Daily GK Updates - 19th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Minister for Rural Development inaugurates SARAS IITF 2019: The Union Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Agriculture inaugurated the SARAS India International Trade Fair(IITF) Mela 2019 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. SARAS IITF Mela empowering rural women through Self-Help Groups is one of the top priorities of the government. More than seven crore women have joined Self-Help Groups so far and the Ministry is making all efforts to take this number to 10 crores. Women self-help groups play a very crucial role in the fulfilment of two important goals, namely poverty alleviation and women empowerment.

Note: Union Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Agriculture: Narendra Singh Tomar.

2. Yediyurappa inaugurates three-day Bengaluru Tech Summit: Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa has inaugurated the three-day Bengaluru Tech Summit at Bengaluru Place. More than 3500 delegates, 12,000 visitors and 200 speakers are participating in this Summit. 250 Exhibitors will showcase their services, products, and technologies to visitors. The summit is expected to be attended by global tech leaders, investors, industry captains, research heads, policymakers and startups from India and 20 foreign countries. This IT event will focus on artificial intelligence, Cyber Security, Space and Drone Revolutions, Electric vehicles, 5G, Genomics, Trends in Agriculture etc.

3. Smriti Irani Inaugurates Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh (BPKK) to Tackle Malnutrition: The Ministry of Women and Child Development in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched India’s first Poshan Atlas to create a repository of diverse crops. The Poshan Atlas was inaugurated by Smriti Zubin Irani along with Bill Gates in New Delhi. The Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh is a repository of diverse crops across 128 agro-climatic zones to help enable better nutritional outcomes. The Kosh aims to reduce malnutrition among women and children across the country, through a multi-sectoral results-based framework, including agriculture.

4. NHM Jammu & Kashmir launched BMEWMP programme in J&K, Ladakh: National Health Mission Jammu & Kashmir, has launched the Bio-Medical Equipment Waste Management Programme (BMEWMP) in the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The biomedical equipment management was the need of the hour to improve the patient care facilities in the health care institutions. The objectives of the program are designed in a way that the equipment in the district level health care facility will have an uptime of 95%, in sub-district hospital 90% and in PHC 80%.

5. International cherry blossom festival 2019 celebrated in Shillong, Meghalaya: Meghalaya Chief Minister has Inaugurated the 4th International Cherry Blossom Festival 2019 held in Shillong, Meghalaya. For the 1st time, India & South Korea jointly celebrated this festival that witnessed the celebration of unique autumn flowering of Himalayan Cherry Blossoms (scientifically known as the Prunus serrulata). South Korea Ambassador to India Shin Bong-Kil joined the celebration.

Note: Chief Minister of Meghalaya: Conrad K Sangma; Governor: Tathagata Roy.

6. ADB to provide USD 91 million loan for Comprehensive Water Management in Karnataka: The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed USD 91 million loans under Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Program (IWRM). The project will help to modernize the Vijayanagara Channel irrigation systems, prepare river basin management plans in the Krishna river basin that will help improve irrigation water use efficiency and contribute to improving sustainable water security in Karnataka. The investment program will help the Government of Karnataka in strengthening its institutions involved in integrated water resource management and modernizing the irrigation system infrastructure for improving water use efficiency in the State

Note: Capital of Karnataka: Bengaluru; CM: BS Yediyurappa; Governor: Vajubhai Vala.

7. Justice SA Bobde sworn in as 47th Chief Justice of India: Supreme Court Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde (63 years) was sworn in as the 47th Chief Justice of India (till April 23, 2021) by President Ram Nath Kovind. Justice Bobde succeeds Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who retired on 17 November. Justice Bobde was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court on April 12, 2013. He was part of the five-judge constitution bench which delivered the landmark Ayodhya verdict.

Note: Supreme Court established: 28th January 1950.

8. ECI to establish a visiting chair in memory of TN Seshan: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to establish and fund a visiting chair on an interdisciplinary approach to Electoral Studies in memory of TN Seshan (former CEC). It will be established in the Centre for Curriculum Development at India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), New Delhi (from 2020-2025). The Chair will be mentored by Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami. The Visiting Chair programme will be targeted at young academics with a proven track record in fields relatable to electoral studies. The Chair will also be expected to curate one national level seminar on specific aspects of Electoral Studies.

Note: Election Commission formed: 25 January 1950; Headquarters of Election Commission: New Delhi; Chief Election Commissioner: Sunil Arora.

Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) TN Seshan who passed away recently on November 10, 2019.

9. ISRO to launch Cartosat-3, 13 commercial nanosatellites on 25th November: India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C47) will launch Cartosat-3 and 13 commercial nanosatellites into Sun Synchronous orbit from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. Cartosat-3 satellite is a third-generation agile advanced satellite having high-resolution imaging capability. PSLV-C47 is the 21st flight of PSLV in 'XL' configuration, which is with 6 solid strap-on motors. PSLV-C47 will also carry 13 commercial nanosatellites from the United States of America as part of a commercial arrangement with New Space India Limited (NSIL), Department of Space. This will be the 74th launch vehicle mission from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. The launch is tentatively scheduled at 09:28 Hrs (IST) on 25th November 2019.

Note: ISRO Director: K.Sivan; Headquarters: Bengaluru; Established: 1969.

10. Quami Ekta Week to be observed across the country from 19-25th November: The Quami Ekta Week (National Integration Week) is being observed across the country from the 19th to 25th November 2019. The week is observed to highlight the strength and resilience of the nation to withstand any potential threats to the secular fabric. These occasions will also provide an opportunity to reaffirm age-old traditions and faith in the values of tolerance, co-existence, and brotherhood in a multi-cultural and multi-religious society.

The programmes to be observed during Qaumi Ekta Week:

19th Nov	National Integration Day
20th Nov	The Welfare of Minorities Day
21st Nov	Linguistic Harmony Day
22nd Nov	Weaker Sections Day
23rd Nov	Cultural Unity Day
24th Nov	Women’s Day
25th Nov	Conservation Day

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. GoI to extend Visa-on-Arrival facility to UAE nationals: Government of India (GoI) has decided to extend the Visa-on-Arrival facility to nationals of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a period of up to 60 days with double entry for business, tourism, conference and medical purposes. This facility is aimed at further strengthening people to people and trade links as well as strategic ties between the two countries. This facility is available at six designated International Airports namely, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.

Note: Visa-on-Arrival is available only to those UAE nationals who have earlier obtained an e-Visa or a normal paper Visa for India. Pakistan Origin UAE nationals will not be eligible for Visa-on-Arrival Scheme.

2. 6th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus begins in Bangkok: The 6th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) has begun in Bangkok, Thailand. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with 17 other Defence Ministers of ADMM-Plus countries are attending the meeting. Earlier, Mr Singh reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral defence relations with the respective leaders and discussed ways to further improve the ties.

3. World Toilet Day: 19 November: World Toilet Day is observed across the world on 19th November with an aim to motivate millions across the world on issues of sanitation. The theme for 2019 is ‘Leaving No One Behind’. It’s all about inspiring action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which promises sanitation for all by 2030.

Note: In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly officially designated 19th November as World Toilet Day. World Toilet Day is coordinated by UN-Water in collaboration with governments and partners.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Shooter Shreyasi Singh crowned National Champion in Women’s Trap: Reigning Commonwealth Games champion Shreyasi Singh won the women’s Trap Gold at the ongoing 63rd National Shooting Championship for shotgun events in New Delhi. Shreyasi representing Bihar shot 42 out of 50 birds to claim the crown, while Rajeshwari from Punjab managed 38 hits to settle for silver. Pragati Dubey of Madhya Pradesh won bronze with a finals score of 31. This was Shreyasi’s fourth individual career National title but her first in Women’s Trap.

2. Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Dominic Thiem to win ATP Finals title: Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas has won the ATP Finals beating Austria's Dominic Thiem 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 in London. It is Tsitsipas's third title of the season and comes a year after he was crowned champion at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. Tsitsipas had qualified for the finals after defeating six-time champion Roger Federer in the semi-finals.

3. Indian women clinch five gold medals in Asian Youth Boxing C'ship: Indian women have clinched five gold, while men bagged two silver at Asian Youth Boxing Championship in Mongolia. All five women finalists, Naorem Chanu (51kg), Vinka (64kg) Sanamacha Chanu (75kg), Poonam (54kg) and Sushma (81kg) won Gold for the country in a phenomenal sweep. Among the men, Selay Soy (49kg) and Ankit Narwal (60kg) settled for the second place after going down in their respective summit clashes. India signed off with 12 medals in the event with bronze coming from Arundhati Choudhury (69kg), Komalpreet Kaur (81kg), Jasmine (57kg), Satender Singh (91kg) and Aman (91kg).

4. England qualifies for UEFA Euro 2020 football tournament: England has qualified for the 4UEFA Euro 2020 football tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 99th international goal as Portugal secured its place at the Euro 2020 finals. Portugal are the defending champions, having won the 2016 edition.

Note: The 2020 UEFA European Football Championship (UEFA Euro 2020) is scheduled to be held in 12 cities in 12 European countries from 12 June to 12 July 2020.

DEFENCE

1. Indian Army conducts ‘Sindhu Sudarshan’ exercise in Rajasthan: The Sudarshan Chakra Corps of the Indian Army conducted ‘Sindhu Sudarshan’ exercise in Barmer, Rajasthan. Around 40,000 jawans of the Indian Army are participating in the exercise.’ Sindhu Sudarshan’ exercise will continue till December 05. The aim of the exercise was to evaluate the capability and battle readiness of the defence forces in an integrated air-land battle in a semi-developed terrain of the desert. Newly inducted armed helicopter Rudra, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) equipped with electro-optical pods, helmet-mounted sights and night vision goggles was used in the exercise. Apart from Rudra, newly inducted K9 Vajra (South Korean self-propelled 155 mm howitzer) was also used in the exercise.

Note: Motto of Indian Army: “Service Before Self”; Founded: 1 April 1895; Headquarters: New Delhi.

2. 1st Indo-Qatari joint Naval Exercise Za’ir-Al-Bahr (Roar of the Sea) begins in Doha: The Bilateral Maritime Exercise Za’ir-Al-Bahr (Roar of the Sea) between the Indian Navy and Qatari Emiri Naval Forces has been started in Doha to enhance interoperability between the two navies. The exercise (five days) will include a three-day ‘harbour phase’ and two-day ‘sea phase’. From the Indian side, Indian Navy Guided Missile Stealth Frigate INS Trikand and Patrol Aircraft P8-I are participating in the exercise. The versatile Anti-Ship Missile equipped Barzan Class Fast Attack Craft along with Rafale multi-task fighter aircraft will participate from Qatar Navy. The sea phase will include a tactical maritime exercise involving the domains of surface action, air defence, maritime surveillance and interdiction operation and anti-terrorism.