Current Affairs: November 20, 2018
November 20, 2018
Punjab Govt. bans hookah parlours after Gujarat and Maharashtra
After Maharashtra and Gujarat, Punjab becomes
country's third state to ban hookah bars or
lounges. The ban was announced through a law
after President Ram Nath Kovind has given
assent to a bill from the state to check the use of
tobacco. According to a report in Hindustan
Times, a Home Ministry official said that the president has approved the Cigarettes and other
Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce,
Production, Supply and Distribution) (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018 recently.
VAJRA PRAHAR 2018 – Indo-US Special Forces start a 12 day rigorous joint training
The annual Indo-US joint military training exercise
– Vajra Prahar – started from 19th November at
Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan. A
contingent of one officer and ten other ranks from
the Special Forces Group of the United States
Pacific Command arrived at Mahajan Field Firing
Ranges on November 18 for undertaking joint training with the Indian Special Forces. https://examprep.talentsprint.com 1
Current Affairs: November 20, 2018
Jashne Bachpan: 9-day 14th edition of international children’s theatre festival held in New Delhi
On November 17, the 9-day 14th edition of
Jashne Bachpan, a theatre festival for children,
commenced at the Sammukh, Abhimanch,
Abhikalp and Little Theatre Group (LTG)
auditorium in New Delhi. The festival has been
organized by National School of Drama’s
(NSD) Theatre in Education (TIE) Company.
RBI to set up expert panel to look into issues on capital surplus
The RBI board on 19th November decided to set up
a high-powered committee to examine issues
related to surplus capital of Rs 9.69 lakh crore
with the central bank and advised it to consider a
scheme for restructuring stressed assets in the
MSME sector. In 2017-18, the RBI transferred a
surplus of Rs 50,000 crore to the government (comprising an interim transfer of Rs 10,000 crore),
up from Rs 30,659 crore in 2016-17, but lower than in the previous three years. For the year
ended June 2018, the RBI had total reserves of Rs 9.6 lakh crore, comprising mainly currency
and gold revaluation account (Rs 6.91 lakh crore) and contingency fund (Rs 2.32 lakh crore). https://examprep.talentsprint.com 2
Current Affairs: November 20, 2018
BSE to cut ties with S&P Dow Jones; develop own in-house indices
Asia's oldest bourse BSE has decided to snap ties
with S&P Dow Jones, which manages and operates
benchmark SENSEX, and plans to develop indices
through its own in-house development team,
exchange's officials said. The two entities had
announced a joint venture -- Asia Index -- in 2013 to
provide an array of indices enabling global and domestic investors to participate in South Asia's
vibrant economies. The deal with BSE came after the expiry of the licensing arrangement
between India Index Services & Products (IISL), a joint venture of NSE and S&P-owned Crisil.
The exchange officials said that BSE will not renew its agreement with S&P Dow Jones Indices
LLC which expires on December 31, 2018 and it is looking to develop indices through its own
team.
NSE launches online platform an app ‘NSE goBID’ for retail investors to buy G- sec
National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) on 19th
November launched a mobile application and
web-based platform for retail investors to buy
government securities. The new app - NSE
goBID, was launched by Sebi chairman Ajay
Tyagi. The platform will allow retail investors to
invest in treasury bills (T-Bills) of 91 days, 182 days and 364 days and various government
bonds from one year to almost 40 years. https://examprep.talentsprint.com 3
Current Affairs: November 20, 2018
KONNICHI WA PUNE: 1st 2-day Indo-Japan Business Council’s business festival held in Pune
On November 18, 2018, the 2-day 1st Indo-
Japan Business Council- KONNICHI
WA PUNE concluded in Pune,
Maharashtra. It was organized by the
Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC). The
festival aimed to boost investment,
promote businesses and cultural exchange between India and Japan.
Suresh Prabhu launches upgraded versions of Airsewa 2.0 web portal, mobile
Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu on 19th
November launched an upgraded versions of
Airsewa 2.0 web portal and mobile app to make
air travel convenient and hassle-free. The digital
platform, Airsewa 2.0 will address air passengers'
grievances including flight delays, the problem in a
refund, long queues and complaints of lost baggage. The system will also give real-time
information about the current status and schedule of the flights.
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Current Affairs: November 20, 2018
UASG confers Universal Acceptance Thought Leader award on Rajasthan CM
Global internet Body ICANN-supported UASG
Tuesday conferred "Universal Acceptance Thought
Leader award" on Rajasthan Chief Minister
Vasundhara Raje for enabling email service for
citizens of the state in local script. "Universal
Acceptance Steering Group has recognised work of
Hon'ble CM of Rajasthan and IT Department for
Rajmail project that enables access to email address to people in the state in Indic script.
Ankita Raina and Karman Kaur Thandi win first WTA doubles title in Taipei
Ankita Raina and Karman Kaur Thandi, India’s top
two women’s players, won their first doubles title
together as they lifted the OEC Open trophy in
Taipei on 18th November. It is also the first WTA title,
singles or doubles, for both Indians. The all-Indian
pair was 6-3, 5-7, 12-12 in the close final when their
opponents Olga Doroshina and Natela Dzalamidze were forced to retire at the WTA $125K
event. https://examprep.talentsprint.com 5
Current Affairs: November 20, 2018
Team Abu Dhabi’s Shaun Torrente wins UIM F1H2O Grand Prix of India at Amaravati
On 18th November 2018, Team Abu Dhabi’s
Shaun Torrente won the UIM (Union
Internationale Motonautique) F1H2O Grand Prix
of India held in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. This
is Shaun Torrente’s 7th career-victory. He has
climbed to the top of the championship standings.
2nd place was secured by Emirates Racing’s Marit Stromoy, the only woman racer who
participated in the race.
Manav Thakkar settles for bronze in Belarus
India's Manav Thakkar settled for a bronze medal
in the Under-21 singles category while Harmeet
Desai progressed to the pre-quarter finals of the
men's singles in the International Table Tennis
Federation Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open in
Minsk, Belarus on 17th November.
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Current Affairs: November 20, 2018
Universal Children's Day: 20 November
November 20th is an important date as it is the
date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly
adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the
Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the UN
General assembly adopted the Convention on
the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, Universal
Children's Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted
both the declaration and the convention on children's rights.
2018 Theme: Children are taking over and turning the world blue
Africa Industrialization Day: 20 November
Within the framework of the Second Industrial
Development Decade for Africa (1991-2000), the
United Nations General Assembly, in 1989,
proclaimed 20 November “Africa
Industrialization Day”. The 2018 Africa
Industrialization Day will be celebrated at
UNIDO’s headquarters in Vienna.
2018 Theme: “Promoting Regional Value Chains in Africa: A pathway for accelerating Africa’s
structural transformation, industrialization and pharmaceutical production”
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Current Affairs: November 20, 2018
Maldives cabinet approves to rejoin Commonwealth, 2 years after withdrawing from 53-nation grouping
The Maldives cabinet has approved to rejoin the
Commonwealth, two years after withdrawing
from the 53-nation grouping. New President
Ibrahim Mohamed Solih made the announcement
yesterday, saying that the proposal will be sent to
Parliament for ratification. The country left the
Commonwealth during former President Abdulla
Yameen's administration in October 2016, amid mounting pressure over corruption and
deteriorating human rights.
President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
Capital: Male
Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa
2-Day APEC Summit 2018 held in Papua New Guinea
On November 18, 2018, 2-day Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2018
concluded in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
APEC Summit 2018 held in Papua New Guinea. It
was hosted by Prime Minister of Papua New
Guinea, Peter O’Neill. All 21 member countries of
APEC participated in the Summit.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) HQ: Singapore https://examprep.talentsprint.com 8
Current Affairs: November 20, 2018
Learn Two a Day: AMC: Asset Management Company
FFMC: Full Fledged Money Changer
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