatives of 33 member countries of Asia are attending the
meeting. The participants will discuss and deliberate upon the amended Kyoto
protocol, digital customs, e-commerce among other issues. WCO is an
intergovernmental organisation headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.
S
K Seth sworned in as Chief Justice of MP HC
Justice S K Seth
took oath as Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on 14 November
2018. Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath of office
to Justice Seth. Justice Seth is the senior-most judge of the Madhya Pradesh
High Court. He will be the 24th Chief Justice of the MP High Court.
2nd
Startup India Investment Seminar organised
‘2nd Startup
India Investment Seminar’ was organised in Beijing on 12 November 2018. It was
organised by the Embassy of India in China in partnership with Startup India
Association (SIA) and Venture Gurukool. The event was planned to expose Chinese
investors to the promising Indian startups. The 1st Startup Indian Investment
event was organised in November 2017.
Northeast
Youth Festival to begin from 15 Nov
Tripura will
host the 6th ‘Northeast Youth Festival’ from 15 November 2018. Various sports
events and cultural programmes such as folk music, folk dance, rock music,
martial arts, adventure sports, handicrafts shows, yoga, and boat race will be
held at the three-day festival. The 5th edition of the festival was hosted by
Sikkim in 2017.
UASG
conferred award to Rajasthan CM
Universal
Acceptance Steering Group (UASG) conferred ‘Universal Acceptance Thought Leader
Award’ to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on 13 November 2018. She was
awarded for ‘Rajmail project’ that enables access to the email address to
people in the state in local script. The technology for the project was developed
by Rajasthan based firm ‘Data XGen Technologies’.
Children’s
Day celebrated on 14 November
Children’s Day
is celebrated on 14 November every year. It is celebrated on the birth
anniversary of the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The day is celebrated
across the country to increase awareness of the rights, care and education of
children.
Rs
75 commemorative coin to be released
The government
of India will release a Rs 75 commemorative coin on the occasion of 75th
anniversary of the hoisting of Tricolour for the first time by Netaji Subhash
Chandra Bose at Port Blair. The coin will bear the portrait of Netaji Subhash
Chandra Bose saluting the flag on the background of cellular jail. The coin
will be composed of 50% silver, 40% copper, and 5% each of nickel & zinc.
Flipkart
CEO Binny Bansal quits
Flipkart
co-founder, Binny Bansal resigned as the company’s Group CEO on 13 November
2018 following an independent investigation into allegations of serious
personal misconduct. Kalyan Krishnamurthy will continue to be the CEO of
Flipkart. Ananth Narayanan will continue as CEO of Flipkart’s fashion arms
Myntra and Jabong. He will report to Kalyan Krishnamurthy.
Sadananda
& Narendra given additional charge
Union Ministers,
DV Sadananda Gowda and Narendra Singh Tomar were assigned additional portfolios
of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and the Ministry of Parliamentary
Affairs, respectively on 13 November 2018. The move was necessitated following
the demise of Ananth Kumar. He was holding the charge of both the ministries of
Parliamentary Affairs and Chemicals and Fertilisers.
‘Global
Digital Content Market’ hosted by DIPP
A conference on
‘Global Digital Content Market’ (GDCM) 2018 is being hosted by the Department
of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) on 14 and 15 November 2018 in New
Delhi. The focus of GDCM 2018 is on the Asia Pacific region. The aim of GDCM
2018 is to give industry stakeholders a platform to come together and discuss
new avenues in the films, music, gaming and creative industry.
LEAP
& ARPIT initiative launched by MHRD
On 13 November
2018, Ministry of Human Resource Development has launched two new initiatives:
Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP) and Annual Refresher Programme In
Teaching (ARPIT). ARPIT is an initiative of online professional development of
15 lakh higher education faculty. LEAP
is a 3 weeks flagship leadership development training programme for 2nd level
academic functionaries.
World
Diabetes Day observed on 14 November
World Diabetes
Day is observed on 14 November every year. The theme of World Diabetes Day 2018
is ‘The Family and Diabetes’. The aim of World Diabetes Day theme is to raise
awareness about the impact of diabetes on the family. Diabetes is a major cause
of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, and lower limb amputation.
Important
Current Affairs 15th November 2018
Yes
Bank chairman Ashok Chawla resigned
Ashok Chawla has
resigned as the Non-Executive (Independent) Chairman of Yes Bank on 14 November
2018. He has also been serving as the Chairman of National Stock Exchange, a
quasi-regulator under the SEBI Act, since 2016. Former finance secretary Ashok
Chawla had also worked as the Chairman of CCI or Competition Commission of
India.
‘ASEAN-India
Breakfast Summit’ held
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi participated in the ‘ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit’ in Singapore
on 15 November 2018. He reaffirmed cooperation in maritime domain and
centrality of trade and investment towards prosperity of Indo-Pacific He also
held separate bilateral meetings with the premiers of Singapore, Australia and
Thailand.
First
Ramayana Express flagged off
First ‘Ramayana
Express’ was flagged off from Delhi on 14 November 2018. The Ramayana Express
will make its first stop in Ayodhya followed by Hanuman Garhi Ramkot and Kanak
Bhawan temple. The trains will make stops at Nandigram, Sitamarhi, Janakpur,
Varanasi, Prayag, Shringaverpur, Chitrakoot, Nasik, Hampi and Rameshwaram.
Massive
meteorite impact crater discovered
Scientists have
discovered a 31-kilometre wide meteorite impact crater buried beneath the
ice-sheet in the northern Greenland. The crater was formed when a
kilometre-wide iron meteorite smashed into northern Greenland. The crater was
first discovered in July 2015.
‘India-Singapore
Hackathon’ winners awarded
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi felicitated the six winning teams of the first ‘India-Singapore
Hackathon’ on 15 November 2018. ‘India-Singapore Hackathon’ is a platform for
the youth of the two countries to harness and showcase their innovations. The
winning teams from India were IIT Kharagpur, NIT Trichy, and MIT College of
Engineering, Pune.
Odisha
signed MoU with AIFF
A Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) has signed between the All India Football Federation (AIFF)
and the Odisha government. As per the MoU, the Government of Odisha will act as
the host of the AIFF national team camps as well as of the home of Indian
Arrows. The MoU was signed at the Kalinga Stadium complex in Odisha.
PM
Modi attended 13th East Asia Summit
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi attended the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Singapore on 15
November 2018. It was Prime Minister Modi’s 5th East Asia Summit. The members
of EAS consists of 10 ASEAN nations (Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia,
The Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos), Australia,
China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US.
MoU
signed on ‘India-UK Cancer Research’
A Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) for the partnership between Department of Biotechnology
(DBT) and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) was signed on 14 November 2018. The MoU was
signed for the ‘India-UK Cancer Research Initiative’. It is a collaborative
5-year bilateral research initiative. Both CRUK and DBT will invest 5 million
pounds each in this initiative.
‘Super-Earth’
discovered by scientists
An international
team of scientists has discovered a cold ‘super-Earth’ exoplanet orbiting
around the red dwarf Barnard, the second closest star system to Earth. The new
planet has been named ‘Barnard’s star b’ (or GJ 699 b). It orbits its red star
every 233 days near the snow-line, a distance where water freezes. Barnard’s
star is six light-years away from earth.
UNSC
agreed to lift sanctions against Eritrea
The United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) has agreed to lift sanctions against Eritrea
after nine years. An arms embargo, asset freeze, and travel ban were imposed in
2009 amid claims that Eritrea supported militancy in Somalia. The resolution
was drafted by the United Kingdom and backed by the United States and its
allies.
Ghost
galaxy spotted next to Milky Way
Scientists of
the European Space Agency (ESA) has discovered a massive and very faint galaxy
near the Milky Way. The name of the galaxy is Antlia 2 or Ant 2 and is known as
a dwarf galaxy. The Galaxy was discovered with the help of Gaia satellite.
Despite
its size, the galaxy has very few stars.
Ant 2 is 10,000
times fainter, meaning that it has about one 10,000th the number of stars. Justice
Mathur took oath as Allahabad HC CJ Justice Govind Mathur took oath as the Chief
Justice of the Allahabad High Court on 14 November 2018. The oath was
administered by Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik. Justice Mathur was appointed
as a judge in the Rajasthan High Court in September 2004. He was transferred to
the Allahabad High Court from Rajasthan High Court in November 2017.
26th
COCSSO began in Himachal Pradesh
26th ‘Conference
of Central and States Statistical Organisations’ (COCSSO) began from 15
November 2018 at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. The conference is organised
by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The theme of
the conference is ‘Quality Assurance in Official Statistics’.
Hima
Das appointed as Youth Ambassador
Hima Das has
been appointed as UNICEF India’s Youth Ambassador. She will work towards
supporting various initiatives by UNICEF.
She will also work towards raising awareness about the rights and needs
of the children. She won the gold medal in Women’s 4 x 400 m Relay event at the
2018 Asian Games.
Delhi
Police launched e-learning site ‘NIPUN’
Delhi Police
commissioner Amulya Patnaik has launched the e-Learning portal of Delhi Police
called ‘NIPUN’ on 14 November 2018. The e-learning portal aims to give online
training and information through specialised courses designed by experts in the
field. The website will also act as a tool for feedback mechanism and bridge
communication gap.
‘Tall
ships sail together’ expedition began
Chief of Indian
Navy, Admiral Sunil Lanba flagged off a ‘tall ships sail together’ expedition
on 14 November 2018. The expedition will cover a distance of 1,200 nautical
miles from Kochi to Muscat to retrace the trade links that existed between the
erstwhile Malabar coast and the Persian Gulf. The event is held as part of the
10th-anniversary celebrations of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.
Sanjay
Karol sworn in as CJ of Tripura HC
Justice Sanjay
Karol sworn in as the new Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court on 14
November 2018. Tripura Governor, Kaptan Singh Solanki administered the oath of
office and secrecy to Justice Karol. Justice Karol was previously a judge of
the Himachal Pradesh High Court. He has become the fourth Chief Justice of
Tripura High Court.
Scheme
for cooperative startups launched
Agriculture
Minister Radha Mohan Singh launched ‘Yuva Sahakar-Cooperative Enterprise
Support and Innovation Scheme’ on 14 November 2018. The aim is to provide
cheaper loans to startups in the cooperative sector and those having innovative
projects costing up to Rs 3 crore. The scheme will be implemented by the
National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
International
Cherry Blossom Festival began
The ‘India
International Cherry Blossom Festival 2018’ was inaugurated in Shillong on 14
November 2018. It is the festival that highlights the pink cherry flowers
blooming all over the city in early November. A similar festival is also held
in Japan but it is celebrated in the spring when the cherry trees bloom.
‘World
Philosophy Day’ observed on 15 November
‘World
Philosophy Day’ is annually observed on the third Thursday of November to
honour the philosophical reflections around the world. The aim of the day is to
raise public awareness of the importance of philosophy. It also aims to
underline the importance of the universalization of philosophy-teaching for
future generations. ‘World Philosophy Day’ was introduced in 2002 by UNESCO.
Important
Current Affairs 16th November 2018
China
builds an ‘artificial sun’
China has built
an ‘artificial sun’ that reaches temperature six times that of the core of the
sun. The reactor named ‘Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak’ (EAST)
is designed to replicate the processes of the sun as part of a project to turn
hydrogen into cost-effective green energy. It involves fusion of hydrogen atoms
together to form heavier elements, such as helium.
National
Press Day observed on 16 November
National Press
Day is observed on 16 November every year. On this day, Press Council of India
(PCI) started functioning as a moral watchdog. The PCI was first set up in the
year 1966 by the Parliament on the recommendations of the ‘First Press
Commission’. The PCI has been mandated by Parliament to improve the standards
of journalism and maintain its freedom.
FSSAI
sets up ‘Eat Right’ awards
Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has instituted the ‘Eat Right Awards’. The
award has been instituted for food related start-ups to reward innovation and
promote entrepreneurship in the area of food safety and applied nutrition. A
jury of eminent professionals and experts in the food sector will select the
winners.
Tajikistan
launched a hydro-electric project
Tajikistan
inaugurated a US$ 3.9 billion ‘Rogun hydro-electric project’ on 16 November
2018. It has been built on the Vakhsh River in southern Tajikistan. The project
will enable Tajikistan to eliminate domestic energy shortages and export
electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The first of six turbines in the Rogun
hydroelectric dam went online on 16 November 2018.
Tribunal
to decide on ban on 2 militant groups
The Government
of India has set up a tribunal for adjudicating whether or not two
Tripura-based militant outfits should be declared banned organisations under
the law. The two militant outfits are National Liberation Front of Tripura and
All Tripura Tiger Force. The tribunal will be headed by Delhi High Court Judge
Justice Suresh Kait.
Exports
grew by 17.86% in October 2018
According to the
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India’s exports grew by 17.86% to 26.98
billion dollars in October 2018. India’s exports stood at 22.89 billion dollars
in October 2017. The sectors which recorded healthy growth includes petroleum,
engineering, chemicals, pharma and gems and jewellery sector.
Government
delegated powers to local bodies
The Government
of India has delegated powers to local bodies to ensure compliance of
environmental conditions for buildings, construction and area development
projects Local bodies such as Municipalities, Development Authorities and
District Panchayats shall stipulate environmental conditions. The conditions
include natural drainage, water conservation and among others.
World
Bank provides US$155.7 million to Nepal
The World Bank
provided over US$ 155 million in financial assistance to Nepal on 14 November
2018. The first project comprising a
credit of US$ 133 million will finance the improvement & maintenance
programme targeting around 477 bridges along Nepal’s strategic roads network. The
second project in the form of a grant of US$ 22.7 million to support the Food
& Nutrition Enhancement Project.
Africa’s
first ever high speed train unveiled
French President
Emmanuel Macron and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI have inaugurated Morocco’s first
high-speed rail line, the first ever such line in Africa. The king Mohammed VI
named the first line as ‘Al Boraq’. It will connect the economic hubs of
Tangier and Casablanca. The $2 billion project was launched in September 2011.
World
Tolerance Summit inaugurated in Dubai
The two-day
summit to mark the World Tolerance Day was inaugurated in Dubai on 16 November
2018. The theme of the Summit was ‘Prospering from Pluralism: Embracing
Diversity through Innovation and Collaboration’. The summit is expected to
focus on the crucial role of women and the youth in spreading tolerance in
their societies.
South
Asian Regional Conference inagurated
The conference
on ‘Urban Infrastructure: New Approaches to Public & Private Partnerships
and Municipal Finance Innovations’ was inaugurated in New Delhi on 15 November
2018. The conference was organised by NITI Aayog, United Nations Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the Asian Development Bank. Key
issues of the Urban Infrastructure were discussed at the conference.
Food
Park in Aurangabad district inaugurated
Union Minister
for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated the second Mega
Food Park in Maharashtra on 15 November 2018. The Food Park is located in
Paithan Taluka of Aurangabad district, Maharashtra. The first Food Park was
inaugurated on 1st March 2018 in Satara district, Maharashtra. The Mega Food Park
Scheme is implemented by Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
2
North East Circuits inaugurated in Arunachal
Two projects
under Swadesh Darshan Scheme were inaugurated in Arunachal Pradesh on 15
November 2018. These projects are ‘Bhalukpong- Bomdila – Tawang Project’ &
‘Nafra- Seppa- Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys- Sangdupota- New Sagalee- Ziro-
Yomcha Project’. Swadesh Darshan scheme is the flagship schemes of the Ministry
of Tourism for the development of thematic circuits in the country
Fitch
retains rating for India at ‘BBB-minus’
Fitch Ratings
retained India’s sovereign rating at ‘BBB-minus’. ‘BBB-minus’ is the lowest
investment grade rating. Fitch forecasts India’s growth to rebound to 7.3% in
FY19 and 7.5% in FY20. The Fitch Ratings added that a recent analysis conducted
by it found that India had the highest medium-term growth potential among the
largest emerging markets.
JICA
to fund Bengal power project
Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will extend Rs. 5,000-crore loan to a
1,000 MW Turga pumped storage project in West Bengal. The project is coming up
in the Ayodhya Hills in Purulia district, West Bengal. The project is scheduled
for completion by 2027. A pumped storage power plant works as a large storage
battery which generates power during peak periods.
‘Aadi
Mahotsav’ being organised from 16 Nov
‘Aadi Mahotsav’,
a National Tribal Festival is being organised from 16th to 30th November 2018
in New Delhi by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The theme of the festival is ‘A
Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Craft, Cuisine and Commerce’. The
Mahotsav will comprise of display and sale of items of tribal art and craft,
tribal medicine and healers, tribal cuisine etc.
International
Day for Tolerance: 16 November
The ‘International
Day for Tolerance’ is annually observed on 16 November. The aim of the day is
to educate people about the need for tolerance in the society and to help them
understand the negative effects of intolerance. The United Nations has launched
a new global campaign named ‘TOGETHER’ to promote tolerance, respect and
dignity across the world.
‘Himalayan
State Regional Council’ constituted
NITI Aayog has
constituted the ‘Himalayan State Regional Council’ to ensure sustainable
development of the Himalayan region. The ‘Himalayan State Regional Council’
will be chaired by the NITI Aayog member Dr VK Saraswat. The council will also
consist of the Chief Secretaries of the Himalayan States as well as the
Secretaries of key Central Ministries, and senior officers of NITI Aayog.
Sunil
Mehta panel formed ‘Sashakt India AMC’
Sunil Mehta
panel has formed an Asset Management Company (AMC) for resolving large bad
loans. The AMC will be called as ‘Sashakt India Asset Management’. The panel is
now working towards identifying potential investors for an Alternative
Investment Fund (AIF) which will fund the AMC. Sunil Mehta panel is working for
the faster resolution of stressed assets in public sector banks.
‘Toxic’
declared Oxford Word of the Year
Oxford
Dictionary has declared the adjective ‘toxic’ as the Word of the Year 2018. The
adjective toxic is defined as ‘poisonous’ and first appeared in English in the
mid-seventeenth century from the medieval Latin ‘toxicus’. The Oxford Word of
the Year is a word or expression that is judged to have lasting potential as a
term of cultural significance.
Important
Current Affairs 17th November 2018
Adobe
CEO in Business Person of the Year list
Shantanu
Narayen, the Chief Executive Officer of Adobe has been named by Fortune in its
‘2018 Business Person of the Year’ list. In the list, Shantanu Narayen is at
12th position. The list has been topped by the CEO of insurance company
‘Progressive Tricia Griffith’. In choosing Fortune’s ‘Business Person of the
Year’, the publication weighs 10 financial metrics like profits and revenue.
Human
ancestor fossil discovered in Kutch
Scientists have
discovered a fossilised upper jaw of an eleven million-year-old human ancestor
in Kutch, Gujarat. The find significantly extends the southern range of ancient
apes in the Indian Peninsula. Apes, or hominoids, are a group of primates from
Africa and Southeast Asia that includes the gibbons and the great apes: chimps,
orangutans, gorillas, and humans.
Odisha
govt announced new Biotechnology Policy
Odisha
government announced a new ‘Biotechnology Policy 2018’ to attract investments
in the sector at the Make in Odisha Conclave on 15 November 2018. As per the
policy, all biotechnology units shall be allotted land at a concessional rate
as per the Industrial Policy Resolution of the state government. An additional
subsidy of 25% shall be available to reputed anchor tenants.
India’s
first interactive credit card launched
IndusInd Bank
has announced the launch of ‘IndusInd Bank Nexxt Credit Card’. The card
empowers customers with a choice of payment options such as EMI, Reward Points
or Credit at the push of a button, on the card, at the point of sale (POS). The
bank claims it to be the nation’s first interactive credit card with buttons.
Mobile
banking transactions tripled in Sept
According to the
monthly data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the number of
transactions on mobile banking apps grew almost 3.5 times at 447 million in
September 2018. The value of such transactions also grew more than 2.4 times at
₹2.07 lakh crore. Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) also grew moderately in
both volume and value terms at 357 million and ₹17,700 crore.
9th
Annual Defence & Security Dialogue held
India and China
held the ‘9th Annual Defence and Security Dialogue’ in Beijing on 13 November
2018. The Indian delegation was headed by Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and
Chinese delegation was headed by Deputy Chief of Joint Staff Department of the
Central Military Commission. Both sides agreed on enhancing defence exchanges
and interactions at different levels between the two militaries.
Indian
Navy completes refit of Maldivian ship
Maldivian Coast
Guard Ship (MCGS) Huravee successfully completed refit at the naval dockyard
Visakhapatnam. The MCGS Huravee was originally commissioned as INS Tillanchang,
a Trinkat-class patrol vessel built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and
Engineers, Kolkata in March 2001. It was gifted to the Maldives by the
Government of India in April 2006.
India’s
1st elephant hospital opens in Mathura
India’s first
specialised hospital for elephants was formally opened in Mathura on 16
November 2018. The hospital is located close to the elephant conservation and
care centre and is designed to treat injured and sick elephants. The unique
medical centre offers wireless digital X-ray, laser treatment, dental X-ray,
thermal imaging, ultrasonography, hydrotherapy and quarantine facilities.
Justice
Amareshwar sworn in as CJ of Patna HC
Justice
Amareshwar Pratap Sahi sworn in as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court on 17
November 2018. Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon administered the oath of office to
Justice Sahi. Justice Sahi was a judge of the Allahabad High Court before his
appointment as the Chief Justice of
Patna High Court.
Ad-filmmaker
Alyque Padamsee passed away
Prominent ad
filmmaker and actor Alyque Padamsee passed away on 17 November 2018 in Mumbai. As
a film actor, he was known for his role in Richard Attenborough’s film Gandhi
where he played Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He was known as the Father of modern
Indian advertising. He was conferred with Padmashri Award in 2000 and he also
received Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna in 2012.
‘Gau
Samridhi scheme’ launched in Kerala
Kerala Chief
Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the ‘Gau Samridhi Plus Scheme’ on 16
November 2018. The government subsidised scheme will give insurance coverage to
dairy farmers at low premium rates. The farmers belonging to the general
category will be getting 50% subsidy on premiums while those belonging to
scheduled caste & scheduled tribe category would get a 70% subsidy on the
premium.
9th
Session of the India – Kyrgyz IGC held
The 9th Session
of the India-Kyrgyz Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic,
Scientific and Technological Cooperation (IK-IGC) was held on 15 and 16
November 2018 in New Delhi. Both sides agreed to hold business to business
forums between Kyrgyz and Indian companies. The parties agreed to hold the
tenth meeting of IK-IGC in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic in 2019.
India
& ADB signed $105 Million Loan agreement
The Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $105 million loan
agreement on 16 November 2018. The loan amount will be used for financing the
power transmission system upgrades in Himachal Pradesh. The loan is part of the
$350 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) for Himachal Pradesh Clean
Energy Transmission Investment Program
India
& ADB signed $300 Million Loan agreement
The Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $300 million Loan
Agreement to support lending by India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited
(IIFCL) on 16 November 2018. It will enhance the availability of long-term
finance for PPP projects and improve the operational capacity of IIFCL. The
funding is expected to fund at least 13 sub-projects through IIFCL.
India
& ADB signed $169 Million Loan agreement
Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $169 million loan
agreement on 16 November 2018. The loan amount will be used to develop
climate-resilient water supply, sewerage, and drainage infrastructure in at
least 10 cities in the State of Tamil Nadu. Around 4 million people will
benefit from piped water and sewerage connections and improved drainage.
Three
members of NCW nominated by WCD
The Women and
Child Development Ministry (WCD) has nominated three people to be members of
the National Commission for Women (NCW). The three members are Chandramukhi
Devi, Soso Shaiza and Kamlesh Gautam. They shall hold office for a period of
three years or till the age of 65 years or until further orders.
President
Kovind to visit Vietnam & Australia
President Ram
Nath Kovind will visit Vietnam and Australia from 18 to 24 November 2018 with
an aim to strengthen ties with the Indo-Pacific nations. He will be in Vietnam
in the first leg of his trip. The President’s second leg of the visit will be
in Australia from 21 to 24 November 2018. This is the first visit by an Indian
President to Australia.
1,023
fast track courts to be set up
The Union
Ministry of Women and Child Development has decided to use ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ to
set up 1,023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) to dispose of pending cases of
rape of children and women. In the first phase, 777 FTSCs may be set up in nine
states, and in the second phase, 246 FTSCs will be set up. The ‘Nirbhaya Fund’
was announced by the Government of India in 2013.
Gukesh,
Savitha won gold medals in Chess
Gukesh D and
Savitha Shri B won gold medals in U-12 Open and girls category respectively at
the World Cadets Chess Championship in Spain on 16 November 2018. The
Championship was held for the age groups U-8, U-10 and U-12, girls and Open. The
2nd and 3rd places were won by Murzin Volodor of Russia and Chasin Nico of the
USA in the open category.
Asim
Kumar Roy appointed Bengal Lokayukta
Retired Calcutta
High Court judge Asim Kumar Roy was appointed the Lokayukta of West Bengal on
16 November 2018. He is the 2nd Lokayukta in the state after Samaresh Banerjee,
who had served in the post between 2006 and 2009. The West Bengal Assembly had
in July 2018 passed the Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
Important
Current Affairs 18th November 2018
Prez
Kovind to inaugurate ‘CII Agro Tech’ fair
President Ram
Nath Kovind will inaugurate the ‘CII Agro Tech 2018’ in Chandigarh on 1
December 2018. CII Agro Tech 2018 is a biennial four-day agro technology and
business fair. It is organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The
theme for the 2018 is ‘Technology in Agriculture: Increasing Farmer’s Income’.
‘Shri
Renukaji Fair’ commenced in Himachal
The six-day ‘Shri
Renukaji Fair’ commenced in Himachal Pradesh on 18 November 2018. It is a
religious assembly dedicated to Lord Parashuram and his mother Bhagwati Renuka
Ji. The fair also depicts the rich cultural heritage of Sirmour district. The
festival commenced with the arrival of the palanquin of Lord Parashuram from
the ancient temple in Jamu Koti village to the bank of Renuka lake.
WDoR
is observed on 18 November
The World Day of
Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR) is observed on the third Sunday of
November each year. The slogan for 2018 is ‘Roads have Stories’. The World Day
of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims was started by RoadPeace in 1993. On 26
October 2005, the United Nations endorsed it as a global day to be observed
every third Sunday in November each year.
International
Affairs – II (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· The annual
meeting of World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Future Councils began in Dubai
on 11 November 2018.
· Tajikistan
inaugurated a US$ 3.9 billion ‘Rogun hydro-electric project’ on 16 November
2018.
· The two-day
summit to mark the World Tolerance Day was inaugurated in Dubai on 16 November
2018.
· The United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) has agreed to lift sanctions against Eritrea.
International
Affairs – I (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· The 33rd edition
of the ASEAN Summit began in Singapore on 11 November 2018.
· The 7th Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Inter-Sessional Ministerial Meeting
concluded in Singapore on 13 November 2018.
· Palau became the
first country to impose a widespread ban on sunscreen in an effort to protect
its vulnerable coral reefs.
Mou
& Agreements – II (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· The Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $105 million loan
agreement for financing the power transmission project in Himachal Pradesh.
· The Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $300 million Loan
Agreement to support lending by India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited
(IIFCL).
Mou
& Agreements – I (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· An Agreement on
mutual legal assistance in criminal matters was signed between the Government
of India and Government of the Kingdom of Morocco.
· Kochi
Corporation and Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 10 November 2018.
· Abu Dhabi
National Oil Company (ADNOC) has signed a MoU with the Indian Strategic
Petroleum Reserves Ltd.
India
and World – II (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· Prime Minister
Narendra Modi launched the APIX (Application Programming Interface Exchange) in
Singapore on 14 November 2018.
· ‘2nd Startup
India Investment Seminar’ was organised in Beijing on 12 November 2018.
· India and China
held the ‘9th Annual Defence and Security Dialogue’ in Beijing, China.
India
and World – I (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· Officials from
Australia, India, Japan and the United States will hold the third
‘Quadrilateral’ or Quad meeting in Singapore.
· Prime Minister
Narendra Modi participated in the ‘ASEAN-India Breakfast Summit’ in Singapore
on 15 November 2018.
· Prime Minister
Narendra Modi attended the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Singapore on 15
November 2018.
Defence
News (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· Indian and
Indonesian Navy’s Bilateral Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ was held from 12 to 18
November 2018.
· The joint
military exercise between India and Russia named ‘EXERCISE INDRA 2018’ on
combating insurgency will be conducted from 18 November 2018.
· Chief of Indian
Navy, Admiral Sunil Lanba flagged off a ‘tall ships sail together’ expedition
on 14 November 2018.
Awards
and Honours (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· Dr Debabhuson Borah
won the prestigious ‘Munin Barkotoki Literary Award 2018’ on 12 November 2018.
· Late Dr Martha
Farrell has been honoured with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the 6th
Indian Social Work Congress in New Delhi.
· Universal
Acceptance Steering Group (UASG) conferred ‘Universal Acceptance Thought Leader
Award’ to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
Appointments
– II (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· Retired Calcutta
High Court judge Asim Kumar Roy was appointed the Lokayukta of West Bengal.
· Chandramukhi
Devi, Soso Shaiza and Kamlesh Gautam have been appointed as members of the
National Commission for Women (NCW).
· Justice
Amareshwar Pratap Sahi sworn in as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court.
Appointments
– I (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· The Bank for
International Settlements (BIS) has appointed Siddharth Tiwari as the Chief
Representative for Asia and the Pacific on 1 November 2018.
· Justice Govind
Mathur took oath as the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court
· Hima Das has
been appointed as UNICEF India’s Youth Ambassador.
· Justice Sanjay
Karol was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court.
Govt
Schemes & Policies – II (12 -17 Nov 2018)
· Odisha
government announced a new ‘Biotechnology Policy 2018’ to attract investments
in the sector at the Make in Odisha Conclave.
· Kerala Chief
Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the ‘Gau Samridhi Plus Scheme’.
· The Ministry of
Women and Child Development has decided to use ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ to set up 1,023
Fast Track Special Courts to dispose of pending cases of rape of children and
women.
Govt
Schemes & Policies – I (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· Delhi Police
commissioner Amulya Patnaik has launched the e-Learning portal of Delhi Police
called ‘NIPUN’.
· Agriculture
Minister Radha Mohan Singh launched ‘Yuva Sahakar-Cooperative Enterprise Support
and Innovation Scheme’.
· Ministry of
Human Resource Development has launched two initiatives: Leadership for
Academicians Programme (LEAP) and Annual Refresher Programme In Teaching
(ARPIT).
Days
& Events – II (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· 26th ‘Conference
of Central and States Statistical Organisations’ (COCSSO) began from 15
November 2018 at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.
· A conference on
‘Global Digital Content Market’ (GDCM) 2018 was hosted by the Department of
Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) on 14 and 15 November 2018 in New Delhi.
Days
& Events – I (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· ‘World Diabetes
Day’ is observed on 14 November every year.
· ‘National Press
Day’ is observed on 16 November every year.
· The
‘International Day for Tolerance’ is observed on 16 November every year.
· ‘World
Philosophy Day’ is annually observed on the third Thursday of November.
· A four-day
regional meeting of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) began in Jaipur on 14
November 2018.
Art
& Culture (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· ‘Aadi Mahotsav’,
a National Tribal Festival is being organised from 16th to 30th November 2018
in New Delhi by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
· The ‘India
International Cherry Blossom Festival 2018’ was inaugurated in Shillong on 14
November 2018.
· Tripura hosted
the 6th ‘Northeast Youth Festival’ on 15 November 2018.
Miscellaneous
News – II (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· NITI Aayog has
constituted the ‘Himalayan State Regional Council’ to ensure sustainable
development of the Himalayan region.
· The comic writer
Stan Lee passed away on 12 November 2018.
· Prominent ad
filmmaker and actor Alyque Padamsee passed away in Mumbai.
· India’s first
specialised hospital for elephants was formally opened in Mathura.
Miscellaneous
News – I (12 – 17 Nov 2018)
· Oxford
Dictionary has declared the adjective ‘toxic’ as the Word of the Year 2018.
· The first ever
‘water handloom hut’ in Manipur was inaugurated at Loktak Lake.
· The Election
Commission has set up five all-women polling booths called ‘Sangwari’ booths in
various constituencies of Chhattisgarh.
· Indian mountaineer
Satyarup Siddhanta became the first Indian to climb Mt Giluwe.
Important
Current Affairs 19th November 2018
Kundli-Manesar
section inaugurated
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kundli-Manesar section of the
Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) western peripheral expressway on 19 November 2018. The
expressway will decongest the road traffic from Delhi, especially reducing the
number of trucks entering Delhi. Besides, the project will also provide a
high-speed link between northern Haryana and southern districts.
New
online platform launched by NSE
National Stock
Exchange of India (NSE) launched a mobile application and web-based platform
named ‘NSE goBID’ 19 November 2018. The platform will allow retail investors to
invest in treasury bills (T-Bills) of 91 days, 182 days and 364 days and
various government bonds from one year to almost 40 years. It will also allow
investors to make payments directly from their bank accounts.
Hookah
bars permanently banned in Punjab
Hookah bars have
been permanently banned in Punjab as President Ram Nath Kovind has given his
assent to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Bill, 2018 to check use of
tobacco. Punjab is the third state in the country after Gujarat and Maharashtra
where hookah bars or lounges were banned through law. The Punjab assembly had
passed the Bill in March 2018.
Ustad
Amjad Ali Khan given a lifetime award
Sarod master,
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan was presented the ‘Sumitra Charat Ram Award for Lifetime
Achievement’ on 17 November 2018. He was awarded for his immense contribution
to the enrichment and promotion of the Indian classical music. The award was
presented to him by former diplomat Lalit Mansingh. He was awarded the Padma
Vibhushan in 2001.
New
open online learning programme launched
The Kerala
Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) has rolled out its Online
Open Learning training platform named ‘KOOL’. The platform can be used to train
teachers, students and the general public. KOOL has been designed in a MOOC
(Massive Open Online Course) model. KOOL has an array of features for learners
in the form of animated learning assistants and video tutorials.
AB
Pandey appointed as new Revenue Secretary
The central
government appointed UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey as new Secretary Revenue He
will replace Hasmukh Adhia, who will retire on 30 November 2018. He will
continue to hold additional charge of CEO of UIDAI and also Chairman of GST
Network.
Brigadier
Kuldip Singh passed away
Kuldip Singh
Chandpuri, known as the hero of the Battle of Longewala during the 1971
Indo-Pak war, died on 17 November 2018. Brig Chandpuri was a recipient of the
Maha Vir Chakra, the country’s second-highest gallantry award, for his role at
Longewala, an outpost in the Thar desert of Rajasthan. Brig Chandpuri was
commissioned into the 23rd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment in 1963.
CSE
won Indira Gandhi peace prize
‘Centre for
Science and Environment’ (CSE) has won Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace,
Disarmament and Development 2018. The award is conferred by Indira Gandhi Trust
every year on the late Indira Gandhi’s birth anniversary. The international
jury for the awards was headed by former President Pranab Mukherjee.
Alexander
Zverev won ATP Finals in London
Tennis player
Alexander Zverev won the ATP Finals in London on 19 November 2018. He defeated
Novak Djokovic in the finals. Alexander Zverev became only the fourth player to
beat Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic back-to-back in the semi-final and final
of the same tournament. He also became the youngest winner of the ATP title.
8th
NCWP began in Ranchi
The 8th National
Conference of Women in Police (NCWP) began in Ranchi, Jharkhand on 19 November
2018. The two-day conference which is being organised by Bureau of Police
Research & Development in collaboration with Jharkhand Police. It is the
only national-level platform to address the various issues of Women in Police.
Conference
on ‘Police Communication’ began
A 2 day
Conference, ‘Modernisation of Police Communication and Challenges thereof’,
began in New Delhi on 19 November 2018. Directorate of Coordination Police
Wireless (DCPW), a nodal advisory body to the Home ministry for the Police
Telecommunication in the country is organising the conference. The conference
will provide a forum for discussing various issues of communication.
Two
new satellites to BeiDou Navigation System
China has added
two more satellites to its BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS). The
satellites were launched into space on a ‘Long March-3B’ rocket carrier. With
the successful launch, the basic BDS constellation deployment is complete. It
will be the fourth global satellite navigation system after the US GPS system,
Russia’s GLONASS and the European Union’s Galileo.
‘Qaumi
Ekta Week’ begins from 19 November
‘Qaumi Ekta
Week’ (National Integration Week) will be observed all over the country, from
19th to 25th November, 2018. The aim of the week is to foster and reinforce the
spirit of Communal Harmony, National Integration and pride in vibrant,
composite culture and nationhood. A week long programmes will be observed
during ‘Qaumi Ekta Week’
Shubhankar
won ‘Rookie of the year’ honours
Indian golfer
Shubhankar Sharma became the first Indian to emerge as the ‘Sir Henry Cotton
Rookie of the Year 2018’ on the European Tour. He follows Jon Rahm (2017), Wang
Jeunghun (2016), Byeong Hun An (2015) and Brooks Koepka (2014) who have been
the four Rookies before him. He is the third Asian in last four years to get
this honour, after Byeong Hun An (2015) and Wang Jeunghun (2016).
Lakshya
won bronze medal in badminton
India’s Lakshya
Sen settled for a bronze medal in the World Junior Badminton Championship on 17
November 2018. He was defeated by Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the men’s
singles semifinals. Saina Nehwal is the only Indian to have won a gold in the
‘World Junior Badminton Championship’ during the 2008 Pune edition.
Tripura
to host 7th International Tourism Mart
Tripura will be
hosting ‘International Tourism Mart’ from 22 November 2018. The aim is to
promote the tourism industry in the Northeastern states of the country. Tripura
is hosting the ‘International Tourism Mart’ for the first time. The event is
funded by the Union Ministry of Tourism.
Definition
of kilogram changed
The world’s
standard definition of the kilogram, the ampere, the kelvin and the mole has
been changed. The definition of the kilogram is based on the International
Prototype of the Kilogram (IPK), a cylinder of a platinum alloy stored at the
International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in France. The new
definition of Kilogram will be replaced by the Planck constant.
Novel
penned by former IB official launched
Maharashtra
Director General of Police Datta Padsalgikar launched the novel ‘The Velvet
Gloves’ on 17 November 2018. The novel has been written by former Intelligence
Bureau (IB) officer Balakrishna Kamath. The plot of ‘The Velvet Gloves’ is
about the tussle between Indian intelligence agencies and the US law
enforcement agency FBI.
Naturopathy
Day observed on 18 November
The AYUSH
Ministry celebrated its first ‘Naturopathy Day’ across the country on 18
November 2018. The aim of the day is to promote the drug-less system of
medicine to prevent diseases by altering the diet and lifestyle. Naturopathic
medicine is a system that uses natural remedies to help the body heal itself.
World
Toilet Day: 19 November
World Toilet Day
is observed on 19 November every year. The day is about inspiring action to
tackle the global sanitation crisis. The 2018 campaign is based on the
following narrative: ‘When nature calls, we need a toilet’. World Toilet Day
was established by the World Toilet Organisation in 2001.
Important
Current Affairs 20th November 2018
APEC
summit held in Papua New Guinea
Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit was held on 17 and 18 November 2018 in Papua
New Guinea. This is the first time Papua New Guinea, the poorest of the 21
countries in APEC, has hosted the summit. The capital of Papua New Guinea is
Port Moresby and its currency is ‘Papua New Guinean kina’.
‘Global
talent rankings’ released
The annual
‘Global Talent’ rankings was released by IMD Business School in Switzerland on
20 November 2018. The rankings are based on three factors: Investment and
Development, Appeal, and Readiness. India
got the 53rd rank. Switzerland has topped the global ranking for the fifth year
in a row. Within Asia, Singapore got the 13th rank.
HDFC
disburses Rs 1,100 crore subsidy
HDFC bank has
disbursed over Rs 1,100 crore subsidy to over 51,000 customers under the
government’s flagship scheme PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana). It has provided
loans of over Rs 9,800 crore under PMAY-Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS).’ The
loans were provided to customers belonging to EWS (Economically Weaker
Section), LIG (Low Income Group) and MIG (Middle Income Group) category.
Russia,
Iran, & Turkey to hold Syria talks
Russia, Iran and
Turkey will hold the next round of talks on Syria’s conflict on November 28-29
in Astana, Kazakhstan. The meeting will be the 11th in the Astana peace
process, which was set up in early 2017 by Russia and Iran. The Astana process
was launched after Russia’s military intervention in Syria.
SBI
CAP Ventures launches SME & Housing Fund
SBI CAP Ventures
Ltd. has launched Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) and Affordable Housing
Funds. SBI CAP Ventures Ltd is an alternative asset manager and subsidiary of
SBI Capital Markets. SBI CAP SME Fund aims to raise Rs 400 crore and the
Affordable Housing Fund Rs 350 crore.
Report
on IPRS released by Commerce Ministry
The report on
‘Industrial Park Rating System’ (IPRS) was released on 19 November 2018. The
report was prepared by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion
(DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The IPRS is being developed to
assess industrial parks in the country. Development of IPRS would help increase
the competitiveness of industries and promotion of the manufacturing sector.
Maldives
to rejoin Commonwealth countries
The Maldives
cabinet has approved to rejoin the Commonwealth, two years after withdrawing
from the 53-nation grouping. The country left the Commonwealth during former
President Abdulla Yameen’s administration in October 2016. Ibrahim Mohamed
Solih sworn in as President of Maldives on 17 November 2018.
GROWTH-India
telescope’s first observation
The
‘GROWTH-India telescope’ at the Indian Astronomical Observatory located in
Hanle, Ladakh has made its first science observation which is a follow-up study
of a nova explosion. Novae are explosive events involving violent eruptions on
the surface of white dwarf stars, leading to temporary increase in brightness
of the star. This recurrent nova has been named ‘M31N-2008’.
14th
edition of children’s festival began
The 14th edition
of international children’s theatre festival, ‘JashneBachpan’, was inaugurated
in New Delhi on 17 November 2018. The festival is organised by the National
School of Drama (NSD). The nine-day theatre festival will see performances from
Switzerland, Sri Lanka and Indonesia along with their Indian counterparts. The
festival will conclude on 25 November 2018.
Sanjay
Kumar appointed as Chief of ED
IRS officer
Sanjay Kumar Mishra was appointed as the full-time Chief of the Enforcement
Directorate (ED) on 18 November 2018. He was appointed as the Principal Special
Director in ED in October 2018 and was given the ‘additional’ charge of ED
director for three months. The post of ED director is an additional secretary
rank post in the Union government.
‘Women
Empowerment campaign’ launched
‘Nari
Sashaktikaran Sankalp Abhiyan’ or Women Empowerment campaign was launched in
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on 20 November 2018. The month-long campaign is aimed to
empower women in the state through various programmes. The campaign will
educate women about the schemes being run by central and state governments for
their welfare and security.
RBI’s
new body to look into PCA issues
On 19 November
2018, the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Central Board decided to constitute a
‘Board for Financial Supervision’ (BFS). BFS will examine the framework for
banks under Prompt Corrective Action (PCA). The Central Board also decided to
constitute an expert committee to examine the Economic Capital Framework (ECF).
‘Global
education monitoring report’ released
‘Global
education monitoring report 2019’ was released by UNESCO on 19 November 2018. According
to the report, the literacy levels in rural households of India dip with
seasonal migration. About 80% of seasonal migrant children in seven cities
lacked access to education near work sites. The report said that the
construction sector absorbs the majority of short-term migrants.
Military
exercise ‘Vajra Prahar’ commenced
The joint
military exercise ‘Vajra Prahar’ between India and the United States commenced
in Jaipur on 19 November 2018. The aim is to enhance the interoperability of
the two armed forces. The armies will train on different aspects including
hostage rescue, building intervention, desert survival, medical aid and combat
firing.
AirSewa
2.0 portal and app unveiled
The Ministry of
Civil Aviation has introduced the upgraded version of AirSewa 2.0 web portal
and mobile app for air travellers. Major improvements include features such as
secure sign-up and log-in with social media, chatbot for travellers support,
and improved grievance management. The web portal and application will help to
capture air travellers’ feedback for policy interventions.
‘Ease
of Doing Business Challenge’ launched
The Prime
Minister, Narendra Modi launched the ‘Ease of Doing Business Grand Challenge’
on 19 November 2018. The objective of this challenge is to invite innovative
ideas based on Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Big Data Analytics,
Blockchain and other cutting-edge technology to reform Government processes. The
platform for the Grand Challenge is the Startup India Portal.
Africa
Industrialisation Day: 20 November
‘Africa
Industrialisation Day’ is observed on 20 November every year. It’s a day
dedicated to raising necessary awareness about Industrialisation in Africa. 2018
Theme: ‘Promoting Regional Value Chains in Africa: A pathway for accelerating
Africa’s structural transformation, industrialization and pharmaceutical
production’
‘World
Malaria Report 2018’ released by WHO
World Health
Organisation (WHO) has released ‘World Malaria Report 2018’ on 19 November
2018. According to the report, India and 10 other countries in sub-Saharan
Africa accounted for around 70% of estimated malaria cases (151 million) and
deaths (274,000) in 2017. India registered a 24% decrease in malaria cases in
2017 as compared to 2016.
Jalaj
Srivastava is IWAI chairman
Jalaj Srivastava
has been appointed the Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India
(IWAI) on 19 November 2018. He is a 1984 batch Indian Administrative Service
(IAS) officer. At present, he is working as Additional Secretary, Ministry of
Agriculture. The IWAI comes under the Union Ministry of Shipping, Road
Transport and Highways.
Universal
Children’s Day: 20 November
Universal
Children’s Day is observed on 20 November every year. The aim of the day is to
promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and
improving children’s welfare. United Nations Universal Children’s Day was
established in 1954. On 20 November 1989, the UN General assembly adopted the
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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