Monthly Current Affairs Capsule November 2018

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Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.

India Pavilion Inaugurated at Videocittà 2018 in Vice President embarks on three nation Africa Rome Film Festival visit India was partner country at Videocitta 2018, an The Vice President of event focussing on Virtual Reality, Video gaming, India, Shri M. Animation, Film Making, etc. was organized along Venkaiah Naidu with Rome Film Festival and Mercato embarked on his first Internazionale dell' Audiovisivo (MIA) (the Africa visit from 31st International Audio Visual Market). October to November  India’s participation at Videocitta 2018, 6. Rome was organized by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and coordinated  In his weeklong visit, he will visit Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi where he is on Ministry’s behalf by FICCI. scheduled to interact with heads of state of  India Pavilion at Videocitta 2018 showcased the three nations, business fora and address Indian films’ heritage, ease of film shooting Indian Community. in India, promoted film shooting locations in India, International Film Festival of India,  The visit underlines the high priority, the government of India accords to Africa and is Indian Cinema from different regions, Audio line with India’s efforts to have a sustained Visual Co Production between India and and regular engagement. Italy.  The Vice President is accompanied by a high level Parliamentary delegation comprising of 1st WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution the Minister of State for Social Justice and and Health Held in Geneva Empowerment, Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar, and The first Global Conference on Air Pollution and four Members of Parliament. Health was held at WHO Headquarters in Geneva on 30 October – 1 November 2018.  The Vice President will reach Botswana’s capital Gaboron on 31st October evening to  The conference responds to a World Health attend the Official opening of the 13th Assembly mandate to combat one of the Annual Global Expo where 25 Indian world’s most significant causes of premature companies are participating for the first time death, causing some 7 million deaths showcasing India’s economic and Industrial annually. proves. VP Venkaiah Naidu reaches Malawi on final leg Japan joins International Solar Alliance of his 3-nations Africa tour In a boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-initiated Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu arrived in International Solar Alliance (ISA), Japan announced Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. joining the group submitting the instrument of  At the Kamuzu International Airport, he was ratification. received by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Malawi, Dr.  Japan will be the 71st country to sign and 48th country to ratify the ISA Framework. Emmanuel Fabiano, Minister of Education, Science and Technology of Malawi, V  The decision was announced at the end of bilateral Summit between Prime Minister Bright Masaka and Minister in waiting, George Mkondiwa.

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 He will address the Indian community in Jeddah Chamber and Trade Promotion Council of Malawi at a reception function in Lilongwe India (TPCI). later tonight. Mr Naidu reached Malawi on  Saudi Arabia is India’s one of the most the final leg of his three nations Africa tour important trade partners and is a major FDI after visiting Botswana and Zimbabwe. partner of India after the UAE in Gulf region. India’s export to Saudi Arabia was worth India, South Korea sign MoU on cooperation in USD 5 billion in 2017. sports  The major products exported by India to India and South Saudi Arabia were rice, Chemicals, refined Korea signed a petroleum oil and motor vehicles and its Memorandum of parts. Understanding on cooperation The Pneumonia and Diarrhea Progress Report in sports in New 2018: IVAC Delhi. The report is released by the International Vaccine  Sports Minister Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore Access Center (IVAC) at the Johns Hopkins and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Bloomberg School of Public Health. of South Korea Do Jong-hwan signed the  The report, released ahead of the 10th annual MoU. World Pneumonia Day, reviews progress  The objective of the MoU is to establish a and gaps in coverage of interventions to framework to facilitate and promote “protect against, prevent and treat” cooperation between the two countries on pneumonia and diarrhea. the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit.  The report lists exclusive breastfeeding, vaccination, access to care and use of Palau becomes first country to ban sunscreen to antibiotics, oral rehydration solution, and save coral reefs zinc supplementation as key interventions to The Western Pacific nation of Palau has become help prevent and treat pneumonia and the first country to ban many kinds of sunscreen, in diarrhea. a move to protect its coral reefs from chemicals that scientists say cause significant damage World’s first AI news anchor debuts in China  Under the ban, which will take effect in The world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) news 2020, “reef-toxic” sunscreen — defined as anchor made “his” debut at the ongoing fifth World containing one of 10 prohibited chemicals, a Internet Conference in east China’s Zhejiang list that could grow later — can be province. confiscated from tourists when they enter  The AI news anchor has a male image with a the country, and retailers who sell it can be voice, facial expressions and actions of a real fined up to $1,000. person.  He learns from live broadcasting videos by Indian Food and Agro Buyer Seller Meet in himself and can read texts as naturally as a Jaddah professional news anchor. Indian exporters of four key commodities of rice,  The AI news anchor was jointly developed tea, spices and dry fruits will be meeting the major by Xinhua and the Chinese search engine importers in Saudi Arabia during a Food and Agro company, Sogou.com. The AI anchor has Buyer-Seller Meet (BSM) organized by Consulate become a member of reporting team and can General of Indian in Jeddah in association with work 24 hours a day on its official website

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and various social media platforms, reducing 6. Commerce Minister leads delegation for news production costs and improving RCEP meet in Singapore efficiency. RCEP is a pact that Three-day event of Global IT Challenge for aims to cover Youth with Disabilities concludes goods, The three-day event of Global IT Challenge for services, Youth with Disabilities- 2018 concluded in New investments, Delhi today. This year 96 youth with disabilities economic from 18 countries including India, Indonesia, China, and technical Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, cooperation, competition and intellectual property Bangladesh, Philippines, UK and UAE participated rights. in it.  The RCEP members include 10 ASEAN  The objective of the Global ICT Challenge members – Brunei Cambodia, Indonesia, for Youth with Disabilities was to leverage Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, IT skills among youth with disabilities and the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam and their also to spread awareness about the 6 free trade agreement partners – India, application of Information and Computer China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Technology in enhancing the quality of life New Zealand. of persons with disabilities.  In his valedictory address, Social Justice and India and Morocco sign Agreement on Mutual Empowerment Minister, Thaawarchand Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Gehlot expressed his satisfaction over the An Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in successful completion of the event. He called Criminal Matters was signed by Shri Kiren Rijiju, upon the participating nations to take all Minister of State for Home on behalf of the steps for enhancing IT skill of youth with Government of Republic of India and Mr Mohamed disabilities so that they live an independent Aujjar, Minister of Justice on behalf of the life with dignity. Government of the Kingdom of Morocco.  The Agreement will strengthen bilateral 33rd ASEAN summit begins in Singapore cooperation with Morocco and enhance The 33rd edition of the ASEAN Summit began in effectiveness and provide a broad legal Singapore. framework for prevention, investigation and  Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien prosecution of crimes; as well as in tracing, Loong is the Chairman of the Summit, which restraint and confiscation of funds meant to will continue till 15th November along with finance terrorist acts. other related summits like East Asia Summit  Both Ministers reiterated their resolve to (EAS), Regional Comprehensive Economic jointly counter the threats posed by Summit, (RCEP) and ASEAN plus summits. organized crime and terrorism.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the East Asia Summit and Department of Biotechnology and Welcome Associated meetings of ASEAN on 14th and Trust (India Alliance) completes 10 year of 15th November in Singapore. He will partnership address the audience during the Fintech The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Conference along with the IMF Managing Ministry of Science and Technology, in Director, Christine Lagarde. collaboration with the Welcome Trust ,to support a

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three-tier fellowship programme on biomedical with great sadness we are hereby research at post-doctoral level, celebrated 10 years withdrawing it from you." of their joint partnership in an event in New Delhi.  The Welcome Trust is an independent 4th edition of Intex South Asia inaugurated in charity funding research to improve human Colombo and animal health. Established in 1936 and The fourth edition of Intex South Asia, the largest with an endowment of around £15 billion, it international textile sourcing show in South Asia, is the largest non-governmental source of was inaugurated in Colombo by Indian high funds for biomedical research in the United commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Kingdom.  The event has been organized by Worldex India Exhibition and Promotion Pvt. Ltd in World Diabetes Day: 14 November partnership with Cotton Textiles Export World Diabetes Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), Day is observed Retailers Association of India, Clothing on 14 November. Manufacturers Association of India, The day is Confederation of Indian Textile Industry observed by the (CITI) etc. International  He encouraged Sri Lankan companies to be Diabetes part of the supply and value chains of large Federation and the World Health Organization on Indian companies. November 14 in response to the escalating health  Sandhu praised the contribution of Sri threat posed by diabetes. Lankan companies, who have made  The theme for World Diabetes Day this year substantial investments in India in textile is "The Family and Diabetes". sector.  Over 425 million people in the world are currently living with diabetes. Most of these US State Department declares Jawad Nasrallah cases are type 2 diabetes. as global terrorist The US State Department has declared Jawad Amnesty strips Aung San Suu Kyi of highest Nasrallah, the son of Hezbollah leader Hassan honour Nasrallah, as a global terrorist as it steps up pressure Amnesty International stripped Aung San Suu Kyi on the Lebanese militia group. of its highest honour over the Myanmar leader's  State Department said in Washington that "indifference" to the atrocities committed by the Jawad had in recent years recruited people to country's military against Rohingya Muslims. carry out terrorist attacks against Israel in the  The London-based global human rights West Bank. organisation said it was revoking the Ambassador of Conscience Award it gave International Film Festival of India to commence Suu Kyi in 2009. "Today, we are profoundly in Goa from 20th-28th Nov dismayed that you no longer represent a The 49th International Film Festival of India 2018 symbol of hope, courage, and the undying will be held in Goa from 20th to 28th November, defence of human rights. 2018.  "Amnesty International cannot justify your  49th edition of the festival will showcase 212 continued status as a recipient of the films from over 68 countries which reflects Ambassador of Conscience award and so diversity of taste.

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 International Competition section has 15 East Asia Summit films out of which 3 are Indian. Competition The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a forum held section itself represents films produced and annually by leaders of, initially, 16 countries in the co-produced by 22 countries. East Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian regions. Government of India and the Asian Development  Membership expanded to 18 countries Bank (ADB) Sign $105 Million Loan to Support including the United States and Russia at the Hydropower Transmission in Himachal Pradesh Sixth EAS in 2011. The tranche 3 loan is part of the $350 million multi-  EAS meetings are held after annual ASEAN tranche financing facility (MFF) for Himachal leaders’ meetings. The first summit was held Pradesh Clean Energy Transmission Investment in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 14 December Program approved by the ADB Board in September 2005. 2011.  EAS is an initiative of ASEAN and is based  ADB is committed to achieving a on the premise of the centrality of ASEAN. prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while Australia takes India to WTO over sugar sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme subsidies poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by Australia said that it was taking legal action against 67 members—48 from the region. India, the world's second-largest sugarproducer, at the WTO over subsidies which has caused a PM Modi to attend swearing-in ceremony of new "significant downturn" in world sugar prices and President of Maldives hurt Australian producers. Prime Minister  Australia alleges that the subsidies, which Narendra Modi have seen Indian sugar production leap from will attend the an average 20 million tons to 35 million swearing-in tonnes this year, far exceed the level of ceremony of farmer assistance permitted under WTO new Maldivian rules. President-elect  Australia is the third largest exporter of Ibrahim sugar. Mohamed Solih in Male. This will be Mr Modi's maiden visit 26th General Conference on Weights & to the Maldives. Measures in a historic decision unanimously  Mr Modi said, he will convey to the new redefine World’s standard definition of Maldivian government of Mr Solih, India's Kilogram, Second&Metre desire to work closely for realisation of their The 26th meeting of the General Conference on developmental priorities, especially in areas Weights and Measures (CGPM) was held during of infrastructure, health care, connectivity November 13-16 2018 in France. CGPM is the and human resource development. highest international body of the world for accurate  The Prime Minister said, the recent elections and precise measurements. in the Maldives represent the collective  The new definitions will come into force on aspirations of the people for democracy, rule 20 May 2019. of law and a prosperous future. He said, India  The International Bureau of Weights and strongly desires to see a stable, democratic, Measures (BIPM), the main executive body prosperous and peaceful Maldives.

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of CGPM has the responsibility of defining  The flagship event of the International the International System of Units (SI). Society for Mountain Medicine (ISMM) is being held first time in Nepal and hosted by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Mountain Medicine Society of Nepal Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation for the first (MMSN). time in its 25-year history, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit ended with its Embassy of India in Nepal celebrates ITEC & leaders failing to agree on a formal joint Maulana Azad Day statement.tion (APEC). The Embassy of  All 21 APEC leaders at the annual meeting India in Nepal in Papua New Guinea were in agreement celebrated Indian except China. Technical &  The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic (APEC) is a regional economic forum Cooperation established in 1989 to leverage the growing (ITEC) Day and interdependence of the Asia-Pacific. APEC Maulana Azad Day. has 21 members.  Minister for Education, Science and Technology of Nepal Giriraj Mani Pokharel ConMac 2018 starts in Kathmandu inaugurated the event in Kathmandu. The Embassy of India in Nepal and Confederation  ITEC Programme is fully funded by the of Indian Industry (CII) organizing an exhibition of Government of India to share India’s construction equipment and technology-ConMac developmental experience with 161 friendly 2018 in Bhaktapur near Kathmandu. developing countries, including Nepal.  More than 150 business exhibitors and companies from India including JCB, L&T, NSA Ajit Doval to hold talks with Chinese Hyundai, Caterpillar and Tata Hitachi will Foreign Minister showcase their products and services during National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese 3 day exhibition. Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold the 21st round  Nepal's Minister for Physical Infrastructure of border talks at Dujiangyan City in Sichuan and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth will province of China. inaugurate the event.  Doval and Wang are the designated special  Ambassador of India to Nepal Manjeev representatives for border talks between the Singh Puri will be the Guest of Honour. two countries.  In this meeting they will discuss ways to 12th World Congress on Mountain Medicine maintain peace at the borders. begins in Kathmandu  They are also expected to review the 12th World Congress on Mountain Medicine started progress in bilateral ties since the Wuhan in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The theme of Summit in April. congress is “Mountain Medicine in the Heart of the  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese Himalayas”. President Xi Jinping had held their first-ever  The biennial event mainly focuses on science informal summit at Wuhan. and research aspects of high altitude medicine. It will also include practical US announces USD 5 million reward for workshops related to trekking, expedition information on 26/11 perpetrators medicine and clinical education.

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The United States has announced a 5 million dollar organized across the country with the theme of reward for information leading to the arrest or "Gender-based violence and abuse: Not accepted to conviction in any country of any individual who us". committed, conspired, aided or abetted the 2008  The International Day for the Elimination of Mumbai attack. Violence against Women is observed on  The move comes less than a fortnight after November 25 every year. This year’s United Vice President Mike Pence had a meeting Nations theme for the International Day for with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Elimination of Violence against Women Singapore, during which he is believed to is "Orange the World: #HearMeToo". have himself raised this issue and ruled that  President Bhandari has said that spreading even 10 years after the Mumbai terrorist education and awareness and making women attack its perpetrators have not been brought economically independent is very necessary to justice. to end all forms of violence against women.  United States is committed to working with its international partners to identify and bring PM to attend G20 Summit in Argentina to justice those responsible for the 2008 Prime Minister Mumbai attack. Narendra Modi will leave for UN selects Noida to participate in Global Argentina on sustainable Cities 2025 initiative November 28 to The United Nations officially invited Uttar Pradesh's attend the G-20 Noida and Greater Noida to become a member of its summit. initiative which aims to create 25 model cities across  The Group of Twenty-G-20 is a leading the world that will be fully compliant with the forum of the world's major economies that sustainable development goals by 2025. seeks to develop global policies to address  "Noida (along with Greater Noida) has been today's most pressing economic challenges. formally invited to participate in this  Collectively, G20 members represent all showcase 'Race to Sustainability' among 25 inhabited continents, 85 per cent of global global cities to become fully compliant with economic output, two-thirds of the world's the Sustainable Development Goals by 2025 population and 75 per cent of international under the UN Global Sustainable trade. Development Goals (SDG) cities initiative.  In September 2015, the UN General Nepal launches Social Security Scheme for Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for formal sector workers Sustainable Development that includes 17 Nepal government has launched a Social Security SDGs, otherwise known as the Global Goals, Scheme for formal sector workers. a universal call to action to end poverty,  The new social security scheme is protect the planet and ensure that all people contribution based and it will cover health enjoy peace and prosperity. and medical facilities, safe motherhood, accident and physical incapacity security, International Day for Elimination of Violence security to dependent family members and against Women is being observed in Nepal security at old age. In Nepal, the International Day for the Elimination  The scheme will be compulsorily applicable of Violence against Women is being observed in to formal sector workers. The scheme will Nepal. A number of programmes are being

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soon be extended to informal sector workers Pak PM Imran Khan lays foundation stone for as well. Kartarpur corridor Pakistan Prime Sustainable Blue Economy Conference held in Minister Imran Nairobi, Kenya Khan laid the The first Sustainable Blue Economy Conference was foundation stone held in Nairobi, capital of Kenya. It was organized for a corridor by Kenya and cohosted by Japan and Canada. linking Gurdwara  The theme of this conference was ‘The Blue Darbar Sahib in Economy and the 2030 Agenda for Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of Sikh Sustainable Development. faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev - to Dera Baba  Blue Economy is economic benefit and value Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district to that is realized from Earth’s coastal and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh marine environment. Sustainable Blue pilgrims. Economy is marine-based economy that  Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and provides social and economic benefits for Hardeep Singh Puri represented India at the current and future generations, restores, event.Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu protects and maintains diversity, was also present on the occasion. productivity of marine ecosystems.  Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from International Gita Festival, 2018 to be held in the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. It was Kurukshetra established by the Sikh Guru in 1522. The International Gita Festival India to Chair Kimberley Process from 1st 2018 will be January 2019 organised in The Kimberley Process Kurukshetra in Certification Scheme (KPCS) Haryana from Plenary 2018, was held in December 7 to Brussels, Belgium, from 12th- 23, 2018. This year it is third year of this mega 16thNovember 2018. cultural event, where Mauritius is partner country  EU handed over the and Gujarat is the partner state. Chairmanship of KPCS to India from 1st  Gita festival will also be organized in January, 2019. Mauritius next February. The objective  India is the founding member of KPCS and behind this event is to spread the message of is actively involved in KP activities to ensure Gita to world. that almost 99% of the diamond trade in the  It is being organized to commemorate birth world is conflict free. of ‘Srimad Bhagwat Gita’, the sacred  The next Intercessional session is slated to be scripture containing invaluable advice of held in India as Chair. Botswana and the Lord Krishna that he proffered to Arjuna. Russian Federation will serve as Vice-Chair  It is held mainly on 11th day on Shukla during the period of 2019-2020 Paksha of Margashirsh month (November – December).

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 India will be the chair of Programme and Budget Committee of UNWTO Executive Council till 2021.

Anupam Kher resigns as FTII Chairperson Jharsuguda Airport renamed as “Veer Surendra The Ministry of Sai Airport, Jharsuguda” Information & The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Broadcasting has Narendra Modi has approved renaming of received letter Jharsuguda Airport, Odisha as “Veer Surendra Sai from Shri Anupam Airport, Jharsuguda” Kher, Chairperson,  Veer Surendra Sai is a well-known freedom Film & Television Institute of India, Pune in which fighter of Odisha. Shri Kher has intimated his upcoming international  Renaming of the Jharsuguda airport in his name shooting commitments. will fulfill long-pending demand of the Odisha  Due to those commitments, Shri Kher has Government, which reflects the sentiments of the informed that he will not be present in the local public of the respective area. country for nearly nine months between 2018-19.  It will also be a befitting tribute to the  He feels that it will not be possible for him to contribution of the revered personality associated discharge his responsibilities as Chairperson, with the State. FTII due to his commitments. 10 Day Long Clean Air Campaign Launched In K J Alphons presides over the Program and Delhi and Four Major NCR Cities Budget Committee meeting of UNWTO An aggressive ten day long Clean Air Campaign from 01st to 10th November, 2018 was launched in The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Delhi by Union Environment Minister, Dr. Harsh Tourism, Shri. K. J. Alphons along with a delegation Vardhan. of senior officials is attending the 109th session of  To monitor and report polluting activities as well United Nations World Tourism Organization as to ensure quick action, 52 teams were jointly (UNWTO) Executive Council in Manama, Bahrain. flagged off by Union Minister for Environment,  The three day Session of UNWTO Executive Forest &Climate Change and the Minister from Council began on 30th October 2018. The Government of Delhi. Executive Council will discuss several topics on  These teams will be visiting different parts of the agenda that are related to the development of Delhi and adjacent towns of Faridabad, global Tourism sector. Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Noida.  During the opening day of the Executive Council meeting, Shri. K. J. Alphons chaired the India-Japan military exercise Dharma ‘Programme and Budget Committee’ meeting of Guardian-2018 begins in Mizoram UNWTO. Armies of India and Japan began their first-ever joint  In his opening remarks, the Minister highlighted the role of tourism in socio-economic military exercise at a jungle warfare school in development through job creation, enterprise and Mizoram’s Vairengte. environment development and foreign exchange  The focus of the two-week-long exercise earnings. ‘Dharma Guardian-2018″ will be to enhance  As the chair of the Committee, the Minister tactical skills against global terrorism and informed the session that for the first time, increase interoperability between the two forces. UNWTO had a surplus budget and most of the  The Japanese contingent is represented by 32nd arrears due have been paid. Infantry Battalion, while the Indian side by 6/1 Gorkha Rifles.

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MHA approves Rs.194.44 crore Safe City Project  This is the second ministerial dialogue between for Lucknow China and India since the meeting of Chinese The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister a Safe City project for Lucknow at a total cost of Narendra Modi in Johannesburg during the Rs.194.44 crore under the Nirbhaya Fund Scheme. BRICS summit in July 2018.  The project would be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with Centre and State sharing PM launches historic Support and Outreach the funding in 60:40 ratio. Initiative for MSME sector  This approval is a part of MHA’s plans to The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, launched implement Safe City projects in 8 selected cities, a historic support and outreach programme for the namely, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and sector. Lucknow under Nirbhaya Fund with the purpose  As part of this programme, the Prime Minister of strengthening safety and security of women in unveiled12 key initiatives which will help the public places. growth, expansion and facilitation of MSMEs  The projects are being implemented in across the country. consultation with Ministry of Women and Child  The Prime Minister said that the 12 decisions that Development, Ministry of Urban Development, he is announcing today, will mark a new chapter Ministry of Electronic and Information for the MSME sector. Noting that MSMEs are Technology, respective Municipal & Police one of the principal employment generators in Commissioners of the cities and civil society India, the Prime Minister recalled the glorious organizations. Indian traditions of small scale industry, including Ludhiana’s hosiery, and Varanasi’s NMCG & UN Habitat organize a policy dialogue sarees. - Urban Cafe: ‘River for Habitat’  The Prime Minister said that the success of The National Mission for Clean Ganga partnered economic reforms launched by the Union with UN Habitat to organize a policy dialogue- Government, can be gauged from the rise in ‘Urban Cafe: River for Habitat’ in New Delhi on the India's “Ease of Doing Business Rankings,” from occasion of World Cities Day 2018 on October, 31. 142 to 77 in four years.  As the first announcement, the Prime Minister  Experts in the sector got together to discuss the announced the launch of the 59 minute loan deep association that rivers have with various portal to enable easy access to credit for MSMEs. aspects of human civilization – our cities, our He said that loans uptoRs. 1 crore can be granted economy and various facets of our daily lives, in-principle approval through this portal, in just the challenges to maintaining healthy river 59 minutes. ecosystems and ways to deal with the same.  He said a link to this portal will be made available through the GST portal. The Prime The Fourth NITI Aayog- DRC Dialogue Held in Minister asserted that in New India, no one Mumbai should be compelled to visit a bank branch The Fourth Dialogue of the NITI Aayog - repeatedly. Development Research Centre (DRC) of the State Council, Peoples' Republic of China was held in Naval Commanders’ Conference concludes Mumbai. The second edition of this years’ bi-annual Naval  The Chinese delegation was led by Mr. Li Wei, Commanders’ Conference concluded after three President of DRC and the Indian delegation was days of fruitful deliberations. led by Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman of NITI  The Hon’ble RM addressed Naval Commanders Aayog. and complimented all personnel of the Indian

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Navy for maintaining a high operational tempo Decommissioned carrier INS Viraat to become a and ensuring maritime security of the country. floating museum  The Hon’ble RM reiterated the need for the The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the nation to be strong at sea and the Navy to be conversion of decommissioned carrier INS Viraat ready and vigilant to counter any challenge in the into a floating museum. maritime domain.  As per primary estimates, the project worth 852 crore rupees will be implemented through IIT-Madras creates ‘Shakti’, India’s first public-private-partnership (PPP). microprocessor  The decision has been taken to elicit interest Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology- among the school and college students in the Madras (IITM) have designed and booted up India’s marine sector. first microprocessor, Shakti, which could be used in  Besides, it will make the new generation familiar mobile computing and other devices. with the glorious history of INS Viraat.  According to IITM, the Shakti microprocessor can be used in low-power wireless systems and Ayurveda Day to be celebrated throughout the networking systems besides reducing reliance on Country on 5th November imported microprocessors in communication and Ministry of AYUSH observes Ayurveda Day every defence sectors. year on Dhanawantari Jayanti (Dhanteras). This year Ayurveda Day is being observed on 5th November India ranked 12th in web-borne threats 2018. India is ranked 12th worldwide when it comes to the  On this occasion, Ministry is organising a dangers associated with surfing the web, according “National Seminar on Entrepreneurship and to a recent report by global cybersecurity company, Business Development in Ayurveda” in Kaspersky Lab. association with NITI Aayog on 4th & 5th  In the third quarter (July- September), 32.8 per November 2018 at Dr. Ambedkar International cent of the users were attacked by web-borne centre, Janapth, New Delhi. threats in India.  Its aim is to encourage entrepreneurs and  Kaspersky Lab products detected 48,093,743 Ayurveda stakeholders towards businesses Internet-borne malware incidents on the opportunities in the sector. computers of KSN participants in India. Government launches Unreserved Mobile Kolkata leads Ease of Moving Index 2018 Ticketing facility Ola Mobility Institute Union Ministry of Railways has launched (OMI), the research and Unreserved Mobile Ticketing facility (UTS on outreach arm of Ola, Mobile) to enable seamless booking of unreserved released India's first tickets including season tickets and also platform Ease of Moving Index, tickets all over Indian Railways. 2018.  UTS on Mobile aims to promote three C’:  As part of report findings, Kolkata ranks the Cashless transactions (Digital payment), Contact highest in terms of affordability of public less ticketing (no need to physically visit the transportation with 80% of commuters finding point of sale and Customer convenience and Kolkata's public transport reasonable and experience. affordable.  With this, booking of unreserved tickets on all  The report was released by Nitin Gadkari, non-suburban sections across all Zonal Railways Hon'ble Union Minister, Road Transport & will be now made available on mobile. Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River  The facility for booking unreserved tickets is Development & Ganga Rejuvenation. available through ‘UTSONMOBILE’ app,

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available for mobile phones with Android, IOS ordination with Centre in a matter of providing and windows operating system. education which falls under the concurrent subject. Union Cabinet approves opening up of International Solar Alliance membership to all Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation UN countries announces Swachh Bharat World Toilet Day The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Contest Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval for Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has opening up International Solar Alliance (ISA) announced Swachh Bharat World Toilet Day membership to all countries that are members of the Contest for districts and States. United Nations.  The purpose of the Contest is to encourage all  In this regard, Cabinet has approved to move districts in India to re-intensify the sanitation Resolution in first Assembly of ISA for movement with a special focus on Open amending the Framework Agreement of ISA. Defecation Free-ODF Sustainability.  It will make ISA inclusive, whereby all member  As per the advisory issued by the Ministry, top countries of UN could become member. Thus, 10 District Collectors, top 3 State Mission expanding membership will lead to ISA initiative Directors and State Secretary in-charge of benefitting the world at large. Sanitation will be recognized and awarded by the Swachh Bharat Mission. India, Sharjah to bolster economic ties  The Contest does not apply to the five States Over 100 Indian investors participated in a business of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. conference in the UAE to strengthen Sharjah's trade  Districts can apply for the Contest through the relations with India and to promote the Gulf emirate online portal. The application window will be as a leading business and investment hub in the opened on the occasion of World Toilet Day on region. 19th November and will remain open till the end  The 'Sharjah-India Business Roundtable', held of this month. on the sidelines of the last week's Indian-UAE Partnership Summit, was part of India's Prime Minister felicitates crew of INS Arihant continued interest in the emirate's diversified on completion of Nuclear Triad economy. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received the  Sharjah is one the key drivers for Indian outbound investment into the Gulf region, valued crew of Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine at more than USD 137 billion and a primary non- (SSBN) INS Arihant. oil trade partner.  The submarine recently returned from its first deterrence patrol, completing the establishment President Kovind inaugurates Gyan Kumbh in of the country's survivable nuclear triad.  The Arihant class (Sanskrit, for Slayer of Haridwar Enemies) is a class of nuclear-powered ballistic President Ram Nath Kovind has stressed the need to missile submarines being built for the Indian impart quality education to the students. Navy.  After inaugurating a two-day Gyan Kumbh at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar on Saturday, He India’s country pavilion at CIIE in Shanghai said that besides educating children, it is showcases India’s strength imperative on the part of teachers to inculcate good manners and character building in the On the invitation of China’s Ministry of students. Commerce, India has set up a Country Pavilion in  The president appreciated the role of the 1st China International Import Expo (CIIE) Uttarakhand Government in forging co-

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which was inaugurated at the National Exhibition  India was one of the largest contributors of & Convention Centre, Shanghai, China. soldiers during World War I. India’s  During the Joint Economic Group Meeting held participation at the Armistice Centenary in Delhi in March 2018, China’s Commerce ceremony will be a befitting tribute to the Minister Mr Zhong Shan had extended an sacrifices made by these soldiers, invitation to participate in this event. underlining India’s historical contribution to  China is India's largest trading partner with a global peace and security. total trade expecting to reach $ 100 billion mark  The Heads of State / Heads of Government in near future. Both countries have expressed a resolve to address India’s concern regarding of over 50 countries and their representatives large trade deficit with China. are expected to participate in the centenary  Government of India is consistently making activities. On 11 November, the Vice sincere efforts to promote its exports to China. President will attend the ceremony to  This has been achieved through various bilateral commemorate the armistice of World War I meetings at the government level and at Arc de Triomphe, presided over by the continuous engagement of Indian businessmen French President, Mr. Emmanuel Macron. with China.  As part of the Armistice Centenary, the French Government will also be hosting the Ministry of Food Processing Industries issues Paris Peace Forum, which will take place in guidelines for OPERATION GREENS Paris from 11-13 November 2018. Ministry of Food Processing Industries(MoFPI) under Union Minister Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal Cabinet approves Amendment to the Central has approved the operationalisation strategy for Universities Act, 2009 for setting up of Central Operation Greens. Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh  Operation Greens was announced in the Budget The Union Cabinet speech of 2018-19 with an outlay of Rs 500 chaired by the Prime crores to stabilize the supply of Tomato, Onion Minister Shri and Potato(TOP) crops and to ensure availability of TOP crops throughout the Narendra Modi has country round the year without price volatility. approved setting up of  NAFED will be the Nodal Agency to implement a Central Tribal price stabilisation measures. MoFPI will University in Andhra provide 50% of the subsidy on the following Pradesh. two components:  The “Central Tribal University of Andhra  Transportation of Tomato Onion Potato(TOP) Pradesh" will be set up in Relli village of Crops from production to storage; Vizianagaram District as provided under the  Hiring of appropriate storage facilities for TOP Thirteenth Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh Crops; Reorganisation Act, 2014 (No. 6 of 2014).

 Cabinet has also approved the provision of Vice President to embark on a State visit to funds of Rs. 420 crore for the first phase France; - expenditure towards establishment of the The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Central Tribal University. Naidu, at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of France, will be visiting Paris from 9 to ucknow’s Ekana cricket stadium renamed after 11 November 2018, to represent Government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee India in the activities commemorating the centenary of the Armistice of World War I.

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Uttar Pradesh Government has decided to rename United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and newly-built Ekana International Stadium in capital Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group have city Lucknow after former Prime Minister Atal formed strategic partnership to support efforts Bihari Vajpayee. eliminate hunger globally by 2030.  The stadium with a seating capacity of  As per the agreement, Alibaba will lend its around 50,000 will now be known as ‘Bharat cutting-edge technology and resources to Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee International support digital transformation of WFP’s Cricket Stadium’. operations.  The stadium was renamed just ahead of first-  Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of ever international cricket match – T20 Alibaba will work with WFP to develop International between India and West digital “World Hunger Map”. Indies.The former prime minister was  The map will help to monitor global hunger Member of Parliament from Lucknow for and operations to end scourge by 2030 which five consecutive times between 1991 and is one of UN’s key Sustainable Development 2009. goals. It also aims to boost efficiency of interventions and shorten emergency Cabinet approves leasing out six airports - response times. Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru through First India-Nepal passenger train on broad gauge PPP to make first run in December The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister The first Shri Narendra Modi has approved the following: passenger train to  "In-principle" approval for leasing out six run on broad airports of AAI viz. Ahmedabad, Jaipur, gauge between Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram India and Nepal and Mangaluru for operation, management will run from and development under Public Private December this year. Partnership (PPP) through Public Private  The train will run from Jayanagar in Bihar to Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC). Kurtha in Dhanusa district in Janakpur Zone  Constitution of an Empowered Group of of south-eastern Nepal. Secretaries headed by CEO, NITI Aayog  No visa will be required for Indian and with Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Nepalese nationals crossing the border Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs through this stretch. and Secretary, Department of Expenditure to  After Beijing decided to extend its railway decide on any issue falling beyond the scope network up to Kathmandu, New Delhi of PPPAC. proposed the construction of new railway  The PPP airports in India have been ranked links during Prime Minister K P Sharma among the top 5 in their respective categories Oli’s recent visit to India. by the Airports Council International (ACI)  The move is being seen as part of efforts to in terms of Airport Service Quality (ASQ). counter China’s plans to forge rail links with Nepal. World Food Programme (WFP) and Chinese e- commerce giant Alibaba Group have formed Bilateral Exercise Between Indian & Republic of strategic partnership to support efforts eliminate Singapore Navies – SIMBEX 18 – MARKS Silver hunger Jubilee this year

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The 25th editorial of SIMBEX, an acronym for Technology Collaboration Programme (AMF TCP) “Singapore – India Maritime Bilateral Exercise” is under International Energy Agency (IEA). scheduled from 10th to 21st November 2018 off  The primary goal of joining AMF TCP by Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. India to bring down emissions and achieve  Bilateral cooperation between Singapore and higher fuel efficiency in transport sector. India was first formalized when RSN ships  AMF TCP is an international platform under began training with the Indian Navy in 1994. the framework of International Energy  Complementing India’s Act-East’ Policy. Agency (IEA) for co-operation among There have been a number of agreements and countries to promote cleaner and more high level visits in the recent past between energy efficient fuels & vehicle the two countries. Indo – Singapore bilateral technologies. relations have been on an upswing in the  Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has recent past. joined AMF TCP as its 16th member in May, 2018. PM Modi to attend swearing-in ceremony of Maldives President-elect on Nov 17 Two-day Global Cooling Innovation Summit will Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the be held in New Delhi swearing-in ceremony of Maldives President-elect The Summit is a first- Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. of-its-kind solutions-  MEA spokesperson said, in keeping with focused event that India’s neighborhood first policy, it is will bring together looking forward to closely work with leaders from around Maldives in further deepening its the world to explore partnership. concrete means and pathways to address the climate threat that comes from the growing demand from Tripura Government set to buy IL&FS shares in room air conditioners. Palatana project  The event is jointly organized by the The Tripura government will soon start dialogue for Department of Science and Technology, purchase of 26% equity shares of the Palatana gas Government of India, along with Rocky thermal power project from Infrastructure Leasing Mountain Institute, Alliance for An Energy and Financial Services (IL&FS). Efficient Economy (AEEE), Conservation X  The 726.6 Megawatt (MW) gas – based Labs and CEPT University. power project, run by ONGC Tripura Power  The summit will also see the launching of Company (OTPC), was launched in 2014 as Global Cooling Prize— Mission Innovation a joint venture between ONGC, IDFC, IL & challenge that aims to spur development of a FS and the Tripura government. residential cooling solution that has at least  The ministry of power allocated over 58% five times (5x) less climate impact than energy from the Palatana project to north today’s standard. eastern states. National Education Day observed on 11 Advanced Motor Fuels Technology November Collaboration Programme The day is observed on 11th November every year The Union Cabinet has been apprised of India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana joining as Member of Advanced Motor Fuels Abul Kalam Azad.

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 He was a freedom fighter, scholar and the INS Rana of the Eastern Fleet based at first Education Minister of independent Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command India, who served from 15 August 1947 until is on deployment to the South East Asia and arrived 2 February 1958. at the port of Surabaya to participate in the inaugural  In a tweet, President Ram Nath Kovind paid edition of Indian Navy – Indonesian Navy Bilateral tributes to Maulana Azad. Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ scheduled from 12 to 18 Nov 18. PM Modi to reach Varanasi on one-day visit  The aim of the exercise is to strengthen The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach his bilateral relations, expand maritime co- parliamentary constituency -Varanasi on his one operation, enhance interoperability and day visit. He will dedicate and inaugurate several exchange best practices. projects costing 2413 crores including two national  The strategic partnership between the two highways to the people. He will also dedicate an nations was elevated to ‘Comprehensive inland multi modal terminal port constructed at the Strategic Partnership’ during the visit of cost of rupees 207 crores on river Ganga here at Honourable Prime Minister of India in May Ramnagar. 18 and Defence co-operation has been a  This is the first of the four multi modal significant pillar in this partnership. terminals being constructed on NW-I (River Ganga) as part of the World Bank aided Jal SpiNNaker: Largest brain-mimicking Marg Vikas project of the Inland supercomputer switched on for first time Waterways Authority of India. The other The world’s largest three terminals are under construction at supercomputer Sahibganj, Haldia and Gazipur. Spiking Neural Network Architecture PM Dedicated Multimodal Terminal to the (SpiNNaker) machine nation designed to work in He laid the foundation stone of projects worth over same way as human brain was switched on for the Rs 2400 crore. first time.  He dedicated the Multimodal Terminal on  It designed and built at University of the River Ganga, to the nation, and received Manchester in UK. It can model more the first container cargo. He inaugurated the biological neurons in real time than any other Varanasi Ring Road Phase 1, and the machine on planet. Biological neurons are development and construction for four basic brain cells present in nervous system laning of Babatpur-Varanasi Section of NH- that communicate by emitting ‘spikes’ of 56. He also inaugurated and laid the pure electro-chemical energy. Foundation Stone for various other  It is capable of completing more than 200 development projects in Varanasi. million actions per second, with each of its  The Prime Minister said that the inland chips having 100 million transistor. water-way would save time and money, reduce congestion on roads, reduce the cost IIT-Madras developed portable cold storage of fuel, and reduce vehicular pollution. device Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has INS Rana to participate in Bilateral Exercise ‘ developed portable solar-powered cold storage Samudra Shakti' device with 500 kg capacity for storing vegetables and fruits, among other items.

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 The device will help farmers store their Dr. Satya Pal Singh Launches 'LEAP' and produce for sufficient time so that it does not 'ARPIT' for higher education get spoilt before it is sold, thereby preventing Dr. Satya Pal Singh, wastage of agricultural produce. Minister of State,  The first unit of device was deployed at farm Ministry of Human in Madurantakam in Kancheepuram district Resource in Tamil Nadu. Development, launched two new Cyclone Gaja in West-Central Bay of Bengal initiatives; The cyclonic storm Gaja, in the West-Central Bay of Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP) Bengal is going to become a severe cyclonic storm and Annual Refresher Programme In Teaching in the next hours. (ARPIT).  The Indian Meteorological Department said,  He also released information brochures of the cyclone is now laying centered at 70 km both the initiatives during the event. While East of Chennai and 70 km east-northeast of addressing the gathering, Dr Satya Pal the coastal town of Nagappattinam. It is Singh said that developing good teachers is currently moving at a speed of 12 kilometers an arduous task and if teachers show an hour in the western direction and is enough commitment, ARPIT will go a long expected to move west-south westwards way in empowering the teaching faculty. later.  Committed teachers will develop confidence and competence and must INDO-Russian joint exercise INDRA 2018 become effective communicators so that The joint military exercise between Indian and they can spread knowledge like the rays of Russia EXERCISE INDRA 2018 on combating the sun. insurgency under the aegis of United Nations (UN) is being conducted at Babina Field Firing Ranges, 38th India International Trade Fair to begin at Babina Military Station from 18 November 2018. Pragati Maidan  The aim of the exercise is to practice joint The 38th India International Trade Fair (IITF) will planning and conduct to enhance begin at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi today. The interoperability of the two Armies in the 14-day annual event will continue till 27th of this peace keeping/ enforcement environment month. under the aegis of the UN.  This year the theme of the fair is Rural  It is the tenth edition of Exercise INDRA Enterprises in India. series.  Afghanistan is the Partner Country, while Nepal will be the Focus Country. Jharkhand 2nd Startup India Investment Seminar in is participating as a Partner State in the Beijing event. Embassy of India in China in partnership with  Around 800 participants from States and Startup India Association (SIA) and Venture government departments, domestic and Gurukool organized 2nd Startup India Investment international companies are taking part to Seminar on 12 November 2018 in Beijing for showcase their product. fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among Indian youth. 26th Conference of Central and State Statistical  The 1st Startup Indian Investment event Organization (COCSSO) begins in Himachal was organised in November 2017.

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Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme fabric, jewellery and much more through one Implementation is organizing 26th Conference of hundred stalls. Central and States Statistical Organizations at  The highlights of the festival will be fashion Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. The theme of show for tribal textiles and tribal cuisines. this year's Conference is "Quality Assurance in There are two venues for the Aadi Mahotsav, Official Statistics". one will be at Delhi Haat and the other is  The 2-Day conference will be inaugurated by Central Park in New Delhi. Union Minister Vijay Goel along with Himachal Pradesh food, civil supplies and Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates 4th International consumer affair minister Kishan Kapoor. A Congress on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine number of papers relating to the theme will The Minister of be presented by central ministries and State for departments during the Conference. Development of North Eastern NITI Aayog Constitutes Himalayan State Region (I/C), Regional Council Prime NITI Aayog has constituted the ‘Himalayan State Minister’s Regional Council’ to ensure sustainable Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, development of the Indian Himalayan region. Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said  The Himalayan States Regional Council will that the geriatric study has gained relevance in the be the nodal agency for the Sustainable recent years with increase in life span of people. development in the Himalayan Region  This field has unique specialty where the which consists of the twelve States namely parameter is based on age. He said that more Jammu &Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal than 70% of the population is below the age Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, of 40 years, due to which India is facing bi- Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, polar challenge. Tripura, two districts of Assam namely Dima  4th International Congress on Gerontology Hasao and KarbiAnglong and Darjeeling and and Geriatric Medicine is being organized Kalimpong in West Bengal. along with the Asia Pacific Geriatric  The Himalayan State Regional Council will Medicine Network Conference at All India be chaired by the Dr VK Saraswat, Member, Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. NITI Aayog. Indian Navy completes refit of Maldivian Coast Aadi Mahotsav festival begins in Delhi Guard Ship Huravee The 15-day Aadi Mahotsav festival is beginning in Maldivian Coast Guard Ship (MCGS) Huravee the national capital Delhi. Briefing media, Tribal successfully completed her refit at Naval Dockyard Affairs Minister Jual Oram said, more than 600 Visakhapatnam and the ship was formally handed artisans from 23 states will participate in the event. over to Major Mohamed Jamshad, Commanding He said, 14 dance troupes will perform in the Officer MCGS Huravee in a ceremony organised to Mahotsav. commemorate the occasion on 15 November 2018.  The theme of the festival is 'celebration of  MCGS Huravee was originally the spirit of tribal culture, craft, cuisine and commissioned as INS Tillanchang, a Trinkat commerce'. It will feature exhibition-cum- class patrol vessel built by Garden Reach sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkatta in Mar 2001 and was subsequently gifted to

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Maldives by the Govt of India in Apr 2006 India International Cherry Blossom festival is to strengthen the strategic partnership scheduled to be held from November 14 to 17 in between the two nations and work together Shillong, Meghalaya. to ensure the maritime safety of the Indian  This festival is the world’s only autumn Ocean Region. cherry blossom festival. The festival is organised by Government of Meghalaya’s India and UK sign MoU for collaboration in Forest & Environment Department as well as cancer research by the Institute of Bioresources & India and United Kingdom have signed Sustainable Development in collaboration Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for with Indian Council for Cultural Relations. collaboration in cancer research.  The aim of the festival is to celebrate the  It is follow-up to joint statement issued by unique autumn flowering of Himalayan Prime Ministers of India and UK during visit Cherry Blossoms. The Cherry Blossom tree of PM Narendra Modi to the UK in April flowers only for a short period in a year. The 2018. festival will showcase full pink and white  The MoU was signed between Department cherry blossoms found all along the roadside of Biotechnology (DBT) and Cancer of the famous Ward Lake. Alongside, the Research UK (CRUK) for India-UK Cancer festival will also showcase the region’s food, Research Initiative for collaboration in wine and crafts in addition with several cancer research for the next five years. cultural events.

UP cabinet approves renaming of Faizabad as 9th Annual Defence and Security Dialogue Ayodhya, Allahabad as Prayagraj between India and China held in Beijing Uttar Pradesh Government has approved renaming The 9th Annual of Faizabad and Allahabad as Ayodhya and Defence and Prayagraj respectively. Security Dialogue  Allahabad’s ancient name was ‘Prayag’, but between India and was changed after 16th-century Mughal China held in emperor Akbar built fort near ‘Sangam’, the Beijing. It was held holy confluence of three rivers viz. Ganga, between the two defence delegations headed by Yamuna and Saraswati. Akbar named the defence secretary Sanjay Mitra and China’s deputy fort and its neighbourhood ‘Ilahabad’. Later, chief of Joint Staff Department of the Central Akbar’s grandson Shah Jahan renamed the Military Commission. entire city as ‘Allahabad’. But the area near  The 9th Annual Defence and Security the ‘Sangam’, the site of the Kumbh Mela, Dialogue was held after one-year gap due to continues to be known as ‘Prayag’. Doklam standoff.  Ayodhya has been associated with Lord Ram  National security advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and is known as his birth place. Ayodhya has and Chinese state councillor and foreign been the capital of various dynasties, minister Wang Yi are designated special including the Ikshvaku dynasty of which representatives for the border talks. Lord Ram is a descendent. 8th National Conference of Women in Police India International Cherry Blossom festival begins in Ranchi The 8th National Conference of Women in Police (NCWP) will begin in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

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 The two-day conference which is being country’s first solar-powered sewage organized by Bureau of Police Research treatment plant will be installed. &Development in collaboration with Jharkhand Police, is the only national level National Press Day: November 16 platform to address the issues of Women in The National Press Day (NPD) is celebrated every uniform and create an enabling atmosphere year on November 16 as symbolic of free and for them to maximize and optimize their responsible press in India. professional potential.  Recommending the establishment of Press  NCWP has been continuously working on Council in 1956 the Ist Press Commission strengthening and monitoring of mechanism had concluded that the best way of to deal with sexual harassment in all the maintaining professional ethics in journalism Police Organizations / CPOs by suggesting would be to bring into existence a body with active ways and means. statutory authority, of people principally connected with industry whose duty it would India's first specialized hospital for elephants be to arbitrate. opens in Mathura  The PCI was first constituted on 4 July 1966 India's first specialized hospital for elephants was as an ‘autonomous, statutory, quasi-judicial’ opened by Agra Divisional Commissioner Anil body, and it started functioning from16 Kumar at Farah block's Churmura village, Mathura. November, 1966 with Justice JR Mudholkar, It is promoted by Wildlife SOS which had then a Supreme Court Judge, as its chairman. established first elephant conservation and care centre in 2010. Indo-Japan Business Council's business festival  India's elephant population fell to 27,312 in in Pune 2017 from 29,391-30,711 in 2012, The Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC), is hosting government data shows. KONNICHI WA PUNE - a first of its kind business  Hundreds of elephants across India, which festival in Pune on 17th & 18th November, 2018. accounts for more than half of Asia's The festival aims to boost investment, promote elephant population, are held in captivity and businesses and cultural exchange between India and sharp metal hooks are often used to pinch Japan. and tease them into subordination.  Shrikant Atre, President, Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC), said at the India and ADB sign $169 Million Loan to Provide inaugural of the event Konnichiwa Pune that Water and Sanitation Services in Tamil Nadu the number of Japanese companies coming Union Government has inked $169 Million Loan to the state will grow steadily in the next agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB) couple of years with focus on potential big for Tamil Nadu Urban Flagship Investment city markets like Pune, Nasik, Aurangabad Program. It is first tranche of $500 million multi- and Nagpur among others and not in Mumbai tranche financing to provide water and sanitation alone. services in Tamil Nadu.  The high-speed train project will connect  The first tranche of ABD loan will target two important Indian cites, Ahmedabad in cities of Chennai, Coimbatore, Rajapalayam, Gujarat and the economic hub Mumbai in Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, and Vellore. Maharashtra.  The program will develop climate-resilient sewerage collection and treatment and World Toilet Day: 19 November drainage systems in 10 cities. Under it

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World Toilet Day is an official United Nations Qaumi Ekta Week will be observed across the international observance day on November 19 to country from to foster and reinforce the spirit of inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. communal harmony and national integration.  United Nations' Sustainable Development  As part of the week-long programmes, 19 Goal 6 (SDG 6) aims to ensure availability November will be observed as National and sustainable management of sanitation Integration Day. Programmes like meetings, and water for all by 2030. symposia and seminars will be organised to  All over the world, 4.5 billion people live emphasise the themes of secularism, anti- without a safe toilet and 892 million people communalism and non-violence. still practise open defecation. In India,  The National Foundation for Communal Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) will Harmony, an autonomous organisation with celebrate the Day with mass awareness and the Ministry of Home Affairs, organises mobilization activities across States and Communal Harmony Campaign coinciding districts. with the Qaumi Ekta Week and observes the  This year’s World Toilet Day campaign is Communal Harmony Flag Day on 25th based on the narrative: When nature calls, we November. need a toilet. Punjab becomes 3rd state to ban hookah bars PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate Kundli- The President has given assent to the Cigarettes and Manesar section of Western Peripheral Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Expressway Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Prime Minister Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Narendra Modi will (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018 recently inaugurate the  Punjab is the third state in the country after Kundli-Manesar Gujarat and Maharashtra where hookah bars section of the or lounges were banned through law. Western Peripheral  These bars are being opened in restaurants, Expressway. hotels, and clubs and hookahs are even  Prime Minister will also inaugurate the 3.2- served at marriages venues. kilometre long Escorts Mujesar-Ballabhgarh corridor of the Delhi Metro. Jashne Bachpan: 14th edition of international  The Western Peripheral Expressway also children’s theatre festival held in New Delhi known as KMP expressway is expected to "The main aim of conducting Jashnebachpan is to divert more than 50 thousand heavy vehicles bring theatre into prominence. It has lost its sheen in away from Delhi. The 136-kilometre long the modern era because of the digital medium. six-lane expressway which has been built at Children aren't aware of theatre these days as none a cost of over 6 thousand 400 crore rupees of the schools has theatre as a subject. will not only ease the burden of heavy traffic  The 14th edition of JashneBachpan, a theatre using Delhi as the transit point but also festival for children, will be organized by provide the high-speed link between National School of Drama. northern and southern districts of Haryana.  The 14th edition of JashneBachpan, a theatre festival for children was held at the Qaumi Ekta Week: 19-25 November Sammukh, Abhimanch, Abhikalp and Little Theatre Group (LTG) auditorium in New Delhi.

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India, US Joint Special Forces Exercise 2018 named Andhra, Bengal have withdrawn general consent Vajra Prahar commenced at Mahajan Field Firing for CBI investigation Range (MFFR), Bikaner in Rajasthan. The exercise Unlike the National Investigation Agency (NIA), was called between Special Forces of both countries which is governed by its own NIA Act and has to deal with operations for counter-terrorism and is jurisdiction across the country, the CBI is governed being done at unit as well as sub-unit levels. by the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act that  For this exercise, US Army is represented by makes consent of a state government mandatory for contingent of one officer and 10 Other Ranks conducting investigation in that state. from Special Forces Group of United States  There are two kinds of consent: case-specific Pacific Command. and general. Given that the CBI has  They will carry out 12 days rigorous joint jurisdiction only over central government training in semi desert and rural terrain with departments and employees, it can aim to enhance inter-operability of the two investigate a case involving state armed forces and further military to military government employees or a violent crime in co-operation. a given state only after that state government gives its consent. Union Government to set up a first National  “General consent” is normally given to help Institute of Inter-Faith Studies in Punjab the CBI seamlessly conduct its investigation The Centre into cases of corruption against central Government government employees in the concerned will set up a state. Almost all states have given such first-of-its-kind consent. Otherwise, the CBI would require institute of consent in every case. Inter-Faith Studies in Punjab to promote brotherhood and Chennai Airport awarded for hundred percent diversity. It is being to commemorate 550th birth grievance redressal anniversary of first Sikh Guru and founder of Sikh The Union Minister of Civil Aviation and religion Guru Nanak. Commerce & Industry, Suresh Prabhu, and Minister  The institute will be set up on lines of of State for Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha launched teachings of Guru Nanak Dev ji who the upgraded version of AirSewa 2.0 web portal and preached qualities of brotherhood, diversity mobile app in New Delhi. and the concept of unity in diversity.  The upgrade and improved version of  Government will also develop Sultanpur AirSewa operates through an interactive web Lodhi in Punjab where Guru Nanak is portal as well as through a mobile app for believed to have spent most of his life. both android and iOS platforms and will offer passengers a convenient and hassle- Ministerial meet of BASIC Countries held in free air travel experience. India  It is an upgraded version of AirSewa to The meeting of BASIC countries was organized by provide a superior user experience with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate enhanced functionalities. Change in New Delhi and was addressed by Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan. Vajra Prahar: India-USA joint military exercise  The BASIC group consists of countries; commences in Jaipur Brazil, South Africa, India and China.

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 Although BASIC group of countries are the IIT-Hyderabad researchers develop smartphone leading emerging economies, still they have sensor to detect adulteration in milk significant percentage of the world’s poorest Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology people. (IIT) Hyderabad are working to develop smartphone-based sensor to detect adulteration in Sulabh International introduces India’s first milk. sewer cleaning machine to end unsafe manual  They have developed detector system which scavenging can measure level of acidity in milk using Sulabh International has introduced India’s first indicator paper. They have also developed sewer cleaning machine to reduce sewer deaths and algorithms that can be incorporated in put end to unsafe practice of manual scavenging. smartphone to accurately detect change in  The machine was unveiled on occasion of acidity. World Toilet Day 2018 (observed on 19  The sensor-chip based method measures pH, November) by mayors of all three Municipal which is indicator of the acidity and colour Corporations of Delhi (MCD) in the of paper indicates different pH levels. presence founder of Sulabh International Bindeshwar Pathak. 49th International Film Festival of India opens in  It is social service organization that works to Panaji, Goa promote human rights, environmental 49th International Film Festival of India began in sanitation, and non-conventional sources of Panaji, capital of Goa. The theme of for this year’s energy, waste management and social film festival is 'New India' through a variety of reforms through education. It is largest genres of cinema, including history, action, romance nonprofit organization in India. It was and sports. founded by social activists Bindeshwar  Jharkhand is focus state for this year, with Pathak in 1970. Jharkhand Day being celebrated on 24th November as part of festival. PM sets up National Implementation Committee  The focus country is Israel. to commemorate 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Union Government has decided to commemorate 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak at national as well as international level.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi constituted India Improves Rank by 23 Positions in Ease of National Implementation Committee (NIC) Doing Business under Chairmanship of Union Home The World Bank Minister Rajnath Singh to commemorate the released its latest 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in the Doing Business country and abroad. Report (DBR,  Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and 2019) in New Minister of State for Culture Dr. Mahesh Delhi. India has Sharma are its Members. recorded a jump of 23 positions against its rank of  Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry 100 in 2017 to be placed now at 77thrank among of Finance and Department of Posts will also 190 countries assessed by the World Bank. release Commemorative coin and postage  India's leap of23 ranks in the Ease of Doing stamps to mark this event. Business ranking is significant considering

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that last year India had improved its rank by since 1958.In the last few years, the 30 places, a rare feat for any large and economic cooperation between India and diverse country of the size of India. Japan has steadily progressed.  As a result of continued efforts by the  This further consolidates and strengthens the Government, India has improved its rank by Strategic and Global Partnership between 53 positions in last two years and 65 India and Japan. positions in last four years.  The Doing Business assessment provides Indo-French Conclave held in Nagpur objective measures of business regulations Indo-French Conclave was held in Nagpur, and their enforcement across 190 economies Maharashtra, in which French and Indian firms on ten parameters affecting a business signed 12 agreements worth 200 million euro. through its life cycle.  These agreemnents will help to create 3,000  The DBR ranks countries on the basis of jobs in Maharashtra. Distance to Frontier (DTF), a score that  The Indo-French Conclave was organized by shows the gap of an economy to the global Indo French Chamber of Commerce & best practice. Industry (IFCCI) and the Embassy of France  This year, India’s DTF score improved to in India. 67.23 from 60.76 in the previous year.  For the third year in a row, New Zealand RBI initiates steps to set up digital Public Credit retained its position at the top of the Doing Registry (PCR) to capture details of all Business rankings. borrowers Reserve Bank of Kirloskar Capital gets RBI nod for NBFC biz India (RBI) has Kirloskar Capital, a wholly-owned subsidiary of initiated steps to set Kirloskar Oil Engines (KOEL), has received RBI up wide-based licence to start a non-banking financial company digital Public Credit (NBFC). Registry (PCR) to capture loan information of  The company plans to lend more than Rs individuals and corporate borrowers. 1,000 crore over the next three years.  In this regard, RBI has invited expression of  The company had earlier roped in former interest (EOI) for developing PSC from Indo-Star Capital Finance Managing companies with turnover of over Rs 100 Director and Chief Executive Officer, Vimal crore in last three years. Bhandari, to head its operations.  Setting up of PCR assumes significance amidst rising bad loans in financial system. India and Japan signs a Loan Agreement worth The non-performing assets (NPAs) in Rs. 1817 crore Indian banking system is too much. A Loan Agreement worth of Rs. 1817 crore approximately was signed between India and Japan NDMC launches QR-enabled fridge magnets for for the construction of Turga Pumped Storage (I). digital payment of bills  The objective of the Project is to strengthen New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) has the capability to respond to fluctuation in launched quick response (QR)-enabled fridge supply and demand of power and to improve magnets for digital payment of bills. stability of the power supply.  The magnets are personalized and each  India and Japan have had a long and fruitful customer will have unique QR Code history of bilateral development cooperation mapped to their consumer account number.

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 It is powered by SignCatch – an IT and of 11 State-owned companies as against 10 services company. earlier.  It is a two-dimensional (matrix) machine- readable bar code made up of black and Retail inflation falls to one-year low of 3.31 per white square. This code can be read by the cent in October camera of a smartphone. Retail inflation fell to a one-year low of 3.31 per cent in October on the back of cheaper kitchen staples, AYUSH Ministry organizes National Seminar fruits and protein-rich items. on Entrepreneurship and Business Development  Official data released showed that the in Ayurveda inflation based on the Consumer Price Index The National Seminar on Entrepreneurship and (CPI) was 3.7 per cent in September 2018 Business Development in Ayurveda was held in and 3.58 per cent in October 2017. New Delhi.  The retail inflation number is the lowest  It was organised by Ministry of AYUSH in since September 2017 when it touched 3.28 association with NITI Aayog with aim of per cent. encouraging entrepreneurs and Ayurveda stakeholders towards businesses DIPP hosts Global Digital Content Market2018 opportunities in the sector. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion  The seminar is expected to develop (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is awareness among stakeholders about the hosting a conference on Global Digital Content business opportunities, encouraging young Market (GDCM)2018, on14th- 15thNovember entrepreneurs to use of modern technologies 2018, in New Delhi. and modern innovations in business  The conference will feature sessions on development in the sector and highlight music, film, broadcasting and publishing, as opportunities at global level. well as collective management, emerging models and the implications for the market NTPC, 3 other PSUs included in CPSE ETF and policy makers. The Finance Ministry  India has been chosen as a host nation for has altered the CPSE the conference by World Intellectual Exchange Traded Property Organization (WIPO) due to the Fund (ETF) and has strong creative industry in the country in included in the basket films, music and media. The focus for this the four State-owned year’s conference is the Asia Pacific region. companies NTPC,  GDCM 2018 is the second edition of the SJVN, NLC and NBCC. conference. The first conference was held in  The Ministry has removed three of the Geneva 2016. existing companies GAIL, Engineers India Ltd. (EIL) and Container Corporation of Wholesale inflation rises to four-month high of India in the ETF basket and has replaced 5.28% in October them with four new companies. Inflation based on wholesale prices,WPI rose to a  “NTPC, SJVN, NLC and NBCC have been four-month high of 5.28 per cent in October.The included in the CPSE ETF, while GAIL, Wholesale Price Index based inflation stood at 5.13 EIL and Container Corporation removed per cent in September and 3.68 per cent in October from the basket. CPSE ETF now has scrips last year.

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 According to the government data released, SEZ Policy Report Submitted to Commerce the hike is mainly due to spike in petrol and Minister diesel prices. However, food articles The Baba Kalyani led committee constituted by the witnessed softening of prices with deflation Ministry of Commerce& Industry to study the at 1.49 per cent in October, against 0.21 per existing SEZ policy of India submitted its report to cent in September. the Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu. IndusInd Bank launches interactive credit card  The Government of India has set a target of in India creating 100 million jobs and achieving 25% India’s IndusInd Bank has introduced an interactive of GDP from the manufacturing sector by credit card, said to be the first of its kind in the 2022, as part of its flagship ‘Make in India’ country. programme.  The MasterCard credit card has been  While submitting the report to the developed in alliance with American Commerce Minister, Baba Kalyani, payment card firm Dynamics. Chairman, Bharat Forge Ltd., said that if  Dubbed IndusInd Bank Nexxt Credit Card, India is going to become a USD 5 trillion the card offers customers a choice to pay economy by 2025 then the current with credit, EMI or reward points at the environment of manufacturing point-of-sale (POS). competitiveness and services has to undergo a basic paradigm shift. South Asian Regional Conference on Urban Infrastructure held in New Delhi Official Language Conference of Northern It was organised by National Institution for Region held in Chandigarh Transforming India (NITI) Aayog in partnership The Regional Conference under the aegis of the with United Nations Economic and Social Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP) and Affairs, was organized by Regional Implementation Asian Development Bank (ADB). Offices of North-1 and North-2 Regions in  With respect to urban needs, the population Chandigarh. in South Asia is expected to grow by  Central Government Officials from Delhi, around 250 million till 2030, while that in Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal India is expected to reach around 590 million Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, during the same period. Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand participated in the conference. Industrial park rating system to boost industry  Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, competitiveness: Suresh Prabhu Shri Kiren Rijiju was the Chief Guest in the Development of industrial park rating system would conference. Speaking on the occasion, he help increase competitiveness of industries and said that Hindi is spoken by crores of people promotion of the manufacturing sector, Commerce in the country. They think and express their and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu said. ideas in Hindi; Hindi is medium of  The system is being developed by the expression of all the elements of Indian ministry to assess industrial parks in the culture and society. country based on four pillars -- internal and external infrastructure, connectivity, Shri Manoj Sinha inaugurates the All India environment and safety management, and Heads of Police Communication Conference business support services.

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The Minister of State for Communications (I/C) and  Eliminating physical interface, improving Railways, Shri Manoj Sinha inaugurated the All service delivery, enhancing transparency and India Heads of Police Communication Conference reducing cost and time in setting up and on ‘Modernization of Police Communication and doing business are the expected outcomes of Challenges thereof’. this challenge.  The theme of the two-day conference is  Prime Minister Narendra Modi spelt out “Modernization of Police Communication several steps taken for the MSME sector and Challenges thereof”. The purpose of the including granting of loans upto Rs 1 crore Conference is to bring all stakeholders in 59 minutes and government support for together on one platform to address employment creating enterprises. outstanding issues, share best practices, address all domains of Communication and MWCD links Sexual Harassment Complaints encourage Innovation and Modernisation in Portal 'SHe-Box' to central/ state ministries & the field of Communication. districts for speedy disposal of cases  It also encourages Business concerns to offer The Ministry of their solutions to the challenges of Women and Child Communication in India. Development has linked SHe-Box, the Government of India and the World Bank sign online portal to report $310 million Loan Agreement for Jharkhand complaints of Sexual Power System Improvement Project Harassment at The Government of India, the Government of Workplace, to all the Jharkhand and the World Bank signed a $310 Central Ministries, Departments and 653 districts million Loan Agreement for Jharkhand Power across 33 States/Union Territories. System Improvement Project to provide reliable,  SHe-Box, which was launched by WCD quality, and affordable 24x7 electricity to the Minister Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi last citizens of Jharkhand. year, offers the facility of making online  The Project is part of the Government of complaints of sexual harassment at India’s Power for All program launched in workplace to all women employees in the 2014. The plan envisages addition of over country including government and private 4.5 GW generation capacities by 2022 employees. (including a significant share of 1.5 GW  Those who have already filed a written from solar energy), through a mix of Private complaint with the concerned Internal and Public-sector investments. Complaint Committee (ICC) or Local  The Government of Jharkhand has achieved Complaint Committee (LCC) constituted significant results towards electrification. As under the Sexual Harassment Act are also per data from the Jharkhand Distribution eligible to file their complaint through this Company more than 80 percent of all citizens portal. in the State have access to electricity. Governor of Tripura Inaugurates 7th PM launches grand challenge for improving International Tourism Mart in Agartala ‘Ease of Doing Business’ The Governor of Tripura Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ease of inaugurated the “7th International Tourism Mart for Doing Business Grand Challenge. the North-East States” in the presence of Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism Shri K.J Alphons and the

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Chief Minister of Tripura Shri Biplab Kumar Deb in ideas and processes resulting in innovative Agartala. activities in their formative years.  This is the 7th edition of the International Tourism Mart, an annual event organised in Government of India to observe the the North Eastern region with the objective remembrance of 100 years of Jallianwalla Bagh of highlighting the tourism potential of the massacre next year region in the domestic and international Government of India has decided to mark the markets. remembrance of 100 years of the historical  It brings together the tourism business Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre next year. fraternity and entrepreneurs from the eight  The Government is planning to renovate the North Eastern States. historical site by creating suitable  The International Tourism Marts are infrastructure for providing basic amenities organized every year in the North Eastern for the tourists. States on rotation basis.  The commemorative coin and postage stamps will be released on 13th April, 2019 Sangai tourism festival held in Manipur (the day the incident took place 100 years The annual Sangai Festival was celebrated in ago).Ministry of Culture will organise northeastern state of Manipur. It is grandest festival cultural activities such as kavi sammelan, of state named after state animal, Sangai, the plays, exhibition, seminars, etc. across the critically endangered brow-antlered deer found only country. in Manipur.  The festival aims to promote Manipur as Jharkhand Day being celebrated at IFFI in Goa world class tourism destination. Jharkhand Day is being celebrated on Saturday at the  It was inaugurated by Union Defence International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.  Jharkhand is the focus state at this year's  Sangai Deer (also called the Dancing Deer. IFFI. This is for the first time that any state It is the state animal of Manipur. has been made focus state at the festival.  It is listed as critically endangered species by  Information and Broadcasting Secretary International Union for Conservation of Amit Khare had inaugurated the Jharkhand Nature (IUCN). Tourism's pavilion at the IFFI.

Government launches Institution’s Innovation Government decides to set up domestic Gold Council (IIC) Program Council in India Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) Program of The Government Ministry of Human Resource Development’s (HRD) has decided to set Innovation Cell was launched in New Delhi by up a domestic Gold Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar. Council in India.  HRD Ministry has established Innovation Commerce and cell at AICTE with purpose to systematically Industry Minister foster culture of Innovation in all Higher Suresh Prabhu said this while inaugurating the 2nd Education Institutions (HEIs) across the Edition of India Gold and Jewellery Summit in New country. Delhi.  The purpose of formation of network of  Mr Prabhu underlined the need for an IICs is to encourage, inspire and nurture integrated Gold policy to address all the young students by exposing them to new issues in holistic way.

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 He said that his ministry will make sure that security policy was also launched to provide gems and jewellery business does not suffer security to the land records of farmers. from financial issues and his ministry is in  Bhudaar card can be generated by the land talks with Finance Ministry in this regard. owner or property owner from Bhuseva web portal. Two types of Bhudaar cards are IMD develops new technology to monitor impact available including e-Bhudaar and M- of rain & deal with natural disasters Bhudaar. Under Mobile Bhudaar, one has to The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has download application on mobile. One can developed a new technology to assess the rise of also get Bhudaar card from Mee Seva centers water level in rivers and reservoirs by rain.  The technology, called 'Impact Based Delhi government launched Open Transit Data Forecasting Approach', which shows pre- platform event scenario, can help state governments to To increase minutely monitor the impact of rain and take transparency and real-time decisions. build transport  Speaking at an event organised by the Centre solutions, the for Science and Environment in New Delhi, transport IMD Director General KJ Ramesh said, the department of the department is in a position to use the Delhi government technology into service to deal with natural has launched the disasters like the recent deluge in Kerala. Open Transit Data platform which provides real- time datasets free of cost. Cabinet approves setting up of Medical College  It is a major step to promote collaboration at Silvassa in UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and co-creation of innovative and inclusive Under Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra transport solutions for the people of Delhi. Modi recently, Union Cabinet approved the setting  The portal was designed and developed by up of a medical college in Silvassa of Dadar and IIIT Delhi on behalf of the Delhi Nagar Haveli. This will increase the availability of government. doctors and increase in medical education.  The construction of this medical college will CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute be done till 2019-20 and in accordance with developed transgenic rice with reduced arsenic the guidelines of the Medical Council of accumulation India and Central Health and Family Welfare Arsenic accumulation in rice grains is one of the Ministry. The expenditure of this medical serious agricultural issues in India. To address this, college will be done by the Union Territory’s researchers at Lucknow-based CSIR-National budgetary provision. Botanical Research Institute have developed transgenic rice by inserting a novel fungal gene, Andhra Pradesh Government launched Bhuseva which results in reduced arsenic accumulation in rice and Bhudaar web portal grain. Andhra Pradesh Government has launched Bhuseva  As large number of people are affected by and Bhudaar web portal through which people can arsenic toxicity, it is imperative to develop view land records online. rice with lesser arsenic content and high  People can get land record online through yield. these portals using Aadhaar card. Bhudaar Constitution Day: 26 November

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Constitution Day is observed on 26 November. On delegation headed by Economic this day in 1949, the constitution was adopted which Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin. came into force on January 26, 1950, marking the  It was created by PM Narendra Modi and beginning of a new era in the history of India. President Vladimir Putin in their informal  On 19th November 2015, during the year- summit (held at Sochi in May 2018) to give long celebration of the 125th birth big push to economic partnership between anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, both countries. Government of India in a gazette notification  India has already launched Strategic declared November 26th as the Constitution Economic Dialogue with China. Day.  The Constitution continues to be the nation's 70-feet tall statue of Lord Buddha unveiled at guiding light on all matters connected with Rajgir in Nalanda district governance and jurisprudence. The founding Bihar Chief Minister fathers gave people one of the best Nitish Kumar has Constitutions and made it adaptable to the unveiled 70-feet tall Indian situation. statue of Lord Buddha at Rajgir in Nalanda Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba to visit district of state. It is Russia second tallest statue of Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff Buddha in the (CNS) Indian Navy is visiting Russia from today to country. 29 November 2018. The visit aims to consolidate  The statue has been installed above 16 metre bilateral defense relations with Russia, as also to radius pedestal in middle of lake Ghora explore new avenues for defense cooperation. Katora. Ghora Katora is natural lake  The CNS will be commencing his official surrounded by five hills. visit from St. Petersburg tomorrow, where he  It has been made from 45,000 cubic foot pink is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions sand stone. with his counterpart, Admiral Vladimir Korolev, Commander-in-Chief, Russian SSB to patrol Dudhwa tiger reserve Federation Navy. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and Sashastra Seema Bal  The Indian Navy cooperates with the (SSB) have joined hands to provide security to Russian Federation Navy on many fronts, Dudhwa forests and its rich wildlife. which include operational interactions,  It has been agreed that joint long route training, hydrography cooperation and patrolling comprising SSB, Special Tiger exchange of Subject Matter Experts in Protection Force (STPF) and Dudhwa Tiger various fields through the medium of Navy- Reserve (DTR) field staff would be held at to-Navy Staff Talks. regular intervals.  It is protected area in Uttar Pradesh that First-ever India Russia Strategic Economic stretches mainly across the Lakhimpur Kheri Dialogue held at St. Petersburg and Bahraich districts. The first-ever India Russia Strategic Economic  It comprises Dudhwa National Park, Dialogue was held at St. Petersburg in Russia. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and  Indian side was led by NITI Aayog Vice Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. Chairman Rajiv Kumar and Russian

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Government of India and Asian Development athletics meet, football, chess competition Bank (ADB) sign $200 Million Loan to improve and speech writing as part of the Festival. State Highways in Bihar  This festival will provide a national The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the platform for the children from CCIs across Government of India signed a $200 million loan to India to showcase their talent. finance widening and upgrading of about 230 Kilometers State Highways in Bihar to all-weather Government of India and Asian Development standards with road safety features. Bank (ADB) Signs $75 Million Loan to Improve  Since 2008, ADB has provided four loans to Urban Services in 4 Karnataka Towns Bihar, amounting to $1.43 billion, to upgrade Government of India and the Asian Development about 1,453 km of State Highways and to Bank signed a $75 million loan here to provide 24 construct a New Bridge over the Ganga x7 water supply in Karnataka’s four coastal towns River near Patna. of Kundapura, Mangalore Puttur and Udupi and  This BSHP-III project, approved by the improve sanitation infrastructure for Mangalore ADB Board in October this year, will town. involve upgrading State Highways to  The Program, approved by ADB Board in standard two-lane width with road safety 2014, aims to improve urban water resource features. management in selected river basins in Karnataka through modernization and Shri Kiren Rijiju to inaugurate NDMA's 14th expansion of urban water supply. Formation Day  The investment program is supporting four Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri coastal towns in Karnataka to provide Kiren Rijiju, will inaugurate the 14th Formation Day continuous piped water supply to people, of the National Disaster Management Authority and promote efficient and sustainable use of (NDMA). The theme of this year's Formation Day is water. Early Warning for Disasters.  Early warning is a major element of disaster CSIR to establish a High-End Skill Development risk reduction and can minimise the loss of Centre in Chandigarh lives and economic impacts. Timely early India’s premier National Research Laboratory warning is key to a structured and efficient CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR- response. IMTECH) announced a new partnership with  To be effective, early warning systems need Merck, a leading German science and Technology to involve the communities at risk, generate Company, to establish a ‘High End Skill public awareness, effectively disseminate Development Centre’ in CSIR-IMTECH, warnings and ensure there is a constant state Chandigarh. of preparedness.  This ‘High End Skill Development Centre’ will enrich skills by conducting workshops, ‘HAUSLA-2018’ was inaugurated in the Capital trainings and seminar series on cutting Delhi edges life science processes, tools and The Ministry of Women and Child Development techniques. has launched the National Festival for Children of  This High-End Skill Development Centre Child Care Institutions (CCIs) – Hausla 2018. will function on the principle of “no-profit,  The inter-Child Care Institution festival no-loss” basis and has been primarily draws children from 18 States for the created to augment Government of India’s various events like painting competition,

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initiative for building skills in the area of PSLV-C43 successfully launches earth Life Science. observation satellite HysIS and 30 foreign satellites Union Home Minister launches Emergency The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Response Support System (ERSS) for Himachal Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C43) Pradesh successfully launched 31 satellites from Satish The Union Home Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota. Minister Shri Rajnath  HysIS is an earth observation satellite built Singh launched around ISRO’s Mini Satellite2 (IMS-2) bus Emergency Response weighing about 380kg. The mission life of Support System the satellite is five years. (ERSS) for Himachal  The primary goal of HysIS is to study the Pradesh at Mandi. earth’s surface in both the visible, near  Himachal Pradesh is the first state to launch infrared and shortwave infrared regions of pan-India single emergency number ‘112’ the electromagnetic spectrum. under ERSS.  Data from the satellite will be used for a wide  Under this project, one Emergency Response range of applications including agriculture, Centre (ERC) has been established in Shimla forestry, soil/geological environments, along with 12 District Command Centers coastal zones and inland waters, etc. (DCCs) covering entire State. Emergency Response Centre has been integrated with KONKAN-18 exercise begins at Goa Police (100), Fire (101), Health (108) and Naval cooperation between India and the United Women helpline (1090) Services to provide Kingdom is based on the long term strategic emergency services via single emergency relationship between both countries. number - 112  Both Navies have, over the years, undertaken bilateral activities such as training exchanges NASA's InSight spacecraft successfully lands on and technical cooperation. Mars  The Bilateral KONKAN exercise provides a NASA's robotic InSight lander successfully landed platform for the two Navies to periodically on Mars after the six-month journey. exercise at sea and in harbour, so as to build  The US space agency's InSight mission team interoperability and share best practices. in a statement said, the lander sent signals  The KONKAN series of exercises indicating that its solar panels are open and commenced in 2004, and since then has collecting sunlight on the Martian surface. grown in scale. KONKAN-2018 will be  NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter relayed the conducted from 28 Nov to 06 Dec 18 off Goa signals of the landing, which were received with units participating from both navies on Earth.  In Sight will study the interior of Mars, and Cockerel Gunners' White Water Rafting will teach about valuable science as they Expedition prepare to send astronauts to the Moon and Keeping the indomitable spirit of adventure alive, later to Mars. soldiers of Indian Army conducted ‘Cockerel  The probe was launched from the Gunners’ White Water Rafting Expedition’ at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Rishikesh on 29 November 2018. 5th of May.  The expedition commenced on 26 November 2018 wherein a team comprising of 20

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adventure enthusiasts of a Medium Microsoft has become the most valuable US Regiment were flagged off at Rudraprayag. company with $753.3 billion in market  After successfully traversing 150 kilometers capitalization. across River Ganges over four days, the team  Amazon with $736.6 billion is currently at was flagged in at Rishikesh. third and Alphabet (the parent company of  As part of its challenging journey, the team Google) with $725.5 billion is at the fourth successfully negotiated numerous grade III spot. and IV Rapids.  The investors are now betting big on  The expedition reaffirmed the Indian Army’s companies with robust Cloud services and resolve of a strong sense of determination, software services which are witnessing an grit and perseverance in face of all odds. increased demand.

Distribute service charges to workers or pay tax: Task Force for drafting a New Direct Tax CBDT tells hoteliers Legislation Service charge collected by hotels and restaurants In order to review the Income-tax Act, 1961 and to but not passed on to staff and workers will be liable draft a new direct tax law in consonance with the to income tax in the hands of such entities, the tax economic needs of the country, a Task Force was department has said. constituted by the Government of India in  The missive from the Central Board of Direct November, 2017. Taxes came after the Ministry of Consumer  In partial modification of the earlier order, Affairs flagged that some hotels and the Government has appointed Shri Akhilesh restaurants are collecting service charge Ranjan, Member (Legislation), CBDT as from customers in a compulsory manner, Convener of the Task Force. Other members which is in contravention with the guidelines of the Task Force remain unchanged. issued by the ministry.  The Task Force shall submit its report to the  The department has asked the field officers Government by February 28, 2019. to examine the hotels and restaurants to see if there is any 'under reporting' or 'non- NPCC gets Miniratna and ISO 9001:2015 reporting' of service charge collected by certification them. National Projects Construction Corporation Limited (NPCC) has been conferred with the status NBFC Mudra loans grew faster than banks in of Miniratna: Category –I by the Government of FY18: report India. The empowerment of Miniratna Status to According to the 2017-18 annual report of Pradhan NPCC will help the company in taking speedy Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), though NBFCs decisions by enhancing the delegation of powers to sanctioned only over ₹27,000 crore of Mudra loans the Board. in FY18 against ₹92,492.68 crore by public sector  NPCC, a schedule ‘B’ CPSE under the banks, their year-on-year growth was faster. administrative control of Ministry of Water  Impressively, NBFCs not only met their Resources RD & GR, has also been Mudra target of ₹9,050 crore for FY18, but awarded ISO 9001:2015 Certification. their sanctions for the year were a five-fold  The Corporation, incorporated in 1957, is a jump from the previous year. premier construction company having mandate with creation of infrastructure to Microsoft surpasses Apple to become most provide impetus for economic development valuable US Company of the country.

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 Prior to this, he was heading the UK operations Saudi-India Business Meeting Held in Riyadh of New India Assurance for four-and-a-half Saudi-India Business meeting was held with Council years. of Saudi Chambers during the visit of the Indian Infrastructure & Housing delegation to the Kingdom S. S. Deswal appointed as DG, ITBP of Saudi Arabia. The ACC has  The Saudi delegation was headed by Kamel approved the S. Almunajjed, Chairman of Saudi Indian appointment of Shri Business Council and the Indian side was led S. S. Deswal, IPS by Manoj K Bharti, Additional Secretary, (HY: 84) as Director ED Division, Ministry of External Affairs, General, Indo and Government of India. Tibetan Border  The meeting was attended by top officials Police (ITBP). and CEOs of companies of Saudi Arabia.  He took charge from Shri R K Pachnanda, the  The Indian delegation is being represented outgoing DG of ITBP, who superannuated on by several leading infra and housing October, 31. companies.  An MHA order said that Shri Deswal will hold the additional charge of the post of DG, Sashastra Casio launches world’s first GST calculator Seema Bal (SSB) till further orders. Japanese electronics company ‘CASIO’ has launched world’s first Goods and Services Tax Mary Kom named as brand ambassador of (GST) calculator in India for simplify the GST women’s world C’ship calculations for tax payers. Five-time world champion Mary Kom has been named as the brand ambassador of the upcoming  The company has two variants of GST calculators MJ-120GST and MJ-12GST in 10th edition of the International Boxing Association the Indian market. (AIBA) Women World Championship.  AIBA Women World Championship is slated to  These new GST calculators will provide be held from November 15-24 in New Delhi. solution for GST based invoicing.

 These GST calculators feature built-in GST Bank of Maharashtra to reinstate CEO, ED tabs for all five tabs- 0%, 5%, 12%, 18% and The board of directors of Bank of Maharashtra 28%. decided to restore / reinstate the functional  It includes separate buttons for GST slabs to responsibilities of RP Marathe, Managing Director reduce time required for processing invoice. and CEO, and RK Gupta, Executive Director, with immediate effect.  This move is possibly an indication that these two top executives, who were taken into custody by the Pune police for the bank’s Rs 96.52-crore exposure to DSK Developers, have got a clean chit from the authorities. Girish Radhakrishnan appointed United India  Earlier, the board, in its meeting held on June 29, Insurance CMD had divested these two top executives of all their irish Radhakrishnan has taken charge as the functional responsibilities. Chairman and Managing Director of Chennai- headquartered PSU non-life company, United India Atul Goel takes over as MD, CEO of UCO Bank Insurance Company.

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Atul Kumar Goel has assumed charge as Managing 1865, as the International Telegraph Union, Director and CEO of UCO Bank. the ITU is the oldest existing international  Prior to this assignment, he was executive organization. ITU headquarters are in director of Union Bank of India. Geneva, Switzerland.  Goel takes over from R K Takkar who completed his three-year tenure on November 1, 2018. Vinod Dasari, CEO and MD of Ashok Leyland, steps down Saurabh Netravalkar, ex-India U-19 star, now Vinod Dasari announced his decision to resign US cricket captain from the company citing personal reasons. The 27-year-old  Dasari will continue to work in the current former Mumbai position until 31 March 2019. medium pacer, who  The company Board in its meeting accepted had quit the game to his resignation. study computer  The Board has meanwhile called upon science in Cornell Dheeraj Hinduja to step in as executive University, became chairman (EC) with immediate effect. the captain of the US national cricket team.  The six-foot-tall left-arm seamer was India’s Binny Bansal resigns as Flipkart CEO highest wicket-taker in the team’s ill-fated U-19 Binny Bansal has announced his resignation as World Cup campaign in 2010.Two of his notable victims were England’s future captain Joe Root CEO of Flipkart Group, effective immediately, and Pakistan’s turbulent opener Ahmed Shehzad. following an independent investigation into an  Three years later, Netravalkar played his only allegation of “serious personal misconduct,” said Ranji Trophy game for Mumbai against Walmart Inc. in a statement. Karnataka and claimed three wickets.  “He strongly denies the allegation. Nevertheless, we had a responsibility to India re-elected for another term of International ensure the investigation was thorough,” said Telecommunications Union (ITU) Walmart. India has been elected as a Member of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Asian Games gold medalist Hima Das appointed Council for another 4-year term (2019-2022). The as UNICEF India’s Youth Ambassador elections to the Council were held during the Asian Games gold medalist Hima Das has been ongoing ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018 at appointed as UNICEF India’s Youth Ambassador. Dubai, UAE.  Hima, who won a silver medal in the 400  By securing 165 votes, India ranked third meters sprint and also a gold in the 4X400 among the 13 countries elected to the meters relay at the Asian Games in Jakarta Council from the Asia-Australasia region, this year will work towards supporting and eighth among the 48 countries elected to various initiatives by UNICEF. the Council globally. The ITU has 193  In her role as a Youth Ambassador, Hima memberstates who elect representatives to will work towards raising awareness about the Council. the rights and needs of children and help  The International Telecommunication Union amplify the voices of children and young (ITU) is an agency of the United Nations people as active participants in decision (UN) whose purpose is to coordinate making. telecommunication operations and services throughout the world. Originally founded in

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Ashok Kumar Gupta appointed as Chairperson  He will have tenure of two-years from the of Competition Commission of India date of assumption of the charge of the post Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) or until further orders, whichever is earlier. headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has The post of ED director is additional appointed former IAS officer Ashok Kumar Gupta secretary rank post in the Union government. as Chairperson of Competition Commission of India  The Directorate of Enforcement is a law (CCI). enforcement agency and economic  He replaces acting chairperson Sudhir Mital. intelligence agency responsible for enforcing He will be in office till October 25, 2022 i.e. economic laws and fighting economic crime till he attains age of 65 years or until further in India. It is part of the Department of orders, whichever is the earliest. Gupta is Revenue, Ministry of Finance, and former IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre. Government of India.  CCI is quasi-Judicial statutory body established under the Competition Act, Jalaj Srivastava appointed Chairman of Inland 2002. It was established in October 2003 and Waterways Authority of India became fully functional in May, 2009. Union Government has appointed senior IAS officer Jalaj Srivastava as chairman of Inland Waterways WCD Ministry nominates 3 new members of Authority of India (IWAI). National Commission for Women  It is nodal statutory body in charge of Ministry of Woman development and regulation of inland and Child waterways for shipping and navigation. It Development (WCD) was established in October 1986 and is has nominated three headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. members to National  Its main function is to build necessary Commission for infrastructure in inland waterways, Women (NCW) in pursuance Section 3 of the NCW surveying economic feasibility of new Act 1990. They are Chandramukhi Devi, Soso projects and also carrying out administration Shaiza, and Kamlesh Gautam. All three are BJP and regulation. members.  IWAI comes under Union Union Ministry of  They will hold office for period of three Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, years or till age of 65 years or until further currently headed by Nitin Gadkari. orders from date of assumption of charge of office, whichever is the earlier. Joyce Msuya appointed as acting Executive  NCW is a statutory body established under Director of UNEP the National Commission for Women Act, Tanzanian national Joyce Msuya was appointed as 1990. It was established in January 1992 to acting Executive Director of United Nations review constitutional and legal safeguards Environment Programme (UNEP) following for women. resignation of the executive director Erik Solheim.  It was founded as result of United Nations Sanjay Kumar Mishra appointed as Director of Conference on Human Environment in June Enforcement Directorate 1972. rime Minister Narendra Modi headed Appointments  It is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. UNEP Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed also has six regional offices and various Sanjay Kumar Mishra as Director of the country offices. Enforcement Directorate (ED).

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 It acts as catalyst, advocate, educator and  A 1980 batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan facilitator to promote wise use and cadre, Sunil Arora has worked in ministries sustainable development of global and departments such as Finance, Textiles environment. and Planning Commission.

UNICEF appoints Singer Nahid Afrin as first Nageshwara Rao Guntur appointed as Youth Advocate of NE region to fight for child Chairperson of Atomic Energy Regulatory rights Board United Nations International Children’s Emergency Union Government has appointed renowned Fund (UNICEF) has appointed popular singer Nahid scientist Nageshwara Rao Guntur as Chairperson of Afrin (17) of Assam as the first ‘Youth Advocate’ of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). His the northeastern region to fight for child rights. appointment as the AERB chairperson will be for  UNICEF engages ‘Youth Advocates’ to three years. harness their voice as agents of change in  Guntur is the chairman, Project Design society. Nahid had made her playback debut Safety Committee, Prototype Fast Breeder in 2016 Bollywood film ‘Akira’ starring Reactor (PFBR) and former distinguished Sonakshi Sinha in the lead. She received best scientist Nuclear Power Corporation of female playback singer award at the Assam India Ltd (NPCIL). state Film Award 2018.  It was established in November 1983 to  United Nations International Children’s carry out certain regulatory and safety Emergency Fund is special program of UN functions in the fields of nuclear and devoted to aiding national efforts to improve radiation safety on a countrywide basis. the health, nutrition, education, and general  It is headquartered is in Mumbai, welfare of children. It was created in 1946 to Maharashtra. provide relief to children in countries devastated by World War II. It is A.M. Naik appointed as Chairman of National headquartered in New York. Skill Development Corporation Shri A.M. Naik has been appointed as Chairman of Sunil Arora to be next Chief Election National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) Commissioner by the Ministry of Skill Development and Election Commissioner Entrepreneurship. Sunil Arora has been  Currently Shri Naik is the Group Chairman appointed as the next of India's biggest engineering and Chief Election construction conglomerate – Larsen & Commissioner. He will Toubro Limited (L&T). He is one of the most take charge as the next respected management professionals in the CEC on December 2. country.  A former bureaucrat, Sunil Arora was  Shri Naik was awarded the Padma Bhushan, appointed as Election Commissioner in India's 3rd highest civilian award in 2009 for September last year. 62 year old Sunil Arora his outstanding contribution to the economic had been the Union Information and growth of the country. Broadcasting Secretary and Secretary in the  NSDC is a unique public-private- Ministry of Skill Development and partnership, working under the aegis of the Entrepreneurship. Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.

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Shri Arvind Saxena appointed as Chairman, 'Pather Panchali' is only Indian movie to feature Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in BBC's 100-best foreign language films The President has appointed Shri Arvind Saxena as Satyajit Ray's epic masterpiece 'Pather Panchali' has Chairman, Union Public Service Commission been included by BBC's 100 best foreign language (UPSC). films but it is the only film from India to feature in  The tenure of Shri Arvind Saxena as the list. Chairman, UPSC will commence from the  Ray's film, released in 1955, was placed at date he enters upon the office of Chairman, number 15 in the list, which has been topped by UPSC. The term of his appointment will be Akira Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai'. till 07. 08.2020 When he attains the age of 65  27 of the highest-rated films were in French, years or till further orders whichever is followed by 12 in Mandarin, and 11 each in Italian and Japanese. earlier.

 Shri Arvind Saxena joined UPSC as a Noted Malayalam writer M Mukundan wins Member on May 8, 2015, and has been Ezhuthachan award performing duties of the post of Chairman, Noted Malayalam writer M Mukundan has been UPSC since June 20, 2018. selected for this year's Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the  Prior to joining UPSC as Member, Shri highest literacy prize of the Kerala government. Saxena was working as Director of the  The award is being given for his overall Aviation Research Centre (ARC). contributions to the language and literature.  Noted poet K Satchidanandan was the award winner in 2017.

Jawahar Lal Sarin presented with France’s Harsimrat Badal confers prizes to cleanest Mega highest civilian honour Renowned French scholar Jawahar Lal Sarin was Food Parks and Cold Chain Units presented with France’s highest civilian honour Swachhta Pakhwada Chevalier de la Lgion d’Honneur. activities by the Ministry of  He was presented with this award in Food Processing Industries recognition of his outstanding contribution have come to a close. to enhancing Indo-French cultural  On the penultimate cooperation and promoting French language. day Union Minister  Jawahar Lal Sarin president of Alliance Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal distributed franaise de Delhi’s governing body. prizes for cleanliness  He had studied French for five years at the among Mega Food Parks and Cold Chain Units Punjab University, Chandigarh, and later at for maintaining, promoting and encouraging the Sorbonne University, Paris. Swachhta Culture.  It is the highest civilian award given by the  The first prize was awarded to M/s. Patanjali French government to person for his Food and Herbal Park (P) Ltd. in Haridwar, the outstanding service to France, Regardless of second prize by Satara Mega Food Park (P) Ltd., the nationality. Satara District, Maharashtra and third by Pagro  It was instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Frozen Foods Pvt.(P) Ltd. (Cold Chain Project) Bonaparte. in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab.

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Centre for Science and Environment awarded  WCCB has adopted innovative enforcement Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and techniques that have dramatically increased Development enforcement of transboundary Delhi-based environment think-tank Centre for environmental crimes in India. Science and Environment (CSE) will be awarded Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Filmmaker Nandita Das to receive FIAPF Development 2018 for its work in environmental Award education and protection. Filmmaker Nandita Das will be honored with the  CSE is being awarded prize for its steady fast International Federation of Film Producers advocacy of measures to combat Associations (FIAPF) Award at the 12th Asia environmental deterioration and for its Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) in Brisbane on the success in influencing public policies and 29th of this month. programmes that have benefitted social and  She will be presented the award in economic development in India. recognition of her achievement in film in the  It was selected for this award by international Asia Pacific region. jury, chaired by former president Pranab  Nandita Das who started her career as an Mukherjee. actor in films like "1947 Earth", "Fire" and "Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa" also made her S.P. Ganguly awarded Mexican Order of Aztec directorial debut with the critically- Eagle acclaimed feature "Firaaq". Mexican government has honoured Indian academician Shyama Prasad Ganguly with “Orden Donbass wins the Golden Peacock at IFFI 2018 Mexicana del Águila Azteca” (Mexican Order of the Donbass’ directed by Sergei Loznitsa has won the Aztec Eagle), the highest civilian honour given to a coveted Golden Peacock Award at the 49th foreigner by Mexico. International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which  He was awarded for disseminating Spanish concluded in Goa on November 28, 2018. language and Mexican culture to strengthen  The Golden Peacock Award carries a cash Mexico-India cultural relations. He is first prize of Rs 4 million (Rs 40 lakhs) to be Indian Academician to get this award. shared equally between the Producer and the  He is former professor of Spanish and Latin Director, Trophy and the citation. American Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru  Donbass is the official submission of University (JNU). Ukraine for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category at the 91st Academy Awards India gets UN Environment award for combating in 2019. transboundary environmental crime  Donbass tells the story of a hybrid war taking United Nation Environment has awarded Wildlife place in a region of Eastern Ukraine, Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Ministry of involving an open armed conflict alongside Environment, Forest and Climate Change, killings and robberies perpetrated on a mass Government of India with Asia Environment scale by separatist gangs. Enforcement Awards, 2018 for excellent work done by the Bureau in combating transboundary Wipro Chairman Azim Premji conferred with environmental crime. highest French Civilian Honour  WCCB has been conferred this award in Chairman of IT major Wipro and philanthropist Innovation category. Azim Premji was bestowed with highest French

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civilian distinction Chevalier de la Legion Azhar Ali announces retirement from ODIs d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour). Senior Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali announced his  He was awarded for his outstanding retirement from limited overs cricket in order to contribution to developing information concentrate fully on Test cricket. technology industry in India, his economic  A prolific player in the longest format, the outreach in France and his contribution to 33-year-old played the last of his 53 ODIs society as philanthropist through the Azim against New Zealand in January, earlier this Premji Foundation and Azim Premji year. University.  It is the highest civilian award given by the Karen Khachanov lifts Paris Masters Men's French government to person for his Singles title outstanding service to France,. It was In Tennis, Karen Khachanov has lifted the Paris instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte. Masters Men's Singles title with a stunning win over world number two Novak Djokovic.  With the victory, Khachanov has become the first Russian since Nikolay Davydenko in 2009 to win a Masters 1000 title.

Pankaj Advani clinches Asian Snooker title Pakistan sweeps series by beating Newzealand Ace cueist Pankaj Babar Azam became the quickest batsman to reach Advani won the 1,000 Twenty-20 international runs as Pakistan Asian Snooker whitewashed New Zealand 3-0 with a comfortable Tour by defeating 47-run win in the third and final match in Dubai. Ju Reti of China.  Azam, when on 48, completed 1,000 T20Is  The 33- runs in just 26 innings, bettering Virat year-old Kohli’s record of reaching the mark in 27 registered a domination 6-1 victory over his innings. Chinese opponent to finish on top.  Pankaj had won his first international title in Bajwa shoots historic skeet gold at Asian Shotgun China way back in 2003. Championship In the 8th Asian Shotgun Championship in Kuwait, Doha to host World Corporate Games Angad Vir Singh Bajwa has won a gold with a world World Corporate Games 2019 will be held for the record score in the men's skeet final. He became the first time in the Middle East in Doha, organisers of first Indian skeet shooter to win a continental or the Games announced. world level event.  The 23rd edition is held under the patronage  Angad shot a perfect 60 out of 60 in the final of Prime Minister and Interior Minster H E round to claim top spot ahead of China's Di Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Jin who shot 58. UAE's Saeed Al Maktoum Thani and will bring together the local, won bronze with a score of 46. regional and international business sporting community. World champion shuttler Kento Momota wins  It will be the first time that the World China Open Corporate Games, established nearly 30 World champion Kento Momota won badminton's years ago, incorporate eSports and Fuzhou China Open and add another title to his mindsports. already spectacular season. Japan's world number

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Momota defeated the fourth seed Chou Tien-chen of India captain Virat Kohli and premier fast bowler Taiwan 21-13, 11-21, 21-16 in 66 minutes. Jasprit Burah maintained their top positions  Momota, is now set to compete at Hong respectively in the latest ICC ODI ranking. Kong Open. He is drawn to face former  Kohli remained in pole position with 899 number one Lin Dan of China in his opening points while limited overs vice-captain match. Rohit Sharma remained second in the list.  Bumrah remain on top with 841 points Lewis Hamilton wins Brazilian Grand Pix while Kuldeep Yadav maintained his third Lewis Hamilton wins place in the list. after Max Verstappen  Rashid Khan of Afghanistan with 353 collides with Esteban points is the top-ranked ODI all-rounder in Ocon in Brazil. Lewis world cricket currently. Hamilton took a lucky win in the Brazilian Women's World Boxing Championships begin in Grand Prix after Red Delhi Bull's Max Verstappen lost the lead in a collision The Women's World Boxing Championships begin with backmarker Esteban Ocon. in Delhi. This tenth edition of the tournament is set  The win was Hamilton's 10th of the season to be the biggest ever as more than 300 boxers from and 72nd of his career having sewn up a 72 countries will be taking part. fifth drivers' title two weeks ago.  MC Mary Kom will be aiming for a historic sixth gold at the event, which is being hosted Bajrang Punia Becomes Number 1 wrestler in by India for the first time since 2006 when World in 65kg the country had topped the table with four Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia touched a new high gold, one silver and three bronze medals. in his career by achieving the number one rank in the world in the 65kg category. Pankaj Advani won third IBSF billiards crown  The 24-year-old Bajrang, who has won five India's Pankaj Advani won his third straight IBSF medals, including CWG and Asian Games billiards crown in the 150-up format. Advani gold and a silver at the World overcame Nay Thway Oo of Myanmar in the final. Championship, was placed atop the ranking  This win also marks a hat-trick of wins for table with 96 points in the UWW list. Advani in the shorter format. He had won in his hometown Bengaluru in 2016 before India clean sweep T20 series against West Indies doing the same in Doha last year. India beat West Indies by six wickets to complete 3- 0 clean sweep in T20 series. In a thrilling match in Women's World T20: India beat Ireland by 52 Chennai, Shikhar Dhawan's 92 runs and Rishabh runs to enter semi-finals Pant's 58 guided India to victory on the last ball of India women beat Ireland by 52 runs to become the the match. second team to seal semi-final berth at the ICC  Dhawan hit 10 fours and two sixes in his 62- Women's World T20 in Providence, Guyana. ball innings and forged a scintillating 130-  Earlier, batting first, India scored 145 with run partnership with Rishab Pant who made Mithali Raj scoring 51 off 56 balls and Smriti 58 for the third wicket. Mandhana supporting with 33 off 29 balls.  Chasing a modest 146-run target, Ireland, ICC Rankings: Virat Kohli, remain on top of who lost wickets at regular intervals, could ODI table all manage 93/8 in the stipulated 20 overs as

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Deepti Sharma got 2 for 15 in 3 overs. Radha Bangladesh Krida Shiksha Prothishtan (BKSP) Yadav picked 3/25 in 4 overs. wins 59th edition of Subroto cup International Football Tournament MCG to host both men's, women's World T20 Closing Ceremony & Final Match of the59th edition finals in 2020 of Subroto Cup International Football Tournament Australia's biggest stadium Melbourne Cricket was held in New Delhi on 20 Nov. Ground will host the final match of both the men's  The final match was played between Amini and women's World Twenty20 cricket in 2020. School, Afghanistan and Bangladesh Krida  The women's World T20 will run from Shiksha Prothishtan (BKSP), Bangladesh in February 21 to March 8 while the men's which BKSP won the championship with a tournament will be held from October 18 to solitary goal scored by Habibur Rahman November 15 in Australia. (Jersey No. 15) at the 11th minute.  The eight host cities will be Adelaide,  Best Goalkeeper award was presented to Brisbane, Canberra, Geelong, Hobart, Pranub Limboo of Govt. Senior Secondary Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. School, Namchi, Sikkim and the Best Player award was presented to Mohammad Nemil Alexander Zverev is the ATP 2018 champion! of Reliance Foundation School, Mumbai. Alexander Zverev beat world number one Novak Djokovic 6-4 6-3 to win the ATP Finals - the biggest Indian gymnasts win two bronze medals in title of the German’s fledgling career. Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cup  Zverev is the first German to win the title Indian gymnasts won two bronze medals in the since Boris Becker in Frankfurt in 1995 and men's and women's group events of the FIG the youngest since Djokovic won at the same Acrobatic World Cup in Baku. age in Shanghai in 2008.  Prins Aris and Rejilesh Suribabu finished third after scoring 20.560 to bag the bronze Lakshya Sen wins bronze medal in men’s singles medal at the National Gymnastics Arena. at World Junior Badminton Championship  Russian gymnasts won both the gold and India’s top junior shuttler Lakshya Sen (17) won silver. Germany's Kudryashov, Aleksandr bronze medal at Li Ning BWF World Junior Sorokin, Valeriy Tukashvili and Kirill Badminton Championships 2018 held at Markham, Zadorin were ranked first with a score of Canada. 28.336 while Pavel Gubskiy, Kirill  This was overall India’s fifth boy's singles Lukyanov, Vladimir Petrov and Denis Solun bronze medal at BWF World Junior finished second after scoring 28.005. Championships and only medal India got at this year’s Championships. ODI World Champions England beat India by  Previously, RMV Gurusaidutt (2008), B Sai eight wickets to enter the final of the ICC Praneeth (2010), HS Prannoy (2010) and Women's World T20 Sameer Verma (2011) have won bronze Batting first, India collapsed to 112 in 19.2 overs medal. with opener Smriti Mandhana scoring 33 off 24  Siril Verma (2015) is India’s only boy's balls. singles silver-medalist at World Junior  Amy Jones (53 no off 45 balls) and Natalie Championships. Saina Nehwal (2008) is Sciver (52 no off 40 balls) added 92 runs for only India’s sole gold medalist. third wicket to take their team to the summit clash.  England will meet Australia in the final.

[ 43 ]

Women's World Boxing C’ships: Sonia Chahal Australia bagged the ICC Women’s World T20 enters final World cup, 2018 by beating England in the final Sonia Chahal has entered the final of the 57 kg match. category at the Women's World Boxing  England, opting to bat first despite the Championship, becoming the second Indian set to expected dew, folded for 105 in a dramatic fight for the gold after MC Mary Kom won her semi- batting collapse and Australia chased down final. the total with consummate ease - 29 balls to  The 21-year-old Haryana native put up a spare - through an unbeaten 62-run commanding show and beat her North partnership between Gardner and Meg Korean opponent Jo Son Hwa 5-0. Lanning despite losing both openers early.  Man of the Match awards won by Australia's Bhavani Devi becomes first Indian to win gold wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy. medal in Senior Commonwealth Fencing Championship in Canberra Sameer Verma wins Syed Modi International India's Bhavani Badminton title 2018 Devi won the gold India’s Sameer Verma has won Syed Modi India medal in the Sabre Grand Prix Gold badminton title 2018 in men’s event in the Senior singles category. In the final match held in Commonwealth Lucknow, he defeated China’s Lu Guangzu by 16- Fencing 21, 21-19 and 21-14 score. Women’s singles title Championship was won by China’s Han Yue after defeating India’s 2018 held in Canberra Saina Nehwal by 21-18, 21-8 score.  Bhavani Devi is the first Indian to win a gold  It was launched by Uttar Pradesh Badminton medal in the Commonwealth Championship. Association (UPBA) in 1991 as ‘Syed Modi She defeated England's Emily Ruaux 15-12 Memorial Badminton Tournament’ in in the final. memory of Syed Modi.  Earlier, Bhavani Devi won a silver medal in  It is held every year at Lucknow, Uttar the Tournoi Satellite Fencing Championship Pradesh. in Iceland. Harmanpreet Kaur named captain of ICC World Boxing Championships: Mary Kom wins Women's World Twenty20 XI record sixth gold medal India's batting star Harmanpreet Kaur was named India's MC Mary Kom won a historic sixth gold in captain of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 XI, the World Championships by beating Ukraine's which also featured opener Smriti Mandhana and Hanna Okhota in a unanimous 5-0 verdict in the leg-spinner Poonam Yadav. 48kg category summit bout, young Sonia Chahal  A selection panel of ICC in Dubai picked settled for a silver. up the team on the basis of the players'  India ended the championships with 1 gold, performances in the tournament, which 1 silver and 2 bronze - from Lovlina concluded today with Australia winning the Borgohain (69kg) and Simranjit Kaur title. (64kg).  Three players from England, two from Australia and one each from Pakistan, New ICC Women’s World T20 cup: Australia bagged Zealand and the Windies have also been the cup named in the eleven.

[ 44 ]

Veteran Kannada actor and former minister Ambareesh passed away in a Bengaluru hospital on Saturday where he was being treated for multiple ailments. Union Minister Ananth Kumar passes away at  He served as a union minister in the UPA 59 government led by Manmohan Singh. Union  The actor was an MP from 1998-99, 1999- Parliamentary 2004 and 2004-2009. He was also the Affairs Minister Minister of State in the Ministry of Ananth Kumar Information and Broadcasting from 2006 to died at a private 2008. hospital in

Bengaluru. He Veteran and former Union minister C K Jaffer was suffering from lung cancer for several months. Sharief passed away  Ananth Kumar represented the Bengaluru Challakere Kareem Jaffer Sharief was an Indian South parliamentary constituency six times politician. He was one of the senior most Indian since 1996. He joined the BJP in 1987 and National Congress leaders. never looked back, as he held posts of state  Sharief, who had turned 85 only on secretary, state president of the Yuva November 3, had been admitted to the Morcha, general secretary and national hospital after suffering a major cardiac event secretary. at home and had to be revived from a cardiac  Kumar is among a few party leaders who arrest on November 23. can be credited for the growth of BJP in  He was also worked as Union Railway Karnataka, as they built the party and Minister from 1991 to 1995. bringing it to power in 2008, making it the

first saffron party government in South Senior AIR broadcaster Ashutosh Jain passes India. away Senior Hindi News Ad guru Alyque Padamsee dies at 90 Reader of All India Noted ad film maker and Padma Shri Alyque Radio, Ashutosh Padamsee died in Mumbai at the age of 90. Jain passed away in  The ad man was the brain behind several New. He was 60. iconic advertisement campaigns such as the  Ashutosh Lalitaji for Surf, Cherry Charlie for Cherry Jain, who Blossom Shoe Polish, the MRF Muscle Man, joined the the Little girl in the waterfall, the Kamasutra AIR in couple, Hamara Bajaj, the TV detective 1989 in Karamchand, the Fair & Handsome brand Chandigarh etc. retired from Delhi in April this year.  He also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi

Tagore Ratna award by Sangeet Natak

Akademy.

Ambareesh, the Beloved Rebel of Kannada Cinema and Politics, Passes Away at 66

[ 45 ]

Current Affairs Quiz

Mansi Gulati’s Book ‘Yoga And Mindfulness’ Q:1 Which of the following country will be the Launched chair of Programme and Budget Committee of The book was launched by the Vice President of UNWTO Executive Council till 2021? India, M. Venkaiah Naidu amidst the presence of Member of Parliament from the Rajya Sabha. India  Mansi Gulati addressed the audience and spoke about the benefits of yoga. She said France her book ‘Yoga and Mindfulness’ revolves around the fact that yoga, is not mere asanas, but anything you do with Spain mindfulness and dedication is yoga. This book aids in making yoga a part of your USA daily life. It explored the linkage between physical exercises and mindfulness. China

Dr Jitendra Singh releases book ‘Radio Kashmir Q:2 Which of the following is not a landlocked – In Times of Peace & War’ country? The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Botswana Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh released a book titled ‘Radio Kashmir – In Times of Peace & Zimbabwe War’ written by Dr Rajesh Bhat.  Dr Jitendra Singh congratulated the author of Malawi the book and appreciated his efforts for writing a book on Jammu and Kashmir after Uganda extensive and in-depth research.  He said that the writer has wide experience of working in print and electronic, as well as Angola private and government media. Dr Singh Q:3 Recently which country has become 48th said that reporting of radio in Jammu and country to ratify the International Solar Alliance Kashmir has its own significance. Framework?

Japan

Sri Lanka

Myanmar

[ 46 ]

UK 82

Belgium 65

Q:4 Recently Anupam Kher has resigned as Film & Q:7 Recently Girish Radhakrishnan has been Television Institute of India Chairperson. In which appointed as Chairman and Managing Director of city the FTII is located? which of the following?

Mumbai Life Insurance Corporation

New Delhi New India Assurance

Pune United India Insurance

Bangalore National Insurance Company

Nagpur The Oriental Insurance Company

Q:5 Which of the following presided over the Q:8 Recently who has been appointed as Director Program and Budget Committee meeting of General of ITBP? UNWTO, recently? S S Deswal K. J. Alphons R K Pachnanda Maneka Gandhi R R Bhatnagar Hardeep Singh Puri Rajesh Ranjan Rajnath Singh D K Pathak Suresh Prabhu Q:9 Recently which of the following has been Q:6 What is the India's rank in Ease of Doing named as Brand Ambassador of Women’s World Business ranking, 2019? Championship, 2018?

100 Mirabai Chanu

105 P V Sindhu

77 Mary Com

[ 47 ]

Saina Nehwal Dipak Misra

Deepika Pallikal H L Dattu

Q:10 Recently Pankaj Advani has clinched Asian Q:13 Recently 10 Day Long Clean Air Campaign Snooker title by beating which of the following? Launched In Delhi and Four Major NCR Cities. Which of the following city is not included in these Liang Wenbo NCR cities?

Li Hang Faridabad

Ju Reti Gurugram

Yu Delu Ghaziabad

Wang Yuchen Noida

Q:11 Recently Jharsuguda Airport has been Meerut renamed as “Veer Surendra Sai Airport. This airport is located in which state? Q:14 Dharma Guardian-2018 is a military exercise between India and which country? Jharkhand Japan Odisha South Korea Bihar Thailand Madhya Pradesh Myanmar Telangana Sri Lanka Q:12 Which of the following has been appointed as executive chairman of NALSA? Q:15 The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved a Safe City project for how many cities Madan Bhimarao Lokur under the Nirbhaya Fund Scheme?

T. S. Thakur 5

J S Khehar 6

[ 48 ]

8 What will people say

10 Pather Panchali

16 Village Rockstars

Q:16 NMCG & UN Habitat organize a policy Baahubali 2: The Conclusion dialogue - Urban Cafe: ‘River for Habitat’ in which city? Q:19 Which of the following is the correct sequence of RBI Governor's? New Delhi Bimal Jalan-Y V Reddy-Raghuram Rajan-D Bangalore Subbarao-Urjit Ptel

Chennai Bimal Jalan-Y V Reddy- D Subbarao- Raghuram Rajan- Urjit Ptel Jaipur Y V Reddy- Bimal Jalan- D Subbarao- Kolkata Raghuram Rajan- Urjit Ptel

Q:17 The Fourth Dialogue of the NITI Aayog - D Subbarao- Raghuram Rajan- Y V Reddy- Development Research Centre (DRC) of the State Bimal Jalan- Urjit Ptel Council, Peoples' Republic of China was held in which city? None of these

Mumbai Q:20 Which country has topped Ease of Doing Business ranking, 2019? New Delhi Singapore Pune New Zealand Bhopal Denmark Raipur Norway Q:18 Which of the following is only Indian movie to feature in BBC's 100-best foreign language Canada films? Q:21 Which decommissioned aircraft carrier will Newton be converted into India's first ever maritime museum and adventure center?

[ 49 ]

INS Virat Mizoram

INS Chakra Nagaland

INS Vikranta Sikkim

INS Sahyadri Gujarat

Q:25 Which of the following launched Digital INS Shakti Literacy Library in 6 Indian Languages with Q:22 Galileo is the Global Navigation Satellite lessons on digital safety? system of which of the following? Google USA Facebook China Twitter European Union Microsoft Japan Instagram Russia Q:26 Which state hosted the first North East Q:23 Which company has been named as official Olympic Games? partner of FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, 2018? Manipur Infosys Meghalaya Tata Steel Assam Adanai Group Tripura Reliance Nagaland Vipro Q:27 A Loan Agreement worth of Rs. 1817 crore Q:24 The first ever Indo- Japan military exercise approximately was signed between India and which 'Dharma Guardian' has been started in which state? country for the construction of Turga Pumped Storage? Madhya Pradesh

[ 50 ]

Japan Pakistan

South Korea Bangladesh

Singapore England

Myanmar West Indies

Bangladesh South Africa

Q:28 Recently Atul Goel took over as MD, CEO Q:31 In which of the following city the first Global of which Bank? Conference on Air Pollution and Health was held?

UCO Bank Berlin

ICICI Geneva

Kotak Mahindra Paris

Axis Bank London

HDFC Rome

Q:29 Which country will host World Corporate Q:32 Which institute's researchers have designed Games, 2019? and booted up India’s first microprocessor, Shakti, which could be used in mobile computing and other Qatar devices?

Germany Indian Institute of Technology-Mumbai

Spain Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur

China Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi

USA Indian Institute of Technology-Madras

Q:30 Recently Azhar Ali has announced retirement Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur from One Day International. He belongs to which country?

[ 51 ]

Q:33 What is the rank of India in web-borne INS Kiltan threats according to a recent report by global cyber security company, Kaspersky Lab? Q:36 On which of the following date Ayurveda Day to be celebrated throughout the Country in 35th 2018?

15th 15th November

8th 5th November

54th 5th May

12th 8th November

Q:34 Which city has topped the India's first Ease 15th December of Moving Index,2018 released by Ola Mobility Institute (OMI), the research and outreach arm of Q:37 Recently in which of the following city Indo- Ola? French Conclave was held in which French and Indian firms signed 12 agreements worth 200 Pune million euro?

Kolkata Nagpur

Mumbai Jaipur

New Delhi Chennai

Surat Hyderabad

Q:35 Which of the following Decommissioned Kanpur carrier will become a floating museum? Q:38 Who has been selected for this year's INS Viraat Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the highest literacy prize of the Kerala government? INS Vikrant K Satchidanandan INS Arihant Krishna Sobti INS Samrat Balchandra Nemade

[ 52 ]

S S Deshwal UTSONMOBILE

M Mukundan UTSONPHONE

Q:39 Where is the capital of France? UTSONHAND

London Q:42 Recently Union Cabinet has approved opening up of International Solar Alliance New York membership to all UN countries. Where is the headquarters of International Solar Alliance? Tokyo New Delhi Berlin Guru gram Paris Noida Q:40 Who is the Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways? Faridabad

Rajnath Singh Palwal

Sushma Swaraj Q:43 Vice President Venkaiah Naidu reached Malawi on final leg of his 3-nations Africa tour. Malawi is located in which region of Africa? Nitin Gadkari South Africa Ramvilash Paswan North Africa Mahesh Sharma

Q:41 Recently, Union Ministry of Railways has East Africa launched Unreserved Mobile Ticketing facility (UTS on Mobile) to enable seamless booking of West Africa unreserved tickets including season tickets and also platform tickets all over Indian Railways? What is Middle Africa the name of this App? Q:44 Recently President Ramnath Kovind UTSONLAPTOP inaugurated Gyan Kumbh in which city?

UTSONCOMPUTER Haridwar

[ 53 ]

Gorakhpur Rafael Nadal

Jodhpur Kevin Anderson

New Delhi Karen Khachanov

Hyderabad Q:48 In which country Sharjah city is located?

Q:45 On which date the World Toilet Day is UAE celebrated? Iran 17 November Iraq 11 November Oman 13 November Yemen 15 November Q:49 Film and Television Institute of India comes under which Ministry? 19 November

Q:46 Recently Saurabh Netravalkar was in the Ministry of Human Resource Development news. Who is he? Ministry of Communication Football Player Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Hockey Player Ministry of Finance Badminton Player Ministry of Defense Indian born American Cricket Player Q:50 Which of the following city is the venue of None of these the India International Cherry Blossom festival, 2018? Q:47 Recently who has lifted Paris Masters Men's Singles tennis title? Dehradun

Novak Djokovic hillong

Roger Federer Gangtok

[ 54 ]

Imphal 04 November

Hyderabad 05 November

Q:51 Where is the headquarters of Indian Railway Q:54 Recently in which city "Little India Gate" has Catering and Tourism Corporation? been inaugurated?

Mumbai Bandung

New Delhi Medan

Bangalore Denpasar

Guru gram Jakarta

Kolkata Malang

Q:52 India's first asymmetrical cable stayed-bridge Q:55 Recently RBI has decide to set up PCR for "Signature Bridge" has been inaugurated in which capturing borrowers details. The acronym 'PCR' city? stands for?

Chennai Personal Credit Registry

New Delhi Public Credit Registry

Mumbai Power Credit Registry

Surat Public Convenient Registry

Gandhinagar Personal Convenient Registry

Q:53 World Tsunami Awareness is celebrated on Q:56 Which of the following has launched QR- which date? enabled fridge magnets for digital payment of bills?

01 November New Delhi Municipal Corporation

02 November Jaipur Municipal Corporation

03 November Jodhpur Nagar Nigam

[ 55 ]

Noida Nagar Nigam Indonesia

Udaipur Nagar Nigam Singapore

Q:57 Recently, AYUSH Ministry organized Q:60 Recently who has become the quickest National Seminar on Entrepreneurship and batsman to reach 1,000 runs in Twenty-20 Business Development in Ayurveda in which city? international matches?

New Delhi Virat Kohli

Bangalore Shikhar Dhawan

Hyderabad Babar Azam

Noida Joe Root

Kanpur Aaron Finch

Q:58 With which country India has signed a Q:61 Which of the following has been chosen for Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in prestigious Raja Ram Mohan Roy award? sports, recently? Ravish kumar North Korea Barkha Dutt Pakistan Ruby Sarkar Afghanistan N Ram South Korea Arnab Goswami Maldives Q:62 Recently Central Cabinet has approved Q:59 Which of the following has become first Amendment to the Central Universities Act, 2009 country to ban sunscreen to save coral reefs? for setting up of Central Tribal University in which state? Japan Kerala Palau Rajasthan Maldives

[ 56 ]

Madhya Pradesh Jaipur

Andhra Pradesh Lucknow

Telangana Guwahati

Q:63 Which of the following has shoot historic Jodhpur skeet gold at 8th Asian Shotgun Championship held in Kuwait? Q:66 Recently India has been re-elected for another term as member of International Manavaditya Singh Rathore Telecommunications Union (ITU). Where is the headquarters of ITU? Lakshay Sheroan London Manavjit Singh Sandhu Bonn Angad Vir Singh Bajwa Geneva Abhinav Bindra California Q:64 Recently Ekana cricket stadium has been renamed after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari New York Vajpayee. In which city this stadium is located? Q:67 World Food Programme (WFP) and Chinese Noida e-commerce giant Alibaba Group have formed strategic partnership to support efforts eliminate Lucknow hunger globally by which year?

Jaipur 2025

Varanasi 2020

Kanpur 2030

Q:65 Recently Central Cabinet has approved 2040 leasing out six airports under Public Private Partnership? Which of the following airport is not 2050 included in that proposal? Q:68 First India-Nepal passenger train on broad Ahmedabad gauge will be run between which two cities?

[ 57 ]

New Delhi and Kathmandu Jeddah

Kathmandu and Kolkata New Delhi

Jayanagar to Kurtha Dubai

Kurtha to Gorakhpur Berlin

Kathmandu to Ayodhya Bonn

Q:69 Which of the following company has Q:72 SIMBEX-18 is a bilateral maritime exercise received first Letter of Credit payment via between India and which country? blockchain? Japan Adani Group Singapore Tata Motors Indonesia Reliance Industries Limited Sri Lanka Vipro Vietnam Infosys Q:73 Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has been elected as Q:70 Operation Green is related to which of the President of which country, recently? following crops? Maldives Tomato, Onion and Potato Myanmar Onion, Potato and Carrot Indonesia Chilli, Tomato and Cabbage Egypt Cabbage, Onion and Brinjlal Venezuela Brinjal, Tomato and Chilli Q:74 Palatana Power Plant is located in which Q:71 Indian Food and Agro Buyer Seller Meet was state? recently held in which city? Tripura

[ 58 ]

Sikkim Jawahar Lal Sarin

Haryana Ashok Kumar Gupta

Telangana Pankaj Saran

Karnataka Arvind Panagariya

Q:75 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 is Q:78 Recently Supreme Court has given its nod for being host by which country? a separate high court for which state?

West Indies Assam

England Nagaland

USA Mizoram

Australia Andhra Pradesh

South Africa Arunachal Pradesh

Q:76 Recently Ashok Kumar Gupta has been Q:79 Where is the headquarters of International appointed as Chairperson of which of the Boxing Association? following? Switzerland UPSC Germany Competition Commission of India Britain Central Vigilance Commission Spain Central Bureau of Investigation USA SEBI Q:80 For which term India has been elected as the Q:77 Which of the following has been awarded by member of International Telecommunication France’s highest civilian honour Chevalier de la Union? Lgion d’Honneur, recently? 2017 to 2020 Ashok Lavasa

[ 59 ]

2018 to 2021 Bangalore

2019 to 2022 Pune

2020 to 2023 Jaipur

2018 to 2025 Surat

Q:81 On which date the World Pneumonia Day is Q:84 RECENTLY World’s first artificial observed? intelligence (AI) news anchor has debuted in which country? 09 November China 10 November England 11 November USA 12 November Canada 08 November Japan Q:82 Recently, India has joined as Member of Advanced Motor Fuels Technology Collaboration Q:85 Which of the following is the host country Programme. AMF TCP work under the framework for 33rd ASEAN summit? of which of the following Institution? Singapore International Energy Agency Malaysia UNCTAD Indonesia World Bank Thailand IMF Myanmar UNESCO Q:86 Recently which of the following has won Q:83 Global Cooling Innovation Summit will be badminton's Fuzhou China Open title? held in which city? Kento Momota New Delhi

[ 60 ]

Chou Tien-chen Sri Lanka

Lin Dan China

Shi Yuqi India

Viktor Axelsen Myanmar

Q:87 The three-day event of Global IT Challenge Q:90 Who has been appointed the new Secretary for Youth with Disabilities- 2018 was organized in General of Lok Sabha? which city? Anup Mishra Bhopal Rama Devi New Delhi Nischal Jain Hyderabad Snehlata Shrivastava Chennai Chitra Ramkrishna Mumbai Q:91 The meeting of Commerce Minister of Q:88 National Education Day is celebrated to Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership commemorate the birth anniversary of which of the (RCEP) was held in which country? following? Brunei A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Singapore Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Myanmar Bal Gangadhar Tilak Thailand Vallabhbhai Patel Indonesia Rajendra Prasad Q:92 Recently Union Minister Ananth Kumar Q:89 World Buddhist Forum- 2018 was recently passed away. He was the minister of which held in which country? ministry?

Nepal Ministry of Human Resource Development

[ 61 ]

Ministry of Corporate Affairs ASEAN

Ministry of External Affairs SAARC

Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs WTO

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate BIMSTEC Change GCC Q:93 Recently with which country India has signed Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Q:96 Recently which of the following PSU has Criminal Matters? been included in CPSE ETF list?

Spain NTPC

Morocco ONGC

Britain SAIL

Australia NALCO

Canada BHEL

Q:94 The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on Q:97 National Waterway- First is located on which National Waterawy-1 is being implemented with river? the financial and technical support of which of the following? Yamuna IMF Ganga World Bank Brahmaputra UNCTAD Barack UNESCO Mahanadi

WWF Q:98 Recently Vice President of India launched the book ‘Yoga and Mindfulness’. Who is the Q:95 Regional Comprehensive Economic author of this book? Partnership is related to which of the following?

[ 62 ]

Arundhati Roy France

Vikram Seth USA

Salman Rushdie Israel

Mansi Gulati Germany

Q:102 The Welcome Trust which was recently in Amitav Ghosh the news is an independent charity funding research Q:99 Which of the following has won Brazilian institute of which country? One Racing Grand Pix title? France Esteban Ocon UK Lewis Hamilton Germany Sebastian Vettel USA Daniel Ricciardo Canada Max Verstappen Q:103 Recently Prime Minister dedicated Q:100 Recently, Bajrang Punia has become Multimodal Terminal to the nation in which of the number 1 wrestler in World in which category? following city?

62 Kg Kanpur

65 Kg Varanasi

67 Kg Lucknow

69 Kg Patna

59 Kg Sultanpur

Q:101 India is procuring M777 Howitzer from Q:104 'Samudra Shakti' is a bilateral exercise which country? between India and which country?

Russia Singapore

[ 63 ]

Indonesia A supercomputer

Malaysia A terrorist organization

Vietnam A cyclonic storm

Thailand An island which is on the brink of drowning

Q:105 Recently World's largest brain-mimicking A missile supercomputer was switched on for first time. What is the name of this supercomputer? Q:108 International Conference on Yoga was recently held in which city? SpinNaker Mumbai PinNaker Pune SpinMaker Panjim SpinTaker Nagpur SpinSaker Bhopal Q:106 Which of the following Institute has developed portable solar-powered cold storage Q:109 Which of the following player has been device with 500 kg capacity for storing vegetables named for Men of the Series award in India-West and fruits? Indies T- 20 tournament?

IISc Bangalore Kuldeep Yadav

IIT Madras Virat Kohli

IIT Kanpur Shikhar Dhawan

IIT Delhi Rohit Sharma

IIT Kharagpur Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Q:107 Now a days a word 'Gaja' has been in the Q:110 Which state government is celebrating the news. What is it? "Jashn-e-Virasat-e-Urdu" festival?

[ 64 ]

Delhi Japan

Uttar Pradesh France

Uttarakhand Russia

West Bengal Britain

Rajasthan Thailand

Q:111 Who is the author of the book ' The Q:114 Which of the following department hosted Paradoxical Prime Minister'? Global Digital Content Market, 2018?

Shashi Tharoor Department of Commerce

Sanjaya Baru Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion

Vinod Rai Department of Agriculture and Co-operation

Jaswant Singh Department of Science and Technology

Vinod Mehta Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Q:112 Which of the following cities is India's most congested city according to National Bureau of Q:115 2nd Startup India Investment Seminar was Economic Research? recently held in which city?

Mumbai Shanghai

New Delhi Beijing

Bangalore New Delhi

Jaipur Mumbai

Bhopal Kathmandu

Q:113 INDRA 2018 is a joint military exercise Q:116 Recently which Ministry has launched between India and which country? 'LEAP' and 'ARPIT' programme?

[ 65 ]

Ministry of Human Resource Development Rohit Sharma

Ministry of Finance Virat Kohli

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shikhar Dhawan

Home Ministry M S Dhoni

Defense Ministry Shane Watson

Q:117 In which city the 38th India International Q:120 Recently Binny Bansal has resigned from Trade Fair is being held? designation of CEO of which company?

New Delhi Amazon

Guru gram Flipkart

Noida Walmart

Faridabad Myntra

Kanpur Facebook

Q:118 Recently Vinod Dasari, CEO and MD of Q:121 Recently Satyarup Siddhanta has become Ashok Leyland Company has resigned. Where is first Indian to climb Mount Giluwe. In which the headquarters of Ashok Leyland? country this Mountain is located?

New Delhi Australia

Bangalore Papua New Guinea

Chennai Indonesia

Lucknow Japan

Ahmedabad Peru

Q:119 Which of the following player has topped Q:122 World Diabetes Day is observed on which ICC Ranking, 2018 in batting? date?

[ 66 ]

11 November Sri Lanka

12 November Afghanistan

13 November Bangladesh

14 November Italy

15 November Bhutan

Q:123 Recently which International Organization Q:126 26th Conference of Central and State has stripped Aung San Suu Kyi of its highest honor Statistical Organization (COCSSO) was recently due to Rohingya crisis? held in which city?

Amnesty International New Delhi

UNCTAD Dharamshala

UNHRC Rohtak

UNHCR Noida

UNEP Guru gram

Q:124 The 4th edition of Intex South Asia was Q:127 Which of the following has been appointed recently inaugurated in which of the following city? as UNICEF India's Youth Brand Ambassador?

New Delhi MC Mary com

Colombo Hima Das

Chennai Priyanka Chopra

Male P V Sindhu

Port Blair Saina Nehwal

Q:125 Which of the following countries is the Q:18 In which city Women's World Boxing partner country at 38th India International Trade Championships is being held? Festival- 2018?

[ 67 ]

Hyderabad Japan

New Delhi UK

Bangalore USA

Jaipur Germany

Bhubaneswar Brazil

Q:129 Where is the headquarters of World Q:132 Recently ISRO has launched GSAT-29 Customs Organization? satellite into space by which launch vehicle?

Geneva GSLV Mk I

London GSLV Mk II

Paris GSLV Mk III

Brussels GSLV Mk IV

New York GSLV Mk D

Q:130 Which of the following is the Partner Q:133 Which state police has launched 'Nipun' Country in 9th Vibrant Gujarat Summit, 2019? portal for its personnel training?

Britain UP Police

UAE MP Police

Germany Delhi Police

USA Haryana Police

France Mumbai Police

Q:131 India has recently signed a Memorandum of Q:134 Cyril Ramaphosa will be the chief guest at Understanding with which country for the 2019 Republic Day Parade of India. He is the collaboration in cancer research? president of which country?

[ 68 ]

Brazil Uttarakhand

South Africa Himachal Pradesh

Venezuela Nagaland

Sri Lanka Sikkim

Maldives Uttar Pradesh

Q:135 Which of the following bank has become Q:138 The 49th International Film Festival of first bank for launching interactive credit card in India 2018 will be held in which state? India? Maharashtra HDFC Kerala SBI Goa PNB Telangana IndusInd Bank Sikkim ICICI Q:139 Pankaj Advani is related to which of the Q:136 Which of the following city has been following sports? renamed as 'Ayodhya'? Chess Faizabad Billiards Firozabad Hockey Fatehpur Football Kaushambi Cricket Mau Q:140 Which of the following is the chairman of Q:137 Recently NITI Aayog has constituted Zonal Council? Himalayan State Regional Council. Which of the following state is not included in this Council? Prime Minister

[ 69 ]

Home Minister New Delhi

President Jaipur

Chief Minister of the respective state Kathmandu

Defense Minister Q:144 Recently the 9th Annual Defense and Security Dialogue between India and China was Q:141 Smriti Mandhana is related to which of the held in which of the following city? following sports? Beijing Cricket Shanghai Hockey Xiamen Football New Delhi Chess Hyderabad Athletics Q:145 India International Cherry Blossom festival Q:142 Recently an eminent personality Alyque was recently celebrated in which state? Padamsee died. Who was he? Meghalaya Footballer Haryana Cricketer Sikkim Politician Nagaland Ad film maker Mizoram Novelist Q:146 The First ASEAN summit was held in Q:143 South Asian Regional Conference on Urban which country? Infrastructure held in which city? Indonesia Mumbai India Bangalore

[ 70 ]

Bangladesh Uttarakhand

Bhutan Sikkim

Myanmar Andhra Pradesh

Q:147 Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has been elected as Q:150 Recently Brigadier Kuldip Singh president of which country? Chandpuri, the hero of Battle Of Longewala, died. The battle of Longewala was fought in which state? Mexico Punjab Maldives Haryana Indonesia Rajasthan Venezuela Jammu and Kashmir Myanmar Gujarat Q:148 Recently Government of India has signed $105 Million Loan to Support Hydropower Q:151 8th National Conference of Women in Transmission in Himachal Pradesh with which Police was recently held in which city? Institute? Jaipur ADB Ranchi NDB Agra World Bank Raipur IMF New Delhi IBRD Q:152 India's first specialized hospital for Q:149 Article 35A is related to which state? elephants was recently opened in which city?

Himachal Pradesh Indore

Jammu and Kashmir Pune

[ 71 ]

Mathura 1990

Mumbai 1992

Dehradun 1995

Q:153 India and ADB sign $169 Million Loan to Q:156 Indo-Japan Business Council's business Provide Water and Sanitation Services in which festival was recently held in which city? state? Pune Kerala Shimla Uttar Pradesh Bhopal Madhya Pradesh Indore Tamilnadu Udaipur Haryana Q:157 Which of the following word has been Q:154 National Press Day is observed on which chosen "Word of the Year, 2018" by Oxford date? Dictionary?

12 November Sofia

13 November MeToo

14 November Toxic

16 November Robot

15 November Twitter

Q:155 In which year the National Commission for Q:158 In which country the headquarters of Women was established? Wildlife SOS is located?

1985 Germany

1987 India

[ 72 ]

USA 15 November

France 17 November

Canada 19 November

Q:159 The birth Anniversary of which personality Q:162 Recently Sanjay Kumar Mishra has been is celebrated as National Education Day? appointed as Director of which Institute?

Mahatma Gandhi IRDA

Maulana Abul Kalam Aazad SEBI

Dr B R Ambedkar SBI

Bal Gangadhar Tilak Enforcement Directorate

S Radhakrishnan BCCI

Q:160 The Oscar winning screen writer and Q:163 Which of the following states have banned Novelist, William Goldman passed away recently. Hookah bars? He was from which country? Punjab Gujarat Haryana USA Maharashtra UP Kerala Japan Gujarat Maharashtra Punjab Spain Telangana Bihar Goa France None of these Australia Q:164 The 14th edition of international children’s Q:161 On which date the World Toilet Day is theatre festival was recently held in which city? observed? Bangalore 13 November New Delhi 14 November Noida

[ 73 ]

Surat Kerala

Nagpur Goa

Q:165 Recently Alexander Zverev has become the Q:168 Which of the following Asian country has winner of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals by the highest shareholding in Asian Development beating which player? Bank?

Novak Djokovic China

Roger Federer Japan

Rafael Nadal India

Andy Murray Vietnam

Juan Martín del Potro Singapore

Q:166 Enforcement Directorate comes under Q:169 Prof. T N Srinivasan, who passed away which Ministry? recently, was the renowned personality of which field? Ministry of Finance Political Science Ministry of Defense Economy Ministry of Home Defense Ministry of Human Resources Development Biology None of these Sports Q:167 Which state government has launched "Gau Samriddhi Plus" scheme for dairy farmers? Q:170 Which of the following country is include in P5+1 group? Uttar Pradesh India Madhya Pradesh Japan Gujarat Sri Lanka

[ 74 ]

Germany P K Jain

Brazil Q:174 Which of the following states has withdrawn general consent for CBI investigation, Q:171 The first-ever Naturopathy Day was recently? recently celebrated on which date in India? Kerala 15 November West Bengal 16 November Uttar Pradesh 17 November Gujarat 18 November Madhya Pradesh 19 November Q:175 26th General Conference on Weights & Q:172 Which of the following country is not the Measures was recently held in which country? member of APEC? Germany Singapore UK Japan France India USA Vietnam Japan USA Q:176 Recently which Airport has been awarded Q:173 Recently who has been appointed as for hundred percentage grievance redressal? Secretary of Revenue? Jaipur Ajay Bhushan Pandey Chennai Sanjay Kumar Mishra Lucknow Ajay Narayam Jha Kochhi S S Deswal

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Q:180 Which of the following movie has won the Mumbai Best Film Award at the 24th Kolkata International Q:177 Baba Kalyani committee was set up to study Film Festival-2018? which of the following field? Judgment Day e- Governance Widow of Silence Special Economic Zone The Third Wife Monetary Policy Sun Goes Round the Earth Fiscal Policy None of these Betting in Sports Q:181 Which of the following organization has Q:178 Which of the following inaugurated the All won the 2018 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, India Heads of Police Communication Conference, Disarmament and Development? recently? ISRO Narendra Modi CSIR Arun Jaitley UNESCO Manoj Sinha CSE Radha Mohan Singh UNCTAD Rannath Singh Q:182 Who has been appointed the chairman of Q:179 Lakshya Sen is related to which sports? Inland Waterways Authority of India?

Table Tennis Jalaj Srivastava

Badminton Ajay Kumar Pandey

Tennis Sanjay Mishra

Football Pankaj Kumar

Hockey Nirmal Jain

[ 76 ]

Q:183 Which of the following state will host the Q:186 Who is the author of ‘Radio Kashmir – In 7th edition of International Tourism Mart-2018? Times of Peace & War’ book?

Gujarat Sudha Murthy

Tripura Taslima Nasreen

Meghalaya Kiran Bedi

Kerala Dr Rajesh Bhat

Madhya Pradesh Vikrant Khanna

Q:184 Which of the following country has won the Q:187 Recently Government of India has signed a 59th edition of Subroto cup International Football $310 million Loan Agreement for Jharkhand Power Tournament, 2018? System Improvement Project with which Institute?

Afghanistan IMF

India World Bank

Bangladesh ADB

Sri Lanka NDB

Myanmar EBRD

Q:185 Recently which of the following has Q:188 Recently the Ministerial meet of BASIC introduced India’s first sewer cleaning machine to Countries was held in which city? end unsafe manual scavenging? New Delhi IIT Delhi Beijing IIT Kanpur Shanghai Sulabh International Moscow IISc Bangalore Rio de Jenerio IIT Bombay

[ 77 ]

Q:189 Union Government has decided to set up a Q:192 Recently Prime Minister has set up National first National Institute of Inter-Faith Studies in Implementation Committee to commemorate 550th which state? birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Which of the following will head the committee? Haryana Defense Minister Punjab Finance Minister Kerala Home Minister Odisha President Assam Vice President Q:190 India-USA joint military exercise commences 'Vajra Prahar' was recently commenced Q:193 Which Institution's researchers have in which city? develop smartphone sensor to detect adulteration in milk? Bhopal IIT Madras Jhansi IIT Bombay Jaipur IIT Hyderabad Dehradun IISc Bangalore Bangalore IIT Delhi Q:191 12th World Congress on Mountain Medicine has been recently begin in which city? Q:194 Which of the following is the focus country of 49th International Film Festival of India? Kathmandu UAE Dehradun Israel Agartala Britain Thimphu Canada New Delhi

[ 78 ]

Indonesia IISc Bangalore

Q:195 Which of the following has been awarded Q:198 The World's first underground hotel has by Mexican Order of Aztec Eagle, recently? been opened in which of the following city?

Shyama Prasad Ganguly Beijing

Roopa Ganguly Shanghai

Karan Thapar New York

Kailash Satyarthi Manila

Manmohan Singh Dubai

Q:196 Kim Jong Yang has been elected the new Q:199 Baku is the capital of which country? president of Interpol. He is from which country? Mongolia North Korea Azerbaijan South Korea Bandar Seri Japan Indonesia China Yemen Russia Q:200 What is the rank of India in 'Ease of Doing Q:197 The Cloud Seeding Project of which Business-2019 ranking? Institute has been approved by Central Government to induce artificial rain to clear Delhi environment? 55

IIT Madras 66

IIT Hyderabad 73

IIT Delhi 77

IIT Kanpur 58

[ 79 ]

Q:201 Which of the following body has been Q:204 Sangai tourism festival was recently held in awarded by Asia Environment Enforcement which state? Awards, 2018 of UNEP? Manipur WCCB Assam WII Odisha NPCB Bihar NGT Karnataka SEBI Q:205 Which of the following has been appointed Q:202 'SHe-Box' is an online complaint portal of as acting Executive Director of UNEP, recently? which Ministry? Joyce Msuya Ministry of Human Resource Development Kim Jong Un Ministry of Home Affairs Kim Jong Yang Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Barack Obama Ministry of Women and Child Development William Browder Ministry of Defense Q:206 Recently Union Government has launched Q:203 The 7th International Tourism Mart was Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) Program.This recently inaugurated in which city? programme will be implemented by which Ministry? New Delhi Ministry of Home Affairs Bhopal Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Agartala Ministry of Human Resource Development Lucknow Ministry of Women and Child Development Jaipur Ministry of Defense

[ 80 ]

Q:207 Which of the following will be honored Q:210 Who has become the first Indian golfer to with International Federation of Film Producers win European Tour 'Rookie of the Year' Award? Associations (FIAPF) Award, 2018? Shubhankar Sharma Anupam Kher Jyoti Randhawa Salman Khan Aditi Ashok Nandita Das Shiv Kapur Anurag Kashyap Anirban Lahiri Sonu Nigam Q:211 Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on Q:208 Who has become the first cricketer to score which date? 11,000 runs in Ranji Trophy? 13 April 1913 Abhinav Mukund 13 April 1917 Shardul Thakur 19 April 1913 Wasim Jaffer 13 April 1919 Dhruv Raval 13 April 1915 Khaleel Ahmed Q:212 Which of the following day was celebrated Q:209 Which country has topped the IMD World at IFFI in Goa, recently? Talent Ranking, 2018? Uttarakhand Day India Jharkhand Day Switzerland Uttar Pradessh Day Denmark Himachal Pradesh Day Norway Chhattisgarh Day Iceland Q:213 Which of the following is the focus state in IFFI at Goa?

[ 81 ]

Q:216 Recently Union Cabinet has approved Haryana setting up of a Medical College at Silvassa. Silvassa is located in which of the following Union West Bengal Territory?

Jharkhand Lakshadweep

Goa Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Madhya Pradesh Pondicherry Q:214 The 2nd Edition of India Gold and Jewellery Summit was in recently held in which Chandigarh city? Daman and Diu Bangalore Q:217 Who is the current chairperson of Central Board of Direct Taxes? New Delhi Subhash chandra Noida Sushil Chandra Gandhinagar Sunil Mehta Mumbai

Q:215 Which of the following has developed new Sanjay Mishra technology to monitor impact of rain & deal with natural disasters named 'Impact Based Forecasting Anurag Singh Approach'? Q:218 Sonia Chahal is related to which sports? ISRO Badminton IMD Boxing NPCB Hockey IRDA Cricket SEBI Wrestling

Q:219 Who is the current governor of Tripura?

[ 82 ]

Kaptan Singh Solanki Haryana

Lalji Tondon Uttar Pradesh

Anandiben Patel Andhra Pradesh

ESL Narsimhan Kerala

Mridula Sinha Punjab

Q:220 10th BRICS Summit was held in which Q:223 Which state government has recently country? launched Open Transit Data platform to provide real time dataset in transport system? India Uttar Pradesh China Delhi Russia Madhya Pradesh South Africa Haryana Brazil Punjab Q:221 Recently which of the following has been appointed as first Youth Advocate of North Q:224 National Botanical Research Institute is Regionto fight for child rights by UNICEF? located in which city?

Kailash Satyarthi Lucknow

Sunita Krishnan Ajmer

Nahid Afrin Kanpur

Gautam Navlakha Bhopal

Laxmi Agarwal Dehradun

Q:222 Which state government has launched Q:225 In which year the MUDRA scheme was Bhudaar and Bhuseva portal to provide land launched? records online?

[ 83 ]

2014 Telangana

2015 Karnataka

2016 Kerala

2017 Andhra Pradesh

2018 Odisha

Q:226 In which of the following country the Q:229 Recently India's MC Mary Kom won a Senior Commonwealth Fencing Championship historic sixth gold in the World Championships by 2018 was held? beating Hanna Okhota. Hanna Okhota belonged to which country? Japan Ukraine' Australia Russia India China Germany Belgium Italy Japan Q:227 C. A. Bhavani Devi is related to which sports? Q:230 Which of the following hosted the AIBA World Boxing Championship, 2018? Hockey Japan Football USA Squash Germany Fencing India Cricket Italy Q:228 Recently an eminent personality Actor Politician Ambareesh passed away.He belonged to which state?

[ 84 ]

Q:231 Which of the following city has been Q:234 Recently which of the following Country selected by UN to participate in Global sustainable has announced USD 5 million reward for Cities 2025 initiative? information on 26/11 perpetrators in India?

Jaipur Japan

Noida Russia

Lucknow China

Hyderabad USA

Dehradun Canada

Q:232 International Day for Elimination of Q:235 Which of the following company has Violence against Women was recently observed in become number one company in market which country? capitalization by surpassing Apple Company?

Bhutan Amazon

Nepal Alphabet

Sri Lanka Microsoft

India Facebook

Bangladesh Reliance

Q:233 On which date the Constitution day is Q:26 Recently Veteran and former Union minister celebrated in India? C K Jaffer Sharief passed away. He was the former minister of which ministry? 24 November Railway Ministry 25 November Defense Ministry 26 November Information and Broadcasting ministry 27 November Finance Ministry 18 November

[ 85 ]

Q:240 Which of the following country will host Home ministry the 50th Union World Conference on Lung Health Q:237 Recently which country's team has won the in 2019? ICC Women’s World T20 World cup, 2018? India England China Australia USA India Russia West Indies Germany Pakistan Q:241 The First-ever India Russia Strategic Q:238 The theme of the International Day for Economic Dialogue was recently held in which Elimination of Violence against Women, 2018 is? city?

#Metoo New Delhi

#Wealltoo Moscow

#Hearmetoo St. Petersburg

#Speakmetoo Mumbai

#Harassmetoo Hyderabad

Q:239 Sandeep Michael, who passed away Q:242 Recently a 70-feet tall statue of Lord recently was the famous player of which sports? Buddha was unveiled by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in which city? Cricket Patna Hockey Rajgir Football Gonda Badminton Lakhimpur Volleyball

[ 86 ]

Gorakhpur Minister of Earth Sciences

Q:243 Recently which Central Armed Police Minister of Human Resource Development Forces has joined hands with Dudhwa Tiger Reserve to its forests and wildlife? Q:246 Which of the following has been appointed as the next Chief Election Commissioner? CRPF Sunil Arora ITBP Pankaj Saran SSB Jalaj Srivastava CISF Akhilesh Ranjan BSF PK Das Q:244 Recently Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed $200 Q:247 Which of the following Indian Shuttler has Million Loan to improve State Highways in which won men's single title at Syed Modi International of the following state? Badminton, 2018?

Rajasthan HS Prannoy

Bihar K Srikanth

Uttar Pradesh Sameer Verma

Maharashtra Chetan Anand

Kerala B Sai Praneeth

Q:245 Which of the following is the chairman of Q:248 Which of the following Cyclone has been National Disaster Management Authority? declared as 'Rarest Cyclone' by RIMES recently?

Home Minister Gaza

Prime Minister Titli

Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation Ockhi

[ 87 ]

Luban Poonam Yadav

Mekunu Latika Kumari

Q:249 India’s first-ever Autism Township will Q:252 Which of the following has been appointed come up in which of the following states? as chairperson of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board? Kerala Nageshwara Rao Guntur West Bengal D K Shukla Jharkhand G K Rath Bihar Rohini Godbole Goa Sunetra Gupta Q:250 Who has become the first Indian to win gold in Senior Commonwealth Fencing Q:253 Which country hosted the G-20 summit, Championship 2018 in Canberra? recently?

Karan Singh Germany

Bhavani Devi Argentina

Shivani Barode USA

Husnapreet Kaur Japan

Sundaraj Soumya India

Q:251 Which of the following has been named as Q:254 Recently which country's government has captain of the ICC Women's World Twenty 20 XI? launched Social Security Scheme for formal sector workers? Smriti Mandhana Bhutan Harmanpreet Kaur China Mithali Raj Nepal

[ 88 ]

Sri Lanka Ahmedabad

Myanmar Kanpur

Q:255 Recently a child festival 'HAUSALA-2018' Q:258 Recently which of the following company was organized by which ministry? has got Miniratna and ISO 9001:2015 certification?

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare NTPC

Ministry of Human Resource Development ONGC

Ministry of Women and Child Development SAIL

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs NPCC

Ministry of Labor and Employment GAIL

Q:256 Government of India has signed $75 Q:259 Recently which of the following ministry Million Loan to Improve Urban Services in 4 launched PAISA portal under Deendayal Karnataka Towns with which of the following? Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)? NDB Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs ADB Ministry of Health and Family Welfare EBRD Ministry of Human Resource Development World Bank Ministry of Women and Child Development IMF Ministry of Finance Q:257 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research is to set up a High-End Skill Q:260 The National Law day is celebrated on Development Centre in which city? which date in India?

Chandigarh 24 November

New Delhi 25 November

Jaipur 26 November

[ 89 ]

27 November Yogesh Chander Deveshwar

28 November Q:264 Which of the following movie has won the Golden Peacock at IFFI 2018 Q:261 The first-ever Sustainable Blue Economy Conference was recently held in which country? Ee Ma Yau

Kenya Donbass

Sri Lanka Aga

India Walking with the Wind

Myanmar Respeto

Japan Q:265 Which of the following has been appointed as chairman of Union Public Service Commission Q:262 Which of the following is the partner state (UPSC) at International Gita Festival, 2018? Anirudh Singh Yadav Haryana Arvind Saxena Uttar Pradesh Shishir Sinha Gujarat Bhaskar Choubey Bihar Anand Singh Rawat Punjab Q:266 Recently Saudi-India Business Meeting was Q:263 Who has been appointed as Chairman of held in which city? National Skill Development Corporation? New Delhi Rakesh Sinha Mumbai A M Naik Riyadh Deepak Parekh Jeddah S. N. Subrahmanyan

[ 90 ]

Mecca Black Sea and Aral Sea

Q:267 Which of the following has become first Sea of Azov and Black Sea state to launch pan-India single emergency number- 112? Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea Uttarakhand Black Sea and Red Sea

Himachal Pradesh Q:271 The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) Plenary 2018, was held in which Bihar country?

Uttar Pradesh Belgium China

Haryana India Germany

Q:268 Varsha Varman is related to which sports? South Africa

Badminton Hockey Q:272 Which launch vehicle has successfully launched ISRO's HysIS Satellite into the earth's Shooting Cricket orbit?

Football PSLV C-41 PSLV C-42

Q:269 Which of the following department is PSLV C-43 PSLV C-44 implementing Swarnajayanti Fellowship Scheme? PSLV C-45 Department of Telecommunications Q:273 KONKAN-18 is a bilateral naval exercise Department of Post between India and which country?

Department of Space USA UK

Department of Information Technology Japan Malaysia

Department of Science and Technology Singapore

Q:270 Kerch strait, which was recently in the Q:274 Recently which of the following has been news, connects which of two seas? conferred with highest French Civilian Honor?

Sea of Azov and Aral Sea Mukesh Ambani Ratan Tata

[ 91 ]

Azim Premji Rahul Bajaj Article 316 Article 312

Dilip Shanghvi Article 310

Q:275 Which of the following company has Q:279 The Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD- launched world’s first GST calculator? 2018) is observed on which of the following dates?

Casio Canon 25 November 26 November

Facit Bell Punch 27 November 28 November

Samsung 29 November

Q:276 Recently an eminent personality Ashutosh Q:280 Bhasha Sangam initiative has been launched Jain passed away. He was a by which ministry recently?

News broadcaster at DDNEWS Ministry of Finance

News broadcaster at AIR Ministry of Defense

Cricket Commentator Ministry of Human Resource Development

Bollywood Director Home Ministry

Chess Player Niti Ayog

Q:277 'InSight spacecraft' belonged to which country's space agency?

USA UK

Russia China

Japan

Q:278 The chairman of UPSC is appointed by President under which of the following articles of constitution?

Article 321 Article 315

[ 92 ]

[ 93 ]