Current Affairs 08th & 09th November 2020| Current Affairs News

 CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

National Cancer Awareness Day

• National Cancer Awareness Day isobserved on November 7.
• The day is important, for it educates people about the serious threat that is cancer.
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second-deadliest disease which causes death among people.
• Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan first announced National Cancer Awareness Day in September 2014.

International Day of Radiology

• The International Day of Radiology is an annual event promoting the role of medical imaging in modern healthcare. It is celebrated on November 8 each year.
• The date marks the anniversary of the discovery of x-radiation by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895.
• IDoR2020 Theme: ‘Radiologists and radiographers supporting patients during COVID-19′. 

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

Airports Authority Of India Signs MoU With NTPC To Set Up Solar Power Plants At Airports

• The Airports Authority of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding with an NTPC Ltd.,subsidiary to promote usage of electric vehicles and set up solar power plants at its
• NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam, a subsidiary of NTPC, will be provided adequate land and rooftop space free of cost at identified AAI airports to set up solar power plants.
• The AAI owns and manages more than 100 airports across India. The airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mangaluru and Lucknow are managed by private companies and not by the AAI.
• In the initial phase, NVVN will be taking up the projects at airports in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. The solar capacity required at airports in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan is around 55 MW and 8 MW, respectively to become 100% solar powered airports.
• AAI airports in Tamil Nadu have solar power plants with 3.5 MWp (Mega watt peak) capacity currently. It stated 12 MW solar energy is being purchased through open access for the Chennai airport.
• The AAI and NVVN will also jointly work towards supporting the government of India’s initiatives for adoption of electric vehicles by creation of public charging infrastructure and promoting usage of electric vehicles at airports.

About AAI

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 1 April 1995
• Arvind Singh (Chairman)

About NTPC

• Founded: 1975
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Chairman and Managing Director: Gurdeep Singh

PM announces change of name of Shipping Ministry to Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

• The Prime Minister stated, Government is changing the name of the Ministry of Shipping and it will be known as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Mr.Modi has stated that to reduce the expenditure on logistics, India is fast developing multimodal connectivity.
• He stated that we are trying to interconnect the infrastructure related to road, rail, air and shipping and removing the silos in this process. He stated that we are still spending more money on transportation in comparison to the other nation. We can reduce the cost of logistics through water transport.

About Minister of Shipping:

• Minister of State for Shipping and Union Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers: Mansukh Laxmanbhai Mandaviya
• Constituency: Gujarat

FASTags to be mandatory for all four wheelers from 1st January, 2021

• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a notification making FASTags mandatory for all four wheel vehicles from 1st January 2021. This will apply to old vehicles as well as M and N category of motor vehicles sold before 1st December, 2017.
• As per Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, the FASTag had been made mandatory for all registration of new four wheeled Vehicles since 1st December 2017 and is being supplied by the Vehicle Manufacturer or their dealers. It had further been mandated that the renewal of fitness certificate will be done only after the fitment of FASTag for the Transport Vehicles. For National Permit Vehicles the fitment of FASTag has been mandated since 1st of October, 2019.
• The Ministry stated that a valid FASTag is also mandatory while getting a new third Party Insurance through an amendment in certificate of Insurance, wherein the details of FASTag ID will be captured. This will be applicable with effect from 1st of April 2021.
• The Ministry stated, this notification would be a major step for ensuring that the payment of fees be 100 per cent at Toll Plazas through the Electronic Means only and that the vehicles pass seamlessly through the Fee Plazas.

About Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:

• Nitin Gadkari, Cabinet Minister)
• Constituency: Nagpur
• General (Retd.) V. K. Singh, Minister of State

Railways to implement artificial intelligence, data analytics for better operational efficiency

• The railways is set to go big with artificial intelligence and data analytics to improve its operational efficiency and has tied up with the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad to analyse the data generated by the national transporter, Railway Board Chairman V K Yadav stated.
• He stated the railways will set up a Centre for Excellence in this regard in the next three months.
• The Railway Board has taken a decision to appoint a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in every zonal railways whose mandate will be to keep track of emerging technologies in analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) and use it in the rail system, Yadav stated.
• The Indian School of Business in Hyderabad has been assigned to plan an introductory capacity building program and formulate a report on the industrial practices of AI on rail transport and benchmarking. It will also develop a report on establishing the centre for excellence and an advanced capacity building program.
• Six to ten officers in divisions and about 20 in zonal headquarters will be identified for training in data analytics and AI. They will be formally trained in institutes like IITs, ISB, IIMs, IIIT in the two subjects (of data analytics and AI).

About Indian Railways:

• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Piyush Goyal (Minister of Railways)
• Vinod Kumar Yadav (Chairman, Railway Board)

Vice President launches ‘International Satavadhanam’ event, a unique literary feat

• The ‘International ‘Satavadhanam’’ program, launched virtually by the Vice President, was organized by Dr. Medasani Mohan under the auspices of Sri Krishnadevaraya Satsang in Tirupati.
• The Vice President Shri M Venkaiah Naidu has observed that ‘avadhanam’ as a literary feat has greatly contributed to the Telugu language’s glorious tradition. ‘Avadhanam’ is like a test of the poet’s literary prowess and scholarship, he added. This extraordinary feat, a historical and unique feature of only a few languages, should be further promoted, the Vice President advised.

PM Modi virtually inaugurates several developmental projects in Varanasi

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects in Varanasi via video conferencing. The total cost implication of these projects is 614 crores.
• The projects inaugurated include Sarnath Light and Sound show, upgradation of Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital Ramnagar, sewerage related works, infrastructure facilities for protection and conservation of cows, multipurpose seed storehouse, agriculture produce warehouse of 100 MT, IPDS phase 2, a housing complex for players in Sampurnanand Stadium, Varanasi city smart lighting work, along with 105 Anganwadi Kendras and 102 Gau Ashray Kendras.
• During the event, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for projects including the redevelopment of Dashashwamedh Ghat and Khidkiya Ghat, barracks for PAC police force, redevelopment of certain wards of Kashi, parking facility along with redevelopment of park in Beniya Bagh, upgradation of the multi-purpose hall in Girija Devi Sanskritik Sankul, repair work of roads in the city and development of tourist places.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE

Whatsapp Partners with 5 Banks for UPI Payment

• WhatsApp had partnered with five Indian banks, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, the State Bank of India, and Jio Payments Bank, for the payments service.
• Recently, WhatsApp received NPCI approval to ‘Go Live’ on UPI in a graded manner.
• WhatsApp, which counts India as its biggest market with more than 400 million users, had been running a peer-to-peer payments service with limited users for over two years, awaiting regulatory approvals.
• Payments is available now in 10 Indian regional language versions of WhatsApp.

About NPCI

• Headquarters location: Mumbai
• Founded: 2008
• Managing director and Chief executive officer: Dilip Asbe

SEBI increases overseas investment limits for mutual funds

• The market regulator, Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has increased the limits of overseas investment per fund house. This limit was enhanced from the existing USD 300 million to USD 600 million.
• Whereas, the overall limit of the mutual fund industry would stand at USD 7 billion.
• Further, limits for making investments in the overseas exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have raised to USD 200 million per fund house from the earlier limit of USD 50 million per fund house, while the limit set for the overall industry would be USD 1 billion.
• If mutual funds launch new schemes, which propose to invest in securities or ETFs overseas, it needs to ensure that they disclose the intended amount of investment in scheme documents.
• Also, such disclosure of the limits shall remain valid for a period of six months from the date of closure of the new fund offerings.
• SEBI has made clear that if in case there is any unutilised limit, the same shall not be available for mutual funds for investment in overseas securities or ETFs. Rather, the same would be available towards the unutilised industry wide limits.
• For all the ongoing schemes that are allowed to invest in overseas securities or ETFs, a room of 20 per cent of average asset under management (AAUM) of the previous three calendar months would be available to mutual funds. Nevertheless, asset management companies (AMC) need to report the utilisation of overseas investment limits on a monthly basis.

About SEBI

• Founded: 12 April 1992
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Ajay Tyagi (Chairperson)

Fitch Solutions Revises India’s Fiscal Deficit Forecast To 7.8% From 8.2% Earlier For FY21

• Fitch Solutions revised its forecast for central government’s fiscal deficit for the financial year (FY) 2020-21 to 7.8 per cent from its earlier projection of 8.2 per cent.
• According to the report, this revised forecast was driven by a strong recovery in tax revenues during the second quarter of FY 2020-21.
• The fiscal revenue forecast in FY21 for the central government has been revised to 18.2 per cent decline, from the earlier forecast of 18.4 per cent, as per the report.
• The expenses of the Centre are also expected to rise by only 12.1 per cent in FY21, versus 12.7 per cent previously.

About Fitch Solutions:

• Headquarters: New York City, New York, U.S.
• Paul Taylor, CEO of Fitch Group

Karnataka Bank launches National Common Mobility Debit card

• Karnataka Bank Ltd has launched National Common Mobility Debit Card. This Rupay card is a contactless debit-cum-prepaid and interoperable transport card.
• It stated that the users can make payments without inserting the card at PoS terminals. Payments can be made at toll plazas, metro transits, parking lots, retail outlets and smart cities with the help of this card. The card’s wallet supports small-ticket size offline payments through the value stored in the card, it stated.

About Karnataka Bank:

• Headquarters: Mangalore
• CEO: Mahabaleshwara M. S

Airtel Payments Bank ties up with Bharti AXA General for car insurance

• Airtel Payments Bank has partnered with Bharti AXA General Insurance to offer comprehensive car insurance to the payments bank’s customers.
• The Smart Drive Private Car Insurance offers financial protection against damage to the vehicle due to accident, theft, and natural and man-made disasters.
• Airtel Payments Bank’s customers can purchase the Bharti AXA’s car insurance policy within five minutes using a paperless, secure, and quick process through the Airtel Thanks app.
• The car insurance offered through Airtel Payments Bank also compensates for injury or damages to another person or property caused due to a car accident.

About Airtel Payments Bank:

• CEO: Anubrata Biswas
• Headquarters location: New Delhi

About Bharti Axa General Insurance:

• CEO: Sanjeev Srinivasan
• Headquarters: Mumbai

Indian Overseas Bank seeks about Rs 1,000 crore capital support from govt

• Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has sought a capital support of about 1,000 crore from the government in order to create buffer for any exigency, a top official of the bank stated.
• The state-owned lender, which has posted profit for the last three consecutive quarters, expects to continue the trend in the remaining part of the current fiscal year with increased focus on recovery and business pick up.
• For September quarter, the bank posted a profit of 148 crore as compared to a net loss of Rs.2,254 crore in the same period a year ago. Net profit in the quarter grew 22.3 per cent from Rs.121 crore in April-June.
• The Chennai-based lender expects to reduce the NPA by 2,000 crore during the second half of this fiscal year.

About Indian Overseas Bank:

• Headquarters: Chennai
• CEO: Partha Pratim Sengupta

IFFCO Bazar partners with SBI YONO Krishi App to boost accessibility of quality agri-products

• IFFCO Bazar, the e-commerce wing of IFFCO, announced its integration with the State Bank of India (SBI) YONO Krishi, a dedicated portal catering to farmer’s needs, a company statement stated.
• The portal, iffcobazar.in offers a wide variety of products speciality fertilisers, organic agri-inputs, seeds, agrochemicals, agri-machinery amongst others.
• “IFFCO has been at the service of farmers for the past 50 years. iffcobazar.in is a platform which will connect and serve the farmers digitally. It is aimed at realizing the dream of our PM of doubling income of farmers through a digital first and farmer centric approach. Through the portal, farmers can not only order best quality non-subsidised fertilisers and other agriculture inputs but can also get answers to their queries through a farmers’ forum and a dedicated helpline.

About SBI:

• Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founded: 1 July 1955

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

PIF invests Rs.9,555 crore in RIL’s retail arm

• Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will invest 9,555 crore for 2.04% in Reliance Industries Ltd’s (RIL) retail unit, taking total investments into India’s largest retailer to about Rs.47,265 crore.
• This will be the second such investment by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund in an RIL unit this year. PIF had earlier acquired a 2.32% stake in Jio Platforms Ltd.
• Since September, a bevy of global funds from Middle East to the US including Silver Lake, KKR, General Atlantic, Mubadala, Singapore’s GIC and TPG have already announced investing billions of dollars into Reliance Retail.

About RIL

• CEO: Mukesh Ambani
• Head quarters: Maharashtra

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES

India’s first solar-based water supply project launched in Arunachal Pradesh

• India’s first solar-based Integrated Multi-Village Water Supply Project (IMVWSP) was dedicated to the people of Arunachal Pradesh by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
• The solar-based lift water supply project for 39 villages in Lower Dibang Valley district in northeastern Arunachal Pradesh was commissioned at a cost of Rs 28.50 crore.
• The project is first of the kind in the state using green energy-solar grid, SCADA automation system, pre-fabricated zinc alum storage tank and HDPE conduit for mains, sub-mains and distribution networking system, and also amusement park including swimming pool, amphi-theatre, fountains, and sit-outs.
• The Chief Minister during the event launched the “Arunachal Jal Sankalp“, a state government dedicated flagship programme to supplement the Jal Jeevan Mission and to sustain the drinking water systems.

About Arunachal Pradesh

• Capital: Itanagar
• Chief minister: Pema Khandu
• Governor: D. Mishra

About Ministry of Jal Shakti

• Union Cabinet Minister of Jal Shakti: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
• Constituency: Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Kerala launches “Parivarthanam” scheme for better livelihood of fisherfolk

• A pioneering eco-sustainable programme Parivarthanam, to help the fishing community was launched, aiming to improve the livelihood skills of youngsters along the coastline and also enable socio-economic uplift of the fishermen community.
• Conceived to manage the states aquatic and agricultural products through intelligent use of human resources, the scheme will promote processing and marketing of clean fish and its fresh products.
• Finance Minister Dr T M Thomas Isaac also released a book on the project.
• Parivarthanam, which means change, will be spearheaded by Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC).
• It is to provide jobs to college dropouts and migrant workforce returning home due to Covid-19, the scheme envisages a rapid improvement in the standard of living of the states fisher communities by encouraging entrepreneurship.
• Parivarthanam will also guarantee a fixed price to fish-catchers as a fair compensation.
• Besides the state-run KSCADC, the Union governments Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) will monitor procurement and processing of fish besides ensuring its quality.
• Fishworkers will also be trained to handle facilities for frozen fish.Tie-ups with local aqua farms will guarantee supply of fish without break.

About Kerala

• Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan
• Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
• Chief minister: Pinarayi Vijayan

Kottoor Elephant Rehabilitation Centre Set To Become Largest Care Centre In The World

• The Elephant Rehabilitation Centre at Kottoor in Thiruvananthapuram is set to become the largest care and cure centre for elephants in the
• The first phase of the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre will be commissioned in February 2021. The project is being implemented at a cost of Rs 108 crore with funding from Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). The centre has facilities to accommodate 50 elephants including the existing 16 elephants.
• The project will also include the construction of various reservoirs and check dams at the Neyyar Dam and also special facilities for the care of elephant calves. The aim of the centre is to give elephants a natural ecosystem just like in the forest.
• The centre will also have an elephant museum, a veterinary hospital with super speciality facilities, a study and research centre for nature lovers and students, a training centre for mahouts, an entrance plaza, an administrative office, parking for visitors, a cafeteria, cottages, a toilet block and a special elephant viewing facility.
• The project is also expected to generate job opportunities for the locals and adivasis living in the nearby forest areas will be given priority in the employment at the centre. Kottur is expected to become a major site for tourists after the completion of this project.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS

Axis Bank to acquire shares in CSC e-Governance for Rs 36 cr

• Axis Bank has acquired over 57,700 shares in CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd for Rs 36.38 crore, the lender stated.
• Axis Bank has executed a pact for subscribing to 57,743 equity shares of a face value of Rs 1,000 each to be issued by CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd at Rs 6,300 per equity share, the lender stated in a regulatory filing.
• CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd is a special purpose vehicle set up by the electronics and information technology ministry to oversee the implementation of the common services centre scheme.
• The transaction is for 9.91 per cent equity stake in CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd as a strategic investment by the bank. Axis Bank stated the transaction is expected to be completed by December 2020 for a cash consideration of Rs 36.38 crore.
• CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd had a total income of Rs 1,105.49 crore in 2019-20. Its total assets stood at Rs 1,495.93 crore as on March 31, 2020.

About Axis Bank:

• CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry
• Headquarters: Mumbai

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Chacha Chaudhary becomes the Brand Ambassador for Namami Gange Project

• The iconic Indian superhero,Chacha Chaudhary, the man whose brain works faster than a computer has now has come forward to join hands with Namami Gange Programme, an Integrated Conservation Mission to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
• It is a joint initiative by Diamond Toons and Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The character is all set to become the face of the movement and will help in successfully promoting this campaign across the country aggressively.

Joe Biden becomes 46th US President; Kamala Harris Vice President

• Joe Biden has defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States.
• He is from the Democratic Party and Trump is from Republican Party.
• His full name is Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. and has served as Vice President of the United States under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.
• Kamala Harris will be the vice president and will be the first Indian-American woman to serve as Vice President of the USA.

About US

• Capital: Washington, D.C.
• Currency: US Dollar

Manipur’s Gyanendro becomes 1st president of Hockey India from Northeast

• Manipur’s Gyanendro Ningombam was elected unopposed as the President of Hockey India while former President Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad is back in the Hockey India Executive Board after being Elected Unopposed for the Senior Vice President post.
• On being elected unopposed, Gyanendro becomes the first President from the north east India to spearhead Hockey India.
• He will serve as Head of the national federation for two years.
• He was Senior Vice President of Hockey India, Senior Vice President of Manipur Hockey, and also Chief Executive Officer of Manipur Hockey.

About Hockey India

• Founded: 20 May 2009
• Headquarters location: New Delhi

Indian Diplomat Elected To UN Advisory Committee

• Indian diplomat Vidisha Maitra was elected to the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly.
• In the Group of Asia-Pacific States, Maitra, First Secretary in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, obtained 126 votes.
• The 193-member General Assembly appoints members of the Advisory Committee. Members are selected on the basis of broad geographical representation, personal qualifications and experience.
• Ms Maitra was one of two nominated candidates from the Group of Asia-Pacific States. In the group, Ali Mohammed Faeq Al-Dabag of Iraq drew 64 votes.
• The Fifth Committee of the General Assembly, which deals with administrative and budgetary issues, recommended Ms Maitra to the Assembly for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2021.

About United Nations:

• Headquarters: New York, United States
• Founded: 24 October 1945
• Secretary general: António Guterres

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU

Atal Innovation Mission And Sirius (Russia) Launch ‘AIM-Sirius Innovation Programme 3.0’

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Sirius, Russia, launched ‘AIM-Sirius Innovation Programme 3.0’– a 14-day virtual programme for Indian and Russian schoolchildren.
• The first Indo-Russian bilateral youth innovation initiative, the AIM-Sirius programme seeks to develop technological solutions (both web- and mobile-based) for the two countries.
• Over a two-week programme, from 7-21 November 2020, 48 students and 16 educators and mentors will create 8 virtual products and mobile applications addressing global challenges– across a range of areas such as culture, distance education, applied cognitive science, health and well-being, sports, fitness, and games training, chemistry, artificial intelligence, and digital financial assets–in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic.
• Innovations developed by the student teams will leverage 21st-century technologies such as app development, artificial intelligence, blockchain, machine learning, data analytics and visualization, UI/UX, virtual reality, augmented reality, gamification, 3D design, and rapid prototyping, among others. AIM and Sirius’ mentors from the industry and academia will work closely with the teams.

About AIM

• The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the country.

About NITI Aayog

• Formed: 1 January 2015
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairperson: Narendra Modi

About Russia

• President: Vladimir Putin
• Capital: Moscow
• Currency: Russian ruble
• Prime minister: Mikhail Mishustin

HIL signs MOU with Department of Chemicals & Petro Chemicals to achieve revenue target of 451 Crore rupees

• HIL (India) Limited, a PSU under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals recently to achieve the revenue target of Rs 451 crore in the current financial year ( 2020-21).
• The MoU was signed by the HIL (India) Limited’s Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) Shri SP Mohanty and the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals’ Secretary  Shri Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi in presence of other Senior officers.
• In addition to this, the company has also registered the highest ever sale for the product in the first two quarters and supplied the entire quantity to various institutions like the Ministry of Agriculture’s Locust Control Programme and municipal corporations across the country for the vector control.

About Hindustan Insecticides:

• Headquarters: Kochi, Rasayani, and Bathinda
• Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) :Shri SP Mohanty

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Dr. Dinesh Katre, Senior Director & HOD at C-DAC Wins 2020 Emmett Leahy Award

• Dinesh Katre, Senior Director & HOD at C-DAC Wins 2020 Emmett Leahy Award for his outstanding contributions Accomplishments that Have a Major Impact on the digital information and records management.
• The Emmett Leahy Award Committee recognized the sustained leadership by Dr. Dinesh Katre, Senior Director & HOD, C-DAC Pune, on issues of digital stewardship and preservation over several decades. In particular, through his efforts in creating India’s National Digital Preservation Program and its flagship project, the Center of Excellence for Digital Preservation, he has helped to advance the cause of providing robust and trustworthy platforms for the preservation of digital materials, including for electronic recordkeeping systems and tools for intelligent archiving.
• Among his many impressive achievements, he led the development of the DIGITĀLAYA , e-Library and Archiving System which played an important role in the ISO 16363 certification of world’s first trustworthy digital repository.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SUMMITS AND CONFERENCE

OPEC holds 4th High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-India Dialogue

• The OPEC Secretariat hosted the 4th High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-India Dialogue via videoconference.
• The Meeting was co-chaired by HE Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary General of OPEC and the Honourable Dharmendra Pradhan, India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Steel.
• The meeting focused on the implications of COVID-19, discussing the repercussions of the pandemic and its significant impact on both the world economy and energy markets, including oil. Participants also deliberated on medium-term energy and oil prospects and challenges.
• The first such dialogue was held in
• The next High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-India Dialogue will be held in 2021, if possible in person, in New Delhi.

About OPEC

• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
• Secretary general: Mohammed Barkindo
• The current OPEC members are the following: Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Saudi Arabia (the De facto leader), the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. Former OPEC members are Ecuador, Indonesia and Qatar.

PM Narendra Modi chaired Virtual Global Investor Roundtable 2020

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR) 2020 which will be attended by heads of 20 top institutional investors from the US, Europe, Canada, Korea, Japan, Middle East, Australia and Singapore.
• VGIR 2020 will focus on discussions around India’s economic and investment outlook, structural reforms and the government’s vision for making the country a USD 5 trillion economy.
• The VGIR is being organized by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and National Investment and Infrastructure Fund.
• Some of the prominent funds that would be participating in the event are Australian Super, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, Future Fund, GIC, Japan Post Bank, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Korean Investment Corporation, Mubadala, Nippon Life, Pension Denmark, Qatar Investment Authority and US International Development Finance Corporation.
• The Indian side included business leaders, financial market regulators, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and RBI governor Shaktikanta Das.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ISRO successfully launches EOS01, 9 customer satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota

• India’s PSLV-C49 carrying its latest earth observation satellite EOS-01 and nine customer satellites lifted off from the spaceport in
• The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C49/EOS-01) blasted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
• This is the first mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) this year.
• EOS-01 is intended for applications in agriculture, forestry and disaster management support.
• The customer satellites are from Lithuania (1), Luxembourg (4) and USA (4).
• This launch was the 51st launch of PSLV, while it was the 77th launch mission from the Sriharikota spaceport.
• With this launch, ISRO has altogether sent 328 foreign satellites (from 33 nations) into space.

About ISRO

• Director: Kailasavadivoo Sivan
• Headquarters: Bengaluru

About Satish Dhawan Space Centre

• Director: Arumugam Rajarajan
• Headquarters: Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE

India’s special forces carry out a ‘Bull Strike’ in Andaman Nicobar Islands

• A Military exercise involving special forces was carried out in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands between November 3 and 5 as the Army, Navy and Air Force got together for the war games amid the India-China standoff to test synergy in joint operations.
• Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) conducted a joint services exercise code-named ‘Bull Strike’, involving the three Services components of Andaman and Nicobar Command.
• Elements of Indian Army’s Parachute Brigade, marine commandos or MARCOS and Special Forces carried on the exercise at the remotely located Teressa Island, in the strategically important Nicobar Group of Islands.
• The major training activities comprised combat free fall and para drop from strategic lift aircraft C-130 by a company of Para Commandos from the mainland, action by MARCOS of Indian Navy and Special Heli Borne Operations (SHBO) by Indian Army Ghatak Platoons.

Recent News

• Earlier the Indian Navy has also carried out exercises in the Bay of Bengal independents and with navies of US and Australia.
• Currently, the navies of India, Japan, US and Australia are carrying out war games as part of the Malabar Exercise in the Bay of Bengal. The second phase of the exercise will be carried out in the Arabian Sea in mid-November.

Two-day joint coastal security exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’ begins at Odisha

• A two-day joint coastal security exercise, “Sagar Kavach” was launched at Paradip Coast.
• The exercise is being carried out by a joint effort of the state of Odisha and West Bengal governments. More than 10 such departments, including the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, the Odisha Police, the local fishermen, the forest department, and the port marine department, have joined the joint exercise.
• The exercise will be held for two days on November 5 and 6.The main purpose of the exercise is to carry out the exercise on the coast of Paradip this year, just like every year after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
• The exercise is being carried out to prevent a repeat of the Mumbai attacks by sea.
• It will run for two days, with red and green forces being formed to infiltrate and prevent attacks. This year for coastal security the exercise was named “Sagar Kavach”.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS

Daniil Medvedev defeats Alexander Zverev in Paris Masters final to clinch his 8th ATP title

• In Tennis, world number five Daniil Medvedev defeated Alexander Zverev in the Paris Masters final to clinch his eighth ATP title. World number seven, Zverev of Germany, who beat World number two Rafael Nadal in semi-finals, took an early advantage.
• But Russian third seed Medvedev rallied to win in two hours seven minutes. He became the fourth Russian to capture the Paris Masters title after Marat Safin, Nikolay Davydenko and Karen Khachanov.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARY

Veteran author & Gujarati columnist Father Carlos Gonzalez Valles SJ passes away

• Veteran author and Gujarati columnist of Father Carlos Gonzalez Valles SJ, popularly known as Father Valles passed away. He was 95 and breathed his last in Spain.
• A Jesuit priest born in Spain, he was a Mathematics teacher in Gujarat. He wrote extensively in Gujarati, English and Spanish. He translated many mathematical concepts into Gujarati and coined terms for them.

DAILY CA 6th & 7th Nov

• World Tsunami Awareness Day-5th nov
• International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict- 6 Nov
• Prahlad Singh Patel virtually inaugurates “Tourist Facilitation Centre” facility at Guruvayur, Kerala under PRASHAD Scheme
• CCEA approves Rs.1,810-crore investment for 210 MW Luhri Stage-I hydel project
• World’s Biggest Pink Diamond Mine in Australia Stops Production
• India and Italy sign 15 agreements in various sectors; Reaffirm commitment to strengthen cooperation against common global challenges
• Reserve Bank to evaluate impact of ‘RBI Kehta Hai’ campaign
• RBI announces co-lending scheme for banks, NBFCs
• WhatsApp’s payments service gets NPCI nod
• Chhattisgarh govt constitutes State Task Force Committee for COVID-19 vaccination
• Bongaigaon District Administration initiates Mission Sampoorna to improve health of malnourished children
• PM to flag off Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira-Ghogha in Gujarat
• Assam: Rupsi Airport at Kokrajhar all set to start commercial operation by January 2021
• Bangladesh signs MoU with Indian Company for collecting 3 crore COVID 19 vaccine doses
• Karnataka govt signs agreement with Tata Technologies to upgrade 150 Govt ITIs
• Pidilite Industries completes acquisition of Huntsman Group”s Indian subsidiary for Rs 2,100 cr
• Cabinet Approves Signing Of MoU Between India, Spain For Scientific And Technical Collaborations In Astronomy
• Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India, UK for co-operation in telecom, ICT
• Cabinet Approves MoU Between India, Israel On Cooperation In Field Of Health And Medicine
• Former Delhi chief secretary MM Kutty to be chairperson of Air Quality Commission
• Army Chief General MM Naravane conferred honorary rank of General of Nepali Army by Prez Bidya Devi Bhandari
• 2nd National Water Awards 2019 Distribution Ceremony to be held on 11-12 Nov
• Ministry of Water Resources to award Maharashtra villager
• Rachna Bisht Rawat’s ‘Insomnia’ is an engaging collection of tales about the Indian Army
• PM Modi will lead Indian delegation to 20th Summit of SCO Council of Heads of States on Nov 10
• India hosts 5th Joint Working Group on Coal between India and Indonesia through video conference
• IIT-Kharagpur to set up Centre of Excellence for Indian knowledge system, says education minister
• Body mass index of Indian 19-year-olds among lowest in 200 countries

DAILY CA 7th & 8th Nov

• National Cancer Awareness Day is observed on November 7.
• The International Day of Radiology is an annual event promoting the role of medical imaging in modern healthcare. It is celebrated on November 8 each year. IDoR 2020 Theme: ‘Radiologists and radiographers supporting patients during COVID-19′.
• The Airports Authority of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding with an NTPC Ltd.,subsidiary to promote usage of electric vehicles and set up solar power plants at its airports.
• The Prime Minister stated, Government is changing the name of the Ministry of Shipping and it will be known as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a notification making FASTags mandatory for all four wheel vehicles from 1st January 2021. This will apply to old vehicles as well as M and N category of motor vehicles sold before 1st December, 2017.
• The railways is set to go big with artificial intelligence and data analytics to improve its operational efficiency and has tied up with the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad to analyse the data generated by the national transporter,
• Vice President launches ‘International Satavadhanam’ event, a unique literary feat
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects in Varanasi via video conferencing.The total cost implication of these projects is Rs. 614 crores.
• WhatsApp had partnered with five Indian banks, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, the State Bank of India, and Jio Payments Bank, for the payments service.
• The market regulator, Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has increased the limits of overseas investment per fund house. This limit was enhanced from the existing USD 300 million to USD 600 million.
• Fitch Solutions revised its forecast for central government’s fiscal deficit for the financial year (FY) 2020-21 to 7.8 per cent from its earlier projection of 8.2 per cent.
• Karnataka Bank Ltd has launched National Common Mobility Debit Card. This Rupay card is a contactless debit-cum-prepaid and interoperable transport card.
• Airtel Payments Bank has partnered with Bharti AXA General Insurance to offer comprehensive car insurance to the payments bank’s customers.
• Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has sought a capital support of about Rs.1,000 crore from the government in order to create buffer for any exigency
• IFFCO Bazar, the e-commerce wing of IFFCO, announced its integration with the State Bank of India (SBI) YONO Krishi, a dedicated portal catering to farmer’s needs,
• Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will invest Rs.9,555 crore for 2.04% in Reliance Industries Ltd’s (RIL) retail unit, taking total investments into India’s largest retailer to about Rs.47,265 crore.
• India’s first solar-based Integrated Multi-Village Water Supply Project (IMVWSP) was dedicated to the people of Arunachal Pradesh by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
• A pioneering eco-sustainable programme Parivarthanam, to help the fishing community was launched, aiming to improve the livelihood skills of youngsters along the coastline and also enable socio-economic uplift of the fishermen community.
• The Elephant Rehabilitation Centre at Kottoor in Thiruvananthapuram is set to become the largest care and cure centre for elephants in the world.
• Axis Bank has acquired over 57,700 shares in CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd for Rs 36.38 crore, the lender stated.
• The iconic Indian superhero, Chacha Chaudhary, the man whose brain works faster than a computer has now has come forward to join hands with Namami Gange Programme,
• Joe Biden has defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States.
• Kamala Harris will be the vice president and will be the first Indian-American woman to serve as Vice President of the USA.
• Manipur’s Gyanendro Ningombam was elected unopposed as the President of Hockey India while former President Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad is back in the Hockey India Executive Board after being Elected Unopposed for the Senior Vice President post.
• Indian diplomat Vidisha Maitra was elected to the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly.
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Sirius, Russia, launched ‘AIM-Sirius Innovation Programme 3.0’- a 14-day virtual programme for Indian and Russian schoolchildren.
• HIL (India) Limited, a PSU under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals recently to achieve the revenue target of Rs 451 crore in the current financial year ( 2020-21).
• Dinesh Katre, Senior Director & HOD at C-DAC Wins 2020 Emmett Leahy Award for his outstanding contributions Accomplishments that Have a Major Impact on the digital information and records management.
• The OPEC Secretariat hosted the 4th High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-India Dialogue via videoconference.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR) 2020 which will be attended by heads of 20 top institutional investors from the US, Europe, Canada, Korea, Japan, Middle East, Australia and Singapore.
• P. Losty was the curator of Indian manuscripts and paintings at the British Museum and British Library in London for 34 years until his retirement in 2005
• ISRO successfully launches EOS01, 9 customer satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota
• A Military exercise involving special forces was carried out in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands between November 3 and 5 as the Army, Navy and Air Force got together for the war games amid the India-China standoff to test synergy in joint operations.
• A two-day joint coastal security exercise, “Sagar Kavach” was launched at Paradip Coast
• Daniil Medvedev defeats Alexander Zverev in Paris Masters final to clinch his 8th ATP title
• Veteran author and Gujarati columnist of Father Carlos Gonzalez Valles SJ, popularly known as Father Valles passed away.