NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Cabinet approves Rs 10,211 crore project to improve dams in India: The cabinet
committee on economic affairs has approved Rs 10,211 crore under dam
rehabilitation and improvement project (DRIP) phase II and phase III. The
objective of the project is to improve the safety and performance of select
dams and associated structures across India in a sustainable manner and
strengthen the dam safety institutional setup in participating states as well
as at central level. The DRIP project is financially supported by the World
Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). DRIP will be implemented over a period of 10
years in two phases. Each phase will be of six years with two years overlapping
from April 2021 to March 2031. The first phase of this project started in 2012.
Out of the total cost of the project, the share of external funding is Rs 7,000
crore, while the balance Rs 3,211 crore will be borne by the concerned implementing
agencies. Besides, the Government will contribute Rs 1,024 crore as loan
liability and Rs 285 crore as “counterpart funding for central component.”
2. PM
Modi launches India’s first seaplane service in Gujarat: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has launched the country’s first seaplane service between the
Statue of Unity near Kevadiya in Gujarat’s Narmada district and Sabarmati
Riverfront in Ahmedabad. He travelled in the maiden flight of the twin-engine
plane from pond-3 close to Sardar Sarovar Dam and landed at Sabarmati
riverfront where a water aerodrome has been set up.
About the seaplane service: The 19-seater
seaplane will be managed by private airline SpiceJet. The service will cover
the 200km distance between Sabarmati and Kevadia, in just 45 minutes by flight,
which usually takes 4 hours. The flight will be able to accommodate 12
passengers and tickets will cost Rs 4,800 per person.` There will be four
flights a day between Ahmedabad and Kevadia on each side, which means four
arrivals and four departures.
3.
IIT Kanpur, ASI sign MoU with Italian institutes for restoration of monuments: The Indian
Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) and the Archaeological Survey of India
have signed an agreement with two institutions from Italy, seeking restoration
and protection of historical monuments.
About MoU: The MoU was signed among IIT-K,
Ca’Foscari University of Venice, Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti E
Paesaggio, Venice, on creating a network and sharing skills for restoration and
protection of historical monuments. All institutes have agreed to develop
collaborative scientific study activities and sharing skills to restore and
protect monuments on a reciprocal and equal basis. All institutes shall seek to
promote collaboration and activities in areas such as collaboration in
scientific studies and skill sharing, the exchange of knowledge, experience,
academic materials and publications, conducting workshops, undertaking joint
field studies and technology development.
Note: Archaeological Survey of India
Director-General: V. Vidyavathi; Archaeological Survey of India Headquarters:
New Delhi.
4.
Indian Railways launches ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative for security of women in
trains: The
Indian Railways has introduced a new initiative called “Meri Saheli” to provide
safety and security to women passengers during their train journeys. The Meri
Saheli initiative has been launched by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of
Indian Railways.
Key Features of Meri Saheli Initiative: A
team of lady officer and staff have been formed under the new initiative, which
will visit all passenger coaches of the train including ladies coaches, to
identify women passengers. The team will note down their journey details like
coach number and seat number, especially if a lady is travelling alone on the
train. Passengers will be briefed about RPF Security Helpline Number 182, GRP
Security Helpline Number 1512 as well as other precautions like, not to take
food with strangers, buying food from only authorized IRCTC stalls, taking care
of luggage, etc. Initially, the “Meri Saheli” initiative has been introduced in
two trains namely Bandra Terminus-Amritsar Special and Mumbai Central-Jaipur
Superfast Express.
Note: Union Minister of Railways: Piyush
Goyal.
5.
World’s first scientoon book “Bye Bye Corona” by Anandiben Patel: World’s 1st
scientoon book entitled “Bye Bye Corona”, was released by Anandiben Patel,
Governor, Uttar Pradesh. The book was written by ‘scientoonist’ Dr Pradeep
Srivastava, former Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR-Central Drug Research
Institute, Lucknow. It is further planned to make a 3D version of the book. The
book has been published by Vigyan Prasar.
About “Bye Bye Corona” book: The 220 pages
book contains comprehensive information on novel coronavirus pandemic, its
symptoms and its prevention through precautions. ‘Bye Bye Corona’ also has a
very interesting chapter on the ‘Art of Living with Coronavirus’ highlighting
the methods to deal with the virus in day to day life if it is here to stay for
a longer time. The book offers a perspective insight into the intricacies of
the deadly pandemic without scaring the reader. The basic purpose of this book
is to make people aware of COVID-19 in an engaging way.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Super Typhoon Goni hits the Philippines: Super Typhoon Goni, claimed as the
world’s strongest typhoon of 2020 has hit the south of the Philippines’ main
island of Luzon. Goni is one of the strongest storms to hit the Philippines
since 2013’s Haiyan, which killed more than 6,300 people.
Note: Philippines President: Rodrigo
Duterte Trending; Philippines Capital: Manila; Philippines Currency: Philippine
peso.
2.
World Vegan Day: 1st November: World Vegan Day is observed globally on 1st
November every year. This day is celebrated to spread benefits of veganism for
humans, non-human animals, and the natural environment. Vegan Day is an opportunity to promote the
benefits of a vegan diet and veganism in general. The term vegan was coined by
Donald Watson and derived from the word Vegetarian. At that time, the
differentiation was that Vegans did not consume dairy products. Later this
extended to eggs, and by 1951, veganism had become a movement of people who did
not partake in the exploitation of animals. Each year there are a number of
festivals and exhibitions held around the world by vegan societies. In
addition, there are many local events, talks and cooking demonstrations
organised by individuals. Vegan Day is an opportunity to promote the benefits
of a vegan diet and veganism in general. The day was established in 1994 by
Louise Wallis, then Chair of The Vegan Society in the United Kingdom, to
commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the organisation and the
coining of the terms “vegan” and “veganism”. The President of the Vegan Society
decided to elect the date of the 1st of November. This is now recognised as the
date on which the Vegan Society was founded and on which Vegan Day would be
observed.
3.
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists: 2nd November:
The
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is an
UN-recognized day observed annually on 2 November. The day draws attention to
the low global conviction rate for violent crimes against journalists and media
workers, estimated at only one in every ten cases. The United Nations General
Assembly proclaimed 2 November as the ‘International Day to End Impunity for
Crimes against Journalists’ in General Assembly Resolution A/RES/68/163. The
Resolution urged the Member States to implement definite measures countering
the present culture of impunity. The date was chosen in commemoration of the
assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November 2013.
Note: UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France;
UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay; UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Jio named title sponsor for BCCI’s Women T20 Challenge 2020: The Board of
Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced Jio as the Title Sponsor of
the 2020 edition of the Women’s T20 Challenge. The partnership will also have
the support of Reliance Foundation Education and Sports For All (RF ESA). This
is a historic partnership, as for the first time a sponsor has signed with BCCI
exclusively for the women’s matches. The Jio Women’s T20 Challenge to be played
from 4th November to 9th November will be held in Sharjah. Three teams are
Velocity, Supernovas and Trailblazers will play each other once to decide the
finalists on November 9, a day before the IPL final.
Note: President of BCCI: Sourav Ganguly;
Headquarters of BCCI: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Founded: December 1928.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
IndusInd Bank becomes first bank to go live on RBI’s ‘Account Aggregator
Framework’: IndusInd
Bank has become the first bank in India to go live on the new ‘Account
Aggregator Framework’ of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). IndusInd Bank has
announced that it has gone live as a ‘Financial Information Provider’ (FIP)
under the new ‘Account Aggregator Framework’ of RBI. The Account Aggregator
framework of RBI will enable customers to avail benefits like viewing
statements of their accounts, track deposits, plan investments and avail credit
cards on a single window.
Note: IndusInd Bank CEO-MD: Sumant
Kathpalia
2.
Govt provides support of Rs 670 crore to Regional Rural Banks to meet
regulatory capital: The
Central Government has provided support of Rs 670 crore to Regional Rural Banks
(RRBs) operating in the country to help them meet the regulatory capital
requirement of 9%. At present 43 Regional Rural Banks are operating in the
country. Around one-third of them are in loss and considering their importance
in agriculture finance during these difficult times it was important to provide
this support.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
e-Invoice system under GST launched for businesses with turnover more than Rs.
500 Crores: Ministry
of Electronics & IT along with NIC had launched the e-invoice system for
GST on 1st October 2020 for the businesses with aggregate turnover of more than
Rs. 500 Crores in the financial year.
The system has completed one month and will be a milestone in India’s
journey in enhancing the ease of doing business.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia selected for Ezhuthachan Puraskaram 2020: Noted Malayalam
writer, Paul Zacharia has been selected for this year’s Ezhuthachan Puraskaram,
the Kerala government’s highest literary honour. Zacharia was chosen for his
contribution to Malayalam literature during the past five decades. A
five-member jury, headed by Kerala Sahitya Akademi President Vyshakhan,
selected him for the award. ‘Salam America’, ‘Oridath, ‘Aarkkariyam’, ‘Bhaskara
patelarum ente jeevithavum’ are among his various literary works. Zacharia also
won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1979 and the Kendra Sahitya Akademi
Award in 2004.
DEFENCE
1.
India Successfully test fires BrahMos Missile from Sukhoi 30 MKI: The Indian Air
Force (IAF) successfully test-fired an air-launched version of the BrahMos
supersonic cruise missile from a Sukhoi fighter aircraft in the Bay of Bengal.
The aircraft took off from an airbase in Punjab & reached the Bay of Bengal
after mid-air refuelling.
About BrahMos supersonic cruise missile:
The missile successfully hit a sinking ship in the Bay of Bengal, with deadly
accuracy. This test was the longest range BrahMos strike that was undertaken by
the Sukhoi 30 MKI platform. This missile was developed by DRDO, the
air-launched version of nuclear-capable BrahMos has a strike range of 400 km
with the capability to hit targets at sea or land in all weather conditions.
OBITUARIES
1.
Former Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz passes away: Veteran Politician
and former prime minister of Turkey, Mesut Yilmaz has passed away. He was the
Chief of the now-defunctional centre-right Motherland Party or ANAP from 1991
to 2002. He served as prime minister of Turkey three times in the 1990s. His
first two prime-ministerial terms lasted for just one month, in 1991 and then
in 1996, while the third term was from June 1997 to January 1999.
Note: Turkey Capital: Ankara; Currency: Turkish lira
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