NATIONAL AFFAIRS
BILATERAL SUMMIT BETWEEN INDIA AND ITALY 2020
The Bilateral Summit between India and Italy was held virtually on 6th November 2020.
The Summit was attended by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Italy Prof. Giuseppe Conte.
The two leaders reviewed the broad framework of the bilateral relationship and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation against common global challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Incumbent President of Italy: Sergio Mattarella.
• Incumbent Prime Minister of Italy: Giuseppe Conte.
'SAGAR KAVACH CONDUCTED BY ODISHA & WEST BENGAL
A two-day joint coastal security exercise, “Sagar Kavach” was launched at Paradip Coast, Odisha.
The exercise is being carried out by a joint effort of the state of Odisha and West Bengal governments.
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.
• Chief of the Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.
SHIPPING MINISTRY TO BE RENAMED: PM MODI
The Ministry of Shipping is being expanded and renamed as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
This information was given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a launch event of Ro-Pax terminal at Hazira.
PM Modi was flagging off the Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat, which will reduce the 370-km road distance between the two places to 90-km by sea route.
• Minister of State (IC) of the Ministry of Shipping: Mansukh L. Mandaviya.
AIM-SIRIUS INNOVATION PROGRAMME 3.0
The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), a flagship initiative by the NITI Aayog, and Russia’s Sirius (Scientific International Research in Unique Terrestrial Station) have jointly launched ‘AIM–Sirius Innovation Programme 3.0’.
AIM–Sirius Innovation Programme 3.0 is a 14-day virtual programme for Indian and Russian schoolchildren.
It is the first Indo-Russian bilateral youth innovation initiative, which seeks to develop technological solutions, both web-based and mobile-based, for the two countries.
The areas include culture, distance education, applied cognitive science, health and well-being, sports, fitness, and games training, chemistry, artificial intelligence, and digital financial assets.
ASSAM TEZPUR LITCHI GETS GI TAG
The Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has announced that Assam’s Tezpur Litchi has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Though the litchis name in the GI tag list is there since 2015. The application for GI tagging was made on 28th August 2013 by North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd (NERAMAC).
A Geographical Indication is used on a product of specific geographical origin that attains its uniqueness or reputation because of its place of origin.
FASTAGS COMPULSORY FOR ALL FOUR WHEELERS
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a notification that FASTags will become mandatory for all four-wheelers, including old vehicles, from January 1, 2021.
For this government has made an amendment in FORM 51 (certificate of Insurance), wherein the details of FASTag ID shall be captured.
The initiative aims to promote electronic toll collection and ensure that payment of fees is done at toll plazas through the electronic means only so that the vehicles pass seamlessly through the toll plazas.
INDIAN NAVY LAUNCHES SUB-MARINE VAGIR
The Indian Navy has launched the fifth Scorpene submarine “Vagir” at Mazagon Dock of south Mumbai.
The submarine is capable of taking missions such as anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, mine laying, intelligence gathering and area surveillance.
“Vagir” is a part of six Kalvari class submarines that is being built in India. These submarines were designed by the French Navy and an energy company DCNS. Vagir has been named after Sand Fish. It is a deep-sea predator in the Indian Ocean.
The first Vagir was commissioned in 1973. The first Vagir submarine was from Russia.
IRCTC 'BHARAT DARSHAN YATRA' TO BE STARTED ON DEC
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will be starting ‘Bharat Darshan–Dakshin Bharat Yatra’ from December 12.
The Bharat Darshan Yatra will start from Hyderabad and Secunderabad from December 12 to 18. The theme of this yatra will be ‘Show India to Indians’.
In January 2019, IRCTC also started booking for Shirdi Sai Baba darshan tickets on its website. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is a subsidiary organisation of the Indian Railways.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
JOE BIDEN WINS US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. has defeated Donald Trump to become the 46th U.S. president.
Biden will become the oldest president-elect in U.S. history and the first to oust a sitting commander-in-chief after one term since Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush in 1992.
President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr: Biden Jr. was born in November, 1942 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, Biden previously served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and United States Senator for Delaware from 1973 to 2009.
Vice President Kamala Harris: Harris was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California. She has served as the junior United States senator from California since 2017.
Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, a biologist from Tamil Nadu in India. Her father, Donald J. Harris, is a Stanford University professor emeritus of economics, who arrived in the U.S. from British Jamaica.
CHINA SENDS WORLD’S FIRST 6G EXPERIMENT SATELLITE
China has sent into space the world’s first 6G experiment satellite. The 6G satellite was among three Chinese satellites successfully launched into orbit, along with 10 commercial remote sensing satellites developed by Argentinean Company Satellogic.
The satellite also carries technology which will be used for crop disaster monitoring and forest fire prevention. This was the 351st rocket of China’s Long March series.
China National Space Administration (CNSA) is the national space agency of China. It is responsible for the national space program and for planning and development of space activities.
SECOND WORLD HEALTH EXPO IN WUHAN CHINA
The second World Health Expo was inaugurated on November 11, in Wuhan, the capital city of Central China’s Hubei Province.
This year’s Expo will focus on displaying the most cutting-edge science and technology in the global health industry, and help Wuhan build “city of global health industry”.
During the Expo, more than a hundred high-end forums including a summit forum, academician forum and the roundtable dialogue on epidemic prevention and normalized control, and the Global University Leaders Forum, will be organized.
Wuhan in China was the place where the novel coronavirus emerged in December 2019 and has spread throughout the world, causing a pandemic.
• China Capital: Beijing.
• Chinese President: Xi Jinping.
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
'RBI KEHTA HAI' CAMPAIGN TO BE EVALUATED BY RBI
The Reserve Bank of India will evaluate the impact of multi-media public awareness campaign ‘RBI Kehta Hai’.
The campaign was launched in 14 languages to educate the public about safe banking and financial practices.
‘RBI Kehta Hai’ was the first even 360-degree campaign initiated by the central bank using all mass media, including media such as television, radio, newspapers, hoardings, web banners, gifs, social media and SMS.
In order to evaluate the impact of the public awareness campaign, the RBI has invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from eligible companies and other entities which have successfully completed at least five similar projects.
MOODY'S PROJECTED INDIA'S GDP FOR THE YR 2020
Rating Agency Moody’s has projected the GDP of India at -8.9% for the calendar year 2020. Earlier this was projected at -9.6%.
Apart from this, India’s GDP growth for Calendar year 2021 is projected at 8.6% by Moody’s from 8.1% earlier.
Moody's Corporation, often referred to as moody’s, is an American business and financial services company.
Moody's was founded by John Moody in 1909 to produce manuals of statistics related to stocks and bonds and bond ratings. Moody's was acquired by Dun & Bradstreet in 1962.
• Headquarters of Moody’s: NewYork, United States.
• President & CEO of Moody’s: Raymond W. McDaniel, Jr.
APPOINTMENTS
MICHAEL HOLDING APPOINTED AS MCC FOUNDATION PATRON
Former West Indies fast bowler, Michael Holding has been appointed as a new patron of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Foundation. .
The MCC Foundation is the charitable arm of the Marylebone Cricket Club, custodian of the game’s laws, and was created with the aim of enhancing lives through cricket.
Last month, actor, mental health advocate and cricket-lover Stephen Fry had joined the Foundation as a patron. The pair joins the list which includes Claire Taylor, Mike Brearley, Mike Atherton, and Mike Gatting.
• Director of the MCC Foundation: Sarah Fane.
• MCC Foundation Founded in 1993.
FORMER CHIEF SECY. OF DELHI AS CHAIRMAN OF CAQM
Former Chief Secretary of Delhi, M.M. Kutty was appointed as the chairperson of Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas.
The CAQM was formed on October 28 after dissolving several pollution-monitoring bodies, including most prominently the 22-year-old, Environment Pollution Prevention & Control Authority (EPCA) that has so far addressed air pollution in the Delhi NCR.
This body will perform the job of coordinating activities between the States. The ordinance empowers the agency to make rules, set emission standards, and slap fines of up to Rs 1 crore or imprison violators for up to five years.
AWARDS & HONOURS
VIDYA BALAN'S SHORT FILM FOR OSCAR NOMINATIONS
The Indian film ‘Natkhat’, starring and co-produced by Vidya Balan, has won the top prize at the third edition of Best of India Short Film Festival 2020.
By winning the festival, the film has become eligible for 2021 Oscar qualification.
The film has been directed by Shaan Vyas and co-produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Vidya Balan. The Best of India Festival has been established by ShortsTV since 2018 to honour and recognize the exceptional work of the Indian filmmaker.
RUSKIN BOND CONFERRED WIT TATA LIFETIME AWARD
Ruskin Bond, one of India’s most cherished authors was conferred Tata Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award for 2020.
He has a substantial body of work, close to 100 books – across genres for children and adults.
His famous works: Room on the roof, Blue Umbrella, etc. He was conferred the Padma Shri & Padma Bhushan.
SPORTS
MUMBAI INDIANS WINS IPL TROPHY FOR THE FIFTH TIME
Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals in the final of Dream11 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 to lift their fifth IPL trophy.
Chasing 157 runs for victory, Mumbai were helped by their captain Rohit Sharma, who hit 68 runs off 51 balls.
They have now become the only side after Chennai Super Kings to defend the title. Kings XI Punjab skipper KL Rahul bagged the Orange Cap for being the leading run-scorer of the IPL 2020.
Delhi Capitals’ Kagiso Rabada won the Purple Cap with a total of 30 wickets at the end of IPL 2020.
LEWIS HAMILTON WINS TURKISH GRAND PRIX 2020
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) has won the Turkish Grand Prix 2020 at Istanbul Park, Turkey.
Sergio Perez (Racing Point-BWT- Mexico) secured the second position and Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari finished third. This was Hamilton 10th victory of the season and 94th F1 win of his career.
With this win, he claimed the seventh Formula One championships title of his career to equal the record of Michael Schumacher.
IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF RADIOLOGY: 8TH NOVEMBER
International Day of Radiology is observed globally on 8th November every year.
The day is celebrated to promote the awareness of the value that radiology contributes to safe patient care.
In 2020, the International Day of Radiology will therefore be dedicated to all imaging professionals and their essential role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
The motto of International Day of Radiology 2020: ‘Radiologists and radiographers supporting patients during COVID-19’. The day also marks the anniversary of the discovery of x-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895. World Radiology Day was first celebrated in the year 2012.
'NATIONAL LEGAL SERVICES DAY': 9TH NOVEMBER
In India, 09 November is celebrated as “National Legal Services Day” every year by all Legal Services Authorities, to commemorate the enactment of the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987.
The Day is celebrated to make people aware of the various provisions under the Legal Services Authorities Act and the right of the litigants.
On 11 October 1987, the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 was enacted, while the act took effect on 9 November 1995. The day was started by the Supreme Court of India in 1995 to provide help and support to poor and weaker sections of the society.
WORLD URBANISM DAY: 8TH NOVEMBER
World Urbanism Day, also known as “World Town Planning Day”, is celebrated on 8 November globally.
The day is celebrated to recognize and promote the role of planning in creating livable communities.
WUD is organized by the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP).
The day was founded in 1949 by the late Professor Carlos Maria Della Paolera of the University of Buenos Aires, to advance public and professional interest in planning.
WORLD PNEUMONIA DAY 2020: 12TH NOVEMBER
World Pneumonia Day is observed globally on 12th November every year.
The day is celebrated to raise awareness, promote prevention and treatment and produce action to combat the disease. The day was first celebrated in the year 2009.
To end the preventable burden of childhood pneumonia and deaths there is a need to Strengthen, accelerate and sustain interventions to prevent and treat pneumonia. Design specific strategies to reach the “harder-to-reach” populations to improve their accessibility to available interventions.
The day was celebrated on November 12 in 2009 by the Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia.
NATIONAL AYURVEDA DAY 2020
National Ayurveda Day is being observed every year from 2016, on the day of Dhanwantri Jayanti.
This year the 5th Ayurveda Day falls on November 13, 2020. PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the two future-ready Ayurveda institutions in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) at Jamnagar in Gujarat and the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA) at Jaipur in Rajasthan on November 13.
WORLD DIABETES DAY: 14TH NOVEMBER
World Diabetes Day is observed on 14th November every year. The campaign aims to raise awareness around the crucial role that nurses play in supporting people living with diabetes.
The theme for World Diabetes Day 2020 is “The Nurse and Diabetes.” In 2007 General Assembly adopted resolution 61/225 designating 14 November as World Diabetes Day.
Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and lower limb amputation. A healthy diet, physical activity and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.
WORLD KINDNESS DAY 2020: 13TH NOVEMBER
World Kindness Day is observed globally on 13th November every year.
The day is celebrated to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us.
World Kindness Day was first celebrated in 1998 by The World Kindness Movement. The theme for the 2020 World Kindness day is Kindness: The World We Make – Inspire Kindness.
CHILDREN'S DAY 2020: 14TH NOVEMBER
On 14th November, Children’s Day is celebrated every year to mark the birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.
Children’s Day is popularly known as ‘Baal Diwas’ in India.
The day aims at increasing the awareness of the rights, care and education of children. On this day, many educational and motivational programs are organised across the country, by and for children.
Jawaharlal Nehru, who was India’s first Prime Minister, was quite famous among children and was popularly known as ‘Chacha Nehru’.
Following his death in 1964, it was decided that to move the celebrations of Children’s Day to November 14 as a mark of respect to him and to commemorate his fondness for children.
REPORTS AND INDEXES
INDIA RANKS THE LOWEST IN BODY MASS INDEX BY LANCET
By the study in The Lancet, India took the position of third and fifth from the bottom respectively among countries where 19-year-old girls and boys have a low Body Mass Index (BMI)
The mean BMI of 19-year-old young men is 20.1 in India, contrasted with a high of 29.6 in the Cook Islands and a low of 19.2 in Ethiopia.
For Indian young ladies, the mean BMI is again 20.1, contrasted with a high of 29.0 in Tonga and a low of 19.6 in Timor-Leste.
AZIM PREMJI (WIPRO) TOPS THE PHILANTHROPY LIST 2020
The founder-chairman of Wipro Ltd, Azim Premji (Rs 7,904 Crore) has topped the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020.
It ranks individuals from India who donated Rs 5 crore and above between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020, towards philanthropic contributions.
Shiv Nadar, founder and chairman of HCL Technologies, ranked second (Rs 795 crore) on the list. He topped the list in 2019. India’s richest man and the chairman of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani stood at the third spot (Rs 458 crore).
7 women found a place in the list with Rohini Nilekani (donating Rs 47 crore) being India’s most generous woman; followed by Anu Aga & family of Thermax (Rs 36 crore), and Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (Rs 34 crore).
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
A-SAT MISSILE MODEL UNVEILED BY DEFENCE MINISTER
A model of Anti Satellite (A-SAT) Missile installed inside DRDO Bhawan was unveiled by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The installation of the A-SAT model will inspire the DRDO fraternity to take up many more such challenging missions in future.
‘Mission Shakti’ was the country’s first-ever Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) Missile Test successfully conducted on 27th March 2019 from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.
INDIAN ASTRONOMERS COLLABORATE WITH NOBEL LAUREATE
Indian astronomers have collaborated with the 2020 Physics Nobel Laureate Prof. Andrea Ghez for the design of back-end instruments and possible science prospects of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project.
The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is a proposed Extremely large telescope (ELT) which is planned to be installed at Maunakea on the island of Hawaii.
Some of the Indian astronomers like Dr Annapurni Subramanium, and Dr Shashi Bhushan Pandey, a scientist at Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) along with many others collaborated with Prof. Ghez in the ongoing research and developmental activities of the TMT project.
OBITUARIES
'SCOOBY DOO' CO-CREATOR KEN SPEARS PASSED AWAY
American television editor, writer and producer Ken Spears, who co-created the beloved animated series “Scooby-Doo”, passed away.
He was also the co-founder of television animation production company, Ruby-Spears Productions, along with the late Joe Ruby.
Together, Spears and Ruby created Scooby-Doo, Dynomutt, Dog Wonder, and Jabberjaw, among other programs. Joe Ruby has recently passed away on August 26, 2020.
BAHRAIN LONGEST SERVING PM PASSES AWAY
Bahrain’s Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa has passed away. He was 84.
He was not only the longest-serving PM of Bahrain, but he was the world’s longest-serving prime minister.
He had held the post since independence in 1971. He played a key role in Bahrain’s political and economic affairs for more than three decades.
• King of Bahrain: Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
• Capital of Bahrain: Manama.
MISCELLANEOUS
“Rasaathi” titled novel by ex-spg officer
Ex-SPG officer, Sasindran Kallinkeel’s has penned a novel named “Rasaathi: The Other Side of a Transgender”. The main character in the novel, published by BookMitra, is a transgender named Rasaathi born in a family in South India.
Rasaathi, meaning princess, is in the late 40s who wants people to treat transgenders like human beings by showering love, affection, sympathy and recognise their pathetic and horrible life.
Sasindran Kallinkeel was with the Central Reserve Police Force for 23 years and had a seven-year stint with the Special Protection Group (PM's Security) as a senior security officer when Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh were in office.
BOOK PENNED BY ACTOR ANUPAM KHER
Actor Anupam Kher’s latest book is titled “Your Best Day Is Today!” He had announced the book, in which he experiences during the corona virus-induced countrywide lockdown.
Through this book, Kher will recount his experiences during the lockdown, several ups and downs, including the time when his mother Dulari and brother Raju Kher had contracted the virus.
His previous books are his biography Lessons Life Taught Me unknowingly & the Best Thing about You is you. He is also a recipient of two National Film Awards.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SONU SOOD ' I AM NO MESSIAH'
An actor, producer and humanitarian, Sonu Sood is set to pen his autobiography titled “I Am No Messiah”. The book will be co-authored by Meena Iyer.
The book will account the experience of Sonu Sood during the COVID-19 pandemic. The book is set to be published by Penguin Random House India and released in December 2020.
Sonu Sood narrates his emotional experiences and the challenges he faced along with the people he rescued during the COVID-19 pandemic.
LEGAL AFFAIRS
CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO ASSESS TRP SYSTEM
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has constituted a four-member committee, to assess the existing Television Rating Points (TRP) of TV channels.
The committee will be chaired by Prasar Bharati CEO, Shashi S Vempati.
The need to form such a committee was felt after the alleged TRP scam in which it was alleged that certain TV channels manipulated TRPs in return for payment.
TRP is calculated in India by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) using a device called Bar-O-Meter, which is installed in over 45,000 households across the country.
• Chairman of BARC India: Punit Goenka.
• BARC Headquarters: Mumbai.
DIGITAL & ONLINE MEDIAS UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL
Digital/Online media has been brought under the purview of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Currently, there is no law or autonomous body governing digital content.
The 2nd Schedule of the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961 has been amended to include following entries viz. Films and Audio-Visual programmes, News and current affairs content.
This means that digital content providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hotstar will now be regulated by the Union ministry headed by Prakash Javadekar.
The I&B ministry will also regulate online audio-visual programmes and current affairs content, according to the amendment order signed by President Ram Nath Kovind.
The decision has been taken in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (3) of Article 77 of the Constitution, by amending the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 and it will come into effect immediately.
