Current Affairs 29th & 30th November 2020| Current Affairs News

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

Guru Nanak Jayanti being celebrated with traditional fervour

  • Guru Nanak Jayanti or Gurpurab is being celebrated with religious fervour across India and the world on 30th November . It marks the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, who laid the foundation of Sikhism. This year marks the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
  • On this day, devotees around the world offer prayers. The Golden temple in Amritsar celebrates Gurpurab with much aplomb.

National Organ Donation Day 

  • The 11th Indian Organ Donation Day was celebrated by the Union Health Ministry in New Delhi.
  • Every year, for the past 10 years, 27 November has been celebrated as the ‘Indian Organ Donation Day’ in the country.
  • The National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) is mandated under the Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Act 2011 to carry out activities for promotion of organ donation from deceased persons.Tamil Nadu has been adjudged the best in organ donation in the country for the sixth consecutive year.

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People- 29 November

  • In 1977, the General Assembly called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (resolution 32/40 B). On that day, in 1947, the Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine (resolution 181 (II))
  • In resolution 60/37 of 1 December 2005, the Assembly requested the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the UN.
About Palestian
  • Capitals:Ramallah, EastJerusalem;
  • Currency: Shekel,Dinar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

Railways Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurates newly electrified Dhigawara-Bandikui section of NW Railway

  • Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal inaugurated the newly electrified Dhigawara-Bandikui section of North Western Railway. He also flagged off the first train on this newly electrified route at the function organized at Dhigawara station.
  • Mr Goyal stated, after the electrification of this line, the route from Rewari to Ajmer has been electrified and now the electric trains from Delhi to Ajmer will start soon. He stated, after running of these trains, the diesel trains will be stopped, which will eliminate pollution as well as the dependence on the fuel imported from outside  and significant revenue will be saved.
  • He stated, apart from this, the average speed of trains will increase and there will be development of industries, agro-based businesses and progress of villagers and farmers. Mr Goyal stated, to avoid any inconvenience to the farmers, Kisan Rail is being operated by the railways to transport their agricultural products.
About Ministry of Railways: 
  • Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways
  • Constituency: Maharashtra
  • Vinod Kumar Yadav, Chairman and CEO

Govt. announces Rs 900 crore package for COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission

  • The Centre has announced the third stimulus package of Rs 900 crore for the Mission COVID Suraksha– The Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission. This grant will be provided to the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for Research and Development of Indian COVID-19 vaccines with end-to-end focus from preclinical development through clinical development and manufacturing and regulatory facilitation for deployment. It would consolidate all available and funded resources towards an accelerated product development.
  • The Ministry of Science and Technology stated that this will help accelerate development of approximately 5 to 6 vaccine candidates. This will also ensure that these are brought closer to licensure and introduction in the market for consideration of regulatory authorities for introduction in public health systems, to combat further spread of COVID infection. Phase-I of the COVID Suraksha Mission has been allotted 900 Crore rupees for a period of 12 months. 
About MoH&FW:
  • Minister of Science and Technology, Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Minister of Earth Sciences: Harsh Vardhan
  • Constituency: Chandni Chowk, New Delhi

PM Modi to inaugurate six-lane widening project of Varanasi-Prayagraj section of NH-19

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi and dedicate to the nation the six-lane widening project of the Handia (Prayagraj) – Rajatalab (Varanasi) section of National Highway 19. During the tour, the Prime Minister will attend Dev Deepawali, undertake a site visit of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor Project and also visit the Sarnath Archaeological Site.
  • The 73 Kilometers stretch of the newly widened and six laned NH-19, made with a total outlay of 2 thousand 4 hundred 47 crore rupees is expected to reduce the travel time between Prayagraj and Varanasi by one hour.
  • Dev Deepawali, which has become a world famous festival of light and fervour in Varanasi, is celebrated on Kartik Poornima every year. The festival will be started by the Prime Minister by lighting a diya on the Raj Ghat of Varanasi, which will be followed by lighting of 11 lakh diyas on both sides of River Ganges.

EPFO extends deadline for submission of Jeevan Pramaan Patra to February 28, 2021

  • Taking into consideration the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the vulnerability of the elderly population to the virus, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has extended the date for submission of Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan Patra-JPP) to February 28, 2021.
  • According to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the decision is likely to have an impact on 35 lakh pensioners.
  • “In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the vulnerability of the elderly population to the coronavirus, the EPFO has extended the time limit up to 28th February 2021 for submission of Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan Patra-JPP) in respect of the Pensioners drawing pension under EPS 1995 and whose Life certificate is due in any month till February 28, 2021,” it stated.
  • As of now, a pensioner can submit a JPP anytime during the year up to November 30. With the latest move, any pensioner can submit a Life Certificate till February 28, 2021.
  • During this extended period, pension will not be stopped in respect of such 35 lakh pensioners who could not submit JPP during November 2020.
About EPFO:
  • Founded: 4 March 1952
  • Headquarters: New Delhi, India
  • Sunil Barthwal: Central Provident Fund Commissioner

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

4th NSA-level meeting held between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives

  • The fourth National Security Advisor Level Meeting on Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation was held between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives in
  • The participants took stock of the current maritime security environment in the region. They have discussed mutual cooperation in an array of areas including Maritime Domain Awareness, Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Relief, Joint Exercises and Maritime pollution.
  • Exchanging views on common security threats, India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives have agreed to broad base cooperation on a host of maritime security related issues.
About Maldives:
  • Capital: Malé
  • Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa
  • President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE

FDI surges to 30 billion dollars in Apr-Oct this year

  • Union Minister Prakash Javadekar stated Foreign Direct Investment into India surged by a healthy 15 percent to 30 billion dollars in April – October this year.
  • Total Foreign Direct Investments inflows into India during the second quarter of financial year 2020-21 is 28,102 million dollars, out of which FDI equity inflows is 23,441 million dollars.
  • This takes the FDI equity inflows during the financial year 2020-21 upto September this year to 30,004 million dollars which is 15 percent more than the corresponding period of 2019-20. In rupee terms, the FDI Equity inflows of 2 lakh 24 thousand 613 crore rupees are 23 percent more than the last year. August this year has been the significant month when 17,487 million dollars FDI equity inflows were reported in the country.
About  Foreign Direct Investment:
  • A foreign direct investment (FDI) is an investment made by a firm or individual in one country into business interests located in another country. Generally, FDI takes place when an investor establishes foreign business operations or acquires foreign business assets in a foreign company.

IRDAI approves Mitsui Sumitomo’s Max Life stake swap with MFSL

  • Max Financial Services Ltd (MFSL) stated Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) approved the proposed transfer of 47 crore shares constituting 20.57% of the paid-up equity share capital of Max Life Insurance held by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance to MFSL.
  • This is in exchange for issuance of 7.54 crore shares of MFSL, constituting 21.87% of issued and paid-up share capital of MFSL.
  • “MFSL will now proceed for the implementation of the share swap transaction, which will entail swapping by MSI of its 20.57% stake in Max Life with a 21.87 per cent stake in MFSL by way of issue and allotment of 7,54,58,088 equity shares of 2 each at a price of Rs.565.11 per equity share on a preferential allotment basis,” the company stated.
  • Upon consummation, this will effectively result in MFSL’s stake in Max Life increasing to 93.10%. Presently, MFSL holds a 72.5% stake in Max Life and MSI owns 25.5% stake.
  • MFSL had recently announced that Axis Bank and its subsidiaries, Axis Capital Limited &Axis Securities Limited (together Axis Entities), have entered into agreements with MFSL for acquisition of up to 19% stake in Max Life, in accordance with existing laws and regulations.
About Max Group:
  • Headquarters: New Delhi, India
  • Analjit Singh (group chairman)
  • Rahul Khosla (group president)

ICICI Lombard gets IRDAI’s ‘in-principle approval’ to acquire Bharti AXA General Insurance

  • The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) gave an in-principle approval to the acquisition of General Insurance business of Bharti AXA General Insurance Company Limited by ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited, the company stated in an exchange filing.
  • Earlier, BSE Limited, National Stock Exchange of India Limited and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) had approved the proposed acquisition by ICICI.
  • The IRDAI mentioned that following the demerge, ICICI will issue 1.82 crore equity shares to Bharti General Ventures Private Limited and 1.75 crore equity shares to Societe Beaujon.
  • Currently, Bharti Enterprises owns 51 percent in Bharti AXA General. The firm has joint venture with French firm AXA which owns 49 percent stake. With the deal with ICICI Lombard in place, Bharti and AXA will be public shareholders in the combined entity.
About IRDAI:
  • Headquarters: Hyderabad
  • Chairperson: Subhash Chandra Khuntia
About ICICI Lombard:
  • CEO: Bhargav Dasgupta
  • Headquarters: Mumbai

Sebi launches SMARTs program to strengthen investor education framework

  • Markets regulator Sebi launched the Securities Market Trainers (SMARTs) program, an initiative aimed at enhancing investor education and awareness. The launch of SMARTs program comes amid World Investor Week being celebrated across the country.
  • The first batch of SMARTs empanelled by Sebi includes 40 individuals across 16 states and union territories, covering 31 districts on a pan-India basis. They have also undergone four days of training at the National Institute of Securities Market (NISM).
  • The regulator stated it would be empanelling more trainers at a pan-India level under the SMARTs program. SMARTs will conduct investor education programs in their respective geographical areas.
  • Under the SMARTs program, the trainers are empanelled for the district they belong to, subject to fulfilling the required eligibility criteria.
  • In addition to individuals, organisations engaged in similar activity can get enrolled as SMARTs. They would undergo training at NISM and then they would be eligible to conduct programs.The programs are conducted under the aegis of Sebi and are monitored directly by it.
About SEBI:
  • Founded: 12 April 1992
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Chairperson:Ajay Tyagi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES

LG Manoj Sinha releases Panchayat Newsletter “Parivartan” first ever publication in five official languages of J&K

  • In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has released Panchayat Newsletter “Parivartan“- a first ever publication in five official languages of J&K at Raj Bhavan, Jammu.
  • The LG appreciated the initiative of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj for coming out with a publication in all the five official languages of J&K, viz Dogri, Urdu, Kashmiri, Hindi and English, highlighting the progress being made under Back to Village-3 and 21 day long Jan Abhiyan programmes. The publication in multiple languages will serve as a great tool to inform the larger population of J&K about the latest Government activities besides, a glimpse into the working of the government, stated the LG.
About J&K:
  • Capitals: Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
  • Governor: Manoj Sinha

Haveri railway station renamed Mahadevappa Mailara Railway station

  • The Karnataka government has issued a notification, renaming Haveri Railway station as Mahadevappa Mailara Railway Station. It has been a long-standing demand of the public and representatives from Haveri District to name the Haveri station after Mahadevappa Mailara, a freedom fighter from the district, South Western Railway stated.
  • It stated, at the age of 18, he accompanied Mahatma Gandhi on the Dandi March. He sacrificed his life for the service of society and liberation of the country and his courage had inspired a large number of people, it stated. The Ministry of Home Affairs had given no objection to changing the name of Haveri railway station as Mahadevappa Mailara Railway Station.
About Karnataka:
  • Capital: Bengaluru
  • Governor: Vajubhai Vala
  • Chief minister: B. S. Yediyurappa

PM Modi launches ‘Har Ghar Nal Yojna’, 3,000 villages in Uttar Pradesh to benefit

  • Prime minister Narendra Modi launched ‘Har Ghar Nal Yojna’ (tap water to every household), for Sonbhadra and Mirzapur in Vindhya region of Uttar Pradesh via video conference, while chief minister Yogi Adityanath was present in Sonbhadra.
  • The scheme worth Rs 5,555.38 crore is aimed at providing water to over 41 lakh villagers in two districts.
  • Under ‘Har Ghar Nal Yojna’, Yogi Adityanath government will ensure water supply through pipelines to 2,995 villages in two districts in the region.
  • The scheme will benefit 21,87,980 villagers in Mirzapur. In Sonbhadra, 19,53,458 families will be benefitted by the scheme. The water of lakes and river will be purified and supplied to the families in Sonbhadra.
  • Rs 3212.18 crore and Rs 2343.20 crore will be spent under the scheme in Sonbhadra and Mirzapur respectively. The total cost of the scheme is Rs 5555.38 crore.
About Uttar Pradesh:
  • Governor: Anandiben Patel
  • Capital: Lucknow
  • Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath

Assam proposes 6th national park in militancy ravaged forest

  • The Assam government has proposed setting up a national park in a militancy ravaged reserve forest, which, if approved, would make it the state’s sixth national park.
  • Forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya informed that the process for approving Raimona National Park has been initiated. He unveiled the map of the new park at Manas National Park.
  • According to the forest department, the proposal has been submitted to the governor of Assam for upgrading an area of 422 sq km of notified Ripu reserve forest under Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve as the proposed Raimona National Park.
  • The existing national parks in Assam are Kaziranga, Manas, Dibru-Saikhowa, Manas and Orang.Ripu reserve forest is part of the buffer zone of Manas national park bordering Bhutan. The forest along with Chirang reserve forest has the largest known population of endangered Golden Langur.
  • Since 1989, nearly 30% of the reserve forest has been felled and encroached upon due to the insurgency related issues.
About Assam:
  • Capital: Dispur
  • Chief minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
  • Governor: Jagdish Mukhi

Trifed of m/o tribal affairs and state of Goa to implement ‘Goatribal plan’

  • TRIFED under Ministry of Tribal Affairs held a virtual meeting with Goa Administration  to finalize the Goa Tribal Development Plan. The main agenda of the meeting was to finalise the Tribal Development Plan for the state of Goa for the establishment of 25 Van DhanVikas Kendras, 1 Tribal food park, 2 showrooms in North and South Goa.
  • The proposed activities included in the development plan includes the setting up of 25 VDVKs in Goa; setting up of 25 procurement centres-cum-godowns; of 2 tertiary processing units (mega food parks/ tribal enterprises) and two flagship retail outlets across the state.
  • The target is to identify 20 minor forest produces per VDVK. With this planned enterprise initiative, TRIFED will offer an end-to-end comprehensive development package for tribals promoting employment and incomes and entrepreneurship. TRIFED continues to work for the complete transformation of the tribal ecosystem across the country through the large-scale tribal entrepreneurship model.
About MoTA:
  • Minister of Tribal Affairs: Arjun Munda
  • Constituency: Khunti, Jharkhand
About Goa:
  • Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
  • Capital: Panaji
  • Chief minister: Pramod Sawant

India’s first IoT enabled Smart Trolleys at GMR Hyderabad International Airport

  • GMR Hyderabad International Airport has gone digital by envisioning an airport platform using the Internet of Things (IoT). Walking on the steps of the Government of India’s flagship Digital India Programme, it has modified its services and operations making Hyderabad a harbinger of Smart Airport City.
  • The GMR Hyderabad has deployed ‘IoT enabled smart baggage trolleys’, for the comfort of passengers. It will make it easier for the passengers to track and maintain the baggage trolleys in real-time across the airport.
  • The GHIAL has installed LoRa (Long Range) IoT platform for the project of Airport Baggage Trolley. The IoT technology adapted for a total of 3000 baggage trolleys will reduce the passenger waiting time substantially.
  • Trolley management and replenishment will be done on the basis of the requirement at various areas across the airport, thus increasing efficiency and making the whole process smoother enhancing the experience of the passenger.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU

Women empowerment: IESC, FLO sign MoU under the aegis of IIM Shillong

  • The MoU is signed for the purpose of a mentorship programme for women entrepreneurs.
  • Under this MoU contract, FLO will create an independent Entrepreneurial Ecosystem which will help to empower women and transform them to become job creators.
  • The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem of FLO will identify potential based startups and will provide them with the necessary support and guidance.
  • This support and guidance will help to build initial startup cost and will thus help to establish a business in a short time span.
About FLO & FICCI:
  • President of FLO: Jahnabi Phookan
  • HQ of FICCI: New Delhi
  • President of FICCI: Sangita Reddy

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Burkina Faso president Roch Marc Christian Kabore re-elected

  • President Roch Marc Christian Kabore will serve another five years as Burkina Faso”s president, according to provisional results announced by the National Independent Electoral Commission.
  • 63-year-old head of the ruling People’s Movement for Progress party secured 57.87% votes.The result gives Kabore another five years in the office that he has held since 2015.Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa.
About Burkina Faso:
  • Capital: Ouagadougou
  • Currency: CFA franc

Rajnish K Jenaw appointed as CMD, NSFDC

  • Rajnish K Jenaw (IP&TA&FS 1992-Batch) has been posted as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of National Schedule Castes Finance & Development Corporation (NSFDC) under the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment for a period up to August 31, 2024, which is the date of his superannuation.
About NSFDC:
  • National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) was set up in 1989 as a non profit company under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India for financing, facilitating and mobilizing funds for the economic empowerment of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes families living below double the Poverty Line.

Indian oil Chairman Shri SM Vaidya taken charge as VP of the World LPG Association

  • Shri SM Vaidya is appointed as the Vice President of the World LPG Association (WLPGA), The World LPG Association (WLPGA) is the authoritative voice of the global LPG industry representing the full LPG value chain. Shri SM Vaidya currently is the Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation.
About Indian Oil Corporation:
  • Chairperson: Shrikant Madhav Vaidya
  • Headquarters: New Delhi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONORS

Israeli Prime Minister, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince nominated for Nobel Peace Prize 2021

  • The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2021 for their roles in establishing the strategic and diplomatic ties between the two nations.
  • As per the statement of the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Lord David Trimble on November 25, 2020, submitted the candidacy of PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince for Nobel Peace Prize 2021.
  • The leaders of both nations have been nominated because of the recent peace agreement which has been signed between Israel, UAE, and Bahrain.

Oscars 2021: Keith Gomes’ Shameless is India’s official entry in short film category at 93rd Academy Awards

  • Keith Gomes’ short film ‘Shameless’ has been selected as India’s official entry at the 93rd Academy Awards in the ‘Live Action Short Film’
  • The short film was chosen from a list of five short films that included Trapped, Safar, Aditya Kelgaonkar’s ‘Sound proof’ and Shaan Vyas’ ‘Natkhat’. Shameless, written and directed by Keith Gomes, had released in April 2019.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING

Global Terrorism Index 2020

  • The Global Terrorism Index [GTI] 2020 ranks India as 8th in the world on a list of countries most affected by terrorism in 2019, with 558 incidents that killed 277 and injured 439. Further, the report marks South Asia as region worst affected by terrorism for the second year in a row.
  • India ranks 8th in the world on the basis of its score on the GTI – 7.353. It ranks better than Pakistan (ranked 7) but lower than the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Philippines, which rank 9th and 10 respectively. A higher score, and thus a higher rank (1 being the worst) shows a country more severely affected by terrorism. But, since 2002, India’s rank has improved substantially Afghanistan ranked 1st, Iraq 2nd , Nigeria 3rd . In 2002, India was the second worst country in the world affected by terrorism and was in the top 5 until 2012.
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