NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. HRD Ministry launches Kartavya Portal: Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister launched the
kartavya.ugc.ac.in portal for holding monthly essay competitions for students.
The portal was launched as part of year-long ‘Nagrik Kartavya Paalan Abhiyan’
being observed throughout the country. The portal will be used primarily for
holding monthly essay competitions for students as well as other activities
including quizzes, poster making, debates pertaining to Nagrik Kartavya Paalan
Abhiyan. The Department of Higher Education under HRD Ministry will be holding
11 rounds of National Essay Competitions during the year. The topics of the
essay will be based on one Fundamental Duty every month.
Note: Union
Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister: Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.
2. 47th All India Police Science Congress begins
in Lucknow: Retired IPS officer ‘Kiran Bedi’ (Puducherry
Lieutenant Governor) has inaugurated the 47th All India Police Science Congress
(AIPSC) at the police headquarters in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Union Home
Minister Amit Shah will be the chief guest at the valedictory function During 6
sessions of the event, police officers, academicians, researchers, judicial and
scientific experts will present their papers. It will take place includes some
very contemporary issues like Reforms in Policing, Role of social media in
countering radicalization and terrorism.
Note: The last time Lucknow was the host
for AIPSC was in 1997.
3. ADB approves 2nd tranche of USD 150 mn for
West Bengal: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved the
2nd tranche of USD 150 million (about Rs 1,065 crore) for West Bengal to boost
capital investment and infrastructure in the state. The board of ADB approved a
loan of $ 300 million (about Rs 2,130 crore) to continue a comprehensive series
of fiscal reforms in West Bengal to revive financial health of public sector
enterprises. The introduction of medium-term expenditure frameworks in two
departments, and implementation of an integrated tax monitoring system, among
others.
Note: Asian
Development Bank Headquarters: Manila, Philippines; President: Takehiko Nakao.
4. Logo, motto introduced for Lokpal: Lokpal Chairman Justice (retired) Pinaki Chandra Ghose launched the
new logo and motto for the apex anti-corruption ombudsman. A new motto, “Ma
Gridhah Kasyasvidhanam (Do not be greedy for anyone’s wealth)”, was also
adopted. Earlier, an open competition was conducted, inviting entries for the
logo and the motto. A total of 2,236 entries for the logo and 4,705 entries for
the motto were received. A logo designed by Prashant Mishra, a resident of
Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, was finally selected. The logo symbolises how
Lokpal protects and cares for the people of India by establishing justice as
per law.
Note: A Lokpal
is an anti-corruption authority or body of an ombudsman who represents the
public interest in the Republic of India. Headquarters of Lokpal: New Delhi,
India.
5. Cabinet extends the term of 15th Finance
Commission by 11 months: The Union Cabinet has
extended the term of the 15th Finance Commission by 11 months to October 30th
next year. This will suggest formulae for tax devolution for the 2020-21 fiscal
year.
Note: The
Fifteenth Finance Commission is an Indian Finance Commission constituted in
November 2017. It will give recommendations for devolution of taxes and other
fiscal matters for five fiscal years, commencing 1 April 2020. The commission's
chairman is N. K. Singh, and Full-time members being Ajay Narayan Jha, Ashok
Lahiri and Anoop Singh.
6. Madhya Pradesh’s Devi Ahilya University gets
A-plus grade from NAAC: The Indore-based Devi
Ahilya University becoming Madhya Pradesh’s first varsity to be accorded A-plus
grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The Centre
of higher learning now became entitled to several other facilities. It may
introduce courses recognised by the University Grants Commission without the
latter’s permission besides commencing open distance-learning courses.
Note: Director
of NAAC: S. C. Sharma; NAAC Headquarters location: Bengaluru; Founded: 1994.
7. Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived
in New Delhi: The President of Sri Lanka ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa’
reached New Delhi on a three-day state visit to India. During the visit,
Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be accorded a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of
Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow. This will be his first official visit abroad after
assuming office on the 21st of this month. He will pay homage to Father of the
Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, at Rajghat. On the same day, the Sri Lankan President
will hold talks with the Prime Minister, President Ram Nath Kovind and External
Affairs Dr S Jaishankar. A host of issues including stability in the Indian
Ocean region, economic cooperation and the Tamil issue in Sri Lanka may figure
during the talks between two leaders.
Note: Sri
Lanka Capital: Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte; Currency: Sri
Lankan rupee
8. Uddhav Thackeray sworn in as Chief Minister of
Maharashtra: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray (59-years)
took oath as the chief minister (18th) of Maharashtra state. Maharashtra
Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath ceremony at Shivaji Park
in Mumbai. Mr. Thackeray is the third Shiv Sena leader to hold the post after
Manohar Joshi (1995–1999) and Narayan Rane (1 Feb- 17 Oct1999). Thackeray is
the candidate of Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress
alliance for the post of Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Note: Uddhav
Thackeray is the son of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Mr Thackeray is
married to Rashmi Thackeray and has two sons, Aditya (MLA from Mumbai) and
Tejas. He has also published photo-books Maharashtra Desh (2010) and Pahava
Vitthal (2011), capturing various aspects of Maharashtra.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India attends WATEC Conference in Israel: Union Minister of Jal Shakti, represented India at the 8 WATEC (Water
Technology and Environment Control) Conference 2019. The theme of the
conference is “Water Stewardship and Innovation–driving global leadership in
the responsible planning management, and protection of water”. The conference
held at David Intercontinental in Tel Aviv, Israel. The conference, organized
by Kenes Exhibitions, aimed to get updates on technologies related to water and
environmental management. Israel is considered a world hero in terms of water
management. The country treats and reuses 80% of its sewage water for
agriculture. With drip irrigation and seawater desalination, the country has
become a global leader in agriculture. Several countries participated in the
conference & showcased their new-age technologies and solutions.
Note: Union
Minister of Jal Shakti: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
2. India-Netherland: “Water 4 change”, an urban
water management system: The Centre for Water
Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), operating under the Government of
Kerala has launched the “Water 4 Change”. Under the project, six prominent
institutions from the Netherlands will perform long-term research and
field-level action on urban water management systems along with Indian scientists.
The project will bring solutions for water problems in the cities of Kozhikode,
Shimla, Bhuj and Bhopal. The CWRDM was established by the Government of Kerala
to cater to the needs of research and development in water management of the
state.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Abhishek-Jyothi combine claims compound mixed
pair gold at Asian Archery C'ships: Abhishek Verma
and Jyothi Surekha Vennam claimed the gold in compound mixed pair event at the
21st Asian Archery Championships, in Bangkok, Thailand. The Indians defeated
Chinese Taipei opponents Yi-Hsuan Chen and Chieh-Luh Chen 158-151 in the final
clash. India picked up seven medals including one gold, two silver and four
bronze meddles in the event. The Indian archers participated in the tournament
as neutral athletes under the World Archery flag due to the suspension of the
national federation Archery Association of India (AAI).
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Reserve Bank flags rising bad assets from
Mudra loans: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has expressed concern
over rising bad loans from Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY). This scheme was
announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2015, which offers faster
credit, with ticket sizes starting from ₹50,000 and going up to ₹10 lakh, to
small businesses. According to RBI, the percentage of MUDRA loans were at 2.52%
in 2017-18, It has now raised to 2.89% in 2018-19. It also says that the number
of loans being sanctioned under the scheme has increased greatly.
2. India Ratings projects India’s GDP growth for
FY20 at 5.6%: Fitch group firm India Ratings and Research has
projected India’s GDP Growth rate for FY20 (2019-20) at 5.6% (earlier- 6.1%).
The new projection suggests that second quarter of 2019-20 GDP growth is likely
to be 4.7%. Note: Fitch Ratings Inc. is one of the big three credit rating
agencies (other two -Moody's and Standard & Poor's). It is one of the three
nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSRO) designated by
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 1975. Fitch Ratings is
dual-headquartered in New York (US) and London (UK).
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1. RIL market cap hits ₹9.5 lakh crore, a first
for an Indian company: Reliance Industries
Limited (RIL) is the first Indian company to cross Rs.9.5 lakh in market capitalization
(m-cap). Recently Vodafone India and Bharti Airtel had announced their tariff
hike which will be implemented from December 2019. This has increased the share
price of RIL in the market and is believed to attract more subscribers for
Reliance Jio. On 26 Nov 2019, its m-cap touched Rs 9,99,045 crore nearing the
Rs 10 lakh crore mark. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), RIL’s closest rival in
market capital had a share price of Rs.2,110, 2% lower on BSE and m-cap of
Rs.7,71,996.87 crore.
Note: Reliance
Industries Limited Founded: 8 May 1973; Founder (Reliance Industries Limited):
Dhirubhai Ambani; CEO: Mukesh Ambani; Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Royal Aeronautical Society honour for DRDO
chief G Satheesh Reddy: Royal Aeronautical Society
(RAeS) London has conferred the Honorary Fellowship of the Society for the year
2019 to G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman
DRDO. He is the first Indian recipient of this prestigious award in over 100
years. The Society’s highest award is bestowed in recognition of Reddy’s
pioneering technological contributions over the past three decades which has
enabled the country to realise frontline military systems and world-class
missile technologies. This fellowship is considered as Nobel Prize in the
aerospace. It is the world’s highest distinctions for aerospace achievement
awarded for only most exceptional contributions to the aerospace profession.
The first Honorary Fellowship was awarded in the year 1917.
Note: DRDO
formed: 1958, Headquarters: New Delhi.
DEFENCE
1. Bipin Rawat to be first Chief of Defence
Staff: General Bipin Rawat to be first Chief of Defence
Staff. He will end his tenure as the Army Chief in December 2019. He will take
over as the first Chief of Defence Staff – a four-star position being created
as part of a defence management overhaul. He will get a term of 2 years as the
CDS. He took over as the 27th Chief of Army Staff on 31 December 2016 after
General Dalbir Singh retired.
2. Indian Army inducts Israel made Anti-Tank
Guided Missiles Spike along LoC in J&K: The
Indian Army has inducted Israel made Anti-Tank Guided Missiles Spike along the
LoC in the northern command theatre in Jammu and Kashmir to bolster defence
along the border with Pakistan. Known as the "fire and forget"
missiles, Spike is portable by men and are powerful enough to destroy tanks and
bust bunkers within four kilometres.
3. India & Japan holds Mine Countermeasure
Exercise (MINEX) 2019: A maiden bilateral
exercise between the Indian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force
(JMSDF) have conducted Mine Countermeasure Exercise (MINEX) 2019 at Kochi,
Kerala. Officials of the Indian Navy and from the warships Bungo and Takashima
of JMSDF’s Minesweeper (a naval ship that is deployed in removing naval mines)
Division 3, commanded by Captain Seiji Ikubu took part in the exercise.
Note: Japan
Capital: Tokyo; Currency: Japanese yen; Prime Minister: Shinzo Abe.
OBITUARIES
1. Australian writer & broadcaster Clive
James passes away: Australian writer and broadcaster Clive James
(80-years) passed away at home in Cambridge. He was born in 1939, he moved to
England in 1961 and rose to prominence as a literary critic and TV columnist.
He went on to deliver wry commentary on international programming in such shows
as Clive James On Television.
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