Daily GK Updates - 14th November 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Conference on Yoga for Heart care to be organised at Karnataka: Ministry of AYUSH is organizing the International Conference on Yoga on 15-16 November 2019 at Mysuru, Karnataka. The theme of the conference is ‘Yoga for Heart Care’. This conference is 5th in the series to commemorate the unanimous adoption of Resolution by the United Nations General Assembly during its 69th Session for observing 21st June as International Day of Yoga. After the UN declaration of International Day of Yoga since 2014, overwhelming interest towards Yoga has been witnessed from the international communities across the globe.

Note: Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH): Shripad Yesso Naik.

2. UP govt launches e-Ganna app, web portal: Uttar Pradesh government has launched a dedicated web portal and a mobile application, e-Ganna App, for sugarcane farmers of the state. The portal and the App will ensure transparency in the process of getting slips, and facilitate sugarcane supply by farmers to mills and check irregularities. The web portal and e-Ganna App will help in eradicating cane mafia and middleman and strengthen cane development societies.

Note: Uttar Pradesh CM: Yogi Adityanath, Governor: Anandiben Patel.

3. ITDC appoints Kamala Vardhana Rao as its new Chairman and MD: India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) has appointed G Kamala Vardhana Rao as the new Chairman and Managing Director. Prior to this, an IAS officer 1990 batch from Kerala Cadre, was the Principal Secretary, Kerala government. He has also served as the Secretary of Kerala Tourism in 2014-15. He has also served multiple positions including Chairman of Indian Tobacco Board, Director of Fisheries Department, Director, Department of Tourism and Culture, Andhra Pradesh government.

Note: The India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) is a hospitality, retail and education company owned by Government of India, under the Ministry of Tourism (Established in 1966). It owns over 17 properties under the Ashok Group of Hotels brand, across India.

4. Rajnath Singh attends Maitree Diwas celebrations in Arunachal Pradesh: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Arunachal Pradesh to attend the Maitree Diwas celebrations (11th edition) at Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. Maitree Diwas (Civil-Military Friendship) will be celebrated for two days at Gyalwa Tsangyang Gyatso High Altitude Stadium Tawang. Mr. Rajnath Singh will also inaugurate Sisseri River Bridge and National Highway-52 in East Siang District.

5. Haryana sets up the Economic Advisory Council to promote industries: Haryana government has constituted an Economic Advisory Council (EAC) for five years to promote industries in the state. The Economic Advisory Council will comprise membership-based advisory panel and will be headed by the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. This council would be constituted for 5 years, in which the government members would remain as permanent members of the council, while the members of the private sector would serve a term of 2 years.

6. Sishu Suraksha APP launched in Assam: The Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has launched a mobile app Sishu Suraksha App. The purpose of the app is to empower citizens to take moral responsibility for protecting future generations. The app can be used by anyone in the state to lodge a complaint which will be directly registered at Commission.

7. Prakash Javadekar takes charge as Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises: Prakash Javadekar took charge as the Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. This decision was taken after Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant resigned from the Union Cabinet. Javadekar also holds information & broadcasting, and environment, forest and climate change portfolios.

8. Children’s Day: 14th November: Children’s Day is celebrated on 14th November every year on the birth anniversary of the first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru also called 'Chacha Nehru'. Children's Day is celebrated across India to increase awareness of the rights, care, and education of children. Political leaders and eminent persons have paid tribute to him at his Samadhi, Shanti Vana in New Delhi.

Note: Children's Day (Bal Divas) was first celebrated in 1964 after the death of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Sri Lanka becomes 1st South Asian country to call match fixing a crime: Sri Lanka has become the first South Asian nation to bring match-fixing cases to the category of crime as its parliament passed a bill related to ‘Prevention of Offences Related to Sports’. This new legislation related to match-fixing and corruption will apply to all sports & if a person is found guilty of corruption in the game, he can be punished for up to 10 years and also be required to pay other fines.

Note: Sri Lanka Capitals: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte; Currency: Sri Lankan rupee; Prime minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe; President: Maithripala Sirisena.

2. India-ASEAN Business Summit 2019: The Union Minister of State (I/C) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), has addressed the India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Business Summit 2019 in New Delhi. The India- ASEAN Business Summit on the theme: “Today, Tomorrow, Together” is being organised to strengthen trade & investment flows with ASEAN Economies. The objective of the conference is to enhance the trade trajectory between India and ASEAN nations to new highs. Senior government officials from India and the ASEAN Nations are interacting with the Business community of India and ASEAN for the promotion of bilateral trade and investments.

Note: 10 ASEAN member countries: Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Laos.

3. NASA renames Ultima thule to Arrokoth after Nazi controversy: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has renamed a distant space rock Ultima Thule, to Arrokoth. It is the farthest cosmic body ever visited by a spacecraft, Arrokoth or “sky” is a name of the Native American Powhatan language following a significant backlash over the old name’s Nazi connotations. The name portrait the co-operation with Powhatan Tribal elders.

Note: Headquarters of NASA: Washington, D.C.; Established: July 29,1958.

4. World Diabetes Day: 14 November: The World Diabetes Day (WDD) was observed globally on 14 November. The theme for diabetes awareness month and World Diabetes Day 2019 “Family and Diabetes”. World Diabetes Day (WDD) was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes.

Note: World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2006. It is marked every year on 14 November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922. Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar either because of the inability of the body to produce enough insulin or the inability to respond to the insulin so produced. Insulin is a critically important medication for individuals with Type 1 diabetes.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. FIFA bans three football officials for life for corruption: FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) has banned 3 South American football officials for a lifetime for connection with a 2015 corruption scandal in football. The three officials who were banned were Former Peru Football Federation Manuel Burga and Argentinian officials Eduardo Deluca and Jose Luis Meiszner.

Note: President of FIFA: Gianni Infantino; Founded: 21 May 1904; Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Unilever appoints Nils Andersen as new Chairman: British-Dutch consumer goods company Unilever named non-executive director Nils Andersen as its new chairman to utilise his deep experience across consumer goods and logistics industries. Andersen will replace Marijn Dekkers, who is standing down after more than three years as chairman, to focus on his responsibilities as founder and chairman of investment and advisory firm Novalis LifeSciences.

Note: Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Unilever: Alan Jope; Founded: 2 September 1929; Headquarters: London, United Kingdom, and Rotterdam, Netherlands.

2. Retail inflation jumps to 4.62 per cent in Oct on higher food prices: According to government data released, Retail inflation surged to 4.62% in October this year mainly on account of higher food prices. The inflation in the food basket spiked to 7.89 per cent in October this year as against 5.11 per cent the preceding month. The inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 3.99 per cent in September and 3.38 per cent in October last year. The Reserve Bank mainly factors in the CPI-based inflation to arrive at its bi-monthly monetary policy. The RBI has been asked to keep the retail inflation at around four per cent

AWARDS AND HONOUR

1. Dr Debabhuson Borah gets Munin Barkotoki Literary Award: The prestigious Munin Barkotoki Literary Award 2018 in Assam has been given to young writer-critic Dr Debabhuson Borah for his book on literary criticism titled 'Nirbochon'. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000 along with with a citation and a plaque. The Munin Barkotoki Memorial Trust announced the annual Award instituted to encourage young and promising writers in Assamese.

Note: The award was named after the renowned writer, critic and journalist Munin Barkotoki.

Daily GK Updates - 13th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. President's rule imposed in Maharashtra: As per Maharashtra Governor’s Bhagat Singh Koshyari recommendation, President Ram Nath Kovind signed a proclamation imposing President’s rule in Maharashtra. The Union Cabinet has recommended the President rule on the report of the Governor invoking Article 356 of the constitution in the state. The Governor’s office stated that the government cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution, and submitted a report as contemplated by the provision of Article 356 of the Constitution.

Note: Article 356, commonly known as President’s rule, deals with ‘failure of constitutional machinery in the state’.

2. Chief Justice’s office comes under RTI, rules Supreme Court: The Supreme Court ruled that the office of Chief Justice comes under the transparency law, the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The decision by the five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, led Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who retires on November 17, comes on a petition filed by Central Public Information Officer of the Supreme Court against a Delhi high court ruling of 2010 that held the office of the CJI was a public authority and directed the secretary-general of the top court to disclose details of the assets of judges sought by RTI activist SC Agarwal.

3. Manmohan Singh nominated to the parliamentary standing committee on finance: Venkaiah Naidu (Rajya Sabha Chairman) nominated a former prime minister and senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh to the parliamentary standing committee on finance (earlier Digvijaya Singh). Now, Digvijaya Singh has been nominated to the parliamentary standing committee on urban development. Manmohan Singh was a member of the panel from September 2014 to May 2019 before his tenure in the Upper House ended in June 2019. In August 2019, Manmohan Singh was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.

4. Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurates exhibition of Technologies in Food Processing: Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan inaugurated an exhibition of Technologies in Food Processing developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. The exhibition organized in New Delhi showcases CSIR technologies in the food sector to the industries and MSMEs. It also highlights the latest research and development being done in the food processing sector in the country. The products developed through these technologies and innovations are cost-effective and healthier for people.

Note: Director-General of CSIR: Shekhar C. Mande.

5. Gujarat CM launches online registration portal to facilitate setting up of new MSME units: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has launched an online registration portal to facilitate setting up of new MSME units. Mr. Rupani approved the first online application through the portal and issued a certificate through an e-mail to a woman entrepreneur. The Union government had also announced that purchase of land would also be possible without prior approval for the purpose of setting up a new MSME unit in the state.

6. Haryana Govt.’s Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojna Scheme: The Haryana government has decided to bring more crops under its ‘Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojna (BBY)’ scheme. The decision was taken at a BBY’s review meeting which was presided by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Under BBY scheme, farmers get compensated for selling their crop at a price lower than that fixed by the government.

7. 39th India International Trade Fair 2019: 39th India International Trade Fair 2019 begins in New Delhi. The theme for the 39th edition of the fair is ‘Ease of Doing Business’ inspired by India’s unique achievement of rising to 63rd rank on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index from 142nd rank in the year 2014. The fair will be inaugurated by Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Nitin Gadkari. This year the status of ‘Partner Country’ has been accorded to ‘The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’ and ‘The Republic of Korea’ will be the ‘Focus Country’. Bihar and Jharkhand will be the focus states in this edition of the fair.

8. Justice Muhammad Raffiq takes oath as Chief Justice of Meghalaya HC: Justice Muhammad Raffiq took oath as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court. Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy administered the oath of office and secrecy at Raj Bhavan in Shillong. Raffiq succeeds Ajay Kumar Mittal who is now the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court. He also served as acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court twice.

Note: The Meghalaya High Court was established in March 2013, after making suitable amendments in the Constitution of India and North-Eastern Areas (Re-organisation) Act of 1971.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Pravind Jugnauth sworn in as Mauritius PM: Mauritius’s incumbent Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth was sworn in for a five-year term after elections in which his coalition consolidated its grip on parliament. Jugnauth took over from his father in 2017 without going through a vote, and the decisive victory of his centre-right Morisian Alliance in the November 7 elections have strengthened his legitimacy. Mr Jugnauth's swearing-in took place at the residence of President Barlen Vyapoory. Since attaining independence from Britain in 1968, Mauritius has become one of the most stable democracies in Africa.

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

2. Iran discovers new oil field with 53 Bn barrels of reserves: Iran has discovered a new oilfield with 53 billion barrels of crude oil in Khuzestan province, home to Iran’s Khuzestan’s crucial oil industry. The announcement, however, did not reveal how much oil could be produced from the reservoir but the find could boost the country’s battered economy amid stringent US sanctions. The new oil field discovered is 2,400 square kilometres (925 square miles), with the deposit some 80 metres (260 feet) deep.

Note: Iran Capital: Tehran; Currency: Rial; President: Hassan Rouhani.

3. Mohammad Imran appointed Bangladesh High Commissioner to India: Mohammad Imran has been appointed as the new High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India. He is currently Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. He succeeds Syed Muazzem Ali. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh.

Note: Bangladesh Capital: Dhaka; Currency: Taka; PM: Sheikh Hasina.

4. FICCI signed MoU with Singapore Fintech Association: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) signed a memorandum of understanding(MoU) with Singapore Fintech Association (SFA) as part of the growing Singapore-India fintech ecosystems. The MoU was signed during the Fourth edition of Singapore Fintech Festival. Singapore Fintech Festival is the world’s largest financial technology platform along with Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology conducted from 11-13 November 2019.

Note: FICCI of Founded: 1927; Headquarters; New Delhi.

5. India to host 19th council of heads of government of SCO 2020: India will host the 19th council of heads of government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation 2020. The first such high-level meeting of the 8-member grouping to be organised by New Delhi after its admission into the grouping in 2017. The latest Summit of heads of government was held in Tashkent in November 2019. It was proposed in Tashkent Summit that India would take the initiative to hold the 2020 meetings of the Heads of Government.

Note: The SCO is a China-led eight-member economic and security bloc in which India and Pakistan were admitted as full members in 2017. Its founding members included China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. SCO Secretary-General: Vladimir Norov.

6. World Kindness Day: 13 November: November 13 is celebrated as the World Kindness Day to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us. Kindness is a fundamental part of the human circumstances which bridges the divides of race religion, politics, gender and zip codes. The Theme of 2019 for this World Kindness Day 2019 is empathy, encouraging people across the globe to better understand “the pains of others” and touch their lives “positively”.

Note: World Kindness Day was first introduced in 1998 by The World Kindness Movement, an organisation formed at a 1997 Tokyo conference by the like-minded kindness organisations from around the world.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah maintain top positions in ICC ODI ranking: In Cricket, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have maintained their top spots in the latest ICC ODI Player Rankings. Kohli is at the top of the rankings for batsmen, followed by Rohit Sharma. In the bowlers' rankings, Bumrah maintained his top spot followed by New Zealand's pacer Trent Boult. Hardik Pandya is the only Indian to feature in the top 10 among all-rounders. England's World Cup hero Ben Stokes tops the chart followed by Mohammad Nabi of Afghanistan.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. SBI’s economic research team revised India’s FY20 GDP forecast to 5%: The economic research team from the State Bank of India (SBI) has revised India’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) to 5% from its earlier estimate of 6.1% for the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20). This downgrade was due to global slowdown in the index of industrial production (IIP). The SBI economic research team group has projected the second quarter (July-September) GDP growth at 4.2% in their report titled “EcoWrap”. It expects the growth rate to pick up in FY2021 to 6.2%.

Note: Chairman of SBI: Rajnish Kumar; Formed: 1 July 1955; Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Suranga Bawadi selected as World Monument Watch list for 2020: Suranga Bawadi in Bijapur, Karnataka was selected as the World Monument Watch List for 2020, by the New York-based non-governmental organisation. Suranga Bawadi was selected under the category of “Ancient Water System of the Deccan Plateau” along with 24 monuments across the world. It is one of the integral parts of the ancient Karez system of supplying water through subterranean tunnels, is now set to get funding for restoration. It was built in the 16th century of Adil Shahi-I in Vijayapura.

DEFENCE

1. Air Chief to inaugurate ISAM Conference in Bengaluru: Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will inaugurate the 58th Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ISAM) Annual Conference. The aims of the conference to address contemporary issues and applications in the subject of aerospace medicine. The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Changing Paradigms in Aerospace Healthcare’. The event will take place at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Indian Air Force, Bengaluru from November 14-16.

Daily GK Updates - 12th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Centre approves to set up four medical device parks: The government of India has given approval for setting up four medical device parks with a view to support Make in India initiative and provide world-class products at an affordable price for treatment. The four parks will be set up in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. These parks will provide the necessary infrastructure, where companies can easily plug and play. This will not only cut import bill but will also help in easy access to standard testing facilities and reduce the cost of production. The project of Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone for creation of Common Facility Centre (CFC) for Superconducting Magnetic Coil Testing and Research was given in-principle approval recently. The scheme proposes to provide Rs. 25 crores or 70% of the project cost of setting up CFCs, whichever is less, for the creation of common facilities in any upcoming park.

Note: India is largely an importer of medical devices, with domestic industry accounting for about 2% of the global industry which stands at USD 250 billion, as per the estimates.

2. Gujarat Govt gives approval to world’s first CNG terminal at Bhavnagar port: Gujarat Government has given approval to the world’s first CNG terminal at Bhavnagar port, Gujarat. The joint venture of United Kingdom-based Foresight Group and Mumbai-based Padmanabh Mafatlal Group will invest 1,900 crore rupees to set up a CNG terminal at Bhavnagar port. For this, a Memorandum of Understanding between Gujarat Maritime Board and London-based Foresight Group was signed during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit earlier this year. Proposed CNG terminal will have an annual capacity of 1.5 metric tonnes. At present, the Bhavnagar port is operated by Gujarat Maritime Board, which is handling three metric tones of cargo annually. 

Note: Gujarat CM: Vijay Rupani; Governor: Acharya Dev Vrat; Capital: Gandhinagar.

3. “National Capital Region -2041” conclave held in Delhi: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, chaired the inaugural conclave on “National Capital Region -2041” in Delhi. This conclave is organized by the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB). The theme of the conclave was “Planning for Tomorrow’s Greatest Capital Region”. The Regional Plan-2041 should be a citizen-centric plan, with liveability as the hallmark, to ensure ease of living.

Note: Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: Hardeep Singh Puri.

4. Dal Lake of J&K to be declared Eco-Sensitive Zone: The Jammu and Kashmir government has set up a 10-member committee to declare Srinagar’s famous Dal Lake and its surrounding areas as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), following concerns over its shrinking size. Pollution and encroachments have resulted in the Dal Lake shrinking from its original area of 22 square kilometres to about 10 square kilometres, according to an assessment by the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) in 2017. The capacity of the lake has shrunk to 40%. The depth of the lake has reduced in many places due to the absence of desilting.

Note: he Eco-Sensitive Zone is called Ecologically Fragile Areas. A region or territory is notified as ESZ by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change. In General, the regions are around wildlife sanctuaries, protected areas and National Parks.

Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir: Girish Chandra Murmu.

4. Newly discovered species of spider named after Sachin Tendulkar: Dhruv Prajapati, a research scholar from the Gujarat Ecological Education & Research (GEER) Foundation, has discovered two new spider species in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. One spider species was named after Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar as “Marengo Sachin Tendulkar” while the other was named as “Indomarengo chavarapater” after Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara, who played a key role in creating awareness on education in the state of Kerala.

5. Justice AP Sahi sworn-in as Chief Justice of Madras High Court: Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi was sworn-in as Chief Justice of the Madras High Court. Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered the oath of office to Justice Sahi. Justice Sahi replaces Justice VK Tahilramani, who quit on September 6. Prior to this appointment, Justice Sahi was Chief Justice of the Patna High Court from November 17, 2018.

6. Union Minister, Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant resign from NDA govt: President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted the resignation of Arvind Ganpat Sawant (Shiv Sena MP) from the Union Council of Ministers. Earlier, Mr Sawant is the Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister in Narendra Modi government. Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has been assigned the additional charge of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

7. Public Service Broadcasting Day: 12 November: Public Service Broadcasting Day is celebrated on 12 November every year. The day is celebrated every year to commemorate the first and last visit of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi to the studio of All India Radio, Delhi in 1947. The Father of the Nation addressed the displaced people, who had temporarily settled at Kurukshetra in Haryana after partition.

8. 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji celebrated: The 550th birth anniversary of first Sikh guru and founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev is being celebrated as ‘Prakash Parv’on 12 November. President Ramnath Kovind has taken part in the festivities at Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district of Punjab. Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent more than 15 years at Sultanpur Lodhi, where he attained enlightenment.

Note: Guru Nanak Dev was born on the full moon day of Kartik month (Poornima) in 1469. Guru Nanak was the founder of the Sikh religion and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. BRICS trade ministers meeting begins in Brasilia: BRICS trade ministers meeting has been started in Brasilia. The meeting will focus on trade facilitation, investment promotion and cooperation in customs among other issues. MoU on trade and investment promotion between agencies of all the 5 BRICS countries will be signed after the meeting. Commerce minister Piyush Goyal is leading the Indian delegation. Later, Power minister R K Singh will attend the meeting of BRICS power ministers where deliberations will focus on clean energy and harnessing the strengths of each other in the energy sector.

2. NASA detects huge X-ray burst from outer space: NASA has detected a massive thermonuclear explosion coming from outer space, caused by a massive thermonuclear flash on the surface of a pulsar. The crushed remains of a star that long ago exploded as a supernova. The explosion released as much energy in 20 seconds as the Sun does in nearly 10 days. NASA’s Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) telescope on the International Space Station (ISS) detected a sudden spike of X-rays on August 20, reports the US space agency. The X-ray burst, the brightest seen by NICER so far, came from an object named “J1808”. The observations reveal many phenomena that have never been seen together in a single burst.

Note: NASA Administrator: Jim Bridenstine; NASA established: 29 July 1958.

3. NASA unveils its first electric airplane: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched its first all-electric experimental aircraft named the X-57 “Maxwell”. The first delivery of the all-electric experimental aircraft was taken from Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) in California, United States (US). It is NASA’s 1st crewed X-plane (experimental plane) in nearly 2 decades adapted from Italian Tecnam P2006T aircraft. Due to current battery limitations, Maxwell's design is envisioned for use in short-haul flights as an air-taxi or commuter plane for a small number of passengers.  The aircraft is expected to be operational by late 2020.

4. World Pneumonia Day: 12 November: World Pneumonia Day is observed every year on 12th November to raise awareness about pneumonia, the world’s leading infectious killer of children under the age of 5. World Pneumonia Day was established in 2009 and seeks to spread awareness of the diseases as a public health issue. The day also aims to generate action, including continued donor investment, to combat pneumonia and other common, deadly childhood diseases.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Thomas Dennerby takes charge as Indian Head Coach in FIFA U-17 Women’s WC: All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced the appointment of Thomas Dennerby (Sweden) as the Indian head coach of the Women’s U-17 football team. The FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) U-17(under 17) women’s football World Cup 2020 will be hosted by India. Thomas led the Sweden Women’s national team to finish third in the FIFA World Cup in 2011. He previously worked as coach of Super Falcons, the Nigerian women’s national team to the 2019 FIFA World Cup in France. He was also awarded the coach of the year for 2018 in Nigeria.

Note: President of All India Football Federation: Praful Patel; Founded: 23 June 1937; Headquarters: New Delhi.

2. Saurabh Chaudhary wins silver medal in Men’s 10m air pistol event at Asian Championship: Saurabh Chaudhary claimed the silver medal in men’s 10m air pistol event to continue India’s surge at the 14th Asian Championship in Doha, Qatar. World Cup and Asian Games gold-medallist shot 244.5 to finish second on the podium behind North Korea’s Kim Song Guk, who won the top prize with a world record 246.5. Iran’s Foroughi Javed bagged the bronze. India won six Olympic quotas across events from the prestigious championship, taking their total to 15.

3. Javelin thrower Sundar Singh wins gold in World Para Athletics Championships: India's Javelin thrower Sundar Singh Gurjar has won a gold medal in the men's F46 javelin throw event at World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. With this, India has secured three Tokyo Paralympic Games quota, along with the bronze winner Ajeet Singh and Rinku. Gurjar came up with his season's best effort of 61.22m to claim the top spot While Yogesh Kathuniya added a silver for India in men's discus throw F56 event with a best throw of 42.05m yesterday. India now has two gold, two silver and a bronze in the Championships.

Daily GK Updates - 11th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.5th edition of GES 2019 to be held in Bengaluru: The 5th edition of Global Exhibition on Services, GES 2019 is being held from November 26 to 28 at Bengaluru, Karnataka. The Global Exhibition on Services is an annual event which aims to engage industry and governments across the world and to promote greater exchange of trade in services between India and the rest of the world. India is looking to attract investments and partnerships in strategic areas like aviation and space programme, infrastructure, and telecom projects.

Note: Minister of Commerce and Industry: Piyush Goyal.

2. National Education Day: 11th November: The nation celebrates the National Education Day on 11th November as a mark of respect to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a freedom fighter, scholar and eminent educationist and independent India’s first Education Minister (served from 1947 to 1958). He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1992. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) on September 11, 2008, announced, the Ministry has decided to commemorate the birthday of this great son of India by recalling his contribution to the cause of education in India.

Human Resources Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has launched SWAYAM 2.0, Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds in New Delhi. The SWAYAM programme is initiated by the government to achieve the three cardinal principles of Education Policy - access, equity and quality.

3. Cyclone 'Bulbul' disrupts normal life in Bengal and Bangladesh: Cyclone Bulbul claims at least ten lives and affected 2.73 lakh families as it hit the coastal districts of West Bengal, smashes into the low-lying areas of neighbouring Bangladesh. The cyclone has also damaged hundreds of houses. Nearly two lakh people have been moved to relief camps set up in nine places of the state. Hundreds of uprooted trees have blocked thoroughfares in Kolkata and its fringe areas.

4. Indian Oil to set up 2G ethanol plant in Panipat: The Ministry of Environment has granted clearance to the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) to set up a ₹ 766-crore 2G ethanol plant in Haryana’s Panipat district. The Ethanol produced in the plant will be exclusively used to blend transportation fuels. The project also aims at doubling farmer’s income.

Note: Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: Prakash Javadekar.

5. Justice Sanjay Karol sworn in as Chief Justice of Patna High Court: Justice Sanjay Karol was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court. Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan administered the oath of office to Justice Karol at the Raj Bhavan. He was earlier posted as Chief Justice of Tripura before this appointment.

Note: Patna High Court is the High Court of the state of Bihar, established on 3 February 1916 and later affiliated under the Government of India Act 1915.

6. CJI Ranjan Gogoi releases Assamese version of book 'Courts of India: Past to Present': Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has inaugurated the Assamese version of the book Courts of India: Past to Present' in Guwahati. The book has captured the historical developments which took place in the history of the nation's courts. The book has been published by the Publication division. The various chapters of the book narrate the historical events of the court.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Singapore FinTech Festival 2019 begins with Focus on Sustainability: The Singapore FinTech Festival, one of the biggest of its kind in the world began today(11-15th November). The Fintech Festival Being held alongside the ASEAN summit has the strongest Indian presence among exhibiting fintech companies. There will be over 400 speakers, more than 900 exhibitors, 41 international pavilions, and about 60,000 participants from 130 countries. SFF is organised by MAS, in partnership with The Association of Banks in Singapore, and in collaboration with SingEx Holdings.

2. Dharmendra Pradhan visited UAE for ADIPEC: Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend the inaugural Ministerial session of Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference. The Minister is scheduled to meet his UAE counterpart Minister of Energy and Industry, Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei. Both the countries will discuss issues of bilateral hydrocarbon as well as steel sector engagements. He will also explore the opportunities for steel exports to the Middle East countries.

3. Anjani Kumar appointed as next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Mali: The Ministry of external affairs (MEA) announced Anjani Kumar was the next ambassador of India to the Republic of Mali. He is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer of batch 2003. He will replace Pradeep Kumar Gupta.

Note: President: Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.

Capital: Bamako; Currency: West African CFA Franc.

4. Iran & Russia inaugurated a new phase of construction for 2nd reactor at Iran's Bushehr: Iran and Russia inaugurated a new phase of construction for a second reactor at Iran's sole nuclear power plant in Bushehr on the Gulf coast. The reactor is one of two officially under construction since 2017 at the Bushehr site. The landmark 2015 nuclear deal Iran signed with six major powers, including Russia, placed restrictions on the sort of nuclear reactor Tehran could develop and its production of nuclear fuel. As part of the agreement, Moscow provides Tehran with the fuel it needs for its electricity-generating nuclear reactors.

5. World Science Day for Peace and Development: 10 November: World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated every year on 10th November. The theme for 2019 is “Open science, leaving no one behind”. The day highlights the significant role of science in society and the need to engage the wider public in debates on emerging scientific issues. It also underlines the importance and relevance of science in our daily lives. The day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2001.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Deepak Chahar becomes second Indian to take T20I hat-trick: Deepak Chahar became the second Indian bowler (first-Ekta Bisht) to clinch a hat-trick in T20 internationals at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur. In women's cricket, Ekta Bisht had taken a hat-trick against Sri Lanka in 2012. Chahar recorded the best bowling figures in T20 International cricket, his 6 for 7 in 3.2 overs (earlier Sri Lankan Ajantha Mendis's figures of 6 for 8 against Zimbabwe in 2012). Chahar completed his hat-trick by removing Mustafizur Rahman and Aminul Islam off consecutive deliveries in the final over.

2. Women's boxing icon Adams retires due to medical advice: Two-time Olympic champion Nicola Adams (37-years) will retire because of fears about her sight Nicola Adams became the first-ever women's Olympic boxing champion at London 2012. Adams successfully defended her title in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Karnataka Gramin Bank initiates ‘mobile ATMs’ in rural areas: The Karnataka Gramin Bank (KGB) has launched ‘mobile ATMs’ in Kalaburagi, among several other districts in the Karnataka. The special vehicle includes an ATM and a screen to show videos of different banking schemes. The mobile ATMs will go to the doorsteps of the farmers and make them aware of the banking schemes and digital operating systems. A bank official would be present in the van, who will provide information regarding the digital operating systems and schemes.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Shanta Gokhale conferred with Tata Literature Live Lifetime Achievement Award 2019: Writer, translator and film critic Shanta Gokhale (79-year) has been conferred with Tata Literature Live Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 for his outstanding contribution in the field of theatre. Recently, Gokhale published her memoir One Foot on the Ground: A Life Told Through the Body. Poet K Satchidanandan was named the Tata Literature Live! Poet Laureate for 2019. Satchidanandan has represented the country at several literary meetings overseas and headed many national literary institutions. Gokhale will be presented with the award on 17th November, while Satchidanandan will be honoured on 14th November 2019.

DEFENCE

1. Defence innovations conference to showcase accomplishments of iDEX: The defence ministry is organising Def-Connect in New Delhi to showcase the accomplishments of the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative. The conference aims to bring together all stakeholders of the iDEX ecosystem, Ministry of defence, iDEX selected startups, Partner Incubators, Defence Innovation Organisation, Nodal agencies (Indian Army, Navy, Airforce), Defence Research and Development Organisation and Defence Public Sector Undertakings and Indian Ordnance Factories. The launch of iDEX Portal and launch of Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC)-III are some of the major activities planned during this day-long event.

Note: Union Defence minister: Rajnath Singh.

OBITUARIES

1. Padma Shri Dhrupad vocalist Ramakant Gundecha passes away: Padma Shri-awardee Dhrupad vocalist Ramakant Gundecha passed away. He was awarded the Padma Shri for 2012 in the field of Art – Indian Classical Music – Vocal along with his brother Umakant Gundecha. Dhrupad is a genre in Hindustani classical music from the Indian subcontinent and is related to the South Indian Carnatic tradition.

2. Former chief election commissioner TN Seshan passes away: Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) TN Seshan (86-years) passed away in Chennai. Mr Seshan (IAS Officer: 1955 batch) was appointed CEC on 12th December 1990 during the P V Narasimha Rao led Congress government. He is widely credited for bringing in electoral reforms that changed the face of Indian elections. One of them was the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, which is a set of guidelines issued to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections. He held various key posts in the government including that of Defence Secretary and Cabinet Secretary.

Daily GK Updates - 10th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 27th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (COCSSO) to be held at Kolkata: The 27th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (COCSSO) will be held in Kolkata, West Bengal on 11 and 12 November 2019. It is organised by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The theme of the event is: “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. The Conference provides a platform for discussion and improved coordination between the Central and State Statistical agencies for enhancing the efficiency of the Indian Statistical System.

2. Devendra Fadnavis resigns as Maharashtra chief minister: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has finally resigned and met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to submit his resignation papers. This comes just hours before the deadline for government formation in Maharashtra ends with the current assembly session coming to an end on November 9. Fadnavis addressed a press conference after submitting his resignation. Fadnavis announced that he has submitted his resignation to the Governor and he has accepted it. Soon he launched into a direct attack on ally Shiv Sena and its chief Uddhav Thackeray and said while the elections were fought by the two parties as allies, Sena's sudden change of stand after the results "came as a shock".

3. India’s first Elephant Memorial opens in Mathura: India’s first elephant memorial has come up in Mathura. This memorial is an unique way to honour elephants that lost their lives to illegal trafficking, abuse and cruelty. It has been established by NGO, WildLife SOS at the Elephant Conservation & Care Center, Mathura

4. Legal Services Day: 9 November: Legal Services Day is celebrated every year on 9th of November in all the states Authorities. The 9th of November is selected as the Legal Services Day which was first started by the Supreme Court in the year 1995 all across the India to offer help and support to the weaker and poor group of sections of people which may be women, disabled persons, Scheduled Tribes, children, Scheduled Castes, human trafficking victims as well as natural calamities victims.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India contributes USD 1 mn for WFP's humanitarian activities in N Korea: As North Korea faces chronic food shortage, India has contributed USD 1 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) for its humanitarian activities in Pyongyang, the UN agency's monthly report said. In September, a total of 584,800 people received aid across North Korea as the country received 1,905 tons of food aid from the WFP, up from 1,425 tons provided in August. In 2018, North Korea's crop output hit the lowest since 2008, leading to an urgent need for food to an estimated 10 million people, or about 40 per cent of its population, the WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported in May. In a bid to address the food situation, South Korea had planned to provide 50,000 tons of rice to Pyongyang through WFP. However, the North has refused to accept the offer.

2. ‘World Tolerance Summit’ to be held in Dubai: A two-day ‘World Tolerance Summit’ will be held in Dubai, UAE on November 13 and 14, 2019. Mathematician Anand Kumar of Super 30 has been invited to address this summit. The summit is an initiative of the International Institute for Tolerance, as part of UAE’s Prime Minister and ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s global drive. Theme: “Tolerance in Multiculturalism: Achieving the Social, Economic and Humane Benefits of a Tolerant World”.

3. ADB approves $300 million for power transmission expansion in Bangladesh: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a 300 million dollar loan for a project to expand power transmission lines in Greater Dhaka and western zone of Bangladesh. Besides ADB's loan, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is considering 200 million dollars in co-financing to fund transmission lines, substations and an enterprise resource planning system. The assistance also comprises a 750,000 dollar grant from China's Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation Fund. According to ADB Principal Energy Specialist Aiming Zhou "The project will improve the reliability and efficiency of the electricity supply in Greater Dhaka and western zone of Bangladesh, helping to bolster economic growth and achieve the government target of electricity for all by 2021." Bangladesh has yielded average annual gross domestic growth of 6.5 per cent during fiscal years 2009 to 2018 and achieved lower middle-income country status in FY2015. Despite its economic success, Bangladesh faces major challenges in maintaining growth trends and reducing poverty because of infrastructure deficiencies in the energy sector and elsewhere.

4. ‘Climate strike’ named 2019 word of the year by Collins Dictionary: Climate strike” has been crowned word of the year by Collins Dictionary. The term, which refers to people leaving work or school as a way to demand action on climate change, was used 100 times more often in 2019 compared to last year, Collins’ lexicographers found. The company says that they monitor a 9.5 billion-word body of text each year to identify “new and notable” words that reflect big shifts in culture.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. France Claims Fed Cup Title 2019 with 3-2 Win Against Australia: France defeated Australia, 3-2, to claim their first Fed Cup title in 16 years, held in Perth, Australia. Fed Cup is an international team competition in women’s tennis. Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic of France surpassed Ashleigh Barty and Samantha Stosur, 6-4, 6-3, winning the deciding doubles match to break the tie. This was France’s third Fed Cup title and first since they beat the United States in 2003. However, Australia has till date lost all nine of the last Fed Cup finals they have appeared in.

2. Kento Momota Defends Fuzhou China Open Badminton Title to Claim 10th Title of 2019: Japan’s World number one Kento Momota defeated Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan to win 2019 Fuzhou China Open men’s single badminton title. With this win, the 25-year-old claimed his 10th title of the year 2019. In women’s single, Home hope Chen Yufei claimed victory over Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara to win the title.

3. Indian Cricketer Shafali Surpasses Tendulkar’s 30-year-old record to become youngest Indian to score international fifty: The 15-year-old Shafali Verma has created history as she became the youngest Indian cricketer to score a half-century in international cricket, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s 30-year-old record. Shafali achieved the feat while playing T20 International against West Indies at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium. She scored 73 off 49 balls to reach her maiden fifty at the age of 15 years and 285 days. The batting legend Tendulkar scored his maiden Test fifty at 16 years and 214 days.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. No charges on NEFT payments from January: Banks will not be able to charge their savings account customers for online transactions done via the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) system from January 2020. NEFT can be done by bank customers either online or offline through bank branches. While several major banks, including State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and YES Bank, do not charge for online NEFT transactions, Bank of Baroda and Union Bank of India charge Rs. 2.25, excluding the goods and services tax (GST), for such transfers up to Rs. 10,000. The RBI earlier this year had waived the charges it levied on banks for transactions routed through NEFT and the Real- Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS), which is used for large fund transfers. It had asked banks to pass on the benefit to customers to provide an impetus to the digital funds movement.

2. IRDAI directs Reliance Health Insurance to stop selling new policies: IRDAI has barred Reliance Health Insurance Ltd (RHICL) from selling new policies due to its weak financial health. The regulator has also asked RHICL to transfer the entire policyholders’ liabilities along with financial assets to Reliance General Insurance Co Ltd (RGICL), which in turn will settle claims of the existing policyholders. IRDAI noted that Reliance Health Insurance was facing solvency issues. Solvency ratio loosely refers to the financial ability of an insurer to service its obligations, including payment to claims. RHICL had reported a solvency ratio of 106 per cent for the quarter ended June 30. It was below 150 per cent, which is the control level of solvency.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. 8 Indian companies named in Fintech 100 list: Eight Indian firms have been named in the KPMG and H2 Ventures’ ‘Fintech100’ list with two firms in top 10. PayTm is ranked 5th while Ola is ranked 8th. Ant Financial (China) is on rank one in the list. This report compiles a list of the best fintech innovators from around the world. Apart from this, Policybazaar is ranked on 21, Lendingkart on 23.

2. Indian start-up ecosystem continues to be the 3rd largest in the world: NASSCOM Report: As per the “Indian Tech Start-up Ecosystem” released by NASSCOM, the Indian start-up ecosystem continues to be the third-largest in the world with a total of 24 Unicorns. (unicorn is a start-up with >$1Bn valuation). China is on top with 206 Unicorns and US is on second with 203 unicorns.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla Conferred ABLF Global Asian Award by UAE Govt: Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla has been honoured with the ABLF Global Asian Award by the UAE Government in Dubai. He has been awarded for being a “Powerful individual whose business footprint and commitment to excellence have engaged international interest and attention”. The previous recipients of the award include among others Late Dhirubhai Ambani, Mr. Lakshmi Mittal, H.E Mohamed Ali Alaber (Chairman- Emaar), H.E Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum (Chairman-Emirates).

2. George Schaller award for wildlife biologist: Wildlife biologist K. Ullas Karanth, Director, Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bengaluru, was awarded the George Schaller Lifetime Award in Wildlife Conservation Science for his contribution to the field of conservation. He is the first recipient of the award instituted by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), New York.

DEFENCE

1. Indo-Russian Joint Tri-Service Exercise INDRA 2019 to be held from December 10-19: India is set to host the first-ever joint tri-service exercise between India and Russia codenamed INDRA 2019 from December 10-19. The 10-day bilateral joint services exercise is expected to enhance interoperability between both national armed forces (Armies, Air Forces and Navies) to jointly undertake operations under the UN flag.