Daily GK Updates - 26th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Constitution Day of India 2019: Constitution Day or Samvidhan Divas is celebrated on 26 November cross the country to mark the adopting of the Indian Constitution by the Constituent Assembly on this day in 1949. In 2019, it marks the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution. It came into force on 26th January 1950, marking the beginning of a new era in the history of the Indian Republic. It is aimed at reiterating and reorienting the citizens towards the values and principles expressed in the Constitution and encouraging all Indians to play their rightful role in strengthening the Indian Democracy. It also aims to create awareness of Fundamental Duties as enshrined in the Constitution.

Note: India’s constitution is the longest written constitution in the world. It took around 2 years, 11 months and 17 days to complete the Constitution.

2. GOI launches Credit-linked Subsidy Services Awas Portal: Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs has launched Credit-linked Subsidy Services Awas Portal (CLAP) in New Delhi. The portal provides a transparent and robust real-time web-based monitoring system for credit-linked Subsidy Services (CLSS) beneficiaries. Using the portal, a beneficiary can track his application status in real-time. The initiative would also benefit other stakeholders to work in synergy to release subsidy to beneficiaries on time.

Note: Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs: Hardeep Singh Puri.

3. Etawah Lion Safari inaugurated in Uttar Pradesh: The Etawah Lion Safari, formally known as Etawah Safari Park was thrown open for public in Uttar Pradesh without the lion segment. The Safari has been inaugurated by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Minister Dara Singh Chauhan. It is spread in 350 hectares of land and has been developed as an educative tourist destination for children as well as youths. It is one of the biggest safari parks in Asia, spread over an area of 350 hectares (860 acres). The Etawah lion safari is the first in India to have a lion breeding centre set up with an aim to develop a research facility on Asiatic lions.

Note: UP CM: Yogi Adityanath, Governor: Anandiben Patel.

4. CBDT inaugurates Web Portal for exchange of information on Income Tax: Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has inaugurated the Web Portal for Exchange of Information on Income Tax which will consolidate all relevant Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) related information at one place. This portal will help inconvenient access by the public, financial institutions as well as departmental officers at large. The Web Portal would be a repository of policy and technical circulars, guidance, notifications issued by the CBDT. It would provide links to relevant circulars, guidance issued by regulatory authorities in India and other international bodies.

5. Railways sets up Institute for Financial Management in Hyderabad: The Indian Railway Institute of Financial Management (IRIFM) has been set up in Hyderabad, Telangana. This new entity is set up to impart professional training in the management of railway finances. The project was conceived and constructed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) at a cost of Rs 85 crore. IIRFM marks an important addition to the list of premier professional institutions in the country in the field of financial management in Indian Railways. The ensuing batch of probationers belonging to Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) will have the opportunity to get trained.

Note: Railway Minister: Piyush Goyal.

6. Delhi Assembly hosts 3-day Commonwealth Youth Parliament: Delhi Assembly hosted a three-day Commonwealth Youth Parliament. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed the inaugural session of the 10th Commonwealth Youth Parliament in Delhi Assembly. It is for the first time that an Indian Legislature is hosting the Commonwealth Youth Parliament. As many as 47 participants from 24 Commonwealth countries are participating in the event along with eleven participants from India. The event is being organized to enlighten the youth about legislative processes and encourage their participation in legislative procedures and decision making.

7. National Milk Day: 26 November: The National Milk Day (NMD) is being observed every year on 26th November across India to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien (Father of the White Revolution). The idea of observing National Milk Day was first mooted by Indian Dairy Association (IDA) in 2014 on the lines of World Milk Day that is observed on 1st June every year under the aegis of UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Dr. Kurien he was conferred with many accolades such as Ramon Magsaysay Award, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Krishi Ratna, World Food Prize, Padma Vibhushan, etc. He was also given 15 honorary doctorates from various universities from across the world.

Note: Dr. Verghese Kurien is also known as the Milkman of India and the architect of Operation Flood.

8. Devendra Fadnavis announces to resign as Maharashtra CM: Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis announced his resignation after the Supreme Court asked him to face a floor-test to test the strength of his BJP-led government’s position. His deputy, Ajit Pawar of the NCP, had resigned minutes before.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Kerala cadre IAS officer to head UN tourism body: Kerala cadre senior IAS officer Suman Billa is set to join the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) at its headquarters in Madrid, Spain. He will take charge next week as Director, Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Development at the D1 level at UNWTO, a specialised agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

Note: UNWTO’s membership includes 158 countries; Founded: October 1975.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Sangram Dahiya, Varsha Varman win double trap national titles: Sangram Dahiya (Haryana) and Varsha Varman (Madhya Pradesh) clinched double trap titles, winning gold at the 63rd National Shotgun Shooting Championship in New Delhi. In the men's category, Sangram shot 142 out of 150 targets to clinch the gold medal. Former world champion Ankur Mittal has won Silver and Prithvi Singh Chahal bronze. Varsha, in the women’s category of 120 targets each, had 97 to her name to clinch the gold ahead of state-mate Manisha Keer, who had 93 hits winning Silver.

2. Indian archers bag recurve bronze at Asian Championships: Indian archers Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das won a bronze medal in the recurve and compound mixed event at the Asian Archery Championships in Kolkata. They defeated China by 6-2 to clinch the medal in the championships.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Ashok Leyland Ltd, ICICI Bank ink MoU for vehicle financing: Commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland Ltd. (ALL) has entered into a two-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ICICI Bank to offer customised financial solutions to customers across India with a focus on semi-urban and rural geographies. The bank will work in close coordination with the authorised dealers of Ashok Leyland to provide financial solutions to the customers.

2. SEBI slaps Rs 40.5 lakh fine on 7 firms for fraudulent trading: Markets regulator SEBI imposed a total fine of Rs 40.5 lakh on 7 companies for indulging in fraudulent trading in the illiquid stock options segment on the BSE. The total fine levied on the firms, Rs 10.5 lakh was levied on Green Venture Securities Management Pvt Ltd while Morgan Financial Services, Niranjan Housing, Navrang Tradelinks, Niranjan Metallic, Nishu Leasing and Finance and Midpoint Tradelink faced a fine of Rs 5 lakh each. The reversal trades executed by the Notice were non-genuine in nature and created an impression of genuine trading volumes in respective contracts.