Daily GK Updates - 16th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Chandrayaan-3: Second bid to land on Moon by November 2020: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), which failed to land a probe on Moon in its first attempt in September 2019 (Chandrayaan-2), has begun work on Chandrayaan-3 with a deadline of November 2020. ISRO has formed multiple committees- an overall panel and three sub-committees- and held at least four high-level meetings since October. The new mission will include only a lander and rover, as the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is functioning well. So far ISRO has looked at 10 specific aspects of the mission, including landing site selection, absolute navigation, and local navigation. The top priority for the new mission is “strengthening the legs of the lander”, so that it allows landing even with a high velocity. ISRO will be building a new lander and a rover.

Note: It is to be noted that India has launched Chandrayaan-2 in July 2019, with three modules- Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) & Rover (Pragyan).

2. National Tribal Festival Aadi Mahotsav to begin in New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the National Tribal Festival “Aadi Mahotsav” in New Delhi. The theme of the 15-day Mahotsav is celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Craft, Cuisine and Commerce. It will be held at Dilli Haat in INA, New Delhi. The tribal textiles manufactured by master tribal craftsmen from Jammu & Kashmir in the North to Tamil Nadu in the South and from Gujarat in the West to Nagaland/Sikkim in the East will be the main attractions.

3. Conference on “Replication of Good Governance Practices in Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh” begins: Two- day Regional Conference on the theme “Replication of Good Governance Practices in Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh” begins in Jammu. The Conference is being organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Government of India in collaboration with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The Conference aims to bring national and state-level organizations on a common platform and to share experiences in Digital Governance, Citizen-Centric Governance, and Capacity Building and Personnel Administration etc. Delegates from 19 states and 4 Union Territories are participating in the Conference.

4. National Mission ‘NISHTHA’ launched in J&K: National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) has been launched in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. NISHTHA is aimed at improving learning outcomes at Elementary level through integrated Teacher Trainings. NISHTHA is a pioneer scheme being launched across the country, with a total of 86000 Elementary teachers of Government Schools being trained in J&K under the programme.

5. CSIR-IMTECH signs MOU with IIT Bombay for collaborative research: CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay to promote collaborative research. The MoU will facilitate the exchange of ideas, development of new knowledge and enhance high-quality research acumen between the researchers and faculty of both the institutes. The objective of this collaboration is to carry out state of the art research in areas of healthcare especially in projects and missions where both the institutes can significantly complement each other. This MoU is in line with the circular issued by MHRD in 2018 paving way for all IITs to sign MoUs with National Research Laboratories affiliated to CSIR to start new collaborations and to deepen, broaden interactions where such collaborations already exist.

Note: CSIR-IMTECH is a national center for excellence in microbial sciences and was established in 1984. IMTECH’s vision is to discover and develop translational products and new drugs to address key unmet societal and medical needs.

6. National Press Day: 16th November: India celebrates “National Press Day” on 16th November every year. The day is symbolic of a free and responsible press. On this day the Press Council of India started functioning as a moral watchdog to ensure that the press maintains high standards and is not constrained by any influence or threats. On the occasion, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar said the media should guard against “fake news” and desist from providing any “disinformation and misinformation”. To celebrate the day, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu will confer excellence in journalism awards.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India to contribute $13.5 mn for UN development activities for 2020: India has pledged to contribute USD 13.5 million for various operational activities of development across the UN agencies for the year 2020. Counsellor at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Anjani Kumar announced India’s pledges at the UN General Assembly Pledging Conference for Development Activities. India will contribute USD 5 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, USD 4.5 million to the UN Development Programme. The World Food Programme will get USD 1.92 million, USD 900,000 to the UN Children’s Fund, USD 500,000 to the UN Population Fund, USD 200,000 dollars to the UN Voluntary Fund for Technical Co-operation and USD 150,000 dollars to the UN Commission on Human Settlements Programme. About 16 countries pledged a total of USD 516 million at the 2019 United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities. The contribution is in line with the country’s long-standing tradition of supporting development activities across the UN system.

2. International Day for Tolerance: 16 November: The United Nations observes “International Day for Tolerance” on 16th November every year. The United Nations is committed to strengthening tolerance by fostering mutual understanding among cultures and peoples. In 1996, the UN General Assembly by a resolution invited UN Member States to observe the International Day for Tolerance on 16 November. The Day is observed to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems and to celebrate and reinforce the achievements of humanity. In 1995, to mark the United Nations Year for Tolerance and the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, UNESCO created a prize for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence. The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence rewards significant activities in the scientific, artistic, cultural or communication fields aimed at the promotion of a spirit of tolerance and non-violence. The prize is awarded every two years on the International Day for Tolerance, 16 November.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Dutee Chand named in TIME 100 Next list: India sprinter Dutee Chand has been named in the TIME 100 Next, an expansion of the TIME 100 list of the most influential persons in the world. The list, an initiative of TIME magazine, highlights 100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, health, science, activism, etc. Dutee Chand from Odisha won two silver medals — 100m, 200m — at the Jakarta Asian Games and had become the first Indian woman sprinter to win gold in 100m at the 31st Summer Universiade Competition in Naples, Italy in 2019.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. CCI approves merger of the BNP Paribas (BNPP) and the Baroda (BOB) Mutual Fund: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves the merger of the BNP Paribas (BNPP) Mutual Fund and the Baroda (BOB) Mutual Fund, under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002. The Proposed Combination relates to the merger of the BNP Paribas Mutual Fund and the BOB Mutual Fund. The Parties propose to amalgamate (i) BOB Asset Management Company (AMC) into BNPP AMC; (ii) BNPP Trustee Company (TC) into BOB TC; (iii) After the merger, BNPP AMC and BOB TC will be the surviving entities.

Note: Chairman of CCI: Ashok Kumar Gupta; Headquarters of CCI: New Delhi; Founded: 14 October 2003.

MD and CEO of BNP Paribas Mutual Fund: Mr. Sharad Sharma; BNP Paribas Mutual Fund Headquarter: New Delhi

AWARDS AND HONOUR

1. Movie “Bhonsle” Wins awards at Asian Film Festival Barcelona: Manoj Bajpayee-starrer and critically acclaimed movie "Bhonsle" has won the ‘Best Screenplay’ and ‘Best Director’ awards at the ‘Asian Film Festival’ in Barcelona, Spain. The movie was directed by Devashish Makhija. The movie "Bhonsle" revolves around a police constable played by Manoj Bajpayee, who tries to help in the struggles of migrants and their battles with the local politicians. It also addresses the concerns of various ethnic groups and highlights the issues that they face in order to survive in a city like Mumbai, away from their home. "Bhonsle" was premiered in the 'A Window on Asian Cinema' section of the 2018 Busan International Film Festival. It was also screened at renowned film festivals including the MAMI Film Festival, 2018 Dharamshala Film Festival, the 2019 International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Bengaluru International Film Festival and the Singapore South Asian International film festival.

2. Tobacco Board of India wins Golden Leaf Award: The Tobacco Board of India, Guntur, has been awarded the Golden Leaf Award at Tab Expo 2019 event in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Executive Director of Tobacco Board, K. Sunitha, was presented the award. The award was presented to the board for its efforts to initiate various sustainability (green) initiatives in Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco cultivation in India. The award was given in the most impressive public service initiative category for the year 2019. This is the 2nd time the board has bagged the award. In the year 2014, the board bagged the award for its implementation of an electronic auction system, which has made the marketing of flue-cured tobacco in India more transparent and accountable.

Note: The Golden Leaf Awards was created by Tobacco Reporter, an international magazine in 2006 to recognize professional excellence and dedication in the tobacco industry. Tobacco Board works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Chairman: Shri Raghunadha Babu Yadlapati; Headquarters- Guntur, Andhra Pradesh

Daily GK Updates - 15th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to be the chief guest at Republic Day 2020: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade 2020. Regarding this, he has formally accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation on the sidelines of the 11th BRICS Summit 2019. Both leaders agreed that on this occasion, the two countries can comprehensively enhance our strategic partnership. On 26th January 2020, India will celebrate its 71st Republic Day. First Republic Day of India was celebrated in 1950.

Note: The year 2018 was historic when leaders from the 10 ASEAN nations – Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Brunei – were the chief guests at Republic Day celebration. In 2019, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was in attendance as the chief guest. He was the second South African president, after Nelson Mandela, to attend the grand event as its chief guest.

Capital of Brazil: Brasilia; Currency: Brazilian real.

2. Nitin Gadkari Inaugurates Khadi Pavilion at I.I.T.F: Union Minister of MSME and Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Khadi Pavilion at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) in New Delhi. The Pavilion entrance has been themed upon Sabarmati Ashram, with melodious Shehnai celebrating the ‘spirit of Indianness’. A wide range of products which includes food, handicrafts, leather, textiles and hosiery, readymade garments, wooden toys, cosmetics and herbal products offering a discount of up to 20% are being displayed in the Khadi Pavilion at IITF 2019.

Note: Chairman of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission: Vinai Kumar Saxena.

3. Andhra Pradesh government launches ‘Nadu-Nedu’ scheme: Andhra Pradesh government has launched the ‘Nadu-Nedu’ programme. The programme aims to introduce English medium from classes 1 to 6 in state-run schools. The scheme will be implemented in 15,715 schools in the first phase. It will cover all schools in three years’ time with a budget of Rs 12,000 crores. The decision to switch over to the English medium in government schools has been taken to uplift the marginalised section of society.

Note: CM of Andhra Pradesh: YS Jaganmohan Reddy; Governor: Biswa Bhusan Harichandan.

4. The 6th World Congress on Rural and Agricultural Finance was held in New Delhi: The 6th World Congress on Rural and Agricultural Finance (WCRAF) was held in New Delhi from November 12-13, 2019. The congress was inaugurated by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. It was jointly hosted by the Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. This 6th version of the congress was attended by 300 delegates across the globe who engaged in interactive discussions to unleash the potential role of rural and agricultural finance. The theme of the event was “Rural and Agricultural Finance: Critical Input to achieve Inclusive and Sustainable Development”.

Note: The World Congress is held at regular intervals of the 3-year period. The first Congress was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2005. It aims at bringing together stakeholders of rural and agricultural finance all over the world. The Congress is an opportunity to strengthen business relations and to promote products and services.

NABARD: Established in: 1982; Chairman: Dr. Harsh Kumar Bhanwala; Headquarter: Mumbai

5. Mihir Shah committee to draft a new National Water Policy: The Union Water Resources Ministry has set up a Committee to draft a new National Water Policy (NWP). The Committee will be chaired by Mihir Shah, formerly a member of the Planning Commission of India. The committee has 10 principal members, including Shashi Shekhar, a former secretary of Water Resources, and A.B. Pandya, former chairman of the Central Ground Water Board. The committee is expected to produce a report within six months. In September, Union Water Resources Minister Gajendra Shekhawat said that the Centre was planning to update the NWP and make key changes in water governance structure and regulatory framework.

Note: The NWP currently in force was drafted in 2012 and is the third such policy since 1987.

6. New signal fish discovered off Kerala coast: The new signal fish was found in Lakshadweep sea off Kerala coast, which is the home for unusual species like fish with a unique color. The name of the species is “Pteropsaron Indicum”, was collected by trawlers at a depth of 70 meters during a marine biodiversity survey. Scientists from the University of Kerala and the Ocean Science Foundation, United State of America (USA) have described the discovery of the new species of signal fish, was the first one of the genus recorded in Indian waters.

7. Nilam Sawhney appointed as Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary: Senior IAS officer Nilam Sawhney has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh. She has become the first woman Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh. She belongs to the 1984 batch of the IAS and from AP Cadre. She will replace Neerabh Kumar who is holding the additional charge as the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh.

Note: CM of Andhra Pradesh: YS Jaganmohan Reddy; Governor: Biswa Bhusan Harichandan.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India gets USD 43 million from Green Climate Fund to boost climate resilience: India kicked-off a USD 43 million project to boost climate resilience in three coastal states in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project is funded by the Green Climate Fund, established within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to assist developing countries. The six-year project will build climate-resilient livelihoods for 1.7 million people in three states viz Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha.

Note: The Green Climate Fund: Green Climate Fund was established within the framework of the UNFCCC. It was formed in 2010. The headquarters of Green Climate Fund is in Incheon, South Korea. It is supported by a Secretariat and governed by a board of 24 members. The main objective of the Green Climate Fund is to support programmes, projects, policies, and other activities to develop country Parties using thematic funding windows. The current executive director is Yannick Glemarec.

2. Bangladesh tops business bribery risk in South Asia: Bangladesh has topped the business bribery risk in South Asia according to the Trace Bribery Matrix. Bangladesh has the highest business bribery risk among South Asian courtiers according to the annual ranking for 200 countries. Bangladesh has been placed at 178th position among 200 countries in terms of business bribery risk. The five countries with the lowest bribery risk in the world are New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. The countries with the highest risk are Venezuela, Yemen, North Korea, South Sudan and Somalia.

Note: TRACE is a US-based organisation which provides ranking to various countries in terms of the risk of bribery companies face in doing business in those countries. The Trace Bribery Matrix evaluates the countries under 4 parameters i.e. business interaction with the government, anti-bribery deterrence, transparency and civil society oversight.

3. Mangala Mani becomes the first Indian Woman Scientist to live in Antarctica for 403 Days: Mangala Mani from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is the first woman scientist to spend 403 days in Antarctica. She has forged history with this achievement. She was part of an expedition team that went to Bharati – India’s research station in Antarctica – in November 2016. She was the only woman in the 23-member-team that went to the freezing continent this time.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. India set to host World Kabaddi cup 2019 in Punjab: The 2019 World Kabaddi Cup will take place from December 1 to 9 and will be organised by the Punjab government in Punjab. This year’s tournament will be dedicated to the 550th birth anniversary of Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The inauguration of the event will be held on December 1 at Guru Nanak Stadium, Sultanpur Lodhi and four matches are scheduled for the opening day. Nine teams -- India, USA, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Canada -- are expected to take part in the tournament.

Note: Punjab CM: Amarinder Singh; Governor: VP Singh Badnore.

2. FIFA names Arsene Wenger as global football development chief: Veteran coach Arsene Wenger has been named FIFA’s Chief of global football development. The former Arsenal and Monaco coach would be responsible for the growth of the game for both men and women around the world and would also be the leading authority on technical matters, including potential changes to the sport’s laws. Wenger made the English Club Arsenal one of the strongest football clubs in Europe, winning three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups and taking his team to the 2006 Champions League final. He also won the French league in 1987 with Monaco, adding the French Cup four years later before departing for Japan in 1995.

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

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Moody's cuts India's GDP growth forecast to 5.6 per cent for 2019: Moody's Investors Service slashed India's economic growth forecast to 5.6 per cent for FY 2019. Moody’s says that government measures do not address the widespread weakness in consumption demand. Moody's had on October 10 slashed India's economic growth forecast for 2019-20 fiscal to 5.8 per cent from an earlier estimate of 6.2 per cent. Last week, it downgraded India's outlook to negative from stable.

Note: Moody’s Headquarters- New York, United States (US); Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Raymond Whitehead McDaniel.

AWARDS AND HONOUR

1. Ravi Prakash awarded with the BRICS Young Innovator Prize: An Indian Ph.D. Scholar, Ravi Prakash has won the USD 25,000 BRICS-Young Innovator Prize for inventing an affordable indigenous milk chilling unit for smaller and marginal rural dairy farmers. Prakash, Ph.D. scholar of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Bangalore, was a part of a 21-member delegation sent to Brazil by the Department of Science and Technology for the 4th BRICS-Young Scientist Forum (YSF), 2019. The theme for 4th BRICS-YSF was “Cybersecurity and Bio-economy” it highlights the important strategy of science, technology and innovation as the key drivers of youth entrepreneurship and leadership. The technology can be used for chilling milk from the point of production by bringing down the temperature of raw milk from 37C to 7C within 30 minutes using nano-fluid based phase change materials.

Note: The BRICS Young Innovator Prize aims to recognize and reward the research, development and innovation projects in the science and technology sector of the BRICS countries. It is in special recognition of young talented entrepreneurs and researchers, whose outstanding innovations will make a profound impact on the socio-economic environment and conditions of life in BRICS societies.

BRICS is the acronym of the five major emerging economies -- Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This year's event is being held in Brasilia from November 13-14 under the theme BRICS: Economic Growth for an Innovative Future.

2. Robert De Niro to be conferred with SAG Life Achievement award: Hollywood veteran and double Oscar winner Robert De Niro will receive the SAG-AFTRA’s highest tribute: the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment, at the 26th edition of the ceremony 2019. The SAG Life Achievement Award is given annually to an actor who fosters the “finest ideals of the acting profession”.

DEFENCE

1. India-U.S. tri-services exercise Tiger Triumph begins: The India-U.S. tri-services amphibious exercise “Tiger Triumph” has begun in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Tiger Triumph will go on for 9 days off the Visakhapatnam and Kakinada coasts. The training events will enhance U.S.-India military-to-military relations and hone individual and small-unit skills in humanitarian assistance and disaster response. This kind of training is expected to build the capacity of both the U.S. and Indian participants as well as improving their ability to operate together. More than 500 U.S. Marines and sailors and about 1,200 Indian soldiers, sailors and airmen are participating in the exercise.

2. Karabi Gogoi selected as Assistant Naval Attache in Moscow Embassy: The Indian Navy has selected Lt. Commander Karabi Gogoi as assistant naval attache at the Moscow Embassy. She will be the first woman Assistant Naval Attache and second woman defence personnel to be appointed for a diplomatic assignment in Russia. Currently posted as a naval engineer at the Karwar base of the Navy, the officer is also learning Russian and is expected to take up her new assignment in Moscow next month. In September, Wing Commander Anjali Singh became India's first female military diplomat to be posted in any of the Indian missions abroad.

OBITUARIES

1. Renowned mathematician Vashishtha Narayan Singh passes away: Renowned mathematician Vashishtha Narayan Singh passed away. The 77-year old had been suffering from Schizophrenia for 40 years. Born in 1942, Vashishth Narayan Singh was famous for his extraordinary skills of calculation. Narayan Singh was said to have challenged Einstein’s theory of relativity. Narayan went to the University of California in 1965 and completed his Ph.D. on cycle vector space theory in 1969. He had taught at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata. It is believed that before the launch of the Apollo mission when multiple computers went off at the same time, Narayan's calculations in his brains were the same as the computers when they came back up.

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.