Daily GK Updates - 9th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Indian Railways launches 3 online applications for all-India rollout: Indian Railways has launched three applications for all-India roll out to strengthen its IT-enabled services which will help ensure proper monitoring of projects being undertaken by Railways. The applications, namely CRS Sanction Management System, Rail-road crossing GAD approval system and TMS for construction aim at beefing up IT-enabled services.

The CRS Sanction Management System is an important aspect in construction, maintenance and up-gradation of railway assets.

Rail-road crossing GAD approval system will expedite preparation, processing and approval of general agreement drawings related to the construction of Road Over Bridges and Road Under Bridges.

Application TMS for construction has been developed for new assets being constructed by the construction organization.

2. Supreme Court orders Centre to set up a trust for temple construction: A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi paved the way for the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya. It also directed the Centre to allot an alternative five-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque at a prominent place in the holy town. It ordered a trust should be formed within three months for the construction of the temple at the site. The historic verdict was pronounced on 14 appeals filed in the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgment. The Apex Court dismissed the appeal of the Shia Waqf Board in the case saying that the land belongs to the government as per revenue records. The court further said the underlying structure below the disputed site at Ayodhya was not an Islamic structure, but the Archaeological Survey of India, ASI has not established whether a temple was demolished to build a mosque.

3. PM Modi inaugurates Integrated check post of Kartarpur Corridor: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Integrated check post of Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab. Mr. Modi flagged off the first batch of over 500 Indian pilgrims led by Akal Takhat Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib through the corridor. Now, it will be easy to pay obeisance at Darbar Sahib Gurudwara after the opening of Kartarpur Corridor. Earlier, Sikh pilgrims have-to go through the long visa process, wait for particular dates of buses to reach the Gurudwara via Wagah border.

Note: The corridor connects ‘Dera Baba Nanak’ (in Gurdaspur district-India) to the ‘Gurdwara Darbar Sahib’ (in Kartarpur in Narowal district of Pakistan). The Kartarpur Gurudwara (Darbar Sahib Kartarpur) is situated on the banks of river ‘Ravi’, considered to be the first gurdwara ever built. The corridor provides smooth and easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to visit ‘Gurdwara Darbar Sahib’ in Pakistan throughout the year.

4. India Justice Report 2019: Maharashtra holds top, UP ranks bottom: According to ‘India Justice Report 2019’, Maharashtra is the top state among 18 large states in delivering justice to its citizens followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Haryana in the first-ever ranking of states on their capacity to deliver justice to citizens. The list of seven small states (population less than one crore each) was topped by Goa, followed by Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh. In this classification, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are at the bottom.

Note: The ranking is part of the India Justice Report (IJR) 2019, an initiative of Tata Trusts in collaboration with Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, DAKSH, TISS- Prayas and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. The India Justice Report brings together, in the first such exercise, otherwise soiled statistics, from authoritative government sources, on the four pillars of justice delivery – police, judiciary, prisons and legal aid.

5. IFFI 2019 to screen 3 films for differently-abled: This year, at the Golden Jubilee of International Film Festival of India (IFFI), will have the screening of Accessible India Films. This is a collaboration between IFFI, Saksham Bharat and UNESCO with the aim to promote the creation of inclusive spaces for the differently-abled to access the joy of cinema through Audio Deion. Audio Deion is an additional narration that translates images, visual information or non-dialogue portions of film into spoken words so that visually-impaired people can access, enjoy and learn from works of popular films. This unique film section will witness the screening of three films, two in Hindi – Lage Raho Munna Bhai and M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story and one in Konkani- Questao De Confusao.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi to visit Brazil for BRICS summit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a 2-day visit to Brazil from the 13th of this month to attend the 11th BRICS Summit in Brasilia, Brazil. The theme of the Summit this year is “Economic Growth for an Innovative Future”. This will be the sixth time that Mr Modi participates in the BRICS Summit.

Note: BRICS is the acronym coined for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Originally the first four were grouped as “BRIC”, before the induction of South Africa in 2010.

2. Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth claims victory in the election: Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth claimed victory in the election today as official preliminary results showing his alliance taking a comfortable lead over rivals in Mauritius. Projections from the Electoral Commission gave a large lead to a coalition led by Jugnauth, who took the helm of one of Africa's wealthiest countries when his father stepped down in 2017. Partial results from the state-run commission forecasted that Jugnauth's centre-right Morisian Alliance will win 38 of 62 possible seats in parliament.

Note: Mauritius Capital: Port Louis; Currency: Mauritian rupee

3. Exim Bank grants $30 million line of credit to Ghana: The Export-Import (Exim) Bank has provided a USD 30 million (about Rs 210 crore) line of credit to Ghana for a potable water project in the country. Under the arrangement, financing of export of eligible goods, works and services from India would be allowed subject to their being eligible for export under the Foreign Trade Policy of India and whose purchase may be agreed to be financed by the Exim Bank. As per the agreement, the terminal utilisation time is 60 months period after the scheduled completion date of the project.

Note: President of Ghana: Nana Akufo-Addo; Capital of Ghana: Accra; Currency of Ghana: Ghanaian cedi.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. India to host 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup: India will host the 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup from 13th to 29th of January. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) India will play host to the men’s tournament while Spain and the Netherlands have been named as the co-hosts of the 2022 Women’s World Cup scheduled to be held from 1st to 22nd of July. The decisions were made during FIH’s Executive Board Meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. The venues of both the men's and women's World Cups will be announced by the host nations at a later date.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Indian Bank, Muthoot Microfin sign MoU: Public sector Indian Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding with Muthoot Microfinance to serve Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). Under the memorandum of understanding, the bank and the non-banking finance company will jointly lend to the MSME borrowers. The agreement was signed by Sudhakar Rao, Indian Bank general manager-MSME &Praveen T, Muthoot Microfin deputy CFO (Chief Financial Officer)in the presence of the bank’s managing director (MD) and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Padmaja Chunduru.

Note: Indian Bank founded: 15 August 1907; Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

2. RBI increases household income limits for borrowers of NBFCs and MFIs: Reserve Bank has increased the household income limits for borrowers of Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and microfinance institutions (MFIs) from 1 lakh to 1.25 lakh rupees. The move is aimed at strengthening credit to those at the bottom of the economic pyramid in rural areas. Similarly, the limit has been increased from 1.6 lakh for urban or semi-urban areas to 2 lakh rupees. The limit has been increased after taking into consideration the important role played by microfinance institutions in delivering credit to those at the bottom of the economic pyramid and to enable them to play their assigned role in a growing economy.

3. SBI lowers lending rates by 5 basis points across all tenors: State Bank of India has lowered its lending rates by 5 basis points across all tenors, today. It has also sharply slashed the deposits pricing between 15 and 75 basis points. It will be effective from 10th of November. This is the seventh consecutive cut in lending rates by the bank this fiscal. The SBI said, with this reduction, the one year Marginal Cost Of Funds-Based Lending (MCLR), to which most of its loan prices are linked, will come down to 8 per cent. The bank also reduced the interest rate on retail term deposit by 15 basis points for one year to less than two years' tenor. The bulk term deposit interest rates have been reduced by 30 to 75  basis points across tenors.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Sanjay Gupta appoints country manager at Google India: Google India has appointed Sanjay Gupta as its new country manager and vice-president of sales and operations for India. Gupta, the former Star and Disney India managing director, will contribute to Google’s efforts to expand the internet ecosystem in the country. He will take on the role early next year, working closely with the teams based in Gurugram, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. He replaces Rajan Anandan, who left Google to join Sequoia Capital India.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Kumar Mangalam Birla conferred ABLF Global Asian award: Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, was conferred the ABLF Global Asian Award, for “powerful individual whose business footprint and commitment to excellence have engaged international interest and attention”. The Asia Business Leadership Forum (ABLF) is backed by the UAE government and currently runs in three forms- talks, awards, and publications. The previous awardees include Dhirubhai Ambani, Lakshmi Mittal, Mohamed Ali Alaber, chairman of Emaar group, and Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Emirates.

DEFENCE

1. Indian Coast Guard conducted Exercise ReSAREX-2019: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) tested its efficiency and preparedness during the Regional Level Search and Rescue Workshop and Exercise 2019 (ReSAREX- 19) conducted off the Goa coast. The ReSAREX - 19 tested the efficiency of operations of various SAR agencies in Goa. ICG participation: 5 ships of ICG, 2 Chetak helicopters were used for the workshop while resources from State Marine Police, Indian Mission Control Centre (IMCC) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Captain of Ports, state administration of Goa, Goa medical college and Goa’s Mormugao Port Trust were used in the service.

Note: Indian Coast Guard founded: 18 August 1978; Headquarters: New Delhi; Motto(s): Vayam Rakṣ āmaḥ (We protect).

OBITUARIES

1. Sahitya Akademi awardee writer Nabaneeta Dev Sen passes away: Sahitya Akademi awardee writer Nabaneeta Dev Sen passed away. A poet, novelist and short-story writer, Dev Sen won the Sahitya Akademi award in 1999 for her book ‘Naba-Nita’. She was also the recipient of the Padma Shri in 2000. She is the founder and president of the West Bengal Women Writers’ Association. Nabaneeta Dev Sen’s 1978 book on ‘Naxal movement in Bengal’ was published in English.

Daily GK Updates - 8th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurates 10th Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurating 10th Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine in New Delhi. The aim of the conference is to develop programs and manuals to train citizens in emergency first aid procedures such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation as it will help in saving a life while waiting for emergency services. The Government of India has made it mandatory for all medical college hospitals to have full-fledged Emergency Departments by 2022 with an aim to improve trauma care.

Note: Emergency medicine is the medical speciality that endeavours to the diagnosis and treatment of the acutely ill and injured patients. Within Asia, EM was first recognized in Singapore in 1984, followed by the Philippines, Turkey, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand and India.

2. DIN System of CBIC comes into existence from 8th November: The Documentation Identification Number (DIN) system of Central Board of Indirect Taxes (CBIC) will come into existence from 8th November. This path braking system in indirect tax administration has been created as per the direction of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The objective of the step is to bring transparency and accountability in the indirect tax administration through the widespread use of information technology.

Note: The DIN would be used for search authorisation, summons, arrest memo, inspection notices and letters issued in the course of any enquiry. DIN, would be treated as invalid and shall be non-est in law or deemed to be as if it has never been issued.

3. Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurates state of art railway station at Sultanpur Lodhi in Punjab: The Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated the state-of-the-art new railway station along with a multimedia centre at Sultanpur Lodhi in Punjab. The railway station modelled on Sikh architecture has been engineered to facilitate pilgrims visiting the holy city. The Minister also released a book on the life and teachings of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji to commemorate Guru Sahab's 550th Prakash Purb.

4. Arvind Singh takes over as AAI chairman: Arvind Singh, a 1988-batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre, took charge as the chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The AAI, which comes under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, owns and manages more than 100 airports across the country. Prior to this appointment, Singh was the additional chief secretary (Energy) of Maharashtra government. He also worked as chairman and managing director of Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited and Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 2nd ‘No money for terror conference 2019’ held in Australia: The 2nd ‘No Money for Terror’ 2019 conference going on in Melbourne, Australia. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, G.Kishan Reddy is leading a five-member delegation to the ‘No Money For Terror’ Ministerial Conference taking place in Melbourne, Australia. This conference is Organised by Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) of over 100 countries. This conference jointly called The Egmont Group, which was created to provide FIUs around the world a forum to exchange information confidentially to combat money-laundering, the financing of terrorism and other predicate offences. The first “No Money for Terror” conference was held in France in 2018. India would host the next ‘No Money for Terror’ Conference in 2020.

Note: Prime minister: Scott Morrison; Capital: Canberra; Currency: Australian dollar.

2. US announced an increase in H-1B work visa application fee by 10: According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), The US has announced the increase of H-1B work visa application fee by 10 US Dollars as part of its revised selection process. The non-refundable fee will support the new electronic registration system to make the H-1B cap selection process more efficient. Petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions will first have to electronically register with the USCIS during a designated registration period. The electronic registration system is part of an agency-wide initiative to modernise the immigration system while deterring fraud.

Note: The H-1B program allows US companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the application of a body of highly specialised knowledge with bachelor's or a higher degree in the specific speciality, or its equivalent.

3. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan re-elected as President of UAE: The UAE's Supreme Council of the Union has re-elected His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as its President for a fourth five-year term. Sheikh Khalifa became president on 3 November 2004, following the death of his father, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Note: The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates consisting of Abu Dhabi (which serves as the capital), Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain). Each emirate is governed by a ruler; together, they jointly form the Federal Supreme Council.

Capital of UAE: Abu Dhabi; Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham.

4. BBC’s announced 100 ‘Novels That Shaped Our World’ list: The British Broadcasting Corporation announced a list of ‘100 Novels That Shaped Our World’. A panel of leading writers, curators and critics compiled the list for the network. The list contains ten categories including identity, love, sex and romance, politics, power and protest, and class and society. The BBC’s novel list is to mark the 300th anniversary of the publication of Daniel Defoe’s novel ‘Robinson Crusoe’. Renowned Indian authors like R K Narayan (Swami and Friends), Arundhati Roy (The God of small things), Salman Rushdie (The Moor’s Last Sigh), Vikram Seth (A Suitable Boy) and S. Naipaul (A House for Mr Biswas) are among 100 writers who have featured on a list of the most inspiring novels chosen by a panel of experts and revealed by the BBC.

5. Dr. Vinaya Shetty appointed as IODA’s 1st Indian and Asian General Vice President: Dr Vinaya Shetty is the first Indian to be elected to the position of General Vice President (GVP), International Organisation Development Association (IODA) since its inception in 1986. She has helped in change and transformation of numerous organisations across industries in India and has been contributing to facilitating IODA’s efforts since 2009. In 2016, Vinaya became the first Indian woman entrepreneur finalist for the prestigious Empretech Women in Business Award by United Nations Conference Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Note: President of IODA: Michelle de Bruyn; Formed: 1986.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Rohit Sharma becomes 1st Indian male cricketer to play 100 T20I: Rohit Sharma (Stand-in skipper) became the first Indian man and second in world cricket to complete 100 T-20 Internationals. He reached the milestone when he led the team in the second match against Bangladesh at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium. Shoaib Malik with 111 games from Pakistan is the only player to have played more than 100 T20 Internationals. Rohit is currently the top-scorer in this format with 2452 runs with regular skipper Virat Kohli second in the list with an aggregate of 2450 runs. Rohit has scored the runs at a strike-rate of 136.67 with four hundred and 17 half-centuries.

2. Women’s boxing icon Nicola Adams announced retirement: Two-time Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams (37 years) announced her retirement from the sport on medical advice due to the vulnerability of losing eyesight. She became the first-ever women’s Olympic boxing champion at London 2012 in the United Kingdom(UK), and also the first female boxer to become a double Olympic champion after winning a second gold medal at the Rio Olympics 2016, in Brazil.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI imposes Rs 5 lakh fine on Oxigen Services: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on prepaid payment instrument Oxigen Services. The move was taken in exercise of powers vested under Section 30 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, for non-compliance of regulatory guidelines. The fine comes through a speaking order dated September 17, 2019. Oxigen Services facilitates payment processing and money transfer services.

2. Moody's lowers India's outlook to 'negative' from 'stable': Global rating agency Moody’s Investors Service ("Moody's") has lowered the outlook on the government of India's ratings to ‘negative’ from ‘stable’. It affirmed the Baa2 foreign-currency and local-currency long-term issuer ratings for India. Moody's also affirmed India's local-currency senior unsecured rating and another short-term local-currency rating. India’s economy grew only 5.0% year-on-year between April and June, its weakest pace since 2013

Note: Moody's Investors Service was established in 1909, headquarters in New York, USA.

3. Bajaj Allianz General Insurance launches ‘Farmitra’ mobile app for farmers: Bajaj Allianz General Insurance has launched a new mobile app called ‘Farmitra’ to help the farmers needs and address their worries. It also resolves with relevant information, which they can use in optimizing their farming practices. The app ‘Farmitra’ provides services for even those who are not customers of Bajaj Allianz. Besides crop insurance, the farmers can buy other covers from the private insurer and also obtain information like weather forecasts and market price of crops and locators for agriculture inputs. The application is currently implemented in 6 states, namely Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Haryana.

Note: Managing Director of Bajaj Allianz: Tapan Singhel; Headquartered: Pune, Maharashtra.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Infosys Prize 2019 for science and research: The Infosys Prize for 2019 was announced on November 7 at the Infosys campus in Bengaluru. The award is given annually to honour outstanding achievements of contemporary researchers and scientists across six categories. Those are: Humanities: Manu V. Devadevan, Life Sciences: Manjula Reddy, Mathematical Sciences: Sidhartha Mishra, Physical Sciences: G. Mugesh, Social Sciences: Anand Pandian, Engineering and Computer Science: Sunita Sarawagi. The annual award includes a pure gold medal, a citation and a prize purse worth $100,000 or its equivalent in the Indian rupees.

2. West Bengal based writer Abhisek Sarkar wins an award at Dhaka Lit-fest: At the 9th edition of the Dhaka Literature festival, started with a galaxy of writers and book lovers thronging the venue ground at the Bangla Academy. West Bengal-based writer Abhishek Sarkar and Bangladeshi poet Rofiquzzaman Rony were given the Gemcon Young Literature Award and Gemcon Young Poetry Award. Abhishek and Rofiquzzaman won the awards for their manuscripts, “Nishiddho” and “Dhoashar Tamate Rong,” respectively. The special focus of this year’s lit-fest is on Indigenous Languages as the UNESCO has marked 2019 as the year of Indigenous Language Protection.

3. Gulab Kothari to be awarded Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award: Rajasthan Patrika group chairman Gulab Kothari has been chosen for the prestigious Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award, presented by the Press Council of India, for his outstanding contribution towards journalism. Sanjay Saini, Correspondent, Dainik Bhaskar, Mandi, and Raj Chengappa, Group Editorial Director, India Today, have been jointly named as winners of the award in the category of ‘Rural Journalism’. The award will be presented to Mr. Kothari on the National Press Day (16th November 2019).

Note: Press Council of India Formation: 1966; Headquarters: New Delhi.

4. TVS Motor Chairman Srinivasan conferred with Deming award: Venu Srinivasan (Chairman of TVS Motor Company and Sundaram Clayton) was conferred with the prestigious Deming Distinguished Service Award For Dissemination and Promotion Overseas. Srinivasan becomes the first industrialist from India to be bestowed this prestigious award for his contributions in the field of total quality management (TQM). The Deming Prize is the highest award for TQM in the world.

5. Nawazuddin Siddiqui to be honoured with Asian Film Talent Award at SIFF: Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui will be honoured by Lesley Ho Asian Film Talent Award at the Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF). He will be awarded for his Netflix's Emmy-nominated original series Sacred Games. Earlier, Nawazuddin Siddiqui was honoured by the Golden Dragon Award at the Cardiff International Film Festival for his excellence in cinema in the International market.

Note: The Lesley Ho Asian Film Talent Award is one of the most honourable awards on the global platform.

Daily GK Updates - 7th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi inaugurates two-day Global investors’ meet in Dharamshala: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a two-day Himachal Pradesh Global investors’ meet – ‘Rising Himachal’ in Dharamshala. The event is being organised by the Himachal Pradesh government to attract investment and create employment opportunities in the state. Ambassadors from 16 countries, 209 foreign delegates along with local entrepreneurs will participate in the mega event. The State government has set a target of signing pacts worth 85,000 crores rupees during the meet.

Note: Himachal Pradesh Capital: Shimla; Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya; CM: Jai Ram Thakur 

2. Lucknow railway station gets ‘Health ATM’: The Indian Railways has installed two ‘Health ATMs’ at the Charbagh railway station in Lucknow. The kiosks, promoted by YOLO Health ATM, provide 16 health check-ups for Rs 50-100. There are two types of check-ups a 9-minute one that costs Rs 100, and a 6-minute one that costs Rs 50. The report is delivered instantly to the email or smartphone of the user. The check-ups include body mass index, blood pressure, body fat, haemoglobin, metabolic age, muscle mass, weight, height, temperature, muscle mass, basal metabolic rating, visceral fat, oxygen saturation, pulse rate, blood glucose, and bone mass. Health ATMs can be defined as private, walk-in medical kiosks with integrated medical devices for basic vitals, cardiology, neurology, pulmonary testing, gynaecology, basic laboratory testing and emergency facilities and staffed by a medical attendant.

Note: Uttar Pradesh CM: Yogi Adityanath; Governor: Anandiben Patel; Capital: Lucknow

3. Odisha government signs pact with Tata Strive, Tech Mahindra for skill upgradation: The Odisha state government signed agreements with Tata Strive and Tech Mahindra to add new dimensions in skilling and employability of the youth. The agreement between Directorate of Technical Education and Training and Tata Strive is aimed at imparting life skills to the students of all 49 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the state. The pact between Tech Mahindra and the Biju Patnaik University of Technology will see setting up of a centre for excellence in artificial intelligence and machine learning. It will work on the proof of concept for real-life business problems to keep up with the market demand and enhance employability of engineering students.

Note: Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik; Governor: Ganeshi Lal; Capital: Bhubaneshwar.

4. Govt allocates unique HS code for Khadi: The Union government has allocated a separate Harmonized System (HS) code for Khadi to give impetus to the export of this fabric. Allocation of HS code to the khadi will help the government to plan the export strategies effectively. Earlier, Khadi did not have exclusive HS code and all the export data regarding this fabric used to come under the normal fabric head.

Note: Khadi is being promoted in India by Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Khadi is handspun, hand-woven natural fibre cloth from the Indian Subcontinent, mainly made from cotton.

5. IIT-Madras launches affordable standing wheelchair: Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, in collaboration with Phoenix Medical Systems, launched the country’s first indigenously-designed standing wheelchair. Wheelchair named “Arise”, was designed and developed by the TTK Centre for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2), headed by Sujatha Srinivasan, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT-Madras. The wheelchair is priced at Rs 15,000. The assistive device helps the wheelchair-bound move from a sitting to standing position, and vice-versa, independently.

Note: IIT Madras Established: 1959, in Chennai, TamilNadu.

6. PS Sreedharan Pillai takes oath as Governor of Mizoram: P.S Sreedharan Pillai (65-years) took oath as the Governor of Mizoram (15th). The Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court ‘Ajai Lamba’ administered the oath of Office and Secrecy at Raj Bhawan in Aizawl. P.S Sreedharan Pillai replaced Governor of Assam Jagdish Mukhi (additional charge- Mizoram).

Note: Mizoram capital:

7. HRD Minister and Harsimrat Kaur badal to launch 3 books on Guru Nanak Dev Ji: Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal will launch three books on Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College, the University of Delhi, on the occasion of 550thBirth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The National Book Trust has published three titles: Guru Nanak Bani, Nanak Bani, and Sakhian Guru Nanak Dev to spread the message of Guru Nanak Dev’s writings among readers of Indian sub-continent. These books, published originally in Punjabi, shall be translated into 15 major Indian languages.

8. National Cancer Awareness Day: 7 November: The National Cancer Awareness Day is observed annually in India on November 7, to spread awareness on cancer, its symptoms and treatment. The day was first observed in 2014 as and when announced by the union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan. The day coincides with the birth anniversary of scientist Marie Curie (Marie Skłodowska Curie), winner of the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Note: World Cancer Day: February 4th

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. The two-day ‘BIMSTEC Conclave’ begins in Visakhapatnam: Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh L. Mandaviya has inaugurated the two-day BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal initiative multi-sector technical and economic cooperation) Conclave at Visakhapatnam. Vizag port trust is hosting the conclave first time ever since the formation of BIMSTECH in 1997. Seven-member countries that include Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan are participating in the conference. The thrust would be to discuss and share experiences in increasing productivity, availing investment opportunities, development of free trade zones, development of tourism and measures required for safety and security. Ease of doing business, sharing of expertise, and emulation of best practices would be few among the deliberations.

2. Ministry of Tourism participates in three-day-long WTM in London: The Ministry of Tourism has participated in the three-day-long World Travel Market (WTM) in London, UK. The theme for India Pavilion at WTM 2019 is ‘Incredible India - Find Incredible India’. This year, the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the Statue of Unity are also being promoted and publicized in the India Pavilion at WTM 2019.

3. Lok Sabha Speaker addresses 6th Speakers’ Summit of G 20 Countries: Lok sabha speaker Om Birla composed the Indian Parliament delegation for 6th parliamentary summit of G20 countries, held in Tokyo, Japan 2019. G20 presiding officer of parliament attended the summit. The summit had three sessions on separate themes related to trade, technology and sustainable development. The gathering of this summit was about the terrorism which destroying the system of economy.

Note: President-Shinzo Abe; Capital: Tokyo; Currency: Yen.

4. China approves drug to cure Alzheimer’s disease: China’s National Medical Products Administration has officially approved an indigenously developed Alzheimer’s drug called GV-971 (sodium oligo-mannurarate). The Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which has developed the drug jointly with the Ocean University of China and Green Valley Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, after 22 years of research. Extracted from brown algae, the oral drug is the world’s first multi-targeting and carbohydrate-based drug, which will now be available to patients from 29 December, 2019.

Note: Alzheimer disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking ability, and the capability to carry out simple tasks.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Manu Bhaker bags gold medal in Asian Shooting Championships 2019: India’s Manu Bhaker has won a gold medal in women’s 10m air pistol event at Lusail Shooting Complex, Doha, Qatar. She put up a dominant showing, shooting 584 in qualification and 244.3 in the final to take gold. Vivaan Kapoor & Manisha Keer also won the Gold medal in junior trap mixed event at the Asian Shooting Championships 2019.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Govt sets up fund to revive stalled housing projects: The Union Cabinet has decided to set up 25 thousand crore rupees fund to revive stalled housing projects. According to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the government will put in 10 thousand crore rupees in the Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) while State Bank of India (SBI) and Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) will provide 15 thousand crore rupees taking the total size to  25 thousand crore rupees. It will finance over 1,600 stalled housing projects comprising about 4.58 lakh housing units across the country. The fund will provide relief to developers that require funding to complete a set of unfinished projects and consequently ensure delivery of homes to the home buyers.

2. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank launches Instant Digital Savings and Instant FD Account: The finance service company, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB) has launched an instant digital savings account (SA) along with Fixed Deposit (FD) and Privilege Savings Account to offer distinctive banking and digital services to its customers.

Instant Digital SA account: This account has the restriction of Rs 1 lakh deposit & has the unlimited free transactions on the bank’s own ATM (automated teller machine) and 6 free transactions for other bank ATMs per month.

Instant Fixed Deposit (FD): With interest rate ranging from 5.5% (7 days to 29 days) & up to 8.3% (799 days), the customers can invest in this account up to a maximum of Rs. 1 Lakh without a Savings Account.

Privilege SA: This account comes with the eligibility for a monthly salary of Rs. 30,000 or above on maintaining a Monthly Average Balance of Rs 25,000 / opening a Fixed Deposit of Rs. 10 Lakh. It provides a higher accidental insurance cover of Rs. 2 Lakh.

Note: Headquarters of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank: Bengaluru; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer: Samit Kumar Ghosh.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Tech Mahindra acquires New York-based BORN Group for $95 million: IT services firm Tech Mahindra Ltd (Tech M) has acquired BORN Group, a New York-based digital content and production agency, for $95 million. The acquisition will help to boost the electronic and mobile commerce segment globally, and equipped to deliver enhanced user experience to customers of Tech Mahindra globally. BORN’s services include consulting, content creation, maintenance and hosting services, digital and social marketing, among others. It has clients such as Google, Tata, Red Bull and TAG Heuer.

Note: Chairman of Mahindra: Anand Mahindra; MD & CEO: C.P. Gurnani; Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Italian movie ‘Despite the Fog’ to open at 50th IFFI this year: Italian movie ‘Despite the Fog’ will be the opening movie at the 50th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2019. The 100-minute film directed by Goran Paskaljevic narrates the tale of a child whose parents drown while trying to migrate to Italy in a rubber boat. The 50th edition of IFFI witnessed the screening of over 200 best films from 76 countries.

Note: The 2019 Golden Jubilee edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is to be held from the 20th of November till the 28th at Panjim, Goa.

DEFENCE

1. GRSE delivers fast patrol vessel, ‘Annie Besant’ to Indian Coast Guard: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) delivered Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) ICGS Annie Besant, the second in the series of five such ships, to the Indian Coast Guard. A medium-range vessel with a length of 50 metres, a width of 7.5 metres and displacement of around 308 tonnes, the FPV is capable of operations in the maritime zones of the country. These powerful, fuel-efficient platforms are designed to perform multipurpose operations like patrolling, anti-smuggling, anti-poaching and rescue operations. ICGS Annie Besant is designed for a maximum speed of 34 knots with an endurance of more than 1,500 nautical miles.

Note:  GRSE Founded: 1884; Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Maharashtra minister Babasaheb Dhabekar passes away: Senior Congress party leader & former Maharashtra minister Babasaheb Dhabekar (89-years) passed away in Mumbai. Mr. Dhabekar was water resources minister when the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government came to power for the first time in the 1990s.

Daily GK Updates - 6th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. MSDE, IBM jointly launch SkillsBuild platform: The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched the SkillsBuild platform in collaboration with IBM. As part of the programme, a two-year advanced diploma in IT, networking and cloud computing, co-created and designed by IBM, will be offered at the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) & National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). The platform will be extended to train ITI & NSTI faculty on building skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The digital platform will provide a personal assessment of the cognitive capabilities and personality via MyInnerGenius to the students. They will then learn foundational knowledge about digital technologies, as well as professional skills such as resume-writing, problem solving and communication.

Note: Minister of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE): Mahendra Nath Pandey.

IBM India Pvt Ltd MD: Karan Bajwa; Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

2. Agriculture Minister releases 5th edition of Wastelands Atlas 2019: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar released the 5th edition of Wastelands Atlas 2019.  The Atlas, published jointly by Department of Land Resources and National Remote Sensing Centre, provides robust geospatial information on wasteland. It is helpful in rolling back the wastelands for productive use through various land development programmes and schemes. Wastelands Atlas-2019 also provides State and district wise distribution of different categories of wastelands area in the country and will be helpful in addressing land degradation.

3. Harsh Vardhan inaugurates global Mega Science Exhibition ‘Vigyan Samagam’: Union Minister of Science & Technology and Minister of Earth Science Harsh Vardhan has inaugurated India’s 1-ever multi-venue Mega science exhibition, ‘Vigyan Samagam 2019’, in Kolkata, West Bengal. The exhibition organized by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), Ministry of Culture, the exhibition will be open till December 31, 2019 for public display and will showcase the world from micro to macro, unveiling the efforts of the international community in understanding the Universe.

4. ADB to give $451 mn for Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor power links: The Asian Development Bank will provide a $451 million (about Rs 3,200 crore) loan to strengthen power connectivity between the southern and northern parts of the Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) in Tamil Nadu. The total cost of the project is $653.5 million, of which the government will provide $202.5 million. The estimated completion date is the end of 2024. The project will help promote economic development by delivering a more reliable and competitive power supply for industry and services in the state, which will in turn spur jobs and improve livelihoods.

Note: Asian Development Bank Headquarters: Manila, Philippines, President: Takehiko Nakao.

5. Assam govt signs pact with AFD to restore forest ecosystems: The French Development Agency (AFD) and the Government of Assam have signed an agreement for supporting Phase II of Assam Project for Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC). The total budget for the second phase is Rs 500 crore. The project was launched in response to the threats posed by deforestation, poaching and over-dependence of local communities on forest resources.

6. Shripad Naik inaugurates DRDO’s Igniter Complex at HEMRL, Pune: Union Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik inaugurated the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) Igniter Complex at High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in Pune, Maharashtra. HEMRL, a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is primarily engaged in developing rocket and gun propellants, pyrotechnic devices, high-explosive systems and synthesis of high-energy molecules. The laboratory has developed several ignition systems to ensure reliable initiation of rocket motors of various tactical as well as strategic missiles. The ignition system for Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Nag, Pinaka, Long RangeSurface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM), etc. have been designed and developed in HEMRL. Technology for AKASH, Nag missiles and Pinaka Mk-I Rocket has been transferred to Ordnance Factory, Dehu Road, Pune and private industries.

Note: DRDO Chairman: G Satheesh Reddy; Formed: 1958; Headquarters: New Delhi.

7. BJP MLA Gian Chand Gupta elected speaker of Haryana Assembly: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Panchkula Gian Chand Gupta has been unanimously elected as the Speaker of Haryana Assembly. Mr Gupta’s name was proposed by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and seconded by Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala. BJP party stitched an alliance with Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) and managed to get the support of seven independent MLAs in the 90-member Haryana Assembly

8. Kolkata students create Guinness World Records with the largest astrophysics assemble: The Guinness World Records for the largest astrophysics lesson (45 minutes) and assembly of spectroscopes was successfully achieved at the Science City, Kolkata at IISF-2019 with the participation of over 1,598 students. IISF (India International Science Festival) is the largest science festival in the world. Astronomers use spectroscopes to know details like temperature, chemical composition, etc. of celestial objects hundreds of millions of light-years away from us. A small personal model of advanced spectroscopes can easily be made by anyone using a box made of cardboard that has a very narrow window used to channel light into the spectroscope.

A piece of a Compact Disc is used to split the light by a process called diffraction.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India decided not to be part of the RCEP agreement: India (the sixth FTA partner) has decided not to be part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement in the national interest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during his speech at the RCEP Summit in Bangkok. According to Mr Modi, the present form of the agreement does not fully reflect the basic spirit and the agreed guiding principles. A balanced trade deficit, better market access of the Indian goods and services and protection of the industries from the unfair trade practices were the key demands of India.

Note: The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and its six FTA partners (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand).

2. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar attended 15th meeting of Governing Council of SACEP in Dhaka: The Union Minister Prakash Javadekar (Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Information & Broadcasting) has attended the 15th meeting of the Governing Council of South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) in Dhaka.  The 14th meeting of the SACEP Governing Council was held in Colombo (March 2018).

Note: The SACEP is an inter-governmental organization which was established in 1982. Its member countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka aim to promote and support protection, management and enhancement of the environment in the region.

3. China launches Sudan’s first ever satellite “SRSS-1”: Sudan’s first-ever satellite for conducting research in military, economic and space technology has been launched by China. Sudan’s remote-sensing satellite (SRSS-1), was developed by the Shenzhen Aerospace Oriental Red Sea Satellite Co. The satellite was launched aboard China’s Long March-4B rocket along with other Chinese satellites including Gaofen 7, Xiaoxiang-1 08, Whampoa 1 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern China. The Sudanese satellite has been mainly designed for civil and military remote sensing over Sudan. The remote-sensing satellite aims to advance research in space technology. Its main objective is to acquire the required data as well as discover natural resources for the country’s military needs. The satellite aims to generate a comprehensive, cost-effective and reliable database on the topographic, mapping and natural resources of Sudan.

Note: President of Sudan: Omar al-Bashir; Sudan Capital: Khartoum; Currency: Sudanese pound.

4. US-Bangladesh Navy exercise CARAT-2019 begins in Bangladesh: The second phase of the biggest US- Bangladesh Navy exercise named ‘Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)- 2019’ started in Chattogram, Bangladesh. CARAT is one of the U.S. Navy’s longest continually running exercise in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The exercise provides an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the operational activities of the Navies of two countries and to get acquainted with advanced technology through various theoretical and practical training.

Assistant chief of naval staff (operations) Bangladesh Navy rear admiral M Makbul Hossain was present as the chief guest in the opening ceremony.

5. International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict: 6th November: The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is observed annually on 6th November. On 5 November 2001, the UN General Assembly declared 6th November of each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (A/RES/56/4).

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Barty became first Australian to top WTA rankings: Ashleigh Barty finished the season in style by beating defending champion Elina Svitolina 6-4 6-3 to add the WTA Finals title. Now, Barty, became the first Australian to top the WTA rankings at the end of the year since they were introduced in 1975. With this win, Barty rose to the No. 1 ranking in the game becoming the first Australian to hold the year-end top spot.

2. Deepak Kumar wins Bronze at Asian Shooting Championships: Deepak Kumar secured India's 10th Tokyo Olympic quota in shooting after winning the men's 10m air rifle bronze medal at the 14th Asian Championships in Doha. India has already secured nine Tokyo quotas in rifle and pistol and lies behind China who has 25 quotas and Korea's 12 in the Asian region, besides the host-country Japan, in terms of quotas won. Deepak is the second Indian shooter to earn an Olympic quota in the men's 10 metres air rifle event after Divyansh Singh Panwar.

3. Official emblem unveiled for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020: The official emblem of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the year 2020 which is to be conducted in India was unveiled. The emblem was unveiled by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and Local Organising Committee (LOC) at the launch event in the gateway of India, Mumbai, Maharashtra. The design of the emblem is bright blue waves rise from the base and reach up along the form of the trophy towards a crown forming the shape of Paisley or Boteh motif commonly used in Kashmiri Pashmina shawl and carpets. The droplet of the design framing a ball made from a marigold flower depicts a symbol of growth and development. The colour and style are inspired by Bandhani textiles, an Indian tie-dye technique dating back thousands of years. The stem of the marigold’s symbol is derived from traditional Warli paintings with Bandhani patterns.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. MSTC ties up with Allahabad Bank to develop e-auction platform: MSTC Ltd has signed an agreement with Allahabad Bank for the development of a dedicated e-Auction platform. This platform directly linked with the Indian Banking Association’s portal (https://ibapi.net) for sale of non-performing assets (NPAs) through the SARFAESI (Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest) Act. The e-Auction platform will be a one-of-a-kind solution, where a bidder once registered, will be able to participate in auctions for all banks. This move will help the banks monetise NPAs through a streamlined process, thereby, increasing revenue generation.

Note: MSTC is a Central Government of India company engaged in domestic and international trading. It specialises in the international trade of ferrous input materials and has imported millions of tonnes of ferrous melting scrap, old ships for breaking, sponge iron, hot briquetted iron, re-rollable scrap, etc.

Chairman & MD of MSTC: Bam Bahadur Singh; Founded: 9 September 1964; Headquarters: Kolkata.

MD & CEO of Allahabad Bank: S. S. Mallikarjuna Rao; Headquarters: Kolkata.

2. RBI issues compensation norms for foreign, private banks: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued compensation guidelines for whole-time directors and chief executives of foreign, private, small finance, payments banks and local area banks, mandating the cash component of variable pay at 67 per cent. If the variable pay is up to 200% of the fixed pay, at least 50 % of it should be in non-cash. If the variable pay is above 200%, 67 per cent of it should be paid via non-cash instruments. Banks should continue to formulate and adopt a comprehensive compensation policy covering all their employees and conduct annual reviews.

3. LIC allows a revival of the lapsed policy of over 2 years: Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has allowed policyholders to revive their policies that have lapsed for more than two years. Earlier, after the IRDA Product Regulation 2013 (from 1st January 2014), the revival period was restricted to two consecutive years from the date of the first unpaid premium. Now, The LIC policyholders who bought their policies after January 1, 2014, could revive their, Non-linked policies within five years of the first unpaid premium.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Serbia’s Sara Damnjanovic wins “Miss Asia Global title 2019”: The 5th Edition of ‘Miss Asia Global Title 2019’ was organized at Gokulam Convention centre in Kochi, Kerala. Sara Damnjanovic from Serbia has been crowned ‘Miss Asia Global 2019’. The title is given to the winner from the Asian region. Nguyen Thi Yen Trang from Vietnam was awarded the Miss Asia title given to the winner from the rest of the world. Samiksha Singh from India won the sub-title of ‘Miss Beautiful Face’ Title. The Next ‘Miss Asia Global Title 2020’ will be held in Malaysia.