Current Affairs 02nd December 2020| Current Affairs News

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting held Through video conference

• Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba chaired a National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting through video conferencing.
• In view of the deep depression emerging along the Southern coast of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Mr Gauba held the meeting with the Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Advisor Lakshadweep and Secretaries of different ministries.
• India Meteorological Department stated. “A depression has formed over southeast Bay of Bengal,” the department and in a subsequent post on pre-cyclone watch for south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala coasts stated it is very likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.
• As per the naming convention, it is named as ‘Burevi’ (बुरेवि), and the name has been contributed by the Maldives

About NCMC:

• Oversees the Command, Control and Coordination of the disaster response.
• Give direction to the Crisis Management Group (CMG) as deemed necessary.
• NCMC Head- Cabinet Secretary
• It is the National Disaster Management Authority for which the Prime Minister of India is the Chairman

About IMD:

• IMD is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences
• Headquarters in Delhi
• The IMD is headed by the Director General of Meteorology, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.

First Mobile CNG Dispensing Unit Launched

• The unit was launched by Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan. The Mobile Refuelling Unit will be operated by Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MNGL) in Pune.
• Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Tarun Kapoor, stated the company should ensure that 2-3 compressed biogas plants are connected to the gas network.

Board of Trade meeting Scheduled on Dec 2

• Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will chair a meeting of the Board of Trade (BOT) through a Video Conference.
• The meeting will be also addressed by ministers of state for commerce and industry Som Parkash and Hardeep Singh Puri.
• The discussions in the meeting will focus on the new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) (2021-26) and the strategies and measures to be taken in order to take forward domestic manufacturing and exports.
• Board of Trade will take an Overview of the Export and Import Performance, Investment Promotion Strategy for AtmaNirbhar Bharat.

About FTP

• Foreign trade policies are government actions, especially tariffs, import quotas, and export subsidies, designed to increase net exports by promoting exports or restricting imports.
• DGFT has come up with the Niryat Bandhu Scheme for mentoring budding exporters on the intricacies of foreign trade by means of counseling, training and outreach programmes.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

First Country To Approve sale of Lab Grown Meat

• Singapore Becomes First Country In World To Give Approval For Sale Of Lab-created Meat.
• The first-in-the-world regulatory allowance of real, high-quality meat created directly from animal cells for safe human consumption paves the way for a forthcoming small-scale commercial launch in Singapore.

About Singapore:

• Capital: Singapore City
• Currency: Singapore dollar

US imposes sanctions on Chinese firm over Venezuela internet curbs

• The United States has imposed sanctions on Chinese firm China National Electronics Import & Export Corporation (CEIEC), accusing it of supporting President Nicolas Maduro’s efforts to undermine democracy in Venezuela.
• While slamming China, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo has stated that CEIEC provides cyber support and technical experts to state-run telecommunications providers which frequently blocks online independent newspapers and speeches by opposition members.
• The US Department of Treasury has stated that CEIEC has been supporting the Maduro regime’s malicious cyber efforts since 2017 and providing technical expertise to Venezuelan government entities, against the people of the country.

About China:

• Capital: Beijing
• President: Xi Jinping
• Currency: Renminbi

About USA:

• President: Donald Trump
• Capital: Washington, D.C.

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) may soon get to vote remotely with e-ballots

• Election Commission, in a proposal sent to the law ministry, has suggested that NRIs be allowed to vote through electronically-transmitted postal ballot system (ETPBS), a facility already extended to service voters that include members of the Armed forces and para-military forces and government employees serving abroad.

India, US hold talks on counternarcotics, agree to boost collaboration on regulation

• The two countries agreed to enhance their data sharing operations to combat the production, distribution and export/import of drugs and precursor chemicals.
• During the inaugural meeting of the Counternarcotics Working Group (CNWG), held virtually on November 24, the two countries also agreed to enhance their data sharing operations to combat the production, distribution, diversion, and export/import of drugs and precursor chemicals.
• The Indian delegation was led by Sachin Jain, Deputy Director General, Narcotics Control Board, Ministry of Home Affairs, while the US side was headed by White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Assistant Director Kemp Chester.

World Leaders To address High Level, Special Session of UN General Assembly on Covid 19

• The Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in Response to the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) Pandemic will take place on December 3 and 4 at the UN Headquarters.
• The session’s first day will feature statements by the President of the General Assembly Volkan Bozkir, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the Security Council for the month of December South African Ambassador Jerry Matthews Matjila and Chair of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev. The General Assembly will then hear from world leaders.
• The second day will feature speeches from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other UN and intergovernmental agencies.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE

ADB and GOI Signed loan for strengthen Meghalaya’s power distribution Sector

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $132.8 million loan to strengthen and modernize the distribution network and improve the quality of power supplied to households, industries, and businesses in India’s northeastern state of Meghalaya.
• The signatories to the Meghalaya Power Distribution Sector Improvement Project were Dr. CS Mohapatra, Additional Secretary (Fund Bank & ADB), Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance who signed for the Government of India, and Mr. Takeo Konishi, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission who signed for ADB.

 About ADB:

• Headquarters Mandaluyong, Philippines
• Masatsugu Asakawa is the President of the ADB.
• India is the largest borrower of Asian Development Bank and the fourth largest shareholder of ADB. The institution has approved nearly $30 billion to India.

GST Collection In November

• Goods and services tax collections hovered around Rs 1.05 lakh crore for the second month with the mop-up in November, 2020, estimated to be 1.4% higher than the corresponding period last year.
• “During the month, revenues from import of goods was 4.9% higher and the revenues from domestic transactions, including import of services, were 0.5% higher that the revenues from these sources during the same month last year,” the finance ministry stated.
• On a cumulative basis, collections during April-November were 17% lower, sharply down from the lows of 56% seen in April when the lockdown was in full force.

About GST:

• The tax came into effect from 1 July 2017 through the implementation of the one hundred and First Amendment of the Constitution of India by the Indian Government.
• Petroleum Products, Alcoholic Drinks, Electricity- Not taxed Under Gst
• 25%- For Precious Stones
• 3%- For Gold
• 22-28%- For Luxury Cars, Tobacco Products

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES

Kolkata’s Majerhat Bridge Named “Jai Hind”

• Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee named the newly-built Majerhat bridge in Kolkata as “Jai Hind” bridge to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose.
• The new bridge, which has been built in the place of an old one that collapsed in September 2018, will be inaugurated by Ms Banerjee.
• The 650-metre-long bridge will be thrown open to traffic as soon as Ms Banerjee inaugurates it.

Andhra Pradesh House passes Bill that bans online gaming, betting

• The Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act-1974, Home Minister M. Sucharitha stated that development of technology and mass communication network and the Internet had opened many opportunities for online activities.
• Andhra Pradesh has banned online gaming, online betting and gambling, and has urged the Centre to direct all internet service providers to block access to 132 websites and apps, including Paytm First Game, Mobile Premier League and Adda52, that are providing such services in the state.

About Andhra Pradesh:

• Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
• Chief minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy
• Capital(s): Visakhapatnam (executive), Amaravati (legislative),Kurnool (judicial)

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

FCC Chief Plans to Step Down on Jan 20

• Pai’s determination to step down on January 20, Biden’s inauguration day, clears the best way for the creation of an FCC board dominated by Democrats who might elevate the pursuits of customers and entrepreneurs above those of telecom titans.

About FCC:

• FCC- Federal Communication Commission
• Director of FCC- Ajit Pai
• Founder- Franklin D.Roosevelt
• Headquarters- Washington

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Approved By UK

• Britain became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use and stated that it will be rolled out soon.
• The government has accepted the recommendation from the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to approve Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for use,” the government stated.
• The vaccine will be made available across the UK from next week.” in trials of their vaccines, which are both based on new messenger RNA (mRNA) technology.
• Health Secretary Matt Hancock stated the programme would begin early next week. Hospitals, he stated, were already ready to receive it.

Instagram launches ‘Live Rooms’ feature

• Instagram rolled out the ‘Live Rooms’ feature that allows up to three additional users to go live in the same session. Instagram Live views grew 60% compared to the week prior, the company stated.
• With the introduction of this feature, an Instagram live session will now be able to hold 4 people instead of 2 which was the previous limit. Users will now not have to end their live session with the current user to add another participant.
• After creating a live session by swiping left from the feed or by clicking on the ‘+’ button, you will have to tap on the ‘Rooms’ icon to bring more participants into your live session.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE

Indian Navy successfully test fires BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile in Anti-Ship mode

• Ministry of Defence stated that BrahMos is the supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by DRDO and NPOM of Russia as a Brahmos Aerospace joint venture, which became Brahmos Aerospace Private Limited
• It has been deployed in all the three wings of the Indian Armed Forces. The first launch of Brahmos took place in 2001
• The Indian Navy stated, “Indian Navy hones its combat readiness as BrahMos AShM launched by INS Ranvijay strikes target ship at max range with pinpoint accuracy in Bay of Bengal. INS Ranvijay is a Rajput-class destroyer warship of the Indian Navy.

About DRDO

• Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy
• DRDO Comes under Ministry of Defence
• Headquarters- New Delhi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS

Virat Kohli beats Tendulkar’s record

• India captain Virat Kohli became the fastest cricketer to score 12,000 ODI runs, breaking a record held by legendary compatriot Sachin Tendulkar.
• Kohli reached the milestone during the third and final match against Australia in Canberra.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARY

Rajya Sabha MP Passes Away

• Rajya Sabha MP Abhay Bhardwaj passed away due to Covid19.

About  Abhay Bhardwaj

• Abhay Bhardwaj was an Indian advocate Turned into Politician.
• He was also a member of the 21 st Law Commission of India and Contributed towards Legislation Like Muslim Women (Protection of Rights On Marriage ) Act 2019 and Uniform civil code.

DAILY CA Dec 1st

• Indian Bank has entered into an agreement with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to use the latter’s asset restructuring module for MSME borrowers.
• Mahagram has decided to deploy 12 lakh wireless Bharat ATMs by March 2021
• S&P retains India’s GDP forecast at 9% contraction in current fiscal Year
• Us President Elect Joe Biden names Jenett Yellen as Treasury Secretary and Neera Tanden as Director of Office of Management & Budget
• Moderna Inc will apply for U.S. and European emergency authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine.Moderna stated it was on track to have about 20 million doses of its vaccine ready to ship in the United States by the end of 2020, enough to inoculate 10 million people.
• The resolution plan proposed by Kalrock Capital and Jalan, which was approved by the lenders of Jet Airways in October, is currently awaiting approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
• The 10-day-long Áadi Mahotsav’, a festival of tribes will be launched by Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda in a virtual format
• Border Security Force  is celebrating its 56th raising day on December 1
• World AIDS day observed on December 1 .The theme of World AIDS Day, to be observed on December 1 is ‘Ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic: resilience and impact.’
• Narendra Modi participated in the Dev Deepawali Mahotsav in Varanasi and The festival is also observed as Tripura Purnima Snan or Worship of Shiva
• The government has recently implemented new farm Acts in this direction which include Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020.
• India, which has the highest average monthly mobile data traffic per smartphone, is expected to surpass 350 million 5G subscriptions by 2026
• The beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), as covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and the priority household (PHH) cards, totalling around one crore cards, will be given 5 kg of ‘chana’.
• Footballer Papa Bouba Diop passed away recently played for Senegal Country.

DAILY CA DEC 2nd

• Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba chaired a National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting through video conferencing.
• Indian Navy successfully test fires BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile in Anti-Ship mode
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $132.8 million loan to strengthen and modernize the distribution network and improve the quality of power supplied to households, industries, and businesses in India’s northeastern state of Meghalaya
• Board of Meeting Chaired By Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal through a Video Conference
• Board of Meeting will focus on the new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) (2021-26)
• Goods and services tax collections hovered around Rs 1.05 lakh crore for the second month with the mop-up in November, 2020, estimated to be 1.4% higher than the corresponding period last year.
• Singapore Becomes First Country In World To Give Approval For Sale Of Lab-created Meat
• First Mobile CNG Dispensing Unit Launched by Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan
• Instagram rolled out the Live Rooms feature that allows up to three additional users to go live in the same session
• The United States has imposed sanctions on Chinese firm China National Electronics Import & Export Corporation (CEIEC), accusing it of supporting President Nicolas Maduro’s efforts to undermine democracy in Venezuela
• Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee named the newly-built Majerhat bridge in Kolkata as Jai Hind bridge to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose.
• Ajit Pai’s determination to step down on January 20, Biden’s inauguration day
• India, US hold talks on counternarcotics, agree to boost collaboration on regulation
• The Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in Response to the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) Pandemic will take place on December 3 and 4 at the UN Headquarters.
• Britain became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use and said that it will be rolled out from early next week.
• Rajya Sabha MP Abhay Bhardwaj passes away due to Covid19
• India captain Virat Kohli became the fastest cricketer to score 12,000 ODI runs, breaking a record held by legendary compatriot Sachin Tendulkar.
• Andhra Pradesh Passes Gaming Amendment Bill To Ban Online Games