CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
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CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
PREFACE
Hi Readers
Basis your continuous demand for a Monthly PDF of most-trusted Current Affairs, the No.1 preparation platform OnlineTyari has come up the Current Affairs November 2018 PDF.
As we know Current Affairs, including related General Knowledge (GK), form a crucial component of any competitive exams including SSC, Banking, IAS|PCS and others. Now-a-days with increasing stagnancy in selecting questions from Static GK, the paper setters are harping on current affairs to increase the difficulty quotient of any paper. The lack of preparation for current affairs by the aspirants and candidates often is a main cause of their failure.
The Current Affairs November 2018 PDF covers the most important and exam-focused current affairs. The PDF has been designed basis the concept of complete Study Cycle, viz., Study ----> Revise ----> Test and thus has three parts: (i) Detailed Section-wise Current Affairs in bullet points; (ii) One Liners; and (iii) Current Affairs Questions with Explanation.
The Current Affairs PDF of November 2018 comes with one more value addition, that is, 5 Topics of the Month. These topics have been selected on the basis of their impact and will be very useful for subjective papers like IAS (Mains) Exam 2018.
Our experts have tried to put in their best efforts to make sure that the content provided remains in the mind of the candidate for a longer period of time and is perceived with its true meaning.
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...... 1 Preface ...... 2 Topics of the Month ...... 8 India ranked 77 in World bank’s Doing Business Report ...... 8 49th International Film Festival of India concludes in Goa ...... 9 Four units of Measurement re-defined ...... 11 SEZ Policy Report Submitted to Commerce Minister ...... 12 Kartarpur Corridor: A Road to Peace ...... 13 National ...... 15 Rajasthan lab comes up with e-crackers ...... 15 Decommissioned carrier INS Viraat to become a floating museum...... 15 WAPCOS, Doppelmayr sign MoU for Passenger Ropeway Projects ...... 16 National River Ganga Bill, 2018 bans ports, jetties ...... 16 inland waterway terminal on River Ganga in Varanasi dedicated to nation ...... 17 Centre extends ban on 8 extremist groups of Manipur for 5 years ...... 17 Centre delegates powers to local bodies for giving environmental clearance ...... 18 e-registration must for jobs in 18 countries ...... 18 Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2018 ...... 19 first Naturopathy Day on November 19 ...... 19 Inclusion of Quadricycles as non-transport vehicles notified ...... 20 International ...... 21 "SCO Joint Exercise on Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue -2019” Begins ...... 21 Japan cabinet approves bill to accept foreign workers ...... 21 India, Zimbabwe sign six agreements ...... 21 More than 20 Countries partner to target 'zero hunger' ...... 22 India among 8 countries allowed to buy Iranian oil: US ...... 22 India, Malawi sign MoUs in Extradition, Atomic Energy & VISA Waiver ...... 23 India, South Korea sign two MoU on Tourism and Sports ...... 23 India elected Member of ITU Council for 4-year term ...... 23 India joins as Member of Advanced Motor Fuels Technology Collaboration Programme under IEA ...... 24 33rd ASEAN summit begins in Singapore ...... 24 www.onlinetyari.com Page 3
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
Indian War Memorial was unveiled at Villers Guislain, Paris ...... 25 International Day for Tolerance: 16 November ...... 25 Australia takes India to WTO over 'market distorting policies on sugar' ...... 26 9th Annual Defence and Security Dialogue between India and China held...... 26 World Toilet Day: November 19 ...... 26 Maldives cabinet approves to rejoin Commonwealth ...... 27 Australia joins US in rejecting UN migration pact ...... 27 India, Australia ink 5 pacts to boost investment, enhance cooperation ...... 27 UK, EU agree draft declaration on post-brexit relations ...... 28 Australia launches vision 2035 for India ...... 28 Economy & Banking ...... 30 Agarwal Committee on Regulating Audit Firms and Network submits report ...... 30 PM Modi launches support, outreach programme for MSME ...... 30 President assented Companies Amendment (Ordinance), 2018...... 31 Railways eliminates Unmanned Level Crossings on Broad Gauge route ...... 31 Central Government issues guidelines for OPERATION GREENS ...... 32 Centre’s model construction workers’ welfare scheme released ...... 32 RBI relaxes ECB norms for infrastructure creation ...... 33 Leasing out of six airports through PPP approved ...... 33 Padur Strategic Petroleum Reserves to be filled by overseas National Oil Companies ...... 33 Strategic disinvestment of 100% equity in Dredging Corporation approved ...... 34 Indians grow wealthier, but inequality persists ...... 34 Abu Dhabi National Oil Co inks deal to store crude in India ...... 35 Rs 75 commemorative coin to mark 75th anniversary of Tricolour hoisting by Bose ...... 35 NITI Aayog constitutes Himalayan State Regional Council ...... 36 RBI decided set up expert panel to look into issues on capital surplus ...... 36 Commerce Minister Releases Report on Industrial Park Rating System ...... 37 Civil Aviation Ministry launches AirSewa 2.0 ...... 37 PM inaugurates Kundli-Manesar Section of Western Peripheral Expressway ...... 38 Extension of Norms for Mandatory Packaging in Jute Materials ...... 38 J&K Bank brought under purview of RTI, CVC, State Legislature ...... 39 Science & ENVIRONMENT ...... 40 NASA’s Kepler space telescope to retire ...... 40 www.onlinetyari.com Page 4
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India among nations that face grave danger to soil biodiversity: WWF ...... 40 Seychelles launches world's first blue bond ...... 41 Palau to ban sunscreen as it tries to save its coral reefs ...... 42 Russia, China, Norway sink landmark Antarctic ocean reserve plan ...... 42 SHAKTI: Indigenous microprocessor chip developed by IIT Madras...... 42 NASA's space instrument Ralph set to visit Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids ...... 43 ISRO plans Venus mission for 2023 ...... 43 NASA planning to send organ on chips to space ...... 44 World's largest brain-like supercomputer powered on for first time ...... 44 ISRO to launch GSAT-29 communication satellite ...... 45 US authorities agree on how to regulate food products cultured from animal cells ...... 45 Trials of indigenously developed Zika vaccine to be conducted soon ...... 45 GROWTH-India telescope’s first science observation ...... 46 IMD develops technology to monitor impact of rain ...... 47 Scientists mull Stratospheric Aerosol Injection to curb warming...... 47 India, UK team develops a smart vaccine for goat plague ...... 48 UN selects Noida, Greater Noida to participate in Global Sustainable Cities 2025 initiative ...... 48 Sports...... 49 Qatar to host World Corporate Games 2019 ...... 49 India clinches PayTM Series against West Indies 3-1 ...... 49 Bangladesh wins SAFF U-15 Championship ...... 49 Bajwa shoots historic skeet gold at Asian Shotgun Championship ...... 49 Manu-Saurabh win mixed event gold with junior world record ...... 50 World champion shuttler Kento Momota wins China Open ...... 50 Pankaj Advani wins 21st World Title in Billiards ...... 50 Alexander Zverev wins ATP World Tour Finals ...... 51 Indian gymnasts win two bronze medals in Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cup ...... 51 BKSP wins 59th Subroto cup International Football Tournament ...... 51 Mary Kom wins sixth World Boxing Championship Gold ...... 52 Bhavani Devi: First Indian to win gold medal in Senior Commonwealth Fencing Championship .. 52 Syed Modi International C'ships: Sameer Verma retains title ...... 52 Australia wins T20 Women World Cup ...... 53 Harmanpreet Kaur named captain of ICC Women's World Twenty20 XI ...... 53 www.onlinetyari.com Page 5
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State ...... 54 Jharsuguda Airport renamed as “Veer Surendra Sai Airport ...... 54 Odisha government launches Saura Jalnidhi Scheme ...... 54 Election Commission sets up ‘Sangwari’ polling booths in Chhattisgarh ...... 54 West Bengal govt decides to set up boards for Namasudra, Matua communities ...... 55 Central Tribal University to be set up in Andhra Pradesh ...... 55 Goa government announces ban on import of fish for 6 months ...... 55 24th Kolkata International Film Festival begins ...... 56 Usable Toilet, 2-child norm mandatory for candidates of Assam Panchayat polls ...... 56 Second Mega Food Park of Maharashtra inaugurated in Aurangabad ...... 56 Two N-E Circuits under Swadesh Darshan Scheme inaugurated in Arunachal ...... 57 Gaikwad Panel recommends 16% reservation for Maratha Community ...... 57 Andhra Pradesh gets a State Emblem with Dhamma Chakka ...... 57 J&K govt approves bill for welfare of persons with disabilities...... 58 Odisha now has a lexicon for rare tribal languages ...... 59 Person in News ...... 60 S S Deswal appointed as DG of ITBP ...... 60 Anupam Kher resigns as chairman of FTII ...... 60 Collegium recommends names 4 HC Chief Justices for elevation to SC ...... 61 218 and Beyond: Autobiography of VVS Laxman ...... 61 Ashok Kr Gupta appointed chairperson of CCI ...... 61 Union Minister Ananth Kumar passes away at 59 ...... 62 Amnesty International strips Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi of highest honour ...... 62 American comic book writer Stan Lee dies at 95 ...... 62 Hima Das appointed UNICEF India’s Youth Ambassador ...... 63 1971 War hero Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri passes away ...... 63 UIDAI CEO ABP Pandey appointed as new Revenue Secretary ...... 63 Oracle veteran Thomas Kurian to head Google Cloud ...... 64 Ibrahim Mohamed Solih sworn in as seventh president of Maldives ...... 64 Ad Guru Padmashri Alyque Padamsee passes away at 90 ...... 64 Justice Amareshwar Pratap Sahi sworn in as Chief Justice of Patna High Court ...... 65 Frank Bainimarama re-elected as Prime Minister of Fiji for second term ...... 65 Book ‘Radio Kashmir – In Times of Peace & War’ released ...... 65 www.onlinetyari.com Page 6
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Mangal Prabhat Lodha is richest Indian property tycoon ...... 65 South Korean Kim Jong-yang elected as Interpol president ...... 66 Noted classical musician Ustad Imrat Khan passes away ...... 66 UNICEF appoints singer Nahid Afrin as first 'Youth Advocate' of N-E region ...... 67 Awards ...... 68 Namrata Biji Ahuja wins International Press Institute-India award ...... 68 Veteran journalist N. Ram chosen for Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award ...... 68 Eat Right Awards by FSSAI ...... 69 India gets Asia Environment Enforcement Awards, 2018 ...... 69 Nandita Das to receive FIAPF Award ...... 69 Defence & Security ...... 70 Indian Navy inducts Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel capability ...... 70 Offshore patrol vessel ICGS Varaha launched ...... 70 INS Arihant crew felicitated on completion of Nuclear Triad...... 70 Army inducts K9 Vajra and M777 howitzer guns ...... 71 SIMBEX 18: 25 years of India-Singapore Bilateral Exercise ...... 71 Samudra Shakti: Indian Navy – Indonesian Navy Bilateral Exercise ...... 72 10th Anniversary of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium begins ...... 72 INDO-Russian joint exercise INDRA 2018 ...... 72 Questions for Practice ...... 73 One Liners of the Month ...... 80 National ...... 80 Banking ...... 84 International ...... 86 Sports ...... 89 Person in News ...... 91 General Knowledge ...... 93
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TOPICS OF THE MONTH
INDIA RANKED 77 IN WORLD BANK’S DOING BUSINESS REPORT
The World Bank released its annual report highlighting Ease of Doing Business across the world on October 31, 2018. The report is titled ‘Doing Business 2019: A Year of Record Reforms, Rising Influence’.
This year report ranks 190 economies based on how easy it is to do business there in 2017- 18, taking into account trading regulations, property rights, contract enforcement, investment laws, the availability of credit and a number of other factors. The first report was published in 2003.
The top ranked economy in Ease of Doing Business Index is New Zealand and India is ranked 77th, improving its position by 23 position. In 2018 report, India was ranked 100th.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
• The top five overall are: New Zealand, Singapore, Denmark, Hong Kong and Korea. • Afghanistan had moved up the most, by 16 spots, from 183th in last year’s ranking to 167th this year. • China and India — two economies with the largest populations — are among top 10 improvers this year. • Afghanistan, Djibouti, Azerbaijan, Togo, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Turkey and Rwanda rounded out the top 10 most improved list. • In addition, Djibouti and India are the only economies to make the 10 top most improved list for the second consecutive year.
HOW INDIA HAS IMPROVED ITS RANKING?
The Doing Business assessment provides objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 190 economies on 10 parameters affecting a business through its life cycle.
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India has improved its rank in 6 out of 10 indicators. These parameters include ease of starting a business, construction permits, getting electricity, getting credit, paying taxes, trade across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.
The most dramatic improvements have been registered in the indicators related to 'Construction Permits' and 'Trading Across Borders'.
In the 'Grant of Construction Permits' indicator, India’s ranking improved from 181 last year to 52 in this year’s report—a jump of 129 ranks in a single year.
PM LAUNCHES EASE OF DOING BUSINESS GRAND CHALLENGE Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19, 2018 launched the Ease of Doing Business grand challenge on resolving seven identified ease of doing business problems with the use of cutting-edge technologies.
The grand challenge seeks to invite innovative ideas from individuals, startups or other enterprises to implement artificial intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain and other cutting-edge technologies for re-engineering related Government processes to eliminate physical interface, improve service delivery, enhance transparency and reduce cost and time.
The top 3 teams for each problem statement would be awarded cash prizes worth Rs 1 lakh, Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh respectively.
WHAT IS EASE OF DOING BUSINESS RANKING?
The Doing Business Ranking is an annual assessment conducted by the World Bank that measures aspects of regulation affecting 10 areas of the life of a business, evaluating 190 countries on 10 specific indicators.
The scores are based on the measures implemented by the Government departments, however, they also reflect the experience of industry users that is counted in the rankings.
The 10 indicators include starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority interests, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.
49TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA CONCLUDES IN GOA
The curtains on extravagant nine-day gala event 49th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa came down at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Taleigaon, Panaji on November 28, 2018. The event had started on November 20, 2018.
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During the nine-day event, more than 220 movies from 67 countries were screened. Besides, 26 feature films and 21 non- feature films were screened in the Indian Panorama section. The films for Indian Panorama section was selected by a jury headed by renowned film director Rahul Rawail.
While Israel was the focus country, Jharkhand was the focus state this year. For the first time, this year, focus state also was chosen and also a separate section on films based on Indian sports was screened.
The opening film of the 49th IFFI was ‘The Aspern Papers’ and the closing film was German film ‘Sealed Lips’. In the Indian Panorama section, Malayalam film ‘Olu’ was the opening feature film and Marathi film ‘Kharwas’ was the opening non- feature film.
Individual Awards
IFFI special award for his lifetime contribution to cinema: Veteran filmmaker Salim Khan. As part of it, he was given Rs 10 lakh, a certificate and shawl.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Veteran Israeli filmmaker Dan Wolman. His film has been screened across the world at Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Shanghai, Goa film festivals.
Golden Peacock Award: 'Donbass’ directed by Sergei Loznitsa. The Award carries a cash prize of Rs 4 million (Rs 40 lakhs).
Centenary award for ‘Best Debut Feature Film of a Director: Alberto Monteras II for his Filipino Movie ‘Respeto’.
The ICFT –UNESCO Gandhi Medal: 'Walking with the Wind' directed by Praveen Morchhale
Special Jury Award: German film ‘Aga’
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA
IFFI is one of the prestigious film festivals of Asia and the first edition was started in 1952 in Delhi. The first edition was inaugurated by first Prime Minister of India Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru. From third edition
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onwards in 1965, the IFFI became award-giving ceremony. In 2004, the venue was shifted from Trivandrum to Goa permanently.
FOUR UNITS OF MEASUREMENT RE-DEFINED
Metrologists and policy-makers from 60 countries around the world have unanimously agreed to change the definition of four units of measurement.
The agreement was reached at a meeting held from November 13-16, 2018 at the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in Versailles, France.
India was represented by Avinash K. Srivastava, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, Dr. D.K. Aswal, Director, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), New Delhi and Dr. T.D. Senguttuvan, Head Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation, NPL.
WHY THE NEED FOR REDEFINING?
The members voted to redefine the International System of Units (SI), changing the world’s definition of the kilogram, the ampere, the kelvin and the mole. The changes will now come into force on 20 May 2019.
There are seven base units of the SI: the second, metre, kilogram, ampere, kelvin, mole and candela. Some have long been based on physical constants. The metre, for example, has been defined since 1983 as the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 seconds. But the four that metrologists today agreed to redefine were previously based on something – i.e. an object, experiment or phenomenon — meaning that its value is not universal.
NEW DEFINITIONS
With this, all seven SI units will now be defined in terms of physical constants. The biggest change will be to the kilogram, which is currently set by a 143-year-old platinum alloy cylinder, dubbed “Le Grand K” housed in the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in Paris.
The kilogram will now be defined in terms of the Planck constant, h, which has been measured with extraordinary precision in recent years. Its agreed value will be set as 6.626 070 15 × 10–34 kg m2 s–1.
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The ampere, meanwhile, will be set by the elementary electrical charge, e, which is given as 1.602 176 634 × 10–19 when expressed in coulombs.
The Kelvin will be defined by taking the fixed numerical value of the Boltzmann constant k to be 1.380 649 × 10—23 when expressed in the unit J K-1 and the mole by the Avogadro constant (NA) contains exactly 6.02 214 076 × 1023 elementary entities. This number is the fixed numerical value of the Avogadro constant, NA, when expressed in the unit mol–1.
SI GETS A MAKEOVER
In daily life, however, the new SI units will have little immediate practical consequence. While the units may be defined differently, the goal has been to keep their size the same. Yet defining the units based on physical constants means that scientists will be able to measure them at any place or time, and on any scale.
The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), the main executive body of CGPM has the responsibility of defining the International System of Units (SI).
SEZ POLICY REPORT SUBMITTED TO COMMERCE MINISTER
The Baba Kalyani led committee constituted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to study the existing SEZ policy of India submitted its report to Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu, in New Delhi on November 19, 2018.
In June 2018, the Union Commerce Ministry set up a committee headed by Bharat Forge chairman Baba Kalyani to make its special economic zone (SEZ) policy compatible with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules after the US challenged India’s export subsidy programme at the multilateral trade body.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT
The Committee’s chairman, Baba Kalyani, while submitting the report to the Commerce Minister said that if India is going to become a USD 5 trillion economy by 2025 then the current environment of manufacturing competitiveness and services has to undergo a basic paradigm shift.
The report notes that the success seen by services sectors like IT and ITES has to be promoted in other services sector like health care, financial services, legal, repair and design services.
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The Union Government has set the target of creating 100 million jobs and achieving 25 per cent of GDP from the manufacturing sector by 2022, as a part of its flagship ‘Make in India’ programme.
The Government also plans to increase manufacturing value to USD 1.2 trillion by 2025.
While these are ambitious plans to propel India into a growth trajectory, it requires an evaluation of existing policy frameworks to catalyse manufacturing sector growth. At the same time, the policy needs to be compiled with the relevant WTO regulations.
WHAT IS SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE?
Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a specifically delineated duty-free enclave and shall be deemed to be foreign territory for the purposes of trade operations and duties and tariffs. In order words, SEZ is a geographical region that has economic laws different from a country's typical economic laws.
The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) policy in India first came into inception on April 1, 2000. The prime objective was to enhance foreign investment and provide an internationally competitive and hassle- free environment for exports.
To give a long-term and stable policy framework with minimum regulation, the SEZ Act, '05, was enacted. The Act provides the umbrella legal framework, covering all important legal and regulatory aspects of SEZ development as well as for units operating in SEZs.
KARTARPUR CORRIDOR: A ROAD TO PEACE
A battered history, an on-off relationship is what defines the relation between two South Asian brethren foes, India and Pakistan, since last 70 years. Such has been the animosity between the two nations, that even a distance of 2.5 miles (4- km) took 70 years to connect the people of same faith, that is, Sikhism.
But this may be laid to rest with both the countries agreeing on November 22, 2018 to build a corridor between Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur on the banks of the Ravi River in Pakistan.
The corridor will facilitate visa-free visit of Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur – the last resting place of Sikh’s first guru Guru Nanak Dev. www.onlinetyari.com Page 13
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The decision has been taken to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
A high-powered telescope will be installed along the Indo-Pak border for devotees to view Kartarpur Sahib in Punjab.
The "Kartarpur corridor" will lead from the Indian border straight to the gurdwara, with the sides fenced off.
PEOPLE WELCOME THE MOVE
Formal talks between India and Pakistan have stalled since the Uri attack in 2016, which Indian authorities blamed on Pakistani-backed militants. Pakistan denied the claim.
This move has been welcomed enthusiastically by the Sikh community, and also represents a rare instance of co-operation between the two countries, which have fought three wars against each other since independence.
The ground-laying ceremony held on the Pakistani side of the border was attended by a number of Indian politicians, including Union Food Processing Minister Harsamrit Kaur Badal.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a speech said that like the fall of Berlin Wall in 1988 dissipated the hostile relations between West Germany and East Germany, this corridor may also erase the hostile relations between the two South Asian nations.
SUSPICION STILL IN THE AIR
Even though Kartarpur Corridor has been welcomed by one and all, there has been a suspicion, due past records of Pakistan, among Indian strategist and politicians that Pakistan may use this corridor to infiltrated terrorists in India.
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NATIONAL
RAJASTHAN LAB COMES UP WITH E-CRACKERS
• Scientists at the Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI) in Pilani have recently developed four varieties of battery-fitted e-crackers, the electronic version of firecrackers. • A Centre-run laboratory in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district has developed e-crackers that produce the same light and sound as traditional firecrackers without emitting any of the hazardous smoke that spike air pollution. • The institute, which is under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has invited people to see its demonstration on the Pilani campus on November 4. • It is a welcome innovation as people who love the sound and lights emitting from firecrackers can switch to e-crackers. Supreme Court has issued direction last month to burst the crackers in Delhi-NCR only for two hours (8-10 PM) due to rising severe air pollution. • National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has also come up with the Green Firecrackers. Green firecrackers would refer to products that do not contain metals such as barium, aluminium and iron which create toxic gases.
DECOMMISSIONED CARRIER INS VIRAAT TO BECOME A FLOATING MUSEUM
• The Maharashtra state cabinet approved the proposal to convert Indian Navy’s longest-serving aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, into India’s first-ever moored maritime museum-cum-marine adventure centre. • The aircraft carrier will be converted into a museum at a cost of Rs 852 crore on public-private partnership (PPP) mode. www.onlinetyari.com Page 15
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• It will be grouted (grounded, sealed to the seabed with concrete and moored) seven nautical miles off the Malvan coast at Nivati rocks in Sindhudurg. • Once converted, it will be only the eighth aircraft carriers in the world to have been converted into museums, theme parks and luxury hotels. • INS Viraat is the world’s oldest aircraft carrier and was bought it in 1986 and recommissioned it a year later. At present, Viraat is at Mumbai’s Naval dockyard after its decommissioning in 2017.
WAPCOS, DOPPELMAYR SIGN MOU FOR PASSENGER ROPEWAY PROJECTS
• WAPCOS and Doppelmayr on November 5, 2018 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for providing end-to-end solutions for passenger ropeway projects. • The signing of MoU was witnessed by the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari. • WAPCOS is a leading engineering consultancy organisation of the Government of India, which has grown into an Indian multinational with projects in over 45 countries across the world. • Doppelmayr, Austria are the world’s largest ropeway manufacturers with cutting-edge ropeway technologies. It has set up more than 15,000 ropeway installations across the world.
NATIONAL RIVER GANGA BILL, 2018 BANS PORTS, JETTIES
• Central government has banned the construction of jetties, ports or permanent hydraulic structures in Ganga unless permitted by Ganga Rejuvenation Authority. • The legislation, formally called the National River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Conservation and Management) Bill, 2018, proposes to create a management structure that will supervise the health of the 2,500-kilometre long Ganga which, the draft Bill defines, as ‘India’s national river. • The bill proposes restriction on the activities on the banks of Gangs to ensure ecological flow of the river. • It was long demanded by activists that dams in upper stretches of the river obstructs the river’s flow and finally government has included this point in the bill.
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• It becomes unclear how the restriction will work as government is also developing National Waterways Project-1 (River Ganga) from Haldia to Varanasi with technical and financial assistance of World Bank.
INLAND WATERWAY TERMINAL ON RIVER GANGA IN VARANASI DEDICATED TO NATION
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first multi-modal terminal on the Ganga river in Varanasi on November 12 under a project aimed at promoting inland waterways as a cheaper and more environment- friendly means of transport. This is the first of the three such terminals and two inter- modal terminals being constructed on the river. • The multi-modal terminals are being built as part of the central government's Jal Marg Vikas Project that aims to develop the stretch of the river Ganga between Varanasi and Haldia for navigation of large vessels weighing up to 1,500-2,000 tonnes. • The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is the project implementing agency. JAL MARG VIKAS PROJECT The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) is being implemented on the Haldia-Varanasi stretch of National Waterway-1 (NW-1) with the technical assistance and investment support of the World Bank. It is being built at an estimated cost of Rs. 5,369.18 crore, on a 50:50 sharing basis between the Government of India and the World Bank.
CENTRE EXTENDS BAN ON 8 EXTREMIST GROUPS OF MANIPUR FOR 5 YEARS
• The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday extended a ban on eight insurgent groups in Manipur by five years. • According to Home Ministry; ban was being extended as the organisations had indulged in unlawful activities. • List of 8 Banned Groups: (i) Peoples’ Liberation Army, (ii) Revolutionary Peoples’ Front, (iii) The United National Liberation Front, (iv) The Manipur Peoples’ Army, (v) Peoples’ Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and its armed wing the “Red Army”, (vi) Kangleipak
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Communist Party and its armed wing, also called the “Red Army”, (vii) Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup, and (viii) Coordination Committee and the Alliance for Socialist Unity Kangleipak.
CENTRE DELEGATES POWERS TO LOCAL BODIES FOR GIVING ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE
• The Central Government has delegated powers to local bodies to ensure compliance of environmental conditions for buildings, construction and area development projects measuring between 20,000 and 50,000 square metres. • According to a notification of the Union Environment Ministry, local bodies have also been given the powers to ensure environmental conditions are followed at industrial sheds, educational institutions, hospitals and hostels. • Environment Ministry has directed the local bodies such as Municipalities, Development Authorities and District Panchayats, shall stipulate environmental conditions while granting permission, for the Building or Construction projects. • The environmental conditions include natural drainage, water conservation, rainwater harvesting, water recharge, waste management, green cover and topsoil preservation, among others.
E-REGISTRATION MUST FOR JOBS IN 18 COUNTRIES
• Passport holders with non-Emigration Check Required (non-ECR) status will soon have to get themselves registered with the Ministry of External Affairs before taking up jobs abroad. • The rule, which takes effect on January 1, is said to be aimed at the welfare of Indians going abroad. • It applies to jobs in 18 countries, including the six Gulf Cooperation Council nations, which have the largest number of expats. • Who are non-ECR category Passengers? o The non-ECR category of passengers includes Indians paying income tax and those with educational qualification above matriculation. o As of now only ECR category passport holders were required to get emigration clearance from the office of the Protector of Emigrants to seek employment abroad. o All those seeking employment will have to register online via the website emigrate.gov.in. o Those failing to register at least 24 hours prior to actual departure will be off-loaded at the airports. www.onlinetyari.com Page 18
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• Why this move? o The objective of the directive is to protect workers with higher educational qualification from not getting into blue collar jobs. o Previously only ECR stamped passport holders had to go through the mandatory e- migrate registration since 2015. o However, not all blue-collar workers are in the ECR category as it was evident in the number of people taking up employment in United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman and Qatar.
ALLIED AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS BILL, 2018
• The Union Cabinet has approved the Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2018 for regulation and standardisation of education and services provided by professionals in the healthcare sector. • Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2018 o The bill provides for setting up of an Allied and Healthcare Council of India and corresponding State Allied and Healthcare Councils, which will play the role of a standard-setter and facilitator for such professions. o There will be 15 major professional categories including 53 professionals in allied and healthcare streams. o Central and State Councils will frame policies and standards such as professional conduct, common entry and exit examinations, etc. • Central Council & State Council o Central Council will comprise of 47 members – 14 ex-officio members and 33 non-ex- officio members. o Similarly, State Council will have 7 ex-officio members and 21 non-ex-officio members. • Professional Advisory Bodies under Central and State Councils will examine issues independently and provide recommendations relating to specific recognised categories.
FIRST NATUROPATHY DAY ON NOVEMBER 19
• The Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) ministry celebrated the first Naturopathy Day on 18 Nov with the aim of promoting the drug-less system of medicine to prevent diseases by altering the diet and lifestyle. • As other areas of ministry already have dedicated days, only Naturopathy was without any specific day. • List of Other Days o International Day of Yoga: 21 June o Ayurveda Day: 5 November o Unani Day: 11 February o Siddha Day: 4 January
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CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
INCLUSION OF QUADRICYCLES AS NON- TRANSPORT VEHICLES NOTIFIED
• Union Ministry of Road Transport on November 23, 2018 notified the inclusion of Quadricycles as ‘non-transport’ or ‘passenger’ vehicles under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. • A Quadricycle is a vehicle of the size of a 3-wheeler but with 4 tyres and fully covered like a car. It has an engine like that of a 3-wheeler. • Quadricycles were only allowed for transport usage under the Act, but now has been made usable for non-transport also. • The first vehicle to be launched under this new category will be the Bajaj Qute.
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CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
INTERNATIONAL
"SCO JOINT EXERCISE ON URBAN EARTHQUAKE SEARCH & RESCUE - 2019” BEGINS
• India on 1 Nov began a preparatory meet for the first phase of main Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) joint 2019 exercise with all eight-member countries. • The representatives of the SCO member countries -- India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan -- attended the two-day meet for the main exercise on 'Urban Earthquaqe Search and Rescue' scheduled between February 21 and 24. • The SCO exercise would be held in Delhi, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) having been entrusted with the responsibility to organise it.
JAPAN CABINET APPROVES BILL TO ACCEPT FOREIGN WORKERS
• Japan's cabinet approved a draft bill to bring more blue-collar foreign workers into the country, in a controversial move to address chronic labour shortages. • The draft bill allows foreign nationals with skills in sectors facing particularly severe shortages to obtain five-year visas, which would not allow them to bring their families. • Among the sectors in most need are agriculture, construction, hospitality/tourism and nursing. • Foreign workers in those fields who hold stronger qualifications and pass a more difficult Japanese language test will be able to obtain a visa that can be extended indefinitely, eventually leading to residency, and will be able to bring over family.
INDIA, ZIMBABWE SIGN SIX AGREEMENTS
• India will extend Line of credits of more than 350 million US Dollars to Zimbabwe for two power projects and a drinking water project.
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• India will give about 3 million US dollar grant for upgradation of Indo- Zim Technology centre. Assistance for construction of Mahatma Gandhi Convention Centre in Zimbabwe will also be granted by India. • Around 6 agreements in various fields were also signed in areas including Mining, Visa waiver, Broadcasting and Culture. • Vice President Shri M Venkaiah Naidu is currently on a visit to 3 African nations namely Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi. ZIMBABWE Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in Southern Africa and bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique. It was formerly known as Rhodesia. Robert Mugabe after winning elections in 1980 remained in the power through authoritarian tactics until his resignation in 2017. Currently, Emmerson Mnangagwa is the president of Zimbabwe.
MORE THAN 20 COUNTRIES PARTNER TO TARGET 'ZERO HUNGER'
• In a bid to stamp out poverty and hunger, more than 20 countries have committed to a new declaration on agricultural and rural development called Changsha Declaration. • The commitment came at the end of a forum on international development cooperation in Changsha, China. • The Changsha Declaration aims to ramp up the efforts towards South-South Cooperation, an initiative working to eliminate hunger and malnutrition through the mutual sharing and exchange of good practices, resources, and know-how between countries of the global south. • At the forum's conclusion, 26 countries and 11 international organisations including Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organisation (WHO) signed the Declaration.
INDIA AMONG 8 COUNTRIES ALLOWED TO BUY IRANIAN OIL: US
• The US has allowed India and seven other countries to temporarily keep buying Iranian crude oil despite sanctions against Iran. • The other seven countries exempted from Iran sanctions are China, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Turkey, Greece and Taiwan. • The basis for exempting is the fear of a possible jump in fuel prices if supplies from the OPEC countries were completely choked. • The sanctions re-imposed by the US on Iran cover 50 Iranian banks and subsidiaries, more than 200 people and vessels in its shipping sector, and targets Tehran’s national airline, Iran Air, and more than 65 of its aircraft. www.onlinetyari.com Page 22
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
INDIA, MALAWI SIGN MOUS IN EXTRADITION, ATOMIC ENERGY & VISA WAIVER
• India and Malawi on November 5, 2018 signed three MoUs on extradition, cooperation in atomic energy and visa waiver for diplomats and officials. • The MoUs were signed during the visit of Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu to African nation Malawi. • During the visit Vice President Naidu met Malawian President Arthur Peter Mutharika and offered specialised training programmes for Malawi defence forces. • India also agreed to extend the new line of credit of $215.16 million for 18 water projects in Malawi, besides constructing a Mahatma Gandhi Convention Centre in Malawi.
INDIA, SOUTH KOREA SIGN TWO MOU ON TOURISM AND SPORTS
• India and South Korea on November 5, 2018 signed two memorandum of understandings (MOUs) in tourism and sports sector. • The MoUs were signed during the visit of South Korean first Lady Kim Jung-sook’s visit to India to strengthen bilateral cooperation. • Besides, the South Korean first lady on November 6, 2018 attended the ground-breaking ceremony for Queen Huh Memorial Park in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. • The two MoUs dovetail with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts under the ‘Act East’ policy and President Moon Jae-in’s moves to boost bilateral relations under the ‘New Southern Policy’.
What is New Southern Policy?
The ‘New Southern Policy’ aims to bring Korea-India diplomatic ties up to the same level as those with the four major powers surrounding the Korean Peninsula (China, Japan, Russia and the United States).
INDIA ELECTED MEMBER OF ITU COUNCIL FOR 4-YEAR TERM
• India has been elected as a member of the International Telecommunications Union- ITU Council for another four-year term from 2019 to 2022. The elections to the Council were held during the ongoing ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018 at Dubai. www.onlinetyari.com Page 23
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• By securing 165 votes, India ranked third among the 13 countries elected to the Council from the Asia-Australasia region, and eighth among the 48 countries elected to the Council globally. • The ITU has 193-member states who elect representatives to the Council. INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION (ITU) ITU is a specialized United Nations body that is responsible for tackling the concerns related to information and communication technology. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
INDIA JOINS AS MEMBER OF ADVANCED MOTOR FUELS TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATION PROGRAMME UNDER IEA
• India joined as a member of Advanced Motor Fuels Technology Collaboration Program (AMF TCP) under International Atomic Energy (IEA) on Nov 8. • The programme TCP works under the framework of IEA to which India has "Association" status since March 30, 2017. • Ministry of Petroleum & Gas has joined AMF TCP as 16th member in the month of May 2018. The other countries of this group are USA, China, Japan, Canada, Chile, Israel, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Spain, South Korea, Switzerland and Thailand. • The primary goal of joining the programme by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is to facilitate the market introduction of advanced motor fuels/ alternate fuels with an aim to bring down emissions and achieve higher fuel efficiency in the transport sector.
33RD ASEAN SUMMIT BEGINS IN SINGAPORE
• Singapore hosted the 33rd ASEAN Summit at Suntec Singapore Convention Centre from Nov 11 to Nov 15. Singapore is the current chairman of the 10-member regional bloc ASEAN in 2018. • Next chairmanship of ASEAN bloc goes to Thailand on Nov 15. • Indian PM Narendra Modi will also attend the ASEAN summit and Regional Economic Cooperation Partnership (RECP) at Singapore. • Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is a proposed free trade agreement between the ten-member states of the ASEAN and the six Asia-Pacific states with which ASEAN has existing free trade agreements. The countries with ASEAN have free trade are India, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zeeland and Japan.
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CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIA NATIONS (ASEAN) It consists of 10 permanent member countries - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional grouping founded on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines to promote economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the Southeast Asian region through multilateral cooperation.
INDIAN WAR MEMORIAL WAS UNVEILED AT VILLERS GUISLAIN, PARIS
• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on 10 Nov inaugurated the first India-built war memorial in northern France to pay tribute to thousands of Indian soldiers who fought selflessly and made supreme sacrifices during the World War I. • Indian Armed Forces Memorial was inaugurated at Villers-Guislain town in France. • The memorial is the first-of-its-kind built by India in France after the country’s Independence. India’s Contribution to World War I Indian troops were on Western Front by winter of 1914 and fought at the first Battle of Ypres. By the end of 1915, they had sustained many casualties along with casualties from sickness, the decision was taken to withdraw Indian Corps from front line duty at the end of 1915. They fought in most theatres of war including Gallipoli and North and East Africa. In all 47,746 were classed as killed or missing with 65,000 wounded.
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR TOLERANCE: 16 NOVEMBER
• The International Day for Tolerance is an annual observance day declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance. It is observed on 16 November. • According to a survey conducted by BBC in 2018, India is 4th most tolerant country after Canada (1st), China (2nd) and Malaysia (3rd) • On the other hand, Hungarians have rated their country as least tolerant followed by South Korea and Brazil which have been rated least tolerant by their people, of other cultures, backgrounds and points of view.
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AUSTRALIA TAKES INDIA TO WTO OVER 'MARKET DISTORTING POLICIES ON SUGAR'
• Australia on 16 November 2018 decided to take legal action against India at the WTO over sugar subsidies, alleging that it caused a "significant downturn" in world prices and hurt Australian producers. • What is the case? o India is the second largest producer of sugar. Australia is the third biggest exporter of sugar. o Indian government provides subsidy to its farmers and sugar production has increased from average 20 million tons to 35 million tons in 2017. o According to WTO rules, Indian government is permitted to provide subsidies to its farmers provided that it doesn’t exceed the desired production level. o Australia says subsidies to Indian canegrowers — who form one of the biggest voting blocs in the country — far exceed the level of farmer assistance permitted under WTO rules of a maximum 10 per cent of the total value of the industry’s average production. o And due to large production, it is causing price distortion in the world market. Even, the biggest producer Brazil along with Thailand blamed India for contributing to a glut in the market that has forced prices down. o Australia's $2 billion sugar industry, which has 4,000 cane farms and 24 sugar mills, is suffering losses as a result of the India subsidies. On the other hand, 50 million people in India are working in sugarcane mills or growing sugarcane. So, India can’t do away with subsidies.
9TH ANNUAL DEFENCE AND SECURITY DIALOGUE BETWEEN INDIA AND CHINA HELD
• The 9th Annual Defence and Security Dialogue between India and China was held in Beijing. It follows the informal talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jingping in April 2018 at Wuhan. • The defence dialogue was held ahead of 21st round of border talks between India and China scheduled to be held on 23-24 Nov 2018. • The 9th dialogue was held after a gap of 1 year due to Doklam Standoff – a 73-day standoff between Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army of China in the Doklam region, which is a trijunction between China, India and Bhutan. • The standoff was triggered by Chinese PLA’s plan to build road close to strategically narrow ‘Chicken’s Neck’ corridor (or Siliguri corridor) connecting India’s other regions to northeastern states.
WORLD TOILET DAY: NOVEMBER 19
• World Toilet Day (WTD) is an official United Nations international observance day on 19 November to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. www.onlinetyari.com Page 26
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• The theme for the 2018 World Toilet Day is ‘When Nature Calls’ • Worldwide, 4.5 billion people live without "safely managed sanitation" and around 892 million people practise open defecation. • The impact of exposure to human faeces on this scale has a devastating impact upon public health, living and working conditions, nutrition, education and economic productivity across the world.
MALDIVES CABINET APPROVES TO REJOIN COMMONWEALTH
• 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 on 19 Nov, saying that the proposal will be sent to Parliament for ratification. • Maldives left the Commonwealth during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration in October 2016, amid mounting pressure over corruption and deteriorating human rights.
AUSTRALIA JOINS US IN REJECTING UN MIGRATION PACT
• Australian PM Scott Morrison said his country will not join a United Nations-backed global pact on migration, citing concerns that the deal would be used to "undermine Australia's strong border protection laws and practices." • The United States also left the global compact in 2017 saying that while it supported international cooperation on migration, "it is the primary responsibility of sovereign states to help ensure that migration is safe, orderly, and legal. • Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration o The UN made the decision to come up with a global compact on migration in 2016, in the wake of the crisis in the Mediterranean, which has seen thousands of migrants die while attempting to cross into Europe. o The UN Global Compact for Migration was agreed in July 2018 after 18 months of negotiations and is due to be adopted next month. o It lays out 23 objectives to open up legal migration and better manage migratory flows as the number of people on the move worldwide has increased to 250 million -- three percent of the world's population. • Poland, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic have also opted out from Global Compact.
INDIA, AUSTRALIA INK 5 PACTS TO BOOST INVESTMENT, ENHANCE COOPERATION
• India and Australia signed five agreements on 22 Nov to boost investments and enhance cooperation as President Ram Nath Kovind met Australian Prime minister Scott Morrison in Sydney. • President Kovind is the first-ever Indian head of state to visit Australia. • List of Agreements signed
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o The first agreement was for cooperation in the area of disability and to deliver services to the differently-abled. o The second one was between Invest India and Austrade to facilitate bilateral investment. o The third agreement was signed between the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute, Ranchi, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation, Canberra, to foster scientific collaboration and innovation. o The fourth one between the Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, and the University of Western Australia, Perth, for cooperation in agricultural research and education. o The last one was between the Indraprashta Institute of Information Technology, New Delhi, and the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane for a joint Ph.D agreement. • India is Australia's fifth largest export market with Australian merchandise and services exports valued at approximately A$ 19.2 billion as of 2016-2017. TheAustralia – India bi- lateral trade comprising of merchandise and services is valued at A$ 25.7 billion.
UK, EU AGREE DRAFT DECLARATION ON POST-BREXIT RELATIONS
• Britain and European Union have agreed the draft terms of the UK's exit from the EU on 29 March 2019. • The political declaration is a separate document to the 585-page withdrawal agreement, published last week, which covers the UK's £39bn "divorce bill", citizens' rights after Brexit and the thorny issue of the Northern Ireland "backstop" - how to avoid the need for a manned border on the island of Ireland. • The withdrawal agreement is legally-binding - the political declaration is not. • It sets out broad aspirations for the kind of relationship the UK and the EU will have after Brexit. Some of the wording of it is non-committal and allows both sides to keep their options open. • What is new in the draft? o Commitment to respect the indivisibility of the EU's four freedoms - free movement of people, money, goods and services o A specific reference to the end of free movement in the UK. o An aspiration to use technology to ensure there is no need for the Northern Ireland backstop to be used. o A clear continuing role for the European Court of Justice in the interpretation of EU law - which is likely to anger Brexiteers.
AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES VISION 2035 FOR INDIA
• The Government of Australia has begun to implement a vision document that will shape bilateral ties with India till 2035.
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• Australia agreed to implement over the next twelve months some recommendations that includes India-Australia Food Partnership, expansion of mining business and greater aviation connectivity among others. • The announcement from Prime Minister Scott Morrison regarding implementing “India Economic Strategy” was during the visit of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind. • The India Economic Strategy to 2035 is a report authored by former Australian envoy Peter Varghese and was released earlier in 2018.
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CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
ECONOMY & BANKING
AGARWAL COMMITTEE ON REGULATING AUDIT FIRMS AND NETWORK SUBMITS REPORT
• The Committee of Experts headed by Anurag Agarwal has submitted its report on Regulating audit firms and the Networks to the Government of India through the Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs. • The Committee was constituted on April 20, 2018, pursuant to the directions of the Supreme Court in the matter of S. Sukumar versus The Secretary, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. • The report addresses the issues raised by the Supreme Court with a focus to strengthen the legal regime of auditors and promote the development of the audit profession in the country. • Establishment of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) as a necessary institutional reform which would align the Indian audit landscape with the global position.
PM MODI LAUNCHES SUPPORT, OUTREACH PROGRAMME FOR MSME
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 2, 2018 launched the Support and Outreach Programme for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. The programme will continue for 100 days in 100 districts. • As part of it, he announced 12 ‘gifts’ to the sector. These include easy and cheaper credit, relaxation in labour laws, easier compliance with environmental rules and changes in company laws. www.onlinetyari.com Page 30
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• As part of it, a dedicated portal for sanctioning loans up to ₹1 crore in 59 minutes will be operationalised. • Further, all GST-registered MSMEs will qualify for a 2 per cent interest subvention on fresh or incremental loans. • The sector contributes over 28 per cent in Gross Domestic Product and over 48 per cent in exports.
PRESIDENT ASSENTED COMPANIES AMENDMENT (ORDINANCE), 2018
• President Ramnath Kovind on November 2, 2018 assented the Companies Amendment (Ordinance), 2018. The ordinance seeks to promote Ease of Doing Business along with better corporate compliance. • The ordinance is based on the recommendations of the Injeti Srinivas Committee appointed by the Government to review offences under the Companies Act, 2013. • What are the main amendments? o Shifting of jurisdiction of 16 types of corporate offences from the special courts to in- house adjudication. o The penalty for small companies and one person companies has been reduced to half of that applicable to normal companies. o The ordinance paves the way for enlarging the pecuniary jurisdiction of Regional Director by enhancing the limit up to ₹25 lakh as against earlier limit of ₹5 lakh under Section 441 of the Act.
RAILWAYS ELIMINATES UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS ON BROAD GAUGE ROUTE
• Twelve Zonal Railways on Broad Gauge route have now become free from Unmanned Level Crossings. The Zones include Central Railway, Eastern Railway, North Eastern Railway, Southern Railway and West Central Railway. • The Railway Ministry, in a release, said, it has decided to eliminate all Unmanned Level Crossings (UMLC) on Broad Gauge by December 2018. • As on April 2018, there were 3479 UMLCs on Broad Gauge routes and most of them have been eliminated in the last seven months. • As of now, there are only 77 UMLCs that have also been planned to be eliminated by December 2018.
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CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ISSUES GUIDELINES FOR OPERATION GREENS
• The Union Food Processing Ministry on November 5, 2018 issued guidelines for Operation Greens, an initiative announced in the Union Budget with an outlay of Rs 500 crore. • The programme aims to stabilise the supply of tomato, onion and potato crops (TOP) and to ensure their availability through the year without price volatility. • As part of the short-term stabilisation measures, the Ministry will provide 50% subsidy for the transport of these crops from production to storage, and for hiring appropriate storage facilities. • The Ministry will also give financial assistance for long-term integrated value chain development projects. • National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) will be the nodal agency to implement these price stabilisation measures.
CENTRE’S MODEL CONSTRUCTION WORKERS’ WELFARE SCHEME RELEASED
• Central government has released model construction worker’s welfare scheme for the consideration of states. • In the final version of the scheme, there is no mandatory pension benefits. It is contrast to earlier suggestion which asked for 20% of the construction cess to be kept aside for retired workers. • Instead of providing a uniform scheme, Central government has asked the state governments to decide pension scheme as per their financial capacity. • The Scheme comes post-March 2018 direction of Supreme Court to frame a model scheme to address the issues of health, education, social security and pension for the construction workers. • The SC had also said that more than Rs 37,400 crore have been collected for the benefit of construction workers, but ostensibly only about Rs. 9,500 crores have been utilized for their benefit. Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996 The Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996. The Act provides for levy and collection of cess on the cost of construction incurred by employers with a view to augmenting the resources of the Building and Other Constructions Workers Welfare Board. www.onlinetyari.com Page 32
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The major source of funds to the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board is the collection of cess at the rate of 1% of the construction cost incurred by the employer under the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Cess Act. However, it failed to meet its purpose.
RBI RELAXES ECB NORMS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE CREATION
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has liberalised External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) norms for infrastructure creation in consultation with the government. • The move comes amid concerns surrounding the availability of funds following a liquidity squeeze and the difficulties being faced by non-bank lenders, especially those facing asset liability issues due to heavy reliance on short term funding for long term assets. • A notification said the minimum average maturity required for the ECBs in the infrastructure space raised by eligible borrowers has been reduced to three years from earlier five years. • Additionally, the average maturity requirement for mandatory hedging has been reduced to five years from earlier ten years.
WHAT IS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL BORROWING? ECB is a basically a loan availed by an Indian entity work from a non-resident lender. It is a loan availed of from non-resident lenders with a minimum average maturity of 3 years. ECBs are being permitted by the Government as a source of finance for Indian Corporate for expansion of existing capacity as well as for fresh investment. For infrastructure sector companies, there is an overall ceiling of $20 billion.
LEASING OUT OF SIX AIRPORTS THROUGH PPP APPROVED
• The Union Cabinet has given in-principle approval for leasing out six airports of Airport Authority of India (AAI) on Nov 8. • It includes Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru for operation, management and development under Public Private Partnership (PPP) through Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC). • India’s civil aviation market has been growing at 19% over the last four years and is projected to be the third largest in the world by 2025, after the US and China. • The government is targeting an increase in the number of air passengers from 265 million in 2017 to about one billion in 10-15 years, as more people are travelling by air. This calls for massive investments in airports and greater productivity.
PADUR STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVES TO BE FILLED BY OVERSEAS NATIONAL OIL COMPANIES
• The Union Cabinet on Nov 8 approved filling of Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) at Padur, Karnataka, by overseas national oil companies in order to strengthen the oil reserves in the country. www.onlinetyari.com Page 33
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• The SPR facility at Padur is an underground rock cavern with a total capacity of 2.5 million metric tonnes (MMT), with four compartments of 0.625 MMT each. • Oil traders and producers could use the Padur storage to stock their oil and sell it to refineries in the region on commercial terms. • India, which meets 83 per cent of its oil needs through imports, will have the right of first refusal to buy the crude oil stored the facilities in case of an emergency. • According to government, Rs. 10000 Cr will be saved by filling this inventory. • The Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL) has constructed and commissioned underground rock caverns for storage of total 5.33 MMT of crude oil at three locations namely Vishakhapatnam (1.33 MMT), Mangaluru (1.5 MMT) and Padur (2.5 MMT). • The total 5.33 MMT capacity under Phase-I of the SPR program is estimated to supply about 95 days of India's crude requirement according to the consumption data for fiscal 2017-18. • Further, the government has given in-principle approval in June 2018 to establish additional 6.5 MMT SPR facilities at Chandikhol in Odisha and Padur in Karnataka.
STRATEGIC DISINVESTMENT OF 100% EQUITY IN DREDGING CORPORATION APPROVED
• The Union Cabinet on 08 Nov approved strategic sale of government stake in Dredging Corporation of India Ltd, to consortium of 4 ports. The government currently holds 73.44 percent in DCIL. • The government has approved strategic disinvestment of 100 percent Government of India's share in DCIL to consortium of 4 ports, namely Vishakhapatnam Port Trust, Paradeep Port Trust, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Kandla Port Trust. • The government has budgeted to raise Rs 80,000 crore from PSU disinvestment. So far this fiscal, the government has mopped up over Rs 15,000 crore from PSU stake sale.
INDIANS GROW WEALTHIER, BUT INEQUALITY PERSISTS
• According to Global Wealth 2018 by Credit Susie; Indians have grown wealthier in recent years but India has relatively high inequality compared to rest of the world. • Just one of every 10 Indians has wealth of over $10,000. Though there are 3.4 dollar millionaires in the country, their proportion is negligible compared to counterparts in the rest of the world.
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• While the share of non-financial assets has risen steadily in recent years, the percentage of household debt has burgeoned. Financial wealth has shown a slight decline over the years. • India's median wealth per adult is $1,289. This is much less than the global median of $4,209. India also has a high Gini coefficient, which means it is among poorer countries with high inequality.
ABU DHABI NATIONAL OIL CO INKS DEAL TO STORE CRUDE IN INDIA
• Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. (ISPRL) to explore the possibility of storing ADNOC crude oil at ISPRL’s underground oil storage facility at Padur in Karnataka, which has a 2.5 million-tonne (17 million barrels) capacity. • The MoU was signed by Abdulla Salem Al Dhaheri, director of Marketing, Sales and Trading at ADNOC, and HPS Ahuja, CEO and MD at ISPRL, on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC).
ADNOC ADNOC is the only foreign oil and gas company, so far, to invest, by way of crude oil, in India’s strategic petroleum reserves program. It is also a stakeholder, along with Saudi Aramco, and a consortium of Indian state-run companies, in one of India’s largest refinery and petrochemicals complexes, to be constructed at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra.
RS 75 COMMEMORATIVE COIN TO MARK 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF TRICOLOUR HOISTING BY BOSE
• Central government has decided to release a Rs 75 commemorative coin on the occasion of 75th anniversary of the hoisting of Tricolour for the first time by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at Port Blair. • This coin will bear the portrait of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose saluting the flag on the background of cellular jail. • The 35-gram coin will be composed of 50 per cent silver, 40 per cent copper and 5 per cent each of nickel and zinc.
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• During his visit to Andaman in on December 30, 1943, Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the Tricolor for the first time on free Indian soil at Cellular Jail of Port Blair, much before India attained Independence declaring the island as the free territory from the British rule.
NITI AAYOG CONSTITUTES HIMALAYAN STATE REGIONAL COUNCIL
• NITI AAYOG has created Himalayan State Regional Council to cater the need of holistic development of Himalayan states. • Council has been constituted to review and implement the identified action points based on the Reports of five Working Groups, which were established along thematic areas to prepare a roadmap for action. • The Himalayan State Regional Council will be chaired by the Dr VK Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog and will consist of the Chief Secretaries of the Himalayan States as well as the Secretaries of key Central Ministries.
RBI DECIDED SET UP EXPERT PANEL TO LOOK INTO ISSUES ON CAPITAL SURPLUS
• The RBI board on 19 Nov 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. • The Board for Financial Supervision (BFS) of the RBI would examine the issues concerning the banks health under Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework and the Economic Capital Framework - ECF of RBI. • On the capital framework issue, RBI will form an expert panel to study if RBI has surplus reserves and whether the same should be transferred to the government. The Reserve Bank and the Finance Ministry will decide the committee’s composition. • To provide relief to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises -- which employ 12 crore people -- the board advised the bank to consider a scheme for "restructuring of stressed standard assets" of borrowers with aggregate credit facilities of up to Rs. 25 crore, the RBI said. Under this, MSMEs in financial difficulties will get concessions from the bank. • The board, while deciding to retain the CRAR (Capital to Risk (Weighted) Assets Ratio) at 9 percent, agreed to extend the transition period for implementing the last tranche of 0.625 percent under the Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB), by one year, i.e., up to March 31, 2020. www.onlinetyari.com Page 36
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COMMERCE MINISTER RELEASES REPORT ON INDUSTRIAL PARK RATING SYSTEM
• The Union Commerce Minister, Suresh Prabhu on November 19, 2018 released a report on Industrial Park Rating System. The report was prepared by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. • The aim of the Industrial Park Rating System is to ensure that India moves into the top 50 countries in Ease of Doing Business. • The database includes 3000 parks and all the industrial parks will be rated on the following 4 points: o Internal infrastructure o External infrastructure o Business services and facilities o Environment and safety management • To optimise resource utilisation and enhance the efficiency of the manufacturing sector, the DIPP has launched the Industrial Information System (IIS), a GIS-enabled database of industrial areas and clusters across the country in May 2017.
CIVIL AVIATION MINISTRY LAUNCHES AIRSEWA 2.0
• Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu and Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha on November 19, 2018 launched the upgraded version of AirSewa 2.0 web portal and mobile app in New Delhi. • Highlights of the AirSewa 2.0 o The major improvements in the upgraded version of the web portal include features such as secure sign-up and log-in with social media, chatbot for travellers support, improved grievance management including social media grievances. o It will allow flyers to register their complaints through social media using the hashtag 'AirSewa'. o It will provide all the required information about flights operating from various airports across the country including real-time flight status and details of flight schedule. o It will provide all services and facilities including assistance to the disabled or unaccompanied minor that are available at the airports in India. AIRSEWA 1.0 The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched AirSewa web portal and mobile app in November 2016 to address this need. The AirSewa 1.0 was received well, with around 30,000 app downloads and around 75,000 web portal hits since its launch.
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PM INAUGURATES KUNDLI-MANESAR SECTION OF WESTERN PERIPHERAL EXPRESSWAY
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kundli-Manesar section of the Western Peripheral Expressway on November 19, 2018. • He also inaugurated the 3.2- kilometre long Escorts Mujesar- Ballabhgarh corridor of the Delhi Metro and also laid the foundation stone for Vishwakarma Kaushal Vishwa Vidyalaya. • The Western Peripheral Expressway also known as KMP (Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway) is expected to divert more than 50 thousand heavy vehicles away from Delhi. • The 136-kilometre long six-lane expressway which has been built at a cost of over 6,400 crore rupees will not only ease the burden of heavy traffic using Delhi as the transit point but also provide the high-speed link between northern and southern districts of Haryana. • Vehicles going from North India using the expressway can go to Western and Southern parts without entering Delhi.
EXTENSION OF NORMS FOR MANDATORY PACKAGING IN JUTE MATERIALS
• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to expand the scope of mandatory packaging norms under the Jute Packaging Material (JPM) Act, 1987. • The CCEA approved that 100% of the food grains and 20% of the sugar shall be mandatorily packed in diversified jute bags. • The decision to pack sugar in diversified jute bags will give an impetus to the diversification of the jute industry. • The decision will help in increasing the quality and productivity of raw jute, diversification of jute sector and also boosting and sustaining demand for jute product. • The decision will benefit farmers and workers located in the Eastern and North Eastern regions of the country particularly in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura.
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J&K BANK BROUGHT UNDER PURVIEW OF RTI, CVC, STATE LEGISLATURE
• J&K Bank has been brought under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Chief Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines and state legislature. • The State Administrative Council (SAC), which met on 22 Nov under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik, approved the proposal for treating J&K Bank Limited as a public sector undertaking (PSU). • The SAC approved that the provisions of the J&K Right to Information Act, 2009, shall be applicable to the bank like other PSUs. Besides, the bank shall follow the CVC guidelines. • Established in 1938, J&K Bank Ltd is the only state-promoted bank in the country, with the J&K Government currently holding 59.3 per cent of its shares.
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SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
NASA’S KEPLER SPACE TELESCOPE TO RETIRE
• NASA has announced that Kepler Space Telescope will be retired after 9 years of its service. Kepler was NASA’s first planet hunting mission and it discovered 2600 planets since 2009. • The Kepler’s camera measured changes in the brightness of 150,000 stars in one patch of sky to identify alien planets, including 10 planets that could potentially be inhabited by humans. • Kepler used a detection method called transit photometry, which looked for periodic, repetitive dips in the visible light of stars caused by planets passing, or transiting, in front of them. • To identify and observe distant planets of interest, planetary researchers will now turn to other telescopes, like Hubble, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which launched in April, or the James Webb Space Telescope, which is set to launch in 2021.
INDIA AMONG NATIONS THAT FACE GRAVE DANGER TO SOIL BIODIVERSITY: WWF
• According to World Wide Fund; India’s high population makes it vulnerable to an ecological crisis. The WWF’s ‘risk index’ for the globe shows India among countries whose soil biodiversity faces the highest level of risk. • WWF’s ‘risk index’ indicates threats from loss of above-ground diversity, pollution and nutrient over-loading, over-grazing, www.onlinetyari.com Page 40
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intensive agriculture, fire, soil erosion, desertification and climate change. • The population of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles have dwindled by an average of 60% from 1970 to 2014, and fresh-water species have declined by 83% in the same period. • Since 1960, the global ecological footprint has increased by more than 190%. Globally, the extent of wetlands was estimated to have declined by 87% since 1970. • The two key drivers of biodiversity loss were the over exploitation of natural resources and agriculture. • To address these challenges, the WWF suggests three necessary steps: o Clearly specifying a goal for biodiversity recovery o Developing a set of measurable and relevant indicators of progress o Agreeing on a suite of actions that can collectively achieve the goal in the required time frame.
What is Soil Biodiversity? Soil biodiversity encompasses the presence of micro-organisms, micro-fauna (nematodes and tardigrades for example), and macro-fauna (ants, termites and earthworms).
SEYCHELLES LAUNCHES WORLD'S FIRST BLUE BOND
• The Republic of Seychelles has launched the world's first sovereign blue bond—a pioneering financial instrument designed to support sustainable marine and fisheries projects. • Grants and loans will be provided through the Blue Grants Fund and Blue Investment Fund, managed respectively by the Seychelles’ Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) and the Development Bank of Seychelles (DBS).
SEYCHELLES Seychelles is an archipelagic nation consisting of 115 granite and coral islands. It has a land area of 455 km2 spread across an Exclusive Economic Zone of approximately 1.4 million km2. As one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, Seychelles is balancing the need to both develop economically and protect its natural endowment.
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PALAU TO BAN SUNSCREEN AS IT TRIES TO SAVE ITS CORAL REEFS
• Palau is set to become the first country to impose a widespread ban on sunscreen in an effort to protect its vulnerable coral reefs. The ban comes into force in 2020. • The government has signed a law that restricts the sale and use of sunscreen and skincare products that contain a list of ten different chemicals. • Researchers believe that these ingredients are highly toxic to marine life, and can make coral more susceptible to bleaching.
HOW DO SUNSCREEN PRODUCTS HARM CORALS? Scientists are concerned about mainly two ingredients oxybenzone and octinoxate. These are used as sun protection factors as they absorb ultraviolet light. However, they are believed to make coral more susceptible to bleaching. Research published in 2015 showed that the oxybenzone could stunt the growth of baby corals and was toxic to several different coral species in laboratory tests.
RUSSIA, CHINA, NORWAY SINK LANDMARK ANTARCTIC OCEAN RESERVE PLAN
• A plan to turn to huge tract of pristine Antarctic Ocean into the world’s biggest sanctuary has been rejected by Russia, China and Norway. • The 1.8 million sq km reserve – five times the size of Germany – would have banned all fishing in a vast area of the Weddell Sea and parts of the Antarctic peninsula, safeguarding species including penguins, killer whales, leopard seals and blue whales. • The proposal was put forwarded by Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. However, other 22 countries supported the proposal.
SHAKTI: INDIGENOUS MICROPROCESSOR CHIP DEVELOPED BY IIT MADRAS
• Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) have designed and booted up India's first microprocessor, Shakti, which could be used in mobile computing and other devices. • According to IIT-M, the Shakti microprocessor can be used in low- power wireless systems and networking systems besides reducing reliance on imported microprocessors in communication and defence sectors. • The Shakti family of processors was fabricated at Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Indian Space Research Organizations (ISRO) www.onlinetyari.com Page 42
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in Chandigarh, making it the first 'RISC V Microprocessor' to be completely designed and made in India. • Earlier, in July 2018, an initial batch of 300 chips, named RISECREEK was produced under Project Shakti, that were fabricated at the Multinational Chip Manufacturer Intel's facility at Oregon, USA.
NASA'S SPACE INSTRUMENT RALPH SET TO VISIT JUPITER’S TROJAN ASTEROIDS
• NASA’s Ralph and Lucy will be sent to explore Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids. Trojan asteroids are remnants from the earliest days of our solar system. • Ralph is a space instrument that has travelled as far as Pluto, while Lucy is a mission payload, or the spacecraft which would be carrying various scientific instruments including Ralph to study the properties of the asteroids. • The mission will be launched in 2021 and would be the very first space mission to study the Trojans. • The Lucy mission will comprise a 12-year journey with a fly-by to seven different asteroids -- six Trojan asteroids and a Main Belt asteroid -- more than any other previous asteroid mission.
Jupiter’s Trojan Asteroids The Trojan asteorids orbit sun in two loose groups: 1. one group is always ahead of Jupiter, called Greek Camp. 2. The other group is always behind, called Trojan Camp. The Trojan asteroids in Jupiter’s orbit could be made from the same material as the outer planets which were formed during the birth of the solar system more than 4 billion years ago.
ISRO PLANS VENUS MISSION FOR 2023
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has invited international proposals for scientific payloads for its second interplanetary mission to Venus in mid-2023. • India will send 12 scientific payloads aboard the satellite for the Venus mission, including a thermal camera, mass spectrometer and cloud monitoring camera. www.onlinetyari.com Page 43
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• The final spacecraft is likely to have a payload capacity of close to 100 kg, with 500W of power. The satellite is likely to be launched into a highly-inclined orbit of 500x60,000 km around Venus. • Venus is considered to be Earth’s “twin sister” because of similarities in size, mass, density, composition and gravity. The mission will focus on studying the surface and the sub-surface of the planet, atmospheric chemistry, and the interactions with solar radiation or solar winds. • USA, Japan, Russia and European Union has sent missions to study the Venus.
NASA PLANNING TO SEND ORGAN ON CHIPS TO SPACE
• NASA is planning to send small devices containing human cells in a 3D matrix — known as tissue chips or organs-on-chips — to the International Space Station (ISS). The aim is to test how they respond to stress, drugs and genetic changes. • Made of flexible plastic, tissue chips have ports and channels to provide nutrients and oxygen to the cells inside them. • The “Tissue Chips in Space” initiative seeks to better understand the role of microgravity on human health and disease and to translate that understanding to improved human health on Earth. • NASA is planning the investigations in collaboration with CASIS and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the National Institutes for Health (NIH).
WORLD'S LARGEST BRAIN-LIKE SUPERCOMPUTER POWERED ON FOR FIRST TIME
• The world’s largest supercomputer designed to work in the same way as the human brain has been switched on for the first time. • The newly formed million- processor-core Spiking Neural Network Architecture (SpiNNaker) machine is capable of completing more than 200 million million actions per second, with each of its chips having 100 million transistors. • The SpiNNaker machine, designed and built in The University of Manchester in the UK, can model more biological neurons in real time than any other machine on the planet. • Neuromorphic computing uses large scale computer systems containing electronic circuits to mimic these spikes in a machine.
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• SpiNNaker is unique because, unlike traditional computers, it doesn’t communicate by sending large amounts of information from A to B. • Instead it mimics the brain as it sends the large amount of data simultaneously to parallel communication architecture similar to brain.
ISRO TO LAUNCH GSAT-29 COMMUNICATION SATELLITE
• India’s heavy-lift rocket, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-Mk III), developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will carry its communication satellite GSAT-29 into space on 14 November. • The launch aims to solve the communication barriers faced by Village Resource Centres (VRCs), which are responsible for providing space- based services to ISRO from rural areas. • The satellite will be placed in its final Geostationary Orbit (GEO) at a height of 36,000 km from Earth, using the on-board propulsion system. • GSAT-19 was the first of the series that was sent up into the orbit in June 2017.
US AUTHORITIES AGREE ON HOW TO REGULATE FOOD PRODUCTS CULTURED FROM ANIMAL CELLS
• The US authorities have agreed on how to regulate food products cultured from animal cells — paving way to get so-called “lab meat” on plates. • The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed to share regulation of cell-cultured food products. • The FDA would oversee the collection and differentiation of cells — when stem cells develop to specialised cells — while USDA would oversee the production and labelling of food products.
TRIALS OF INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED ZIKA VACCINE TO BE CONDUCTED SOON
• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will soon undertake trials of the indigenously developed vaccine against Zika virus, cases of which have been reported in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. • The ICMR will undertake phase-II trial of the vaccine to establish the efficacy and safety of the vaccine along with its adverse effects, a senior official said. www.onlinetyari.com Page 45
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• Vaccines manufacturer, Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, has developed a vaccine, which they claim will provide protection against infection caused by an Asian Zika virus strain as well as by the African Zika virus strain. • Zika Virus in India o Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito and also there is a breakout in some states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. o The Zika virus, transmitted through the aedes aegypti mosquito, causes fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain. o It is harmful for pregnant women, as the mother can pass the infection to her fetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth leading to microcephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is significantly smaller than normal.
GROWTH-INDIA TELESCOPE’S FIRST SCIENCE OBSERVATION
• The 0.7 m GROWTH- India telescope at the Indian Astronomical Observatory located in Hanle, Ladakh, has made its first science observation which is a follow-up study of a nova explosion. • A report on this published in The Astronomer’s Telegram notes the magnitude of the nova explosion first identified by Darnley et al as it varies, during November 8 to November 10. • The telescope, located at the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) at Hanle, Ladakh, is the country’s first robotic telescope and the first one designed to observe dynamic, or transient, events in the universe. • The facility at Hanle is part of a multi-country collaborative initiative – known as the Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen (GROWTH) – to observe transient events in the universe. • Universities and research institutes from the US, the UK, Japan, India, Germany, Taiwan and Israel are part of the initiative. • The 70-cm robotic telescope joins other larger facilities of IAO’s in Hanle: the Himalayan Chandra Telescope, the High-Altitude Gamma-Ray (HAGAR) telescope and the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) telescope.
What are Novae and Supernova? Novae are explosive events involving violent eruptions on the surface of white dwarf stars, leading to temporary increase in brightness of the star. www.onlinetyari.com Page 46
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Unlike a supernova, the star does not go on to die but returns to its earlier state after the explosion.
IMD DEVELOPS TECHNOLOGY TO MONITOR IMPACT OF RAIN
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) developed a new technology to assess the rise of water level in rivers and reservoirs by rain. • The technology, called 'Impact Based Forecasting Approach', which shows pre-event scenario, can help state governments to minutely monitor the impact of rain and take real- time decisions. • IMD was founded in the year 1875 and is under the administrative control of Ministry of Earth Sciences. Its current DG is Dr K J Ramesh.
SCIENTISTS MULL STRATOSPHERIC AEROSOL INJECTION TO CURB WARMING
• A stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) program to cut global warming could be remarkably inexpensive, costing about $1.75 billion a year over a 15-year period, claims a new study by scientists from the Harvard University. • What SAI will do? o So far, SAI is an unverified, hypothetical technology; if implemented in the near future, it would involve use of big cannons, hoses or special types of aircraft to spray huge quantities of sulphate particles into stratosphere - the upper layer of the atmosphere. o These particles would serve as a reflective barrier against the sunlight to reduce the amount of heat trapped in the atmosphere. Scientists believe the technology could help solve the problem of global warming to some extent. o The sulfur combines with water vapor to form sulfate aerosols, fine particles less than a micrometer in diameter. These get swept upward by natural wind patterns and are dispersed over the globe, including the poles. o Once spread across the stratosphere, the aerosols will reflect about 1 percent of the sunlight hitting Earth back into space. Increasing what scientists call the planet’s albedo, or reflective power, will partially offset the warming effects caused by rising levels of greenhouse gases. • What are the dangers of SAI? o As one may imagine, a concept like this comes with a lot of controversy. Like treating a fever with aspirin, this type of engineering only treats the symptoms, it does not fix the root cause of the warming: Escalating levels of heat trapping greenhouse gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels. o The American Meteorological Society (AMS) expressed concerns that the possibility of seemingly quick and inexpensive fixes will distract the public and policymakers from addressing the underlying problems and developing adaptation strategies. And if for whatever reason the aerosol missions stopped, within a few years the temperatures would shoot up at breakneck pace.
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INDIA, UK TEAM DEVELOPS A SMART VACCINE FOR GOAT PLAGUE
• Researchers from the UK and India, including a team from the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), have jointly developed a ‘smart’ vaccine which has the potential to help eradicate goat plague. • The vaccine has been developed under a joint collaborative research programme supported by UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and India’s Department of Biotechnology. • It is one of the first smart PPR vaccines that help distinguish between animals which are vaccinated and infected, which is impossible with conventional live or killed virus vaccine. • The DIVA vaccine is ready for use, but it has to go through regulations. They have tied up with the Hyderabad-based Vivimed Labs. Now it is for the company to take it up through the regulatory pathway.
What is Goat Plague? Goat plague, or PESTE DES PETITS RUMINANTS (PPR), is a highly contagious viral disease that afflicts goats and sheep in many parts of the country. The disease kills small ruminants in large numbers unless they are vaccinated. According to the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), PPR costs farmers anywhere between $1.4-2.1 billion a year globally. Apart from India, goat plague is prevalent in many African countries, West Asia, China and Mongolia.
UN SELECTS NOIDA, GREATER NOIDA TO PARTICIPATE IN GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE CITIES 2025 INITIATIVE
• The United Nations on 25 Nov selected Uttar Pradesh’s Noida and Greater Noida to participate in its Global Sustainable Cities 2025 initiative. • Overall 25 cities across the world have been selected in five categories by the UN Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) cities initiative. • In the “University City” category, Noida-Greater Noida will be competing with elite university cities such as Cambridge, Palo Alto and Heidelberg.
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SPORTS
QATAR TO HOST WORLD CORPORATE GAMES 2019
• Qatar will host the 23rd edition of the World Corporate Games in 2019. The Games, making maiden appearance in the Middle East, will provide an opportunity for corporations around the world to showcase their competitive prowess through sports. • The World Corporate Games, established nearly 30 years ago, aims to bring together, the local, regional and international business sporting community. • The event features both individual and team competitions, open equally to women and men of all ages and abilities with team events for skilled, semi-skilled or novice participants.
INDIA CLINCHES PAYTM SERIES AGAINST WEST INDIES 3-1
• India has won the PayTM ODI series against West Indies by 3-1. The matches were held in India. • The Man of the Series award was given to Indian Captain Virat Kohli.
BANGLADESH WINS SAFF U-15 CHAMPIONSHIP
• Bangladesh defeated Pakistan 3-2 in the final of SAFF U-15 Football Championship played at ANFA Complex ground in Kathmandu, Nepal. • This is the second recent title won by the Bangladesh team. They had won the Under-16 tournament in 2015. • For the third place, India beat the host Nepal 1-0.
BAJWA SHOOTS HISTORIC SKEET GOLD AT ASIAN SHOTGUN CHAMPIONSHIP
• In the 8th Asian Shotgun Championship in Kuwait, Angad Vir Singh Bajwa has won a gold with a world record score in the men's skeet final. He became the first Indian skeet shooter to win a continental or world level event. www.onlinetyari.com Page 49
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• India's 10m rifle mixed team pairing of Elavenil Valarivan and Hriday Hazarika also struck gold with a junior world record score. • They finished with a score of 502.1, which is a World and Asian Junior record in the event.
MANU-SAURABH WIN MIXED EVENT GOLD WITH JUNIOR WORLD RECORD
• Indian pair of Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary have won Gold medal creating a world record in the 10-meter air pistol mixed team junior event at 11th Asian Airgun Championships in Kuwait. • Youth Olympic Games Champions Manu and Saurabh created a junior world record score of 485.4 in the finals. Indian junior teams score was well ahead of Chinese pair of Wang Xiaoyu and Hong Shuqi who scored 477.9 winning Silver medal. • Indian's junior shooting squad ended the championships with a tally of 11 medals, including four Gold. • Manu Bhaker also won the gold medal in women's 10 m air pistol event at 2018 Commonwealth Games just at the age of 16 in her maiden Commonwealth Games appearance.
WORLD CHAMPION SHUTTLER KENTO MOMOTA WINS CHINA OPEN
• World champion Kento Momota won badminton’s Fuzhou China Open on 11 Nov to add another title to his already- spectacular season. • Japan’s world No. 1 defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen, fourth seed by 21-13, 11- 21, 21-16 in 66 minutes.
PANKAJ ADVANI WINS 21ST WORLD TITLE IN BILLIARDS
• Legendary Pankaj Advani on 18 November 2018 extended his world title to 21 by winning the long and short formats of the IBSF World Billiards Championship titles for a record fourth time. • Earlier on November 15, 2018, Pankaj Advani won his third straight IBSF World Billiards Championship in the 150-up format, taking www.onlinetyari.com Page 50
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his overall tally of world titles to 20. • This win also marks a hat-trick of wins for Advani in the shorter format. He had won in his hometown Bengaluru in 2016 before doing the same in Doha last year. • He is the only player in the world to play both billiards and snooker at the world level and win in both with great consistency.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV WINS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS
• Alexander Zverev beat Novak Djokovic by a margin of 6-4, 6-3 to win his maiden ATP title on 18 Nov. • He is now the first German to win the ATP singles title since Boris Becker did it in 1995 and also the youngest man to win the year- end championships since Djokovic in 2008 in Shanghai. • With this win, Zverev ends the season on a high while Djokovic fails to equal Federer’s tally to six titles.
INDIAN GYMNASTS WIN TWO BRONZE MEDALS IN ACROBATIC GYMNASTICS WORLD CUP
• Indian gymnasts won two bronze medals in the men's and women's group events of the FIG Acrobatic World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan. • Prins Aris and Rejilesh Suribabu finished third after scoring 20.560 in the two-day event to bag the bronze medal at the National Gymnastics Arena. • Russian gymnasts won both the gold and silver. Germany's Kudryashov, Aleksandr Sorokin, Valeriy Tukashvili and Kirill Zadorin were ranked first with a score of 28.336 while Pavel Gubskiy, Kirill Lukyanov, Vladimir Petrov and Denis Solun finished second after scoring 28.005.
BKSP WINS 59TH SUBROTO CUP INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
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Tournament (Junior Boys Category) on 20 Nov. • A total of 95 teams participated in the tournament, including eight teams from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. • It was the largest football tournament in world held in junior category so far.
MARY KOM WINS SIXTH WORLD BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD
• MC Mary Kom scripted history after she defeated Ukraine's Hanna Okhota by a unanimous 5- 0 decision in the 48kg light flyweight final to clinch an unprecedented sixth gold medal at the Women's World Championships at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on 24 Nov. • With this, she became the most successful boxer in the history of Women's World Boxing Championships. • Mary Kom had won gold in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010 editions of the Women's World Boxing Championship and was tied at five gold medals with Katie Taylor of Ireland. • Having won a silver medal in the 2001 edition, the 35-year-old Manipuri boxer now has record seven medals to her name in the biennial amateur boxing event.
BHAVANI DEVI: FIRST INDIAN TO WIN GOLD MEDAL IN SENIOR COMMONWEALTH FENCING CHAMPIONSHIP
• India's Bhavani Devi won the gold medal in the Sabre event in the Senior Commonwealth Fencing Championship 2018 held in Canberra, Australia. • Bhavani Devi is the first Indian to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Championship. She defeated England's Emily Ruaux 15-12 in the final.
SYED MODI INTERNATIONAL C'SHIPS: SAMEER VERMA RETAINS TITLE
• Sameer Verma ended a struggling day for Indian badminton as he beat Guangzu Lu in the men’s singles final of Syed Modi International Badminton tournament 2018 to retain the title and ensure that the host country does not end the tournament without a title. • Saina Nehwal, however, saw a shock defeat to young Han Yue of China to end the tournament as runners-up.
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AUSTRALIA WINS T20 WOMEN WORLD CUP
• Australia completed an emphatic eight-wicket win over England to secure their fourth Women's World Twenty20 title 2018. The final was played at Sir Vivian Richards stadium in Antigua. • England scored 105 runs in 20 overs. Australia in reply completed the chase in just 16th over. • Eve of the Series: Alyssa Healy (Australia) • Eve of the Match: Ashleigh Gardner (Australia) • The first edition was held in England in 2009
HARMANPREET KAUR NAMED CAPTAIN OF ICC WOMEN'S WORLD TWENTY20 XI
• India's batting star Harmanpreet Kaur was named captain of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 XI. • Indian opener Smriti Mandhana and leg-spinner Poonam Yadav are also in the squad. • Three players from England, two from Australia and one each from Pakistan, New Zealand and the Windies have also been named in the eleven.
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STATE
JHARSUGUDA AIRPORT RENAMED AS “VEER SURENDRA SAI AIRPORT
• The Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 01 Nov approved renaming of the Jharsuguda Airport (Odisha) as ‘Veer Surendra Sai Airport’. • Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had earlier written to PM Modi urging the latter to name Jharsuguda Airport after freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai. • Jharsuguda is the only second city having airport after Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhuvneshwar.
ODISHA GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES SAURA JALNIDHI SCHEME
• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the 'Saura Jalnidhi' scheme on October 30, 2018. The objective of this scheme is to encourage the use of solar energy in irrigation by farmers. • The state government has decided to increase the use of solar photovoltaic pump sets in those areas so that the irrigation facilities can be provided where the power system is bad. • Under this scheme, farmers will be given 90 per cent subsidy and 5,000 solar pumps. This will provide irrigation benefits in 2,500 acres of the state. • In the first phase, this scheme will be available in those areas where electricity is not available for running the pump set. • The government has made a provision of Rs 27.18 crore in the financial year 2017-18 for this scheme. • The benefit of this scheme will be to the farmers who have valid farmer identity cards and have minimum 0.5 acres of agricultural land.
ELECTION COMMISSION SETS UP ‘SANGWARI’ POLLING BOOTHS IN CHHATTISGARH
• The Election Commission has set up ‘Sangwari’ polling booths in various constituencies of Chhattisgarh to encourage women voters to exercise their franchise in the Assembly elections. • In Chhattisgarhi dialect, ‘Sangwari’ means friend. These women friendly booths will be manned by all-female staff including presiding officers, supervisors and security personnel. • Chhattisgarh has about One crore 85 lakh electorates. Out of this, more than 92 lakh are females. • The state has 90 constituencies and assembly elections are scheduled to be held in two phases on November 12th and 20th. www.onlinetyari.com Page 54
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WEST BENGAL GOVT DECIDES TO SET UP BOARDS FOR NAMASUDRA, MATUA COMMUNITIES
• West Bengal government has decided to set up development boards for the Matua and Namasudra communities. • The names of the two boards will be West Bengal Namasudra Welfare Board and West Bengal Matua Welfare Board. • /Namsudra caste is a recognized as a Scheduled Caste in the state of West Bengal, Assam and Tripura.
CENTRAL TRIBAL UNIVERSITY TO BE SET UP IN ANDHRA PRADESH
• The Cabinet on 08 Nov approved setting up of a Central Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh. • The 'Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh' will be set up in Relli village of Vizianagaram district as provided under the 13th schedule to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. • India’s first Indira Gandhi Tribal University was set up in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh in 2007. • Second Tribal University was announced in 2017 to be set up in Jharkhand. With the announcement to set up the same in Andhra Pradesh, it becomes third such university. • Kalinga University of Social Sciences is exclusive tribal university where only tribal students are enrolled.
GOA GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES BAN ON IMPORT OF FISH FOR 6 MONTHS
• The Goa government has announced a ban on import of fish into the state for six months. The decision was taken against the backdrop of a scare in the coastal state that formalin, a potential cancer- causing chemical, was being used to preserved fish. • A solution of 35 to 40 per cent of water in formaldehyde or methanal is called formalin. Formaldehyde''s formula is HCHO. As formalin is a strong disinfectant and tissue hardener, it's used for preserving biological and anatomical specimens. It's also used as an antiseptic in sterilising surgical instruments. • In 1987, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen under conditions of unusually high or prolonged exposure.
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24TH KOLKATA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL BEGINS
• The 24th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) began on 10 Nov at the Netaji Indoor Stadium. It was jointly inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Soumitra Chatterjee and veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan. • Around 171 films and 150 short and documentary films from 70 countries will be screened at the festival. This edition will also celebrate 100 years of Bengali cinema by screening classics by auteurs. • The best film will get a prize money of Rs 51 lakh and a Golden Royal Bengal Tiger trophy. The director will receive Rs 21 lakh as prize money along with the trophy.
USABLE TOILET, 2-CHILD NORM MANDATORY FOR CANDIDATES OF ASSAM PANCHAYAT POLLS
• The Assam State Election Commission has made its mandatory of having a usable toilet and a two-child norm for all aspiring candidates of the upcoming panchayat polls. • The decision of making a usable toilet compulsory has been taken to make cleanliness a priority in society. • Candidates having more than two children, except in exceptional cases, would not be eligible to contest the polls. • Voters not listed in NRC draft list would not be barred from exercising their voting rights.
SECOND MEGA FOOD PARK OF MAHARASHTRA INAUGURATED IN AURANGABAD
• Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated 2nd Mega Food Park in Auranabad district at Paithan in Maharashtra. • It was launched under Mega Food Park Scheme and is promoted by Paithan Mega Food Park Pvt Ltd. • The first park was inaugurated in Satara district in March 2018. www.onlinetyari.com Page 56
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• Third mega foodpark has been sanctioned by Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries in Maharashtra in Wardha district.
TWO N-E CIRCUITS UNDER SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME INAUGURATED IN ARUNACHAL
• The Ministry of Tourism has inaugurated two circuits under Swadesh Darshan Scheme at PTSO Lake in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. • These projects are “Development of North East Circuits: Bhalukpong- Bomdila - Tawang Project & Nafra- Seppa- Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys- Sangdupota- New Sagalee- Ziro- Yomcha Project ”.
GAIKWAD PANEL RECOMMENDS 16% RESERVATION FOR MARATHA COMMUNITY
• The Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission headed by Justice M D Gaikwad recommended a 16 percent reservation to Marathas. • This quota will be over and above the current 52% reservation in the state taking the total up to 68%. • Marathas, who comprise 30 percent of the state's population to "fit all the 25 criteria of backwardness", and has suggested the additional reservation quota of 16 percent for them. • However, state governments can’t make caste-based reservations more than 50% as per the 2008 SC judgement.
ANDHRA PRADESH GETS A STATE EMBLEM WITH DHAMMA CHAKKA
• Andhra Pradesh government has released a new state emblem after 4 years of state bifurcation in 2014. The state emblem is inspired by Amravati School of Art. • Key features www.onlinetyari.com Page 57
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o It consists of a ‘Dhamma Chakka’, the ‘Wheel of Law’ embellished with a ring of triatnas (Buddhist symbol) alternating with pinnate leaves and precious stones. o The three circles of decorative beads in ascending order of numbers – 48 in the inner, 118 in the middle and 148 in the outer circle. o ‘Puna Ghataka’ or ‘The vase of plenty’ is at the hub of the ‘Dhamma Chakka’. o It is decorated with a four banded garland on the main body with medallions and tassels. There is a braid around the thin neck and a flaring mouth.
Amravati: Capital of Andhra Pradesh and its history
Amaravati was a seat of Buddhism prior to the rise of Satavahanas, and a stupa and monastery were built there during the reign of Emperor Ashoka (269-232 BC) under Mauryan empire. The Amravathi stupa found to be engraved with intricate carvings depicting the life and teachings of Lord Buddha. This is a Sariraka type of stupa and hence it’s of great importance. Mahastupas are known as ‘Sariraka Stupa’ (containing buried bodily remains of Lord Buddha), Other type of Stupa are: Paribhogika stupa (containing buried belongings of the Buddha).
J&K GOVT APPROVES BILL FOR WELFARE OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
• The State Administrative Council (SAC) under the chairmanship of Governor Shri Satya Pal Malik approved the enactment of the Jammu and Kashmir Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2018. • The enactment of a bill aimed to enhance the rights and entitlement of persons with disabilities. • The 2018 J&K Disability Bill replaces the J&K Persons with Disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) Act, 1998. • The older Act was modelled on the pattern of Centre’s Persons with disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) Act, 1995, which was replaced by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. • The bill increases the reservation for PwD from 3% to 4% and types of disabilities has been increased from 7 to 21. • The bill also envisages incentives to employers in private sector if at least 5 per cent of their workforce composes of persons with benchmark disabilities.
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ODISHA NOW HAS A LEXICON FOR RARE TRIBAL LANGUAGES
• Odisha government has come out with lexicons of 21 vanishing tribal languages. • The bilingual tribal dictionaries will be used in multilingual education (MLE) initiated by the State government at the elementary level in tribal-dominated districts. • Odisha has a unique place on the tribal map of India for having the maximum number of Scheduled Tribe communities. • The State is home to 62 different tribal communities, including 13 particularly vulnerable tribal groups. These tribes speak 21 languages and 74 dialects. Of the 21 tribal languages, seven have their own scripts.
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PERSON IN NEWS
S S DESWAL APPOINTED AS DG OF ITBP
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed senior IPS officer S S Deswal as Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). • He will succeed R K Pachnanda, who superannuated from office and shall be in office for period up to his superannuation on August 31, 2021. • Deswal is 1984 batch IPS officer of Haryana cadre. Prior to this appointment, he was Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
ITBP ITBP is one of five Central Armed Police Forces of India. It was raised on 24 October 1962, under CRPF Act, in wake of 1962 Indo China War. It works under command of Union Home Ministry. It is headquartered in New Delhi. Its motto is Shaurya – Dridhata – Karm Nishtha. . It primarily guards the 3,488 km long Indo-China border along Tibet Autonomous Region from Karokoram Pass in Ladakh to Kachep La in Arunachal Pradesh.
ANUPAM KHER RESIGNS AS CHAIRMAN OF FTII
• Anupam Kher resigned from his post as a chairman of Film and Television Institute of India Society (FTII) on 31st Oct. • FTII is an autonomous body under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) • Kher is the first chairperson of the film institute to resign before the completion of his term — his tenure is also the shortest since FTII’s formation in 1974.
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COLLEGIUM RECOMMENDS NAMES 4 HC CHIEF JUSTICES FOR ELEVATION TO SC
• The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has recommended to the Centre the names of four high court chief justices for elevation as judges in the apex court. • These names are justices Hemant Gupta, R Subhash Reddy, M R Shah and Ajay Rastogi. • With the new appointments, the number of judges at the top court will rise to 28. The sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges in 31.
SC COLLEGIUM SYSTEM The collegium is a body of the five top judges, which is responsible for all appointments to the top court. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi heads it and also includes justice MB Lokur, justice Kurien Joseph, justice A K Sikri and justice S A Bobde.
218 AND BEYOND: AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF VVS LAXMAN
• The former Indian cricketer V V S Laxman released the paper cover of his forthcoming autobiography titled ‘281 and Beyond’. • The book has been written by well-known correspondent R Kaushik and brought out by Westland Publications. • The book is named around that epic knock of V V S Laxman of 281 at Eden Gardens in the 2001 Test match against Australia. • The book traces his journey in life and in cricket sharing the experiences right from his childhood to being teammate to some of the biggest names in Indian cricket like the ‘Fab Four’ Sachin, Dravid, Sehwag, Saurav.
ASHOK KR GUPTA APPOINTED CHAIRPERSON OF CCI
• Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed former IAS officer Ashok Kumar Gupta as Chairperson of Competition Commission of India (CCI). • He replaces acting chairperson Sudhir Mital. He will be in office till October 25, 2022 i.e. till he attains age of 65 years or until further orders, whichever is the earliest.
Competition Commission of India CCI is quasi-judicial statutory body established under The Competition Act, 2002. It was established in October 2003 and became fully functional in May 2009. It functions under Ministry of Corporate Affairs. www.onlinetyari.com Page 61
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UNION MINISTER ANANTH KUMAR PASSES AWAY AT 59
• Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar died at a hospital in Bengaluru on 12 November at the age of 59. • Ananth Kumar was one of the few ministers to have also served in the earlier BJP-led government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. • In fact, he was the youngest minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet in 1998 and was minister for Civil Aviation, Tourism, Sports, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation. • The six-time MP from Karnataka was the first person to speak in Kannada in the United Nations.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL STRIPS MYANMAR'S AUNG SAN SUU KYI OF HIGHEST HONOUR
• Amnesty International has withdrawn a prestigious human rights award from Myanmar Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi, accusing her of perpetuating human rights abuses by not speaking out about violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority. • The international human rights group named Suu Kyi as its 2009 Ambassador of Conscience Award recipient when she was still under house arrest for her opposition to Myanmar's oppressive military junta. • Once hailed as a champion in the fight for democracy, Suu Kyi has been stripped of a series of international honours over a Rohingya exodus that began in August 2017. • Ms Suu Kyi came to power as the de facto head of Buddhist-majority Myanmar's civilian administration in 2016. • Rohingyas are ethnic Muslims of Myanmar living in the Rakhine province in the Arakan region. Myanmar government does not recognise Rohingyas as their citizens.
AMERICAN COMIC BOOK WRITER STAN LEE DIES AT 95
• American comic book writer and former chief of Marvel Comics Stan Lee has died in Los Angeles. He was 95. • Lee created the Fantastic Four for Marvel Comics in 1961 and went on to create titles like www.onlinetyari.com Page 62
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Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk.
HIMA DAS APPOINTED UNICEF INDIA’S YOUTH AMBASSADOR
• The United Nations Children's Fund- India (Unicef-India) has appointed Asian Games gold-medalist sprinter Hima Das as the country's first ever youth ambassador. • Hima Das, nicknamed the 'Dhing Express', is an Indian sprint runner from the state of Assam. • She holds the current Indian national record in 400 metres with a timing of 50.79 s that she clocked at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. • She is the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in a track event at the IAAF World U20 Championships.
1971 WAR HERO KULDEEP SINGH CHANDPURI PASSES AWAY
• Hero of Indo-Pak 1971 war, Brigadier Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri passed away on November 18, 2018. He was 78. • He was the recipient of country’s second highest gallantry award, Mahavir Chakra (MVC) for his role in Battle of Longewala. • The battle of Longewala was fought on December 5, 1971 between Pakistani assault forces and 23rd Punjab Regiment of Indian Army at the Indian outpost of Longewala in Ramgarh of Jaisalmer district. • Later in 1997, the battle of Longewala was immortalized when a movie with title ‘Border’ was made by J P Dutta featuring Sunny Deol as Maj Chandpuri in lead role.
UIDAI CEO ABP PANDEY APPOINTED AS NEW REVENUE SECRETARY
• Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) chief executive officer (CEO) Ajay Bhushan Pandey will succeed Hasmukh Adhia as Revenue Secretary. • Adhia, who retires at the end of this month, that is, on November 30, 2018 is also the finance secretary. www.onlinetyari.com Page 63
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• UIDAI’s Pandey will continue to hold the additional charge of CEO of the Authority and chairman of Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) for the time being.
ORACLE VETERAN THOMAS KURIAN TO HEAD GOOGLE CLOUD
• Oracle's ex-product chief Thomas Kurian will head Google's cloud division, replacing Diane Greene. He will join the Google on November 26, 2018. • Kurian, who spent 22 years at Oracle and had been a close confidante of its founder Larry Ellison, resigned in September after struggling to expand its cloud business.
IBRAHIM MOHAMED SOLIH SWORN IN AS SEVENTH PRESIDENT OF MALDIVES
• Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was sworn-in as the seventh president of Indian Ocean nation Maldives on November 17, 2018. • He vowed to end systematic corruption and investigate alleged human rights abuses under his predecessor, Abdulla Yameen. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the more than 300 foreign dignitaries at the ceremony in Male. • The visit is Modi's first to the Maldives after years of tense relations between the two countries because of Yameen's embrace of China during his tenure.
AD GURU PADMASHRI ALYQUE PADAMSEE PASSES AWAY AT 90
• Alyque Padamsee, an ad guru and a stalwart in theatre and film world, passed away on November 17, 2018 in Mumbai after a prolonged illness. He was 90. • He was often referred to as father of modern Indian advertising and built over hundred brands. • He also gave several iconic advertisements like the Liril girl, Surf’s Lalitaji, Hamara Bajaj and Charlie’s Cherry Blossom, among others. • He produced around 70 plays for the English Theatre and is remembered for his role as Mohammed Ali Jinnah in Richard Attenborough’s www.onlinetyari.com Page 64
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“Gandhi” (1982). • He was also a part of the Prime Minister’s AIDS Task Force and also served as an adviser to Chandrababu Naidu, the former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. • His autobiography is titled ‘A Double Life’ which gives an account of his years in the theatre and advertising industries.
JUSTICE AMARESHWAR PRATAP SAHI SWORN IN AS CHIEF JUSTICE OF PATNA HIGH COURT
• Justice Amareshwar Pratap Sahi was sworn-in as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court. • He was administered the oath of office by Governor of Bihar Lalji Tandon. • Justice Sahi was a judge of the Allahabad High Court before his present appointment. • He replaced Justice M R Shah who was recently appointed as the judge of Supreme Court.
FRANK BAINIMARAMA RE-ELECTED AS PRIME MINISTER OF FIJI FOR SECOND TERM
• Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama will stay in power for a second consecutive term as he has narrowly won a general election held in Fiji. • Bainimarama's FijiFirst party won 50.2 percent of the vote to claim 27 of the 51 seats in the Pacific island nation's parliament for the next four years.
BOOK ‘RADIO KASHMIR – IN TIMES OF PEACE & WAR’ RELEASED
• Dr. Rajesh Bhatt’s book Radio Kashmir – In Times of Peace & War, was released on 20 Nov. • The book explains the role played by Radio Kashmir in serving the people of Kashmir and strengthening democratic institutions in Kashmir, since the inception of Radio Kashmir in 1947. • Radio Kashmir was established on 01 July 1948 by Sheikh Abdullah. He inaugurated Srinagar station of Radio Kashmir. • Dr Rajesh Bhat serves in the Policy Division of Directorate General, All India Radio, New Delhi.
MANGAL PRABHAT LODHA IS RICHEST INDIAN PROPERTY TYCOON
• Mangal Prabhat Lodha, the founder of Lodha Group and a lawmaker representing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has become the nation’s richest real estate developer after the company’s sales increased 22 per cent. • Lodha’s wealth is estimated at 271.5 billion rupees ($3.8 billion), according to the GROHE Hurun India Real Estate Rich List. Lodha, who started the real estate business three decades ago in Mumbai, is constructing the 75-storey Trump Tower in India’s commercial capital. www.onlinetyari.com Page 65
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• The total wealth of the top 100 Indians in the nation’s real estate sector grew 27 per cent from a year ago to 2.36 trillion rupees, according to the Hurun list, as large property developers took advantage of a slowdown in the industry to acquire smaller rivals.
SOUTH KOREAN KIM JONG-YANG ELECTED AS INTERPOL PRESIDENT
• Interpol has elected South Korean Kim Jong-yang as its president, rejecting the controversial Russian frontrunner. • Mr Kim was chosen by Interpol's 194-member states at a meeting of its annual congress in Dubai.
What is Interpol? The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), established in 1923, brings together police forces from 194 countries, which share intelligence and assist with searches for wanted and missing people. It is headquartered at Lyon, France. Interpol does not have its own officers, and all investigations and arrests are made by the national police of a member country. But the organisation can issue Red Notices, which are effectively international arrest warrants.
NOTED CLASSICAL MUSICIAN USTAD IMRAT KHAN PASSES AWAY
• Classical music stalwart Ustad Imrat Khan, who dedicated his life to promoting the sitar and the surbahar worldwide, died in the US after a brief illness. He was 83. • Ustad Imrat Khan famously turned down the Padma Shri in 2017 saying the recognition had come too late and diminished his achievements. • He belonged to the illustrious Etawa gharana, or the Imdadkhani Gharana, named after his grandfather Ustad Imdad Khan. • The Etawa gharana is credited with developing the musical instrument surbahar, a stringed instrument that is sometimes called the “bass sitar”.
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UNICEF APPOINTS SINGER NAHID AFRIN AS FIRST 'YOUTH ADVOCATE' OF N-E REGION
• Popular singer Nahid Afrin of Assam was appointed as the first ‘Youth Advocate’ of the north eastern region by the UNICEF to fight for child rights. • Nahid made her playback debut in the 2016 Bollywood film ‘Akira’ starring Sonakshi Sinha in the lead. She received the best female playback singer award at the Assam state Film Award 2018. • The UNICEF engages ‘Youth Advocates’ to harness their voice as agents of change in society.
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AWARDS
NAMRATA BIJI AHUJA WINS INTERNATIONAL PRESS INSTITUTE-INDIA AWARD
• The prestigious IPI India Award for Excellence in Journalism 2018 has been given to Namrata Biji Ahuja of THE WEEK magazine this year. • She received the award for her exclusive story on Naga underground camps, providing information on the parallel and secret Naga state functioning with all ministries inside Nagaland, interviews and first personal accounts of Naga "ministers" and officials. • The award comprises a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, a trophy and a citation.
INTERNATIONAL PRESS INSTITUTE Founded 69 years ago in New York by a group of editors from 15 countries, the Vienna-based IPI is committed to the furtherance of the freedom of press and promotion of free exchange of accurate and balanced news among nations.
VETERAN JOURNALIST N. RAM CHOSEN FOR RAJA RAM MOHAN ROY AWARD
• N Ram, the veteran journalist and the Hindu Group of Publications Chairman, on November 5, 2018 was chosen for the prestigious Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award. • The award is presented by the Press Council of India (PCI) for outstanding contribution towards journalism on November 16 every year on the occasion of the National Press Day. • The PCI also announced other winners of the National Awards for Excellence in Journalism 2018. These are: o Rural Journalism category: Ruby Sarkar, Chief Correspondent, Deshbandhu, Bhopal, and Rajesh Parshuram Joshte, Daily Pudhari, Ratnagiri. o Developmental Reporting: VS Rajesh, Deputy Editor, KERALA KAUMUDHI. www.onlinetyari.com Page 68
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o ‘Photo Journalism-Single News’ category: Subhash Paul, Rashtriya Sahara, Delhi o ‘Photo Journalism-Photo Feature’: Mihir Singh, Punjab Kesari, Delhi o Best Newspaper Art: covering cartoons, caricature and illustrations’: P Narasimha, Cartoon Editor, Nava Telangana, Hyderabad
EAT RIGHT AWARDS BY FSSAI
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has announced the ‘Eat Right Awards’ and Eat Right Creativity Challenge, in a bid to boost the Eat Right India movement. • As part of the Eat Right India Movement, key food companies have pledged to demonstrate their support and commitment by making healthier food options, reformulating existing food products and providing better nutritional information to consumers. • A special Eat Right award has also been instituted for food related start-ups to reward innovation and promote entrepreneurship in the area of food safety and applied nutrition. • The Eat Right Creativity Challenge includes an ‘On-the-Spot Poster’ and ‘Wall-art’ competition for school children as well as a competition for digital creatives for amateur and professional artists and students.
INDIA GETS ASIA ENVIRONMENT ENFORCEMENT AWARDS, 2018
• The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has been selected among the winners of the Asia Environment Enforcement Awards under UN Environment for its work in combating trans- boundary environmental crime. • WCCB is a statutory multi-disciplinary body established by the government under the Environment Ministry to combat organized wildlife crime in the country.
NANDITA DAS TO RECEIVE FIAPF AWARD
• Filmmaker Nandita Das will be honoured with the FIAPF Award at the 12th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) in Brisbane. • Das will be presented the award in recognition of her achievement in film in the Asia Pacific region on November 29, 2018. • One of the founding partners of APSA is International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). • Das started her career as an actor with films like '1947 Earth', 'Fire' and 'Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa'. She made her directorial debut with critically-acclaimed feature 'Firaaq' www.onlinetyari.com Page 69
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DEFENCE & SECURITY
INDIAN NAVY INDUCTS DEEP SUBMERGENCE RESCUE VESSEL CAPABILITY
• The Indian Navy inducted a Submarine Rescue System with a Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) along with associated equipment. • The system has a side scan sonar for locating the position of the submarine in distress at sea. • The Indian DSRV has the capability to rescue personnel from a distressed submarine (DISSUB) up to a depth of 650 m. • It has been designed and supplied to meet unique requirements of our submarines by M/s James Fishes Defence, UK.
OFFSHORE PATROL VESSEL ICGS VARAHA LAUNCHED
• The Indian Coast Guard has launched a new offshore patrol vessel called ICGS Varaha from a corporate shipyard near Chennai. • This is the third in a series of seven similar ships to be handed over to the Coast Guard. The timeline for the delivery of all the vessels is March 2021. • ICGS Varaha will soon be fitted with advanced navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machineries. The weapons will include a 30 mm guns with Fire Control Systems.
INS ARIHANT CREW FELICITATED ON COMPLETION OF NUCLEAR TRIAD
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi received on November 5, 2018, the crew of Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine (SSBN) INS Arihant. • The submarine recently returned from its first deterrence patrol, completing the establishment of the country's survivable nuclear triad. www.onlinetyari.com Page 70
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• With the completion of nuclear triad, India has put in place a robust nuclear command and control structure, effective safety assurance architecture and strict political control, under its Nuclear Command Authority. • India’s nuclear policy is based on the doctrine of Credible Minimum Deterrence and No First Use, which was enunciated during the prime ministership of late Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on January 04, 2003. • INS Arihant is the indigenously-developed nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. It was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in the port city of Visakhapatnam. It was launched on July 26, 2009 and commissioned in August 2016.
ARMY INDUCTS K9 VAJRA AND M777 HOWITZER GUNS
• The Army on 09 Nov inducted new artillery guns and equipment, including K9 Vajra and M777 howitzers in Indian Army at Deolali artillery centre in Nashik district of Maharashtra. • This is the first major induction since the Bofors were inducted in the 1980s. While M777 howitzers are US- made light weight guns, the K9 Vajras are South Korea-made self-propelled artillery guns. • The entire process of inducting 100 K9 Vajra at a cost of Rs 4,366 crore will be completed by November 2020. • The first regiment of K9 Vajra, first-ever artillery gun manufactured by the Indian private sector, is expected to be completed by July 2019. • The gun has a maximum range of 28-38 km. It is capable of burst firing three rounds in 30 seconds, intense firing of 15 rounds in three minutes and sustained firing of 60 rounds in 60 minutes. • The Army is also going to raise seven regiments of 145 M777 howitzers. • The gun, having a range of 30 km, can be moved to a desired location using helicopters and service aircraft.
SIMBEX 18: 25 YEARS OF INDIA-SINGAPORE BILATERAL EXERCISE
• The 25th edition of SIMBEX, “Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise” is scheduled to be held from November 10- 21, 2018 in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. • The 2018 edition marks the silver jubilee of SIMBEX. To mark the historical occasion, the navies of both nations are undertaking exercises over an extended geography.
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• The Indian Navy is being represented this year by the Ranvir class destroyer – INS Ranvijay, two Project 17 multirole stealth frigates – INS Satpura and INS Sahyadri and the Project 28 ASW corvette.
SAMUDRA SHAKTI: INDIAN NAVY – INDONESIAN NAVY BILATERAL EXERCISE
• India – Indonesian Bilateral Navy Exercise named Samudra Shakti will be held from 12 to 18 Nov 2018 in Indonesia. • INS Rana of the Eastern Fleet will participate in week long navy exercise. • The aim of the exercise is to strengthen bilateral relations, expand maritime co-operation, enhance interoperability and exchange best practices. • The strategic partnership between the two nations was elevated to 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2018 and Defence co-operation has been a significant pillar in this partnership.
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDIAN OCEAN NAVAL SYMPOSIUM BEGINS
• The tenth anniversary of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium began in Kochi on 13 November, 2018. The theme for this year's seminar is 'IONS as a Catalyst for SAGAR'. SAGAR stands for Security and Growth for all in the Region. • As many as 26 of the 32 countries that constitute the membership of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) are participating in the 10th edition of the event that commenced in Kochi on November 13, 2018.
INDO-RUSSIAN JOINT EXERCISE INDRA 2018
• India and Russia conducted the joint military exercises in Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh from November 18, 2018. • The tri-service military exercise INDRA 2018 will include consumer services, catering and medical support apart from operational drills. • INDRA military exercise was launched in 2003 as bilateral exercise between India and Russia to boost cooperation and interoperability between navies of two countries. The name of the exercise INDRA has been derived from INDia and RussiA. • This exercise was transformed into tri-services military exercise in 2017 and was for first time held successfully in October 2017 at Vladivostok, Russia. It was India’s first joint tri-services exercise and also first between Russia and India.
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QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE
1. Whose autobiography is the ‘281 and Explanation: Japan's cabinet approved a Beyond’? draft bill to bring more blue-collar foreign a) V V S Laxman workers into the country, in a b) Virender Sehwag controversial move to address chronic c) Rohit Sharma labour shortages. The draft bill allows d) Virat Kohli foreign nationals with skills in sectors facing particularly severe shortages to Explanation: The former Indian cricketer V obtain five-year visas, which would not V S Laxman released the paper cover of allow them to bring their families. his forthcoming autobiography titled ‘281 and Beyond’. The book has been written 4. Which is the partner country at by well-known correspondent R Kaushik Videocittà 2018 in the Rome Film and is named around his epic knock of 281 Festival? at Eden Gardens in the 2001 Test match a) USA against Australia. b) India c) France 2. Which state government approved a d) Bhutan proposal to convert decommissioned carrier INS Viraat into a floating Explanation: India Pavilion was thrown museum? open at Videocittà 2018 in Rome Film a) Gujarat Festival on November 2, 2018. It b) Goa showcased the film heritage of India and c) Maharashtra India as the largest film making country. d) Andhra Pradesh India is a partner country at Videocittà 2018, an event focussing on virtual reality, Explanation: The Maharashtra state video gaming, animation, film making. cabinet approved the proposal to convert Indian Navy’s longest-serving aircraft 5. Which country’s manufacturer carrier, INS Viraat, into India’s first-ever supplied the Indian Navy’s Deep moored maritime museum-cum-marine Submergence Rescue Vessel capability adventure centre. Once converted, it will inducted recently? be only the eighth aircraft carriers in the a) USA world to have been converted into b) United Kingdom museums, theme parks and luxury hotels. c) France d) Russia 3. Which country’s cabinet approved a bill to accept foreign workers in Explanation: The Indian Navy inducted a sectors facing labour shortages? Submarine Rescue System with a Deep a) Germany Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) along b) USA with associated equipment. The system c) South Korea has a side scan sonar for locating the d) Japan position of the submarine in distress at www.onlinetyari.com Page 73
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sea. It has been designed and supplied to I. Sanctioning loans up to ₹1 crore in meet unique requirements of our 59 minutes. submarines by M/s James Fishes Defence, II. 2% interest subvention on fresh or UK. incremental loans. III. Interest rebate for exporters 6. How many Zonal Railways on Broad raised from 3% to 5%. Gauge route have become free from Unmanned Level Crossings (UMLCs) Choose the correct option till October 2018? a) I and II a) 12 b) II and III b) 11 c) I and III c) 10 d) All of the above d) 13 Explanation: All the options are correct; Explanation: Twelve Zonal Railways on hence answer is (d). Prime Minister Broad Gauge route have now become free Narendra Modi on November 2, 2018 from Unmanned Level Crossings. The launched the Support and Outreach Zones include Central Railway, Eastern Programme for the Micro, Small and Railway, North Eastern Railway, Southern Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. The Railway and West Central Railway. As of programme will continue for 100 days in now, there are only 77 UMLCs that have 100 districts. As part of it, he announced 12 also been planned to be eliminated by ‘gifts’ to the sector. December 2018. 9. Which crop has not been covered 7. On which committee’s under the Operation Greens recommendation, the Companies programme? Amendment (Ordinance), 2018 is a) Tomato based? b) Potato a) Injeti Srinivas Committee c) Onion b) Anjali Bhawra Committee d) Chilly c) Uday Kotak Committee d) Rajiv Bansal Committee Explanation: The Operation Greens, announced in the Union Budget 2018-19, Explanation: President Ramnath Kovind was in news, because the Ministry of Food on November 2, 2018 assented the Processing Industries on November 5, Companies Amendment (Ordinance), 2018 2018 issued guidelines for the programme, that seeks to promote Ease of Doing which aims to stabilize the prices of Business. The ordinance is based on the tomato, potato and onion throughout the recommendations of the Injeti Srinivas country. Committee. 10. WAPCOS and Doppelmayr on 8. Which of the following was November 5, 2018 signed an MoU for announced as part of the Support and Passenger Ropeway Projects. In this Outreach Programme for MSME context, consider the following sector? statements: www.onlinetyari.com Page 74
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I. WAPCOS is an Indian multinational Explanation: The South Korean first lady with projects in over 45 countries. Kim Jung-sook’s on November 6, 2018 II. Doppelmayr of Austria are the attended the ground-breaking ceremony world’s largest ropeway for Queen Huh Memorial Park in Ayodhya, manufacturers. Uttar Pradesh.
Choose the correct option 13. INS Arihant on November 5, 2018 returned from its first deterrence a) Only I patrol completing the nuclear triad. In b) Only II this context, consider the following c) Both I and II statements: d) Neither I nor II I. India’s nuclear policy is based on Explanation: Both the statements are the doctrine of Credible Minimum correct; hence the correct option is (c). Deterrence and No First Use. WAPCOS and Doppelmayr on November 5, II. INS Arihant was commissioned in 2018 signed a memorandum of the Indian Navy during the prime understanding (MoU) for providing end- ministership of Manmohan Singh. to-end solutions for passenger ropeway Choose the correct option projects. a) Only I 11. With which country India on b) Only II November 5, 2018 signed two MoUs in c) Both I and II tourism and sports? d) Neither I nor II a) Malawi b) South Korea Explanation: Statement (II) is incorrect c) Botswana because INS Arihant was launched during d) Zimbabwe the prime ministership of Manmohan Singh in July 2009 but was commissioned Explanation: India and South Korea on during the Narendra Modi-led government November 5, 2018 signed two in August 2016. Hence, the answer is (b). memorandum of understandings (MOUs) in tourism and sports sector. The MoUs 14. In which of the following sectors, India were signed during the visit of South and Malawi did not sign an MoU on Korean first Lady Kim Jung-sook’s visit to November 5, 2018? India to strengthen bilateral cooperation. a) Extradition Treaty b) Information, Communication and 12. Where was the ground-breaking Technology ceremony of Queen Huh Memorial c) Peaceful use of Atomic Energy Park held? d) Visa waiver for diplomats a) Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh b) Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Explanation: India and Malawi on c) Pune, Maharashtra November 5, 2018 signed three MoUs on d) Nagpur, Maharashtra extradition, cooperation in atomic energy and visa waiver for diplomats and officials. The MoUs were signed during the visit of www.onlinetyari.com Page 75
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Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu Explanation: Researchers at Indian to African nation Malawi. Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) have designed and booted up India's first 15. Which of the following countries is not microprocessor, Shakti, which could be exempted from US sanctions on Iran? used in mobile computing and other a) China devices. The Shakti family of processors b) Turkey was fabricated at Semi-Conductor c) Greece Laboratory (SCL), Indian Space Research d) Russia Organizations (ISRO) in Chandigarh.
Explanation: The US has allowed India and 18. Which of the following advertisements seven other countries to temporarily keep was not given by ad guru Alyque buying Iranian crude oil despite sanctions Padamsee? against Iran. The other seven countries a) Liril Girl exempted from Iran sanctions are China, b) Fevicol South Korea, Japan, Italy, Turkey, Greece c) Hamara Bajaj and Taiwan. d) Charlie’s Cherry Blossom 16. Who was chosen for the prestigious Explanation: Alyque Padamsee, an ad Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award 2018 by guru and a stalwart in theatre and film the Press Council of India? world, passed away on November 17, 2018 a) Parshuram Joshte in Mumbai after a prolonged illness. He b) V S Rajesh was 90. He also gave several iconic c) N Ram advertisements like the Liril girl, Surf’s d) Subhash Paul Lalitaji, Hamara Bajaj and Charlie’s Cherry Blossom, among others. Explanation: N Ram, the veteran journalist and the Hindu Group of Publications 19. Who was sworn-in as the Chief Justice Chairman, on November 5, 2018 was of Patna High Court? chosen for the prestigious Raja Ram a) Justice A P Shah Mohan Roy Award. The award is b) Justice Shashi Bhushan presented by the Press Council of India c) Justice A P Sahi (PCI) for outstanding contribution d) Justice M R Shah towards journalism on November 16 every year on the occasion of the National Press Explanation: Justice Amareshwar Pratap Day. Sahi was sworn-in as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court. Justice Sahi was a judge 17. Which academic institute recently of the Allahabad High Court before his developed India’s first indigenous present appointment. He replaced Justice microprocessor SHAKTI? M R Shah who was recently appointed as a) IIT Delhi the judge of Supreme Court. b) IIT Kharagpur c) IIT Roorkee 20. The authorities of which country have d) IIT Madras agreed on regulating food products cultured from animal cells? a) Germany www.onlinetyari.com Page 76
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b) South Korea d) None of these c) Japan Explanation: Oracle's ex-product chief d) USA Thomas Kurian will head Google's cloud Explanation: The US authorities have division, replacing Diane Greene. He will agreed on how to regulate food products join the Google on November 26, 2018. cultured from animal cells — paving way to get so-called “lab meat” on plates. The 24. Name the war hero of Battle of US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Longewala of Indo-Pak War 1971, who the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) died on November 19, 2018. agreed to share regulation of cell-cultured a) Brig E N Ramadoss food products. b) Brig Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri c) Capt Dharam Veer 21. Who was sworn-in as the seventh d) Capt Bhairon Singh president of Maldives? Explanation: Brigadier Kuldip Singh a) Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Chandpuri led a meager force of 120 b) Abdulla Yameen soldiers of 23rd Sikh Regiment and stopped c) Aishath Rasheed the assault of Pakistan ground attack on d) Fezleen Saleem Western border. He was awarded with Explanation: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was second highest gallantry award Mahaveer sworn-in as the seventh president of Chakra for his role in the battle. Indian Ocean nation Maldives on November 17, 2018. He vowed to end 25. What is the name of first quadricycle systematic corruption and investigate to be launched in India in December alleged human rights abuses under his 2018? predecessor, Abdulla Yameen. a) Bajaj Safar b) Bajaj Qute 22. Name the Indian paddler who won c) Hero Safar Bronze at the ITTF Challenge d) Hero Qute Belgosstrakh Belarus Open. a) Harmeet Desai Explanation: Union Ministry of Road Transport on November 23, 2018 notified b) Manav Thakkar the inclusion of Quadricycles as ‘non- c) Lakshya Sen transport’ or ‘passenger’ vehicles under d) Sourav Ghosal the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The first Explanation: India’s Manav Thakkar vehicle to be launched under this new settled for a bronze medal in the U-21 category will be the Bajaj Qute. singles category in the ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open. 26. The Indian Meteorological Department, in news in November 23. Name the Indian who will head the 2018, comes under Google’s cloud division. a) Union Ministry of Science & a) Ajaypal Singh Banga Technology b) Rajeev Suri b) Prime Minister’s Office c) Thomas Kurien c) Union Ministry of Earth Sciences www.onlinetyari.com Page 77
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d) Union Ministry of Environment 29. Name the musical instrument played by Ustad Imrat Khan who passed away Explanation: The India Meteorological on November 23, 2018. Department (IMD) developed a new a) Sitar technology called 'Impact Based b) Surbahar Forecasting Approach' to assess the rise c) Sarod of water level in rivers and reservoirs by d) Both (a) and (b) rain. It can help state governments to minutely monitor the impact of rain and Explanation: Classical music stalwart take real-time decisions. It is under the Ustad Imrat Khan, who dedicated his life administrative control of Ministry of Earth to promoting the sitar and the surbahar Sciences. worldwide, died in the US after a brief illness. He was 83. He belonged to the 27. Who was appointed as the first ‘Youth illustrious Etawa gharana, or the Advocate’ of the north east region of Imdadkhani Gharana, named after his India by the UNICEF? grandfather Ustad Imdad Khan. a) Hima Das b) Nahid Afrin 30. Which state on November 23, 2018 c) Shiv Thapa passed the Rights of Persons with d) Mirabai Chanu Disabilities Bill, 2018? a) Maharashtra Explanation: Popular singer Nahid Afrin of b) Uttarakhand Assam was appointed as the first ‘Youth c) Uttar Pradesh Advocate’ of the north eastern region by d) Jammu & Kashmir the UNICEF to fight for child rights. Nahid made her playback debut in the 2016 Explanation: The State Administrative Bollywood film ‘Akira’ starring Sonakshi Council (SAC) under the chairmanship of Sinha in the lead. Governor Shri Satya Pal Malik approved the enactment of the Jammu and Kashmir 28. Where was the 2nd Edition of India Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, Gold and Jewellery Summit held on 2018. The enactment of a bill aimed to November 23, 2018? enhance the rights and entitlement of a) Mumbai persons with disabilities. b) Gandhinagar c) New Delhi 31. Who will be honoured with the FIAPF d) Bengaluru Award at the 12th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA)? Explanation: Union Commerce and a) Nandita Das Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu b) Anurag Kashyap inaugurated the 2nd Edition of India Gold c) Deepa Nair and Jewellery Summit in New Delhi on d) Nagesh Kukunoor November 23, 2018. During the Summit, he informed that the Centre has decided to Explanation: Filmmaker Nandita Das will set up domestic Goal Council of India to be honoured with the FIAPF Award at the promote to growth of the sector and 12th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) in boost exports of jewellery. Brisbane. Das will be presented the award www.onlinetyari.com Page 78
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in recognition of her achievement in film c) France in the Asia Pacific region on November 29, d) Russia 2018. Explanation: The Australian Prime Minister 32. Which country in November 2018 Scott Morrison announced that it has launched ‘India Economic Strategy to started implementing “India Economic 2035’? Strategy to 2035” that will shape bilateral a) USA ties with India till 2035. It was launched b) Australia during the visit of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind.
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ONE LINERS OF THE MONTH
NATIONAL
• The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) • The first state to launch pan-India accorded approval for procurement of single emergency number ‘112’ under this indigenous Missile for two Indian Emergency Response Support System Navy ships to be built in Russia - (ERSS) - Himachal Pradesh. BrahMos. • ISRO launched India’s own earth • The first amongst the North-Eastern observation satellite on November 29, States in India to launch Pan-India named - HysIS (Hyperspectral Imaging single emergency number ‘112’ under Scientite). 'Emergency Response Support System • Head of the Consortium of Academic (ERSS)' – Nagaland. and Research Ethics (CARE) of • A Pan-India single number-based University Grants Commission (UGC) - emergency services which will connect UGC Vice Chairman (Presently to Police, Fire, Health and other Bhushan Patwardhan). helplines through an Emergency • On November 26, The National Response Centre - 112. Festival for Children of Child Care • India’s first international indigenous Institutions (CCIs) was inaugurated in film festival will take place in February New Delhi - Hausla 2018. 2019 in - Odisha. • Till date, India has made Double • Till November-18, total 15 States in the Taxation Avoidance Agreement country now have 100 % household (DTAA) with - 88 countries. electrification under - • The 10th Indo-Russian joint military Saubhagya (Prime Minister Sahaj exercise ‘EX INDRA 2018’ concluded in Bijali Har Ghar scheme). - Uttar Pradesh (at Babina). • For those violating the norms, FSSAI’s • Focus country of the 49th ‘Food Safety and Standards (claims & International Film Festival of India advertisement) Regulations-2018’ will (IFFI) – Israel. have penalty provision with a fine of • Focus state of the International Film up to - Rs 10 lakh. Festival of India (IFFI 2018) – • Theme of 49th International Film Jharkhand. Festival of India (IFFI) - Spread the Joy • To provide a boost to the Intellectual of Cinema. Property Right (IPR) culture in • Winner of Golden Peacock Award at indigenous defence industry, The the 49th International Film Festival of Department of Defence Production India (IFFI) – ‘Donbass’ (directed by has instituted a new framework titled - Sergei Loznitsa, Ukraine). Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti. • Winner of the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi • The Indian government has allowed Medal at IFFI 2018 - 'Walking with the the state-run oil marketing companies Wind' (directed by Praveen to open nearly this many new fuel Morchhale). pumps across the country - 56,000. www.onlinetyari.com Page 80
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• The government will give this much • Passport holders with this status will subsidy for non-basmati rice exports soon have to get themselves to March 25, 2019 - 5%. registered with the Ministry of • The Odisha government has come out External Affairs before taking up jobs with lexicons of this many tribal in 18 countries - Non-Emigration Check languages - 21. Required (non-ECR). • On November 23, this item included as • The annual 7th 'International Tourism a ‘non transport’ vehicle under the Mart' organized in - Agartala, Tripura. Motor Vehicles Act 1988 - Quadricycle. • On November 20, This Indian • On November 23, the 2nd Edition of shipbuilding company signed a $500 India Gold and Jewellery Summit mn deal with Russia to locally inaugurated in - New Delhi. manufacture two stealth frigates - Goa • India Meteorological Department Shipyard Limited (GSL). (IMD) develops technology to monitor • On Nov 21, the World Gold Council impact of rain, termed - Impact Based (WGC) and MMTC-PAMP India have Forecasting Approach. jointly launched the ‘Precious Metals • This state government has approved Assay and Training Institute’ (PMATI) the enactment of the ‘Rights of to develop a new generation of skilled Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2018’ - assayers in - New Delhi. Jammu and Kashmir. • Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) • The Allied and Healthcare Professions Expressway named as - Western Bill-2018 provides for setting up of an - Peripheral Expressway. Allied and Healthcare Council of • The foundation stone of Shri India. Vishwakarma Skill University was laid • The CCEA approved that 100% of the in the state – Haryana. food grains shall be mandatorily • The Challenge launched to invite packed in diversified - jute bags. innovative ideas based on cutting • The CCEA approved continuation of edge technology to reform the nine sub-schemes during 2017- Government processes on 19th 2020 under the umbrella scheme - November - Ease of Doing Business Atmosphere & Climate Research- Grand Challenge. Modelling Observing Systems & • Winner of the champion award given Services (ACROSS). by Ministry of Civil Aviation for • The corridor will be developed from hundred percent timely closure of Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district grievances in one year - Chennai to International Border, named - Airport. Kartarpur corridor. • In the field of Manufacturing, India’s • On 22nd November, this state ranking in the World Bank's Ease of government passed the bill to amend Doing Business (EODB-2019) - 77. the anti-adulteration law to curb food • This State Government launched Nari and milk adulteration – Maharashtra. Sashaktikaran Sankalp Abhiyan on • On 21st November, the ‘Institution’s November 19, 2018 - Uttar Pradesh. Innovation Council (IIC) program • On December 13, the first ever mega launched by Innovation cell of MHRD micro small medium enterprises in - New Delhi. (MSME) Conclave in India will be held in - Tirupati. www.onlinetyari.com Page 81
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• First Naturopathy Day of Ayurveda, • N. G. Gaikwad Panel recommends on Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha the demands of the Maratha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) Ministry - community for reservation upto 16% in 18 November 2018. - Maharashtra. • 0.7-meter telescope at the Indian • The only state that gives 69% Astronomical Observatory (IAO) at reservation and highest reservation - Hanley (Ladakh)- Global Relay of Tamil Nadu. Observatory Watch Transients • On November 15, two Circuits projects Happen (GROWTH) India telescope. were inaugurated under the Swadesh • According to the FSSAI report in Darshan scheme in this northeast November, Pulses and beans imported state - Arunachal Pradesh. into India are safe from presence of - • Second mega food park in Glyphosate. Maharashtra - Paithan Mega Food • The next revenue secretary of the Park, Aurangabad. Ministry of Finance of the Government • National Cooperative Development of India - Ajay Bhushan Pandey (CEO Corporation (NCDC)’s new scheme to of UIDAI). promote young entrepreneurs in to • The number of currently operational cooperative business ventures -Yuva high courts in India – 24. Sahakar-Cooperative Enterprise • According to the latest rankings of Support and Innovation Scheme. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), • To get mentorship for colleges by top India's ranking in press freedom - 138. Indian universities and colleges to • On 16th November, This cyclonic meet the National Assessment and storm crossed Tamil Nadu's coast - Accreditation Council (NAAC)’s quality Cyclone Gaja. standards, University Grants • India’s first long-distance train without Commission (UGC)’s new scheme - a separate locomotive or engine - Paramarsh. Train 18. • The 'India International Cherry • This organization has started Eat Right Blossom Festival 2018' was organized India Movement - Food Safety and in - Shillong, Meghalaya. Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). • The Centre banned • To ensure environmental conditions seven Meitei extremist groups for five for construction projects measuring years in the state of – Manipur. between 20,000 and 50,000 square • On November 14, 2018, ISRO sent this metres, Union Environment Ministry communication satellite - GSAT-29. has delegated powers to - local • On 12th and 13th November 2018, bodies. International Conference on Yoga for • To ensure sustainable development of Public Health held in - Panaji (Goa). the Indian Himalayan region, NITI • Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Aayog has constituted the ‘Himalayan (ADNOC) signed a MoU with this State Regional Council’ to study - agency to explore the possibility of 12 states. storing its crude oil - Indian Strategic • This state has finalised its new emblem Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL). consists of "Dharma Chakka" - Andhra • On November 11, Two new memorials Pradesh. in France honour role of Indian
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soldiers in World War I in - France shares in Dredging Corporation of (Laventie and Villers Guislain). India Limited (DCIL) - 73.44%. • 2018 is the 100th year of this language- • The Indian Space Research based Cinema - Bengali. Organisation (ISRO) will send mission • The first inter-modal terminal, which is to this planet in mid-2023 - Venus. constructed in Varanasi on the river - • West Bengal government decided to Ganga. observe ‘Rosogolla Day’ on - • This state/UT government has November 14. announced a ban on import of fish • National River Ganga (Rejuvenation, into the state for six months effective Conservation and Management) Bill, from November 11 - Goa. 2018 banned the construction of • This State Election Commission has jetties, ports or “permanent hydraulic made its mandatory of having a usable structures” in the Ganga, unless toilet and a two-child norm for all permitted by the - National Ganga aspiring candidates of panchayat polls Rejuvenation Authority. - Assam. • There are no mandatory pension • From 9-11 November, 2018, The Global benefits in the final version of the IT Challenge for Youth with Centre’s model construction workers’ Disabilities, 2018 organised in - New welfare scheme despite earlier Delhi. suggestions that 20% of the • On 12-13 November 2018, Global construction cess fund be set aside for Cooling Innovation Summit will be retired workers. organized in - New Delhi. • The government has released Welfare • This Article of the Constitution Scheme for the workers of this sector - mandates that a person cannot be Construction. prosecuted or punished twice for the • This state government has decided to same offence - Article 20 (2). set up development boards for the • M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers Gun was Matua and Namasudra communities - purchased by the Indian Army from - West Bengal. US. • To encourage women voters, Election • Central Tribal University (CTU) will be Commission has set up ‘Sangwari’ set up in - Andhra Pradesh (Relli polling booths in various village of Vizianagaram District). constituencies of - Chhattisgarh. • The Union Cabinet has approved the • ‘Operation Greens’ of Ministry of Food filling of Padur Strategic Petroleum Processing Industries is to stabilize the Reserves(SPR) by overseas National supply of - Tomato, Onion and Potato. Oil Companies (NOCs), which is • The MoU signed between this India’s situated at - Padur, Karnataka. engineering consultancy organisation • The Union Cabinet gave "In-principle" and Doppelmayr for providing end-to- approval for leasing out these six end solutions for passenger ropeway airports of AAI - Ahmedabad, Jaipur, projects - WAPCOS. Lucknow, Guwahati, • This institute have designed and Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru. booted up India's first microprocessor, • The CCEA has given ‘in principle’ named 'Shakti' and 'RISECREEK' - IIT approval for strategic disinvestment Madras. of this much Government of India's www.onlinetyari.com Page 83
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• On 5th November, A ‘National ‘teen talaq pramukhs’ across the State Conference on Public Procurement & to ensure rehabilitation of the victims - Competition Law’ organised in – Delhi. Uttar Pradesh. • BJP of this state will soon be appointing around 100 women as BANKING
• National Projects Construction • A centralized electronic platform for Corporation Limited (NPCC) has been processing interest subvention on conferred with the status of - bank loans under DAY-NULM – PaiSA Miniratna : Category –I. (Portal for Affordable Credit • On November 26, The Indian and Interest Subvention Access). government signed a $200-million loan • The Finance ministry of Government agreement for improving Bihar's state of India will infuse this much amount highways with - Asian Development in the state-owned banks for Bank (ADB). recapitalization by March-2019 end - Rs • On Dec 1, an intelligent platform, 42,000 crore. made by Robert Bosch Engineering • On November 24, this state-promoted and Business Solutions Ltd, has been bank brought under purview of Right unveiled to enable Small and Medium to Information Act (RTI), the Central Enterprises (SMEs) migrate to Industry Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the 4.0 version - Phantom. State Legislature - Jammu-Kashmir • Growth-rate of the Indian economy in Bank Limited. the second quarter of fiscal year 2018- • WTO, United Nations Conference on 19 - 7.1%. Trade and Development (UNCTAD) • This Indian Private life insurer and US- and International Trade Centre (ITC) based New York Life have launched a have signed a MoU to advance the co-branded knowledge and leadership development of an online platform - programme to boost the productivity the Global Trade Helpdesk. of its agents in India - Max Life • On November 22, the government will Insurance. give this much subsidy of for non- • The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is basmati rice exports to March 25, 2019 going to use this ultra-modern remote- - 5%. sensing technology developed by the • According to India Skills Report-2019, NASA for the first time in India to This state has the highest level of locate minerals – Airborne Visible- employability - Andhra Pradesh. Infrared Imaging Spectrometer - Next • According to the Budget Estimate, the Generation (AVIRIS-NG). government proposed to mop up this • With an aim to create a profile of much amount from the goods and India’s this industry sector, the RBI has services tax (GST) - Rs 7.4 lakh crore. launched a survey to gauge their • This Cloud infrastructure provider scope with respect to turnover, launched the ‘Digital Launch Pad profitability and workforce on (DLP)’, an accelerator for Indian start- November 27 - Startup. ups - OVH.
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• According to the Confederation of calculator in India, which has feature ATM Industry (CATMi), this per cent of built-in GST tabs for 0%, 5%, 12%, 18% the Automated Teller Machines and 28% tabs - CASIO. (ATMs) may be shut down by March • For the month of October 2018, the 2019 - Nearly 50%. annual rate of inflation, based on • On 20th November, The Government monthly Wholesale Price Index (WPI), of India and the World Bank signed a stood at - 5.28%. $310 million Loan • As its knowledge partner for cyber Agreement for Power System security, The Information Technology Improvement Project in – Jharkhand. & Electronics (IT&E) Department of • On 19th November, The RBI board West Bengal has selected - Maulana decided to set up a high-powered Abul Kalam Azad University of committee to examine issues related Technology (MAKAUT). to surplus capital of this much amount • According to RBI’s new norms for with the central bank - Rs 9.69 lakh infrastructure creation, the average crore. maturity requirement for mandatory • This company developed indigenous hedging has been reduced to five 'Zika' vaccine - Bharat Biotech, years from earlier - Ten years. Hyderabad. • Intel has decided to set up their • This bank’s one-stop solution platform technology development centre in – 'YONO' for the online access of all Telangana. banking services has suspended digital • The Reserve Bank of India is likely to account opening through Aadhaar - establish an ombudsman for digital State Bank of India (SBI). payments by – March 2019. • India's first battery-operated • According to RBI, the minimum 'Interactive Credit Card' introduced by average maturity required for the - IndusInd Bank. external commercial borrowings • A funding of ………. in 2017-18 has (ECBs) in the infrastructure space been received by the Kerala start-ups, raised by eligible borrowers has been according to the Kerala Start-up reduced to three years from earlier - Ecosystem Report 2018 - $38 million. five years. • This company has joined hands with • A subsidiary of Manappuram Finance about 250 retailers in order to takeoff Ltd. got permission from RBI for the pilot project in Dehradun and lending to micro, small and medium Mussoorie as an initiative towards enterprises sector in a big way - plastic waste management - Nestlé Asirvad Microfinance. India. • As per the RBI guidelines, • The New banking technology, which Microfinance firms can lend only this will support banks to reach out to much percent of their portfolio to those without bank accounts in 23 MSME - 15%. countries including the 10 ASEAN • The RBI has initiated setting up a members - Application Programming digital ………. to capture details of all Interface Exchange (APIX). borrowers and also the pending legal • This Japanese electronics company suits in order to check financial has launched World’s first GST delinquencies - Public Credit Registry.
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CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
INTERNATIONAL
• Place for the 24th meeting of • In November-18, this music genre has Conference of Parties (COP-24) to the found its groove on the UNESCO's list United Nations Framework of global cultural treasures - Reggae. Convention on Climate Change • According to 'Global Nutrition Report (UNFCCC) - Katowice, Poland. 2018', this country holds highest i.e. • Place for the "G20 Summit 2018" - almost a third of the world's burden Buenos Aires (Argentina). for growth inhibition - India. • The ‘G20 summit 2022’ will be • In November-18, this region developed organized in - India. an ambitious plan to cut emissions and • The Group of 20 (G20) group is make the bloc carbon neutral by 2050 - currently headed by - Argentina. European Union. • "Asia Pacific Summit 2018" was • The Sustainable Blue Economy organized in - Kathmandu (capital of Conference 2018 was held in – Nairobi, Nepal). Kenya. • These countries agreed to give a 90- • In November-18, India signed a day break for the trade war and protocol on hygiene and inspection agreed not to impose new import requirements for the exports of fish tariffs from 1 January 2019 - America meal and fish oil with the - China. and China. • On November 26, India and this • Theme of 'World AIDS Day 2018' - country amended their “Know Your Status”. bilateral Double Taxation Avoidance • The ‘Kimberley Process Certification Agreement (DTAA) - China. Scheme (KPCS) Plenary 2018’ was held • NASA's InSight (Interior Exploration in - Brussels, Belgium. Using Seismic Investigations) • Chairmanship holder of KPCS from spacecraft landed on - Planet Mars. 1st January, 2019 - India. • Dictionary.com's word of the year • The G20 Summit 2018 held in - Buenos 2018 - Misinformation. Aires (Argentina). • To participate in its Global Sustainable • Theme of 'G20 Summit 2018' - Cities 2025 initiative in the “University 'Building Consensus for Fair and City” category from India, The United Sustainable Development'. Nations selected - Noida and Greater • This country presented 9-point agenda Noida. on fugitive economic offenders at G20 • To participate in its Global Sustainable Summit 2018 - India. Cities 2025 initiative, these cities are • KONKAN-2018 is the Bilateral naval the only invitee from India - Mumbai exercise between - India and the and Bengaluru. United Kingdom. • 21st round of Special Representatives • On 28th November, ‘South Asia talks on India-China boundary Regional Youth Peace Conference questions held in - Chengdu, China. 2018’ was held in - New Delhi. • The researchers from UK and India • New Age Limit on presidential developed a 'smart' vaccine on this candidates in Maldives - aged 35 and disease in goat - Goat plague. above. www.onlinetyari.com Page 86
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
• According to a study by Harvard • In November-18, The United States has University, this geo-engineering suspended USD 1.66 billion in security technique could limit rising assistance to - Pakistan. temperatures that are causing climate • In November-18, this country decided change by spraying sun-dimming to not sign a UN Global Compact for chemicals - stratospheric aerosol Migration – Australia. injection (SAI). • The 26th meeting of the General • A new species of a deep-sea shark has Conference on Weights and Measures been found in the northern Indian (CGPM) was held during November 13- Ocean in Indian territory - Pygmy false 16 2018 at -Versailles, France. catshark (scientific name is • General Conference on Weights and Planonasus indicus). Measures (CGPM) has been changed • This nation implementing the ‘India the definition of these seven base Economic Strategy’ under ‘Vision 2035 units from being linked to artefacts - for India’ - Australia. second, metre, kilogram, ampere, • Britain and this nation have agreed on Kelvin, mole and candela. a draft text setting out a close post- • This Asian country decided to rejoin Brexit relationship - European Union. the Commonwealth after two years – • Winner of 'Asia Environment Maldives. Enforcement Award-2018' of United • Theme of World Toilet Day 2018 - Nations Environment Program (UNEP) When Nature Calls. - Wildlife Crime Control Bureau • This country agreed on how to (WCCB), Government of India. regulate food products cultured from • The Confederation of Indian Industry animal cells called “lab meat” on (CII) oraganised an exhibition of plates - US. construction equipment and • Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has taken the technology “ConMac 2018” in - Nepal. oath as seventh president of – • On 21st November, India and this Maldives. country signed five agreements to • According to the latest rankings of boost investment and enhance Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the cooperation in key sectors like top country in press freedom - disability, agricultural research and Norway. education - Australia. • India and China held the ninth Annual • On 21 November, this nation unveiled Defence and Security Dialogue in - a 'strategy paper' outlining the broad Beijing, China. contours to significantly scale up ties • This country takes India to World with India and proposed a military-to- Trade Organization (WTO) over military cooperation in the Indian 'market distorting policies on sugar' – Ocean - European Union. Australia. • Under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) • India is the world's ………-largest route, The Indian Navy issued Letter of sugar producer - second. Request (LoR) for procurement of 24 • Winner of the “2018 UNESCO- MH-60R Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH) Madanjeet Singh Prize for the worth $ 2 billion from the - U.S. Promotion of Tolerance and Non- government. Violence” - Manon Barbeau (Canada) and Coexist Initiative (NPO, Kenya). www.onlinetyari.com Page 87
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
• Using this technique, using the photo • On November 12, India has signed of the 5,000th sunrise on Mars, British Agreement on Mutual Legal scientists have created a two-minute Assistance in Criminal Matters with - piece of music entitled 'Mars Morocco. Soundscapes ' - Data sonification (or • “Samudra Shakti 2018” is the marine Image sonification). bilateral exercise between the navies • International Labour Organization of - India and Indonesia. (ILO) will launch the India’s third • The world's largest supercomputer, ‘Decent Work Country Program which uses Neuromorphic computing (DWCP) for the period - 2018-2022. technology - Spiking Neural Network • During November 18 to 21, The 87th Architecture (SpiNNaker) (University International Criminal Police of Manchester, UK). Organisation (Interpol) General • This space agency is planning to send Assembly 2018 will be held at –Dubai, organs-on-chips to the International UAE. Space Station (ISS) - National • The first police force in the world to Aeronautics and Space Administration receive the prestigious Platinum (NASA). award for its outstanding work • The ‘Lions of the Great War’ recognition by European Foundation monument was unveiled in honour of for Quality Management (EFQM) - Indian soldiers who fought during the Dubai Police. First World War in - Britain • The UNSC has unanimously agreed to (Smethwick, West Midlands, lift sanctions against this country, England). which were imposed in 2009 by • Voters from this region are deciding claiming al-Shabab militants supporter whether the French territory in the in Sudan - Eritrea. South Pacific should break free from • On November 12, the second 'Startup the France that claimed it in the mid- India Investment Seminar' was 19th century - New Caledonia. organized in - Bijing, China. • During Nov 11 to Nov 15, The 33rd • On 12-13 November, the 7th RCEP Association of Southeast Asian Inter-Sessional Ministerial Meeting in - Nations (ASEAN) Summit held in - Singapore. Singapore. • Under the theme of "IONS as a • On November 9, 2018, this country Catalyst for SAGAR", The Indian hosted talks to end the war Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in Afghanistan in - Moscow, Russia. organized a seminar in - Kochi, Kerala. • On November 9, 2018, • 'Indra 2018', A joint military exercise President Maithripala Sirisena of this was organized in Babina in Uttar country has signed a special gazette Pradesh between - India and Russia. notification dissolving parliament - Sri • According to Credit Suisse 'Global Lanka. Wealth Report 2018', this country • Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral topped in total wealth - US. Exercise (SIMBEX 2018) is scheduled • During the last 12 months in June 2018, from 10-21 November in - Port Blair the total global wealth growth was by (Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal). - 4.6% (total $ 317 million crores). • On May 9, India joining as member of Advanced Motor Fuels Technology www.onlinetyari.com Page 88
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
Collaboration Programme under - • On November 7, 2018, ITU International Energy Agency (IEA). Plenipotentiary Conference 2018 held • This was the first mission to visit Pluto at - Dubai, UAE. and its moons by National Aeronautics • ITU South Asia Region Office and and Space Administration (NASA) - Technology Innovation Center to be Ralph. set up in this Indian city - New Delhi. • India has been elected as a Member of • On 5th November, India agreed to the Council for another 4-year term extend a new Line of credit of USD 215 (2019-2022). The elections to the million for 18 water projects to - Council were held during the ongoing Malawi. ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018 • The United States exempted this many at Dubai, UAE. countries from the US sanctions for • India ranked third elected to this buying Iranian oil – Eight (India, China, telecom sectors organization from the Japan, Italy, Greece, South Korea, Asia-Australasia region for the year Taiwan and Turkey). 2019-2022 - International Telecommunications Union (ITU). SPORTS
• Winner of the 'World Chess 2018' • Captain of the ICC Women's World tournament in London - Grandmaster Twenty20 XI - Harmanpreet Kaur Magnus Carlsen (Norway). (India). • The women wrestler won the 57 kg • Winner of ICC T20 Women's World Cup weight category in the Tata Motors 2018 – Australia. Senior National Championship 2018 - • Winner of the men's singles event in Vinesh Phogat. 'Syed Modi International badminton • Winner team of 'Tata Motors Senior championship 2018' - Sameer Verma National Championship 2018' - (India). Railway Sports Promotion Board. • Winner of the women's singles event • The first Indian shooter, who in 'Syed Modi International badminton bestowed with the ‘Blue Cross’, the championship 2018' - Han Yue (China). ISSF’s highest award - Abhinav Bindra. • First Indian, who won gold medal in • Host of Men's World Cup hockey 2018 Senior Commonwealth Fencing – India. Championship - Bhawani Devi. • Host of ICC World Cup 2018 - England • Winner of the 'Hong Kong Open Golf (UK). Tournament 2018' - Aaron Rai (India). • As per BCCI, a cricketer faced a ban of • The first woman boxer to win six gold so many years for age frauds - two medals at the World Championships - years. MC Mary Kom. • The 'Hockey World Cup 2018' is being • Gold medal winner in the 48 kg weight played in - India (Bhubaneswar, category of 'AIBA Women's World Odisha). Boxing Championship 2018' - MC Mary • Winner of the 2018 Abu Dhabi F-One Kom. Motor Racing Championship - Lewis Hamilton (Britain). www.onlinetyari.com Page 89
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
• India's bronze medalist in the Vault • Winner of the men's singles event in event of the 'FIG Artistic Gymnastics '2018 ATP World Tour Final' - World Cup 2018' - Dipa Karmakar. Alexander Zverev (Germany). • Gold medalist in the Vault event of the • Winner of 150-up Points event in 'IBSF 'FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup World Billiards Tournament 2018' - 2018' - Rebecca Andrade (Brazil). Pankaj Advani (India). • The 2020 Olympics will organise in - • This Indian won bronze medal in the Tokyo, Japan. U-21 singles category in the ITTF • New name of ‘World Twenty20’ Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open cricket – ‘T-20 World Cup’ cricket. 2018 - Manav Thakkar. • The 2018 World Chess Championship • This Indian won bronze medal in men’s held in - London. singles category in the '2018 World • The Indian Boxer Who confirm a medal Junior Badminton Championship' - in the 48 kg weight category at the Lakshya Sen. 2018 World Boxing Championship in • The 'AIBA Women's World Boxing New Delhi - Mary Kom. Championship 2018' is being played in - • The sixth Indo-Shotley PPL Cricket New Delhi. 2018 tournament organized in - Pune • 'KPIT MSLTA ATP Challenger Tennis (Maharashtra, India). Championship' is being played during • Winner of '2018 Subroto Cup' football 17 to 24 November in - Pune tournament - Bangladesh Krida (Maharashtra, India). Shiksha Prothishtan (BKSP). • Winner of the IBSF Billiards • The Best Player award in '2018 Subroto Championship played at Yangon - Cup' football tournament - Pankaj Advani. Mohammad Nemil (Reliance • Winner of Tata Steel Chess Blitz Foundation School, Mumbai). Tournament in Kolkata - Viswanathan • The ‘International Gymnastics Anand. Federation (FIG) Acrobatic World Cup • 'AIBA Women's World Championship 2018’ held in - Baku, Azerbaijan. 2018' is being played at - New Delhi. • Gold Medal Winner in Men's Team • '2018 World Chess' championship was event of the ‘International Gymnastics played in - London, Britain. Federation (FIG) Acrobatic World Cup • Ranked first in the ICC ODI batsmen 2018’ - Russia. Rankings is - Virat Kohli. • Gold Medal Winner in Women's Team • Ranked first in the ICC ODI bowlers event of the ‘International Gymnastics Rankings is - Jaspreet Bumrah (India). Federation (FIG) Acrobatic World Cup • This team won the Federation Tennis 2018’ – Germany. Championship in Prague - Czech • The '2018 Syed Modi Badminton' Republic. tournament is being played at - • This team has won the 'Constructors Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Championship' - Mercedes. • In the 62nd national shooting (rifle- • Winner of West Indies-India series of pistol) championship at three T-20 matches played in Chennai - Thiruvananthapuram, this player won India. gold in 10m air rifle event - Anjum • Winner of Men’s single in 'Fuzhou Mudgil. China Open badminton 2018' - Kento Momota (Japan). www.onlinetyari.com Page 90
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
• The '2018 Federation Cup' tennis • 2018 Women's World Twenty20 will be tournament was played in - Prague. played in - Caribbean Islands. • Winner of men's single in 'Next Gen • In the 'Asian Shotgun Warship 2018' in ATP Tennis' tournament at Milan - Kuwait City, this player has won gold Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece). in skeet event - Angad Vir Singh • Winner of men's singles in 2018 Bajwa (India) (60 out of 60). SaarLorLux Open badminton • The first Indian to win a gold medal in tournament - Subhankar Dey (India). the shotgun skeet event globally - • Winner of men's singles in '2018 Paris Angad Vir Singh Bajwa. Masters' ATP Tennis Championship - • American Gymnast won the gold Karen Khachanov (Russia). medal in the gymnastics competition • 66th edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat in Doha, Qatar - Simone Arianne Biles. Race, the famous traditional boats • Player won the men's section in the race, organized in the state of – New York City Marathon 2018 - Lilisa Kerala. Desisa (Ethiopia). • The '2018 World Chess Championship' • Player won the Women's section in held in - London (UK). the New York City Marathon 2018 – • This Indian pair creates a world record Mary Kitenee (Kenya). in the 10 m mixed team junior event at • In the 34th Under-18 Junior National 11th Asian Airgun Championships in Athletics in Ranchi, A player registered Kuwait - Manu Bhaker and Saurabh a new national record in men's Chaudhary. Hammer throw - Nitesh Puniya • Women's World Chess 2018 held in - (81.47m). Russia. PERSON IN NEWS
• Chief guests of the India’s Republic • New Chairman of National Skill Day 2019 - Cyril Ramphosa (President Development Corporation (NSDC) - of South Africa). Anil Manibhai Naik (Group Chairman • Author of ‘Army of Empire: The Untold of L&T). Story of the Indian Army in World War • Winner of IFFI special award of the I’ - George Morton-Jack. 49th International Film Festival of • The newly elected first Woman India (IFFI) - Salim Khan (Indian President of Georgia - Salome writer). Zurabishvili. • Winner of Lifetime Achievement • Professor Abdur Raheem Kidwai’s Award of the 49th International Film book “Jalwa-e-Danish-e-Ferang” is Festival of India (IFFI) - Dan Wolman focused on this famous poetry writer - (Israeli filmmaker). Allama Mohammad Iqbal. • Author of 'Making of New India: • Winner of 'Indian Personality of the Transformation Under Modi Year' Award at 49th IFFI - Amitabh Government' - Bibek Debroy (co- Bachchan. author Anirban Ganguly and Kishore • New Chairman of Union Public Service Desai). Commission (UPSC) - Arvind Saxena. www.onlinetyari.com Page 91
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
• Current Chairman of the Financial • Next Prime Minister of Fiji - Frank Advisory Committee to Prime Minister Bainimarama. of India - Bibek Debroy. • New Chief Justice of Patna High Court • New Chief Election Commissioner of - Justice Amareshwar Pratap Sahi. India - Sunil Arora. • Current governor of Bihar - Lalji • Convenor of the Task Force to review Tandon. the Income-tax Act, 1961 and to draft a • The Brand Father of Indian advertising new direct tax law - Akhilesh Ranjan. died in Mumbai on 17th November - • This former Union railway minister Alyque Padamsee. died on November 25 in Bangalore – • The next Chief Executive Officer of CK Jaffer Sharief. Google Cloud in January 2019 - Thomas • Current Governor of Jammu & Kurian. Kashmir State - Satya Pal Malik. • 1971 War hero passed away on • The first 'Youth Advocate' of the November 17 in Mohali - Kuldeep India’s northeastern region by the Singh Chandpuri. UNICEF to fight for child rights - Singer • The next Ambassador of India to the Nahid Afrin. Central African Republic - Nina • This famous Satar player died in Tshering La. America on November 23 - Ustad Imrat • 2018 Winner of the National Awards Khan. for Excellence in Journalism – C. K. • Winner of International Federation of Prasad. Film Producers Associations( FIAPF) • 2018 Winner of the Raja Ram Mohan Award 2018 - Nandita Das. Roy Award - N. Ram. • Author of book ‘The Illustrated History • First youth ambassador of United of Indian Hockey: A Saga Triumph, Pen Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) & Dreams’ - Hockey India. India - Hima Das. • New President of International • A person appointed as a Judge of the Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) DC Circuit Court of Appeal in U.S. - - Kim Jong-Yang (South Korea). Naomi Rao. • According to Hurun rich-list 2018, this • He got additional charge of the person is the richest real Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers estate entrepreneur with total wealth from November 14 - DV. Sadanand of Rs 271.50 billion - Mangal Prabhat Gowda. Lodha (Lodha group founder). • The co-creator of iconic superheroes • The author of 'Radio Kashmir - In like Spider-Man has died - Stan Lee. Times of Peace and War' - Dr. Rajesh • Amnesty International revoked the Bhat. Ambassador of Conscience Award • Cricketer and author of the from - Aung San Suu Kyi (Myanmar). autobiography 'No Spin' - Shane • New chairman of Competition Warne (with Mark Nicholas). Commission of India (CCI) - Ashok • The committee led by this person is Kumar Gupta. constituted by the Ministry of • The author of 'Becoming' - Michelle Commerce& Industry to study the Obama. existing Special Economic Zone (SEZ) • New Chairperson of the Competition policy of India - Baba Kalyani. Commission of India (CCI) - Ashok Kumar Gupta. www.onlinetyari.com Page 92
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
• Current President of Sri Lanka - • Current President of Malawi - Peter Maitripala Sirisena. Arthur Mutharika. • This veteran actress from Marathi film • Winner of the Raja Ram Mohan Roy industry died in Pune on November 9 - Award for 2018 - N. Ram. Lalan Sarang. • This person, who led the INS Kamorta • This person has been appointed as the in the Indo-Pak war in 1971 for the ‘Honorary Consul’ of the Czech liberation of Bangladesh, died recently Republic in Bengaluru - C S Prakash. - Manohar P. Awati. • India's current Chief Election Commissioner - Om Prakash Rawat. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
• India's indigenous supersonic missile – • International Shooting Sports BrahMos. Federation (ISSF) established in the • 'BrahMos' missile was jointly year – 1907. developed by - India and Russia. • Headquarter of the International • The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, a Shooting Championship Federation program that will be implemented in (ISSF) - Munich (Germany). 2020, is made by - United Nations • UK (United Kingdom) is a group of Framework Convention on Climate these regions - Scotland, Wales and Change (UNFCCC). England as well as Northern Ireland. • United Nations Framework • The 'Reggae' music has originated in - Convention on Climate Change Jamaica. (UNFCCC) established in the year - • Food Security and Standards Authority 1992. of India (FSSAI) established in the year • Headquarter of United Nations – 2011. Framework Convention on Climate • International Chess Federation (FIDE) Change (UNFCCC) - New York (United established in the year - 1924. States). • Headquarter of the International • India's first Republic Day - Chess Federation (FIDE) - Athens 26 January 1950. (Greece). • 'Group of 20 (G-20)' formed in the year • National Skill Development - 1999. Corporation (NSDC) established in the • World AIDS Day - 01 December. year – 2008. • The ‘Kimberley Process Certification • Union Public Service Commission Scheme (KPCS)’ formed in the Year – (UPSC) of India established in the year 2003. - 1926. • The 'Kimberley Process Certification • The European Union (EU) is a political Scheme (KPCS)' is related to business and financial union of – 28 of - diamonds. countries/states. • Headquarter of the Financial Action • United Nations Framework Task Force (FATF) - Paris (France). Convention on Climate Change • Financial Action Task Force (FATF) (UNFCCC)’s 'Paris Climate Agreement' established in the year – 1989. was adopted by member states in - 2015. www.onlinetyari.com Page 93
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
• University Grants Commission (UGC) • United Nations (UN) established in the established in the year - 1953. year - 1945 (24 October). • Indian Space Research Organization • Headquarter of United Nations - (ISRO) established in the year - 1969 Manhattan (New York City, USA). (August 15). • International Cricket Council (ICC) • First satellite of ISRO - 'Aryabhatta' (19 established in the year – 1990. April 1975). • Headquarter of the International • The first country entered in the space Cricket Council (ICC) - Dubai, UAE. of the planet Mars in its first attempt - • The world's biggest rice exporter – India. India. • Maker of 'Keshav Venu' flute (made in • The most populous country in the 1984) - Pt. Keshav Ginde. world - China. • International Film Festival of India • Jammu-Kashmir Bank Limited (IFFI) established in the year – 1952. established in the year – 1938. • National Projects Construction • Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) of Corporation Limited (NPCC) of India India established in the year - 1964. established in the year - 1957. • International Boxing Association • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) starts its (AIBA) established in the year - 1946. operation in the year - 1935 (1st April). • Headquarter of the International • Board of Control for Cricket in India Boxing Association (AIBA) - Lausanne, (BCCI) established in the year - 1928. Switzerland. • Headquarter of Board of Control for • Headquarter of the International Cricket in India (BCCI) - Mumbai, Gymnastics Federation (FIG) - Maharashtra. Lausanne, Switzerland. • Asian Development Bank (ADB) • International Gymnastics Federation established in the year - 1966 (FIG) established in the year – 1881. (December 19). • A continent, a nation and an island in • Headquarter of Asian Development the world - Australia. Bank (ADB) - Mandaluyong • India Meteorological Department (Philippines). (IMD) established in the year - 1875 • National Urban Livelihood Mission (founder - Henry Francis Blanford). (NULM) was launched by the Ministry • Headquarter of United Nations of Home Affairs and Urban Poverty Children's Fund (UNICEF) - New York Alleviation in year - 2013. City (New York, USA). • Election Commission of India (ECI) • United Nations Children's Fund established in the year - 1950 (January (UNICEF) established in the year - 25). 1946. • The Central Board of Direct Taxes of • International Federation of Film India (CBDT) starts its operation in the Producers Associations (FIAPF) year - 1964 (1 January). established in the year - 1933. • The 'Syed Modi International • Headquarter of the International Badminton' championship is an annual Federation of Film Producers international badminton tournament Associations (FIAPF) - Paris, France. played in – Lucknow, India. • European Union (EU) established in • Constitution Day of India - 26th the year - 1993. November. www.onlinetyari.com Page 94
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
• Headquarter of European Union (EU) - • Headquarter of Commonwealth - Brussels, Belgium. London (UK). • United Kingdom (UK) is a group of - • Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Scotland, Wales and England & Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy Northern Ireland. (AYUSH) Ministry established in the • United Nations Environment Program year - 2014 (November 9). (UNEP) established in the year - 1972. • Qaumi Ekta Week (National • Headquarter of the United Nations Integration Week) - November 19-25. Environment Program (UNEP) - • World Toilet Day - November 19. Nairobi (Kenya). • World Toilet Organization (WTO) • The European Union (EU) consist of - established in the year - 2001 28 countries. (November 19). • International Criminal Police • Association of Tennis Professionals Organization (Interpol) established in (ATP) established in the year – 1972. the year – 1923. • Headquarter of Association of Tennis • Headquarter of International Criminal Professionals (ATP) - London (UK). Police Organization (Interpol) - Leone, • International billiards and snooker France. federation (IBSF) established in the • Subroto Cup Football Tournament was year - 1971. first played in India in - 1960. • Headquarter of the International • Headquarter of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation Gymnastic Federation (FIG) - (IBSF) - Dubai (United Arab Emirates). Lausanne, Switzerland. • This article of • International Gymnastic Federation the Constitution of India states that (FIG) established in the year – 1881. there shall be high court for each state • The Government of India's 'Power for - Article 214. All' program was launched in the year - • Capital of Maldives - Malé. 2014. • Currency of Maldives - Maldives • Headquarter of World Bank - Rufiyaa. Washington, D.C., US. • International Table Tennis Federation • World Bank established in the year – (ITTF) established in the year - 1926. 1944. • Headquarter of International Table • India’s first and only assay training Tennis Federation (ITTF) - Lawson institute is located at the - Indian (Switzerland). Institute of Gems and Jewellery (IIGJ) • Food Security and Standards Authority in Mumbai. of India (FSSAI) established in the year • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – 2011. established in the year - 1934. • National Press Day - November 16. • Headquarter of the Reserve Bank of • Press Council of India (PCI) established India (RBI) - Mumbai. in the year - 1966 (November 16). • General Conference on Weights and • The most populous country in the Measures (CGPM) established in the world - China. year – 1875. • Headquarter of the World Trade • The Commonwealth of Nations Organization (WTO) - Geneva (Commonwealth) established in the (Switzerland). year - 1931 (December 11). www.onlinetyari.com Page 95
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
• World Trade Organization (WTO) • India formed the Indian Ocean Naval started its operation on 1st January Symposium (IONS) in - 2008 1995 under the - Marrakesh (February). Agreement. • Indian Space Research Organization • International Day for Tolerance - (ISRO) established in the year - 1969 November 16. (August 15). • International billiards and snooker • First satellite of ISRO - Aryabhata federation (IBSF) established in the (19 April 1975). year - 1971. • First Prime Minister of India - Pandit • Headquarter of the International Jawaharlal Nehru Billiards and Snooker Federation (born: 14 November 1889). (IBSF) - Dubai (United Arab Emirates). • On this day, Netaji Subhash Chandra • Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Bose had hoisted the Tricolour for the Government of India has been started first time at Cellular Jail, Port Blair - in the year - 2014-15. December 30, 1943. • Headquarter of United Nations • This is a measure of inequality, that 0 Children's Fund (UNICEF) - New York indicates total equality in the City (New York, USA). population and 100 denotes full • United Nations Children's Fund inequality - Gini coefficient. (UNICEF) established in the year – • Formula One World Constructors 1946. Championship (WCC) awarded by - • National Cooperative Development International Automobile Federation Corporation (NCDC) established in the (FIA, Paris, France). year - 1963. • Public Service Broadcast Day - • University Grants Commission (UGC) November 12. established in the year – 1953. • National Broadcasting Day - July 23. • United Kingdom is a united nation of - • End of World War I - 11 November 1918. Scotland, Wales, England and • National Aeronautics and Space Northern Ireland. Administration (NASA) established in • International Criminal Police the year - 1948. Organization (Interpol) established in • Competition Commission of India (CCI) the year - 1923. established in the year – 2003. • Headquarter of International Criminal • New Caledonia is a region under the Police Organization (Interpol) - Leone, control of - France. France. • Competitive Commission of India (CCI) • United Nations Security Council established in the year – 2003. (UNSC) established in the year - 1945. • The First World War ended in - • Permanent members of the United November 1918. Nations Security Council (UNSC) - • SaarLorLux Open Badminton America, Russia, China, Britain and tournament is being organized in France. Germany since - 1988. • Regional Comprehensive Economic • Paris Masters Tennis Tournament is Partnership (RCEP) established in the being organized in Germany since - year - 2012 (November 20). 1968. • National Education Day - November 11. www.onlinetyari.com Page 96
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2018
• National Waterway 1 (NW-1) in India - • India's National Press Day - Varanasi to Haldia (River Ganga). November 16. • The Inland Waterways Authority of • The Press Council of India (PCI) India (IWAI) established in the year - established in the year - 1966. 1986. • India’s first indigenously developed • Association of Southeast Asian nuclear submarine - INS Arihant. Nations (ASEAN) established in the year - 1967 (August 8). • World War I was ended in the year - 1918 (11 November). • First education minister of Independent India - Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad (1947-1958). • The 'Panchayat Raj' system was first implemented in India in the year - 1959 (2nd October) (in Rajasthan). • Airport Authority of India (AAI) established in the year - 1995 (1st April). • International Energy Agency (IEA) established in the year - 1974. • Secretariat of International Energy Agency (IEA) situated at - Paris (France). • "Twin sister" of the Earth - Venus. • Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) established in the year - 1969. • First satellite of ISRO - Aryabhatta (19 April 1975). • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) established in the year - 1948. • Election Commission of India (ECI) established in the year – 1950. • International Telecommunication Union (ITU) established in the year – 1865. • Headquarter of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - Geneva (Switzerland). • India is a regular member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council since - 1952. • United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) established in the year - 1951. www.onlinetyari.com Page 97