Current Affairs: November 20, 2018
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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. https://examprep.talentsprint.com 4 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. https://examprep.talentsprint.com 6 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” https://examprep.talentsprint.com 7 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 https://examprep.talentsprint.com 9 .