Daily GK Updates - 25th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Sangai Festival 2019 begins in Manipur: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has inaugurated the week-long Manipur Sangai Festival 2019 at Hapta Kangjeibung, Imphal. Every year the State of Manipur celebrates the “Manipur Sangai Festival” from 21st to 30th November. It started in the year 2010 and has grown over the years into a big platform for Manipur to showcase its rich tradition and culture to the world. The festival is organized by the State Tourism Department and biggest festival held annually to promote tourism. During the festival, cultural programmes, traditional games, folk dance and classical music will be performed by different communities of the State as well as from other States.

Note: Capital of Manipur: Imphal; Governor of Manipur: Najma Heptulla; Chief Minister of Manipur: N. Biren Singh.

2. Amaravati included in India map as the capital of Andhra Pradesh: The Survey of India, India’s central engineering agency in charge of mapping and surveying has released an updated map of India with Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh (AP). Amaravati had been missing from the previous map released by the Centre On November 2, 2019, which showed Hyderabad as the common capital of Telangana & Andhra Pradesh. The state of AP was bifurcated in the year 2014 and while it was initially decided that Hyderabad would serve as the common administrative capital for a period of 10 years.

Note: Governor of Andhra Pradesh: Biswabhusan Harichandan; Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy.

3. UP govt launches immunisation campaign against Filaria: Uttar Pradesh Health & Family Welfare Minister Jai Pratap Singh has launched a massive immunisation campaign against the filariasis or Filaria. Under this campaign, more than 65 thousand teams of health workers will distribute medicines to around 6.5 crore people till 10 December. This year, state’s 19 districts have been divided in double drug and triple-drug categories in which they will be provided DEC tablet, Albendazole and ivermectin. The union government has set the year 2021 as the deadline for complete eradication of filaria in the country.

4. Gujarat Govt. announces Rs 3,795 Cr relief package for farmers: Gujarat Government has announced a relief package 3,795 crore rupees for farmers who suffered crop loss due to unseasonal rains. The relief package will help more than 56 lakh farmers across the state. According to Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, total package (1,641 crore rupees) will be given through a budgetary provision and 2,145 crores under the State Disaster Response Fund. Farmers will get assistance in the range of 4,000 rupees to 13,000 rupees.

5. Centre extends the ban on NDFB for 5 years: The union Govt. has extended the ban on National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) along with all its groups, factions and front organisations, by 5 more years. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs notification, NDFB was involved in the killing of 19 civilians in incidents of violence since January 2015.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Ocean Dance Festival 2019 starts in Cox Bazar: Bangladesh’s State minister of cultural affairs KM Khalid has inaugurated the Ocean Dance Festival 2019 in Cox Bazar of Bangladesh. Ocean Dance Festival is the largest international dance festival of Bangladesh in which more than 200 dancers, choreographers and scholars from 15 countries are participating. The theme of this year's festival is 'Bridging the distance' or Durotter Shetubandhan. The festival is being organised by the Nrityajog which is the Bangladesh wing of World Dance Alliance (WDA). The festival aims to expand cultural tourism in Bangladesh. It also features seminars and discussion apart from the dance performances by the artists.

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

2. New Delhi ranked 9th in fastest growing prime residential market in world: As per the ‘Prime Global Cities Index’ by Global property consultant Knight Frank, New Delhi has been ranked at 9th place in terms of fastest growing prime residential market in the world. Moscow has topped the ranking. Bengaluru is at 20th while Mumbai is ranked at 28th position. Frankfurt is at second and Taipei is at third. Seoul was the weakest-performing global city in the year.

3. G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting 2019 held in Nagoya, Japan: The G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting 2019 was held in Nagoya, Japan. The G20 is made up of 19 countries and the EU. The 19 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the US

4. International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: 25 November: The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed across the world on 25 November annually. The theme for this year is “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands Against Rape”. This is a efforts to prevent and end violence against women at the global, regional and national levels show that there is widespread impunity on sexual violence and rape. The colour orange in the theme symbolizes a better future without the pervasive human rights violation that affects 1 in 3 women and girls all over the globe.

5. NVIDIA announces world’s largest GPU-accelerated cloud-based supercomputer: NVIDIA has announced a new kind of GPU-accelerated supercomputer in the cloud on Microsoft Azure. NDv2 supercomputer is designed to handle demanding AI and high-performance computing applications, using up to 800 NVIDIA V100 Tensor Core GPUs interconnected on a single. Mellanox InfiniBand backend network, making it the world’s largest GPU-accelerated cloud-based supercomputer. It enables customers to rent an AI supercomputer on-demand from their desk, and match the capabilities of large-scale on-premises supercomputers.

Note: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) NVIDIA: Jensen Huang; Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, United States (US).

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Lakshya Sen wins Scottish Open title: India’s Lakshya Sen has won the Scottish Open badminton men’s singles title, defeating Brazilian Ygor Coelho to seal his fourth title in 3 months. Entering the tournament as the top seed, the world number 41 registered an 18-21, 21-18, 21-19 win in 56 minutes to claim the title in Glasgow, Scotland. Within a month, Lakshya won his first BWF Super 100 title at the Dutch Open, with the second one coming soon after, at the SaarLorLux Open in Germany.

Note: Capital of Scotland: Edinburgh; Currency: Pound sterling.

2. India bag 28 medals including 13 gold in U-15 Asian Wrestling C’ships: India concluded its campaign at the Under-15 Asian Championships with 28 medals (13 gold, 14 silver and a bronze). For the first time, India finished on top of the team rankings in freestyle category with 225 points as all 10 wrestlers finished on the podium. Kazakhstan finished second while Japan was third.

3. MP athletes to get five per cent reservation in govt jobs:  Madhya Pradesh Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Jitu Patwari has announced that sports-persons of the state will get 5% reservation in government jobs. The Minister also announced that children from all CBSE, government and private schools would be involved in the Under 16 state-level Olympics. At present, the competition is being organized for children above 16 years of age. It includes 10 sports (hockey, basketball, football, volleyball, kabaddi, kho-kho, athletics, wrestling, badminton and table tennis).

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI enhances scope of Non-Resident Rupee Accounts: The RBI expanded the scope of Special Non-Resident Rupee Accounts (SNRR account) by permitting non-residents to open such accounts for rupee-denominated overseas borrowings, trade credit and trade invoicing for popularising cross-border transactions in the domestic currency. Any person resident outside India, having a business interest in India, can open a non-interest bearing Special Non-Resident Rupee Account (SNRR account) with a bank for bona fide transactions in rupees. The restriction on the tenure of SNRR account, which is currently 7 years, has also been removed.

2. Muthoot Finance to acquire IDBI Mutual Fund for Rs 215 crore: Muthoot Finance Ltd, the largest gold loan non-banking finance company in the country, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire IDBI Asset Management Ltd and IDBI Mutual Fund Trustee Company Ltd. Muthoot Finance will purchase 100 per cent equity shares of IDBI Asset Management and IDBI MF Trustee for a total consideration of Rs 215 crore. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of February 2020. The deal is subject to receipt of approval from regulators including the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Note: Managing Director(MD) of Muthoot Finance Ltd: George Alexander Muthoot; Founded: 1939; Headquarters: Kochi, Kerala.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Manoj Bajpayee bags best actor Asia Pacific Screen Award: Manoj Bajpayee has bagged the Best Performance by an Actor Award at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards for his role in ‘Bhonsle.’ The Hindi feature ‘Bhonsle’ narrates the story of a police constable (Bajpayee), who tries to fight the struggles of migrants and their battles with the local politicians. The movie was directed by Devashish Makhija. The acclaimed actor Manoj Bajpayee won against international actors like Wang Jingchun (China), Navid Mohammadzadeh, Mohsen Tanabandeh (Iran), and Eran Naim (Israel). Ridham Janve won the Young Cinema Award for his directorial debut film The Gold-Laden Sheep and the Sacred Mountain.

2. Floating school project in Bangladesh wins Aga Khan Architecture Award: Bangladesh’s Floating school project (in South Kanarchor) ‘The Arcadia Education Project’ wins the Aga Khan Architecture Award. The project involved the construction of a school in an area which is underwater during the monsoon months. The architect (Saif Ul Haque) designed this school which remains on the ground during the dry season and floats on water when the area is submerged in water during monsoon. He utilised only the local material-bamboo, used tyres and steel drums for constructing the amphibious structure for the school.

Note: The Aga Khan Award for Architecture is presented in three-year cycles and has a monetary prize totalling US$1 million that is shared by multiple winning projects. It recognizes projects, teams, and stakeholders in addition to buildings and people.

OBITUARIES

1. Former WB minister Kshiti Goswami passes away: The General Secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and former West Bengal Minister Kshiti Goswami (76-years) passed away at a private hospital in Chennai. Goswami was PWD Minister in Jyoti Basu and Buddhadev Bhattacharjee’s cabinet in the Left Front Government in the State. He was also the state secretary of the RSP for a few years since 2012.

Daily GK Updates - 24th November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi launches Fit India School grading system: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Fit India School grading system in schools across the country. The Fit India School rankings have been divided into three categories- The Fit India Schools, which is the first level of ranking, Fit India School (3 star) and Fit India School (5 star). Schools can declare themselves as fit by visiting the Fit India portal. Fit India three star and Fit India five star ratings will also be given. The schools that achieve this ranking will also be able to use the ‘Fit India’ logo and flag.

2. 8th International Tourism Mart Organised at Imphal, Manipur: The 8th International Tourism Mart has been organised at Imphal, Manipur from 23 November to 25 November, 2019. The Theme of 2019 International Tourism Mart is “Sustainable Tourism an engine for Economic Growth and Employment”. It was inaugurated by the Minister of State (I/C) for Culture & Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel and Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri N. Biren Singh. The event has been organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in association with the North Eastern States. It is an annual event organised in the North Eastern region with the objective of highlighting the tourism potential of the region in the domestic and international markets.

3. National Tribal Craft Mela 2019 inaugurated in Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the 7-day long National Tribal Craft Mela-2019 in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. This is the 8th edition of the event. More than 240 tribal artisans from 18 states are participating in the Mela and will showcase handicraft items, handloom products, iron, bamboo products, puppets, siali crafts, tribal textiles and embroidery work, tribal paintings and many more tribal products. The Mela has been organised with the objective of promotion and popularisation of traditional tribal arts and crafts and to help the artisans to find better opportunities to develop their skills through cross-cultural interactions for commercial viability of their products.

4. Modern Coach Factory, Rae Bareli Deploys humanoid robot ‘Sona 1.5’: The Modern Coach Factory (MCF), Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh has introduced indigenously developed humanoid robot named ‘Sona 1.5’ to transport documents from one place to another. The full-service robot Sona 1.5 has been developed by Jaipur based Club First Technologies and will also be used for welcoming visitors, technical interaction, other types of training. The robot is said to be the first robot in the world having human-like spine technology which helps them to balance. In addition to this, the humanoid robot is based on navigation and mapping with the help of sensors and reach the target.

5. National Investigation Agency hosts first counter-terror exercise for Quad countries in New Delhi: The New Delhi based National Investigation Agency (NIA) hosted the first-ever counter-terrorism exercise ‘CT-TTX’ for the Quad countries namely India, the US, Japan and Australia in New Delhi. The ‘CT-TTX’ (counter-terrorism table-top exercise) was the first engagement among the four countries to discuss issues of common interest related to counter-terrorism.

6. Microsoft Launches ‘K-12 Education Transformation Framework’ in India: Microsoft has unveiled ‘K-12 Education Transformation Framework’ to offer comprehensive digital transformation of schools in India. Microsoft India launched the framework at the second edition of the Microsoft Education Days in Gurgaon, which was participated by more than 700 school leaders, educators, students, and Microsoft partners to deliberate on the future of learning. The framework comprises of four pillars namely leadership and policy, modern teaching and learning, intelligent environments and technology blueprint. More than 50 countries have already adopted the framework which will offer a series of workshops based on each of these pillars.

Note: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microsoft: Satya Nadella; Founded: April 4, 1975; Headquarters: Washington, United States(US).

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India will host SCO forum of Young Scientists and Innovators 2020: India has been chosen to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Forum of Young Scientists and Innovators in 2020. This decision was taken during the 5th Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States Heads of Ministries and Departments of Science and Technology and Permanent Working Group on S&T Cooperation concluded in Moscow, Russia recently. Indian delegation was led by Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and Director General Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Dr. Shekhar Mande. Apart from this, India will be the host of Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of SCO Member States in 2020, which will approve the Draft SCO Roadmap on cooperation between research institutions of SCO Member States for the period 2021-2023.

Note: SCO has eight fulltime members namely: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, India and Pakistan; Secretary-General of SCO: Vladimir Norov; Founded: 19 September 2003; Headquarters: Beijing, China.

2. 29th WCO Asia Pacific Regional Contact Points (RCP) Meet Held in Puducherry: The 29th edition of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Asia Pacific Regional Contact Points (RCP) meeting was held at Puducherry, Tamil Nadu to facilitate customs functions, operations and services in the Asia-Pacific region. The conference was hosted by the Chennai Customs Zone and inaugurated by Pranab Kumar Das, Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

Note: World Customs Organisation (WCO) headquarter – Brussels, Belgium

3. Bangalore highest ranked Indian city in new global prosperity index 2019: Bangalore has emerged highest-ranked Indian city in the first-ever Prosperity & Inclusion City Seal and Awards (PICSA) Index which features world’s 113 cities in terms of economic and social inclusivity. Three Indian city has been listed in the index. While Bengaluru is placed at 83rd position, Delhi (101) and Mumbai (107) are the other two Indian cities in the list. The index has been topped by Zurich in Switzerland. Vienna, Copenhagen, Luxembourg and Helsinki are the top five cities in the index respectively.

Note: The PICSA Index has been commissioned by Basque institutions and compiled by D&L Partners. The index is designed to showcase not only the quantity of economic growth of a city but also its quality and distribution across populations.

4. Afghanistan most impacted by terrorism, India Ranks 7th: 2019 Global Terrorism Index: According to the 2019 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), Afghanistan recorded largest increase in deaths from terrorism. The Global Terrorism Index released by the Australia based Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) ranks 163 countries according to the impact of terrorism on the basis of factors such as the number of attacks, fatalities, injuries and the extent of property damage. India has been placed at 7th position in terms of country most impacted by terrorism. Top 10 countries most impacted by terrorism: (1) Afghanistan; (2) Iraq; (3) Nigeria; (4) Syria; (5) Pakistan; (6) Somalia; (7) India; (8) Yemen; (9) Philippines; (10) Democratic Republic of the Congo

Key Findings of the index: 2019 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) is the 7th edition of the index. As per the latest edition, deaths from terrorism have decreased by 15.2 percent in 2018 to 15,952 globally. This is the fourth consecutive year of improvement. The global economic impact of terrorism was US$33 billion in 2018; a substantial decrease of 38% from the previous year. Deaths from terrorism in Afghanistan rose up by 59 percent in 2018 from the prior year. The Taliban is now the deadliest terrorist group in the world, and accounts for 38% of all terrorist deaths. This is an increase of 71%. Belarus, Guinea-Bissau, Oman, The Gambia, North Korea are the 5 least impacted countries.

5. India ranks 8th in WHO study on physical activity among adolescents: As per The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health report of the World Health Organisation (WHO), India has been ranked at 8th spot in terms of the lowest level of insufficient physical activity among adolescents. Bangladesh tops the list while USA’s adolescents figure fourth on the list of 146 countries. India is ranked eighth with an overall prevalence of insufficient physical activity in adolescents at 73.9 percent.

6. India Ranks 44 in Nomura’s Food Vulnerability Index (NFVI) 2019: India has been ranked 44 among 110 countries in Food Vulnerability Index (NFVI) 2019, complied by Nomura Global Market Research. The NFVI ranks countries on the basis of their exposure to large swings in food prices. The higher the rank, the worse is the case.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Rafael Nadal wins Davis Cup title 2019: Rafael Nadal (world number-one) has clinched 6th Davis Cup title for Spain after beating Denis Shapovalov of Canada in front of a jubilant home crowd in Caja Mágica Madrid, Spain. Nadal (33-year) defeated Shapovalov 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) to clinch Spain’s 2-0 win against Canada. It was the Spanish team's first Davis Cup title since 2011 and their sixth Davis Cup title overall. Rafael Nadal received the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for his performance in the tournament after he won 8 of the 8 matches he participated in. In 2019, Nadal won the French Open and the US Open, made the Australian Open final and reached the Wimbledon semi-final.

Note: The 2019 Davis Cup (108th edition) is a tournament between national teams in men's tennis, sponsored by Rakuten.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. OECD predicts India’s GDP growth rate in 2020 at 6.2%: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has made the following GDP growth rate predictions for India:

2019- 5.8%

2020- 6.2%

2021- 6.4%

2. OECD Cuts Global Growth Forecast for 2020 to 2.9%: The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has cut its 2020 global economic growth forecast in the November 2019 Economic Outlook. As per OECD, the world economy is projected to grow 2.9% in 2019 and 2020, as against its earlier estimate of 3.0% in September. Also, OECD sees the global economic growth edging back up to 3% in 2021.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Nawazuddin Siddiqui conferred with Lesley Ho Asian Film Talent Award at SIFF: Indian Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has received the Lesley Ho Asian Film Talent Award at the Singapore International Film Festival for his Netflix’s Emmy-nominated original series ‘Sacred Games’. Nawazuddin Siddiqui received the award from a business tycoon from Beijing, Charles Ho. The 30th edition of Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) commenced on November 21. It is set to conclude on December 8.

2. Eliud Kipchoge and Dalilah Muhammad Wins World Athlete of the Year 2019: The pioneering marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge, who is the first man to run a marathon in less than two hours, has won the World Athlete of the Year 2019. Besides, the 400 metres hurdles world champion Dalilah Muhammad has been named as the World Athlete of the Year 2019 in women’s category. The World Athlete of the Year award is presented by the World Athletics (formerly IAAF) to athletes participating in events within the sport of athletics including track and field, cross country running, road running, and racewalking.

DEFENCE

1. Indian Army conduct ‘Epic Run 2019’ in West Bengal: Indian Army conducted the ‘Epic Run 2019’ at Pedong, West Bengal in recognition and respect for the soldiers and their Next of Kin (NOK). The Indian Army is commemorating the Year 2019 as the ‘Year of NOK’ (YoNoK). The purpose of the event was to outreach to the Next of Kin and also make aware the students, youth & citizens regarding the unsung sacrifices made and hardships faced by the families of gallant soldiers, who encourage them to always uphold the motto of ‘Nation First’ of the Indian Army,

2. NCC celebrates its 71st Raising Day: The National Cadet Corps (NCC), the world’s largest uniformed youth organization, is celebrating its 71st Raising Day on 24 November. The NCC day which is observed every year on the fourth Sunday of November was celebrated with pomp and gaiety. The NCC Raising Day was also celebrated all over the country with the cadets participating in marches, cultural activities and social development programs. National Cadet Corps is a Tri-Services Organization, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Wing. Many cadets have done the nation and the organization proud by their remarkable achievements in the fields of sports and adventure.

Note: Director-General of NCC: Lt Gen Rajeev Chopra; Founder: Government of the United Kingdom; Founded: 16 April 1948; Headquarters location: New Delhi.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Madhya Pradesh CM Kailash Joshi Passes Away: Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Kailash Joshi died after a prolonged illness. He was 91. Joshi was called as the ‘saint of politics’. He had served as the state’s chief minister from 1977 to 1978. He was MLA for eight terms and also served as a member of both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

Daily GK Updates - 23rd November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Army dedicates Goodwill Park to Late Naib Subedar Chuni Lal: As a mark of tribute to one of the most decorated soldiers of Indian Army Late Naib Subedar Chuni Lal, an Army Goodwill Park was dedicated at his native village Bhara in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir. The Army Goodwill Park has a statue of the martyred soldier, beside a Children park and open Gym for the villagers.

2. J&K achieves highest road length under PMGSY in 2019: Jammu and Kashmir have achieved the highest road length in the country this year so far under a Centre’s rural roads’ programme with the completion of around 11,400 kilometres covering 1,838 habitations. The work is being carried under the centrally-sponsored Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), which is a mega flagship programme with the main objective of providing connectivity to rural areas.

Note: Lieutenant (Lt) Governors of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K): Girish Chandra Murmu.

3. Kalaburagi Airport inaugurated under UDAN / RCS: The first flight from Kalaburagi Airport to Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru took off after the inauguration of Kalaburagi airport by the Chief Minister of Karnataka. The airport has been built under the UDAN-RCS Scheme of Govt. of India. Kalaburagi Airport will act as a gateway for tourist destinations including Buddha Vihar, Sharana Basaveshwara Temple, Khwaja Banda Nawaz Dargah and, Gulbarga Fort.

Note: Chief Minister of Karnataka: B. S. Yediyurappa; Governor of Karnataka: Vajubhai Vala.

4. World’s biggest Islamic Congregation begins in Bhopal: In Madhya Pradesh, the 4-day Aalmi Tablighi Ijtima, world’s biggest Islamic Congregation began in Bhopal. More than one million people from 54 countries are expected to attend the congregation which will continue till 25th November. It is a forum for delivering some important religious-spiritual messages to Muslims around the world. The first Alami Tablighi Ijtima took place in Bhopal in 1944 and only 14 people attended it then. Now the number has increased to millions. Thousands of people from various countries across the world including Russia, France, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iraq and Saudi Arabia have reached Bhopal to participate in this event.

Note: Governor of Madhya Pradesh: Lal Ji Tandon; Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh: Kamal Nath.

5. 2-day conference of Governors, Lt. Governors begins at Rashtrapati Bhawan: President Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated the two days Conference of Governors and Lieutenant Governors (50th) at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The Conference will discuss important thematic issues in various sessions. It includes tribal issues, reforms in agriculture, Jal Jeevan Mission, new education policy for higher education and governance for ease of living. During this session, presentations will be made by the Vice-Chairman and the CEO of NITI Aayog as well as by the National Security Advisor (NSA). The President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Home Minister and External Affairs Minister will address the concluding session.

6. NuGen Mobility Summit 2019 to be held at Manesar: The 2019 NuGen Mobility Summit will be held at Manesar, Haryana. from 27-29th November 2019. The Theme of 2019 is “Smart & Green Mobility”. The objective of the summit is to share new ideas, learnings, global experiences, innovations and future technologies trends for the faster adoption, assimilation and development of advanced Automotive Technologies for a smarter and greener future.

Note: The event will be organised by the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) in association with SAENIS, SAE INDIA, SAE International, NATRiP, DIMTS, DHI, MoRTH, SIAM and ACMA.

7. Kerala ban manufacturing, sale & storage of single-use plastic from January 1: Kerala State Cabinet has decided to ban the manufacture, sale and storage of one-time-use plastic items from 1st of January next year. Plastic carry bags, plastic sheets, cooling films, plastic plates, cups, thermocol and Styrofoam-based items and others will be covered under the ban. A fine of 10,000 rupees will be slapped on manufacturers, wholesalers and small traders who defy the ban. If the ban is violated for the second time, the fine will be 25,000 rupees. A third violation will invite closure and a fine of 50,000 rupees.

8. Devendra Fadnavis takes oath as Maharashtra CM: BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has taken oath as the Maharashtra Chief Minister for the second term. NCP's Ajit Pawar has become the Deputy Chief Minister. Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath to the two leaders.

Note: Presently, 288 members of the Legislative Assembly are directly elected from the single-seat constituencies and one member is nominated. The Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha situated in the Nariman Point area of South Mumbai in the capital Mumbai.

9. Jal Shakti Minister releases short documentary film named ‘SHIKHAR SE PUKAR’: Union Minister for Jal Shakti released a short documentary film on Water Conservation named ‘SHIKHAR SE PUKAR’ in New Delhi. The film has been made to promote ‘Jalshakti Abhiyan’ and is based on the Journey of an IAS Officer Ravindra Kumar, who climbed Everest this year to attract the attention of people from the top of the Everest on the serious issue of Water Conservation and stopping Water Pollution. The film also gives a glimpse of the significance of Himalaya as the main source of water needs of India by means of the river. It also picturizes the difficulties and challenges in climbing the highest peak in the world.

Note: Union Minister for Jal Shakti: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Potential Diarrhea vaccine developed in Sweden: The researchers of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden have developed a potential Diarrhea vaccine. Science journal, The Lancet, reports that it has been proved safe and effective in an early-stage clinical trial in Bangladesh. The report said that 80 to 100 per cent of the children aged two to five years and 50 to 80 per cent of infants aged six to eleven months, selected for the study responded to all key immunity generating components of the vaccine. There is no vaccine yet for use for children and vaccine development for Diarrhea is a World Health Organization priority.

2. Oxford Dictionary names ‘Climate Emergency’ its 2019 Word of the Year: Oxford Dictionaries has named “climate emergency” as its 2019 Word of the Year, choosing it from an all-environmental shortlist that also included “climate action,” “climate denial,” “eco-anxiety,” “extinction” and “flight shame. The word is selected because it shows the increase in usage since 2018. Climate emergency defines as “a situation in which urgent action is required to reduce or halt climate change and also to avoid the possible irreversible environmental loss resulting from it.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Bodybuilder Chitahresh Natesan crowned Mr Universe 2019: Chitahresh Natesan, 33yr old former hockey player turned bodybuilder also known as the ‘Indian Monster’ by bodybuilding circles became the first Indian to win ‘Mr. Universe (Pro) 2019’ in 90kg category at the 11th World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship(WBPF) held in South Korea. India finished second in the Championship with 23 medals including six gold, 13 silver and four bronze medals.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. SEBI doubles PMS investment size to Rs 50 lakh: Securities and Exchange Board of India has doubled the minimum investment limit for clients of Portfolio Management Services to Rs 50 lakh. Currently, the minimum ticket size for investing in PMS is Rs 25 lakh. The market regulator also increased the net worth requirement for PMS to Rs 5 crore from Rs 2 crore earlier, giving the existing portfolio managers 36 months to meet the enhanced requirement. The regulator has set a deadline of 31 days for listed companies to disclose to the stock exchanges with respect to default.

DEFENCE

1. US clears sale of $1 billion worth of Naval Guns to India: The US State Department cleared the sale of sophisticated MK-45 naval guns worth $1 billion to India. The MK-45 guns will enhance India’s naval capabilities, particularly in the Arabian Sea. The Gun System will provide the capability to conduct anti-surface warfare and anti-air defence missions while enhancing interoperability with the U.S. and other allied forces.

2. Lieutenant Shivangi is the first-ever woman pilot for Navy: The first woman pilot, Lieutenant Shivangi, will join naval operations on completion of operational training here on December 2. She hails from Muzzafarpur, Bihar. She was inducted into Indian Navy as SSC (Pilot) as part of 27 NOC course in Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala. She, who had been undergoing training at the Southern Naval Command, will get authorisation on December 2 to fly Dornier aircraft.

Note: Chief of the Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.

OBITUARIES

1. Veteran actor Shaukat Kaifi passes away: Veteran actor & Shabana Azmi's mother Shaukat Kaifi (91-years) passed away in Mumbai due to age-related illness. She is remembered for her roles in MS Sathyu’s Garm Hawa, Sagar Sathadi’s Bazaar and Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jaan. Her last film was the Vivek Oberoi-Rani Mukerji starrer Saathiya. Kaifi’s husband was the celebrated Urdu poet and film lyricist, Kaifi Azmi. Shaukat Kaifi and Kaifi Azmi were leading lights of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and the Progressive Writers Association (IWA), which were the cultural platforms of the Communist Party of India.

Daily GK Updates - 22nd November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Jitendra Singh to inaugurate ‘Destination North East’ Festival: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Dr Jitendra Singh will inaugurate the ‘Destination North East’ Festival in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on 23rd November 2019. All 8 North East states will be present at the event along with their handicrafts, handloom, organic products and cultural troupes. During the festival, the visitors will have live experiences of the artisans and artists from the NE states working on their looms and crafts, performing their songs and dances in the open stage during the day.

2. Assam government releases the new Land Policy 2019 after 30 years: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal released the new Land Policy 2019 prepared by Revenue and Disaster Management Department in Guwahati. The Land Policy was approved by Cabinet on 21st October and it has been prepared by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department after 30 years. It was last prepared in 1989. The state government has been putting a lot of emphasis in preparing the Land Policy to safeguard the interest of the indigenous people and the Policy would remove complications regarding land allotments and settlements.

Note: Assam Governor:  Jagdish Mukhi. Capital: Dispur.

3. Global Bio-India Summit begins in Delhi: Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and Shri Dharmendra Pradhan jointly inaugurated the three-day Global Bio-India Summit 2019 begins in at Aerocity New Delhi. It will be one of the largest biotechnology stakeholder conglomerates held in India for the first time. It will bring academia, innovators, researchers, start-ups, medium and large companies together on the same platform. Over three thousand delegates from around 25 countries and over 15 states of India will participate in the mega event.

Note: The biotechnology sector is recognized as the key driver for contributing to India's USD 5 Trillion economy target by 2024.

4. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates Agro-Vision in Nagpur: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has inaugurated an Agro-based Exhibition ‘Agro-Vision’ in Nagpur. Agro-Vision (11th edition) aims to cater to the requirements of farmers of Vidarbha region in terms of showcasing new technology in farming. It has been suggested for allied business so that farmers earn more and prosper in their initiatives. Agro-Vision exhibition comprises of National Agri-Exhibition Workshop for farmers and seminars. The concluding function will be graced Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Chaudhari on 25th of November. Small entrepreneurs who are engaged in the production of Agricultural machinery and components will be displaying their products at the stalls.

5. I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurates Film Bazaar on IFFI 2019: The Film Bazaar, which is being organised by the National Film Development Corporation, was inaugurated by the Information and Broadcasting Minister on the sidelines of the golden jubilee edition of the International Film Festival of India. The Film Bazaar encourages creative and financial collaboration between the South Asian and International film communities. Over the years, films such as Lunch Box, Margarita With A Straw, Chauthi Koot, Qissa, Miss Lovely, Dum Lagake Haisha and Thithi have been through one or more programmes of the Bazaar.

6. Two lakh Gram Panchayats to be connected with internet, broadband by March 2020: The union Govt. has set a target to provide internet and broadband connectivity to two lakh Gram Panchayats by March 2020. According to Ravi Shankar Prasad (Electronics and Information Technology Minister), a total of over 1,28,000 Gram Panchayats has been made Service Ready till 7th November of this month. BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband and internet connectivity to all 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats in the country. As of now, Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed in around 45,000 Gram Panchayats and services are being provided in over 16,000 Gram Panchayats.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Mahinda Rajapaksa sworn in as new PM of Sri Lanka: Mahinda Rajapaksa has been sworn in as the new Prime minister of Sri Lanka. He was sworn in by President Gotabaya Rajapksa (his younger brother) after Ranil Wickremesinghe resigned from his post. Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa served as two-term President from 2005 to 2015 and was barred from contesting Presidential elections because of the two-term limit. As per the constitution, parliament cannot be dissolved till February unless two-thirds of members pass a resolution to this effect.

2. World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day: 21 November: The WHO (World Health Organization) and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) organize World COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Day on the third Wednesday of November every year. It was first launched in 1997 by WHO, GOLD and other institutes in the US. This year the day is marked to create awareness in the Theme: All Together to End COPD. COPD is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It causes severe breathlessness and predisposes to exacerbations.

3. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella tops Fortune’s Businessperson of the Year 2019 list: Microsoft’s India-born Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella has occupied the top spot in Fortune’s Businessperson of the Year 2019 list. The list also includes Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga and Arista head Jayshree Ullal. Banga is ranked 8th, while Ullal comes in at the 18th spot in the list for which Fortune looked at 10 financial factors ranging from a total return to shareholders to return on capital. Both Banga and Ullal are of Indian-origin. Fortune’s annual Businessperson of the Year list features 20 business leaders “who tackled audacious goals, overcame impossible odds, found creative solutions”.

Fortune’s Businessperson of the Year 2019 List

Rank	Name
1	Satya Nadella (CEO, Microsoft)
2	Elizabeth Gaines (CEO, Fortescue Metals Group)
3	Brian Niccol (CEO, Chipotle Mexican Grill)
4	Margaret Keane (CEO, Synchrony Financial)
5	Bjorn Gulden (CEO, Puma)

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Elavenil Valarivan, Divyansh Panwar win gold medals at ISSF World Cup: Elavenil Valarivan and Divyansh Panwar clinching gold medals in their events to give the country its best ever single-day show in the ISSF World Cup Finals in Putian, China. The 20-year-old Elavenil claimed the top honours in the women’s 10 metres air rifle competition. Later, another teen sensation Divyansh finished on top in the men’s 10 metres air rifle competition. India is currently top of the table with 3 gold medals, followed by China 2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI supersedes DHFL board to initiate insolvency proceedings: The Reserve Bank of India superseded the board of debt-laden Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL) as it intends to shortly initiate the process of resolution of the company under the insolvency and bankruptcy rules. The company is all set to become India’s first financier to land up in bankruptcy courts. The central bank superseded the board “owing to governance concerns and defaults by DHFL in meeting various payment obligations. R Subramaniakumar, ex-MD and CEO of Indian Overseas Bank has been appointed as the administrator.

In January, a web portal accused the DHFL promoters of committing financial frauds by creating shell companies. A total of 32 Indian and foreign banks lent Rs 97,000 crore to DHFL Group companies with many borrower companies having the same addresses, directors, and auditors.

Note: DHFL is the fourth-largest Indian housing finance company based on loans outstanding as of March. Headquarters of DHFL: Haryana; CEO of DHFL: Kapil Wadhawan.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Swachh Survekshan Grameen Awards 2019: The Union Minister of the Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers, conferred the Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2019 awards to top-ranked states, union territories, and districts in the various categories on the occasion of World Toilet Day at Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra, New Delhi. The top-ranked state: Tamil Nadu, and the top-ranked district: Peddapalli (Telangana), along with the state with the maximum citizen participation: Uttar Pradesh.

Note: Union Minister of the Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers: D.V. Sadananda Gowda.

Overall Ranking

Sr. No.	Top 3 States		Sr. No.	Top 3 Districts
1	Tamil Nadu		1	Peddapalli, Telangana
2	Haryana		2	Faridabad, Haryana
3	Gujarat		3	Rewari, Haryana

2. Greta Thunberg & Divina Maloum awarded International Children’s Peace Prize 2019: Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg has been awarded the International Children’s Peace Prize 2019 for her work in the struggle against climate change which has resonated with schoolchildren across the world. Cameroonian peace activist Divina Maloum (15-years) also received the International Children's Peace Prize, awarded for her “peaceful struggle” against the Boko Haram jihadist group. It is given to a child who has made a significant contribution to advocating children’s rights and improving the situation of vulnerable children such as orphans, child labourers and children with HIV/AIDS.

Note: The International Children’s Peace Prize is given annually by the International children’s rights organization Kids Rights based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

DEFENCE

1. The NIA will host the first-ever counter-terrorism (CT) exercise: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will host the first-ever counter-terrorism (CT) exercise for the Quad countries in New Delhi. The Quad countries include the United States (US), India, Australia, and Japan. According to the NIA, the exercise is to assess and validate CT response mechanisms in the light of emerging terrorist threats. It also aims to provide opportunities to share the best practices and to explore areas for enhanced cooperation amongst participating countries.

Note: DG of NIA: Yogesh Chander Modi; Headquarters: New Delhi.

Daily GK Updates - 21st November, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Cabinet approves establishment of the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR): The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the establishment of the National Institute for Sowa-Rigpa in Leh, Ladakh at an estimated cost of Rs. 47.25 crore. The Institute will be an autonomous National Institute under Ministry of AYUSH with the mandate to undertake interdisciplinary education and research programmes in Sowa-Rigpa in collaboration with premier national and international Institutes and facilitate the integration of different systems of medicine. The objective is to establish the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR) as an apex Institute for Sowa-Rigpa with aim of bringing a valid and useful synergy between Traditional Wisdom of Sowa-Rigpa and modern science, tools and technology.

Note: Minister of AYUSH: Shripad Yesso Naik.

2. Census 2021 to be conducted in 16 languages: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed that Census 2021 will be conducted in 16 languages. During Census 2021, a mix mode approach is being adopted for data collection. Census will be conducted in two phases – House-listing and Housing Census from April to September 2020 and Population Enumeration during February 09-28, 2021. The Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) has recommended an amount of Rs. 8754.23 crore for conducting Census 2021 in 16 languages.

Note: Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India: Vivek Joshi.

3. Kolkata becomes first city to install ‘Third Umpire’ RT-PCR Machines: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has installed first of its kind high-end reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machines in India for quick detection of diseases like dengue, tuberculosis and swine flu. These machines are to serve as a ‘third umpire’ in situations when medical reports and blood tests reveal contradictory results. The purpose is to give an accurate DNA report on blood tests in order to ascertain the exact cause of illness.

Note: West Bengal governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar; CM: Mamta Banerjee.

4. IRCTC & KSTDC signs MoU to operate Golden chariot train: The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corp (KSTDC) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to market and operate the Golden Chariot train. The luxurious Golden Chariot train will start plying from March 2020. The Golden Chariot is South India’s only luxury train. The Golden Chariot, which started plying in 2008, began as a joint initiative of the Karnataka government and the Indian Railways. It is an 18-coach-long train with 44 guest rooms. At least, 84 passengers can enjoy the train ride at one time.

Note: IRCTC Parent organization: Indian Railways; Headquarters: New Delhi.

5. Smriti Irani addresses South Asia Safety Summit: The Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani was addressing the 2nd edition of South Asia Safety Summit in New Delhi. She has stressed the need to ensure the safety of women and children within their homes, and create safe neighbourhoods to protect them against violence and abuse. The summit was joined by over 100 organisations from Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and India. The South Asia Safety Summit is Facebook’s annual event to host critical conversations on digital safety and security.

6. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat inaugurates IPEC at Nagpur: RSS Chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat has inaugurated the International Principal’s Education Conference (IPEC) at Nagpur. Noted mathematician Anand Kumar (Super 30 founder) was honoured with Nachiketa Sarvottama Award on the occasion. Mr. Kumar dedicated this award to all the teachers who are working for the upliftment of underprivileged children. Principals and educationalists from all over the country are attending the 3-day conference based on the theme-Scripting the Legends of Human Excellence through Schools.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Television Day: 21 November: World Television Day is observed on 21 November every year. The day is observed to acknowledge the role of broadcast media. The day recognizes that television plays a major role in presenting the different issue that affects people. On this day, the journalists, writers, bloggers, and others who are associated with the medium promote the role of television in communication and globalization.

Note: In December 1996, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21st November as the World Television Day, on which the first World Television Forum was held

2. World Philosophy Day: 21 November: The World Philosophy Day is observed globally on the third Thursday of November every year. This year it was observed on 21st November. On this day, UNESCO highlighted the value of philosophy for the development of human thought, for each culture and individual. The 2019 edition aims to highlight the importance of philosophy in different regional contexts. The goal is to obtain regional contributions to global debates on contemporary challenges that support social transformations. World Philosophy Day was introduced in 2002 by UNESCO.

3. World Fisheries day: 21 November: The World Fisheries day is celebrated every year on 21st November throughout the world by fisherfolk communities. The Day helps in highlighting the critical importance to human lives, of water and the lives it sustains, both in and out of the water. This year’s theme is 2022 Ka Hai Sapna Kisan Ki Aay Ho Dugna – Sankalp Se Siddhi”.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Manu Bhaker bags gold medal in ISSF World Cup Finals: Manu Bhaker (17-years) became only the second Indian shooter after Heena Sidhu to win a gold medal Women's 10m Air Pistol at the ISS World Cup 2019. Serbia's Zorana Arunovic won the silver with 241.9, while Quian Wang of China bagged the bronze with 221.8. Manu Bhaker shot 244.7 to win the gold medal at World Cup Finals.

Note: The 2019 ISSF World Cup is the annual edition of the ISSF World Cup in the Olympic shooting events, governed by the International Shooting Sport Federation.

2. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won F1 Brazilian Grand Prix: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) won F1 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos in São Paulo, Brazil. Verstappen was followed by Pierre Gasly (France) and Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro (Spain) in the second and third place respectively.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. SEBI approves stricter disclosure norms for listed companies: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved stricter disclosure norms for listed companies. Accordingly, in case of default in repayment of loans beyond 30 days, listed companies will have to disclose the fact of such default within 24 hours. SEBI has amended Portfolio Managers (PM) Regulations, 2019 following which net worth requirement of portfolio managers has been enhanced from two crores to five crore rupees. The regulator has informed that existing portfolio managers will have to meet the enhanced requirement within 36 months. SEBI announced that it has approved a proposal to reduce the overall time taken for a rights issue from Securities and Exchange Board of India to 31 days.

AWARDS AND HONOUR

1. Sir David Attenborough to get Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for 2019: Renowned naturalist & broadcaster Sir David Attenborough (93-years) will receive the 2019 Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for his tireless work to preserve and protect biodiversity. This prestigious award (named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi) has been accorded annually by Indira Gandhi Trust since 1986. Sir Attenborough was unanimously chosen for the award by an international jury chaired by the ex-president of India, Pranab Mukherjee. The 2017 Prize had gone to former Prime Minister of India (14th), Manmohan Singh.

Note: In 1986, the award was instituted by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. It is awarded to individuals or organizations in recognition of their creative efforts towards promoting international peace, development. The award consists of a monetary award of 25 lakhs and a citation.

2. Virat Kohli named PETA India’s Person of the Year: India captain Virat Kohli was named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India’s ‘Person of the Year for 2019’ for his animal advocacy efforts. Kohli’s efforts to improve conditions for animals include sending a letter on PETA India’s behalf to officials calling for the release of Malti, an elephant used for rides at Amer Fort, who was reportedly violently beaten by eight men.

Note: PETA established: March 22, 1980; Headquarters: Norfolk, Virginia, United States.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia. Its slogan is ‘Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way’. The PETA awards are given to people or organisations that take initiative in the welfare of animals and violence against animals.

DEFENCE

1. GRSE delivers ICGS ‘Amrit Kaur to Indian Coast Guard: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) delivered to the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) ‘Amrit Kaur’, the third in a series of five ‘Fast Patrol Vessels’ (FPV). ICGS ‘Amrit Kaur’ is a 50-metre-long and 7.5-metre- wide medium-range surface vessel, with a displacement of around 308 tonnes. It is capable of performing a rescue, patrolling, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching operations in the maritime zones of the country. The vessel can attain a maximum speed of 34 knots with an endurance of over 1,500 nautical miles. The ship is equipped with three main engines and has advanced control systems, water jet units and an ‘Integrated Bridge System’ constituting all communication and navigation systems.

Note: Chairman cum managing director:  Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena; GRSE Founded: 1934.