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• The Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship(MSDE) has announced the launch of Skills Build platform in collaboration with IBM. The skill builds platform aims to offer diplomas in IT, networking and cloud computing at Industrial Training Institutes(ITI) and National Skill Training Institutes(NSTI).
• The platform will also be extended to train ITI and NSTI faculty on AI skills for future work.
• This initiative is part of IBM’s global commitment to create a job-ready workforce and to build the next generation of skills needed for new collar careers.

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• In a bid to provide relief to real estate sector Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced AIF (Alternative Investment Fund) for the stalled affordable and middle-income houses for Rs 2500 crores.
• Notably, developers have been unable to hand over these homes to the buyers. The industry insiders have hailed the move by the Central Cabinet decision as it will help them meet the required funds that have led to their projects being stuck for long. Rs 25,000 crore fund has been allocated for the affordable and middle-income real estate projects that have been stalled for long.
• SThis fund will be made available under the AIF — Alternative investment Fund — to those real estate developers whose net worth is positive.

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• Gardenerich Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) handed over the Fast Patrol Vessel 'ICGS Annie Besant' to the Indian Coast Guard.
• Built at GRSE's shipyard, this fast patrol vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art navigational and communications equipment and is the second of five FPV class patrol vessels assigned to the Coast Guard.

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• HS stands for Harmonized System and it is a six digit identification code. It was developed by the WCO (World Customs Organization) and custom officers use HS Code to clear every commodity that enters or crosses any international border.
• Governments use HS codes and product descriptions to detect fraudulent activities.
• It was found that the Indian brain on average is smaller in height, width, and volume as compared to the western (MNI) as well as the eastern population (Chinese and Korean).

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• The Documentation Identification Number (DIN) system of Central Board of Indirect Taxes (CBIC) will come into existence from 8th November 2019.
• The DIN system in indirect tax administration has been created as per the direction of Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman .
• CBIC communication will have to have a Documentation Identification Number.
• Government has already executed the DIN system in the direct tax administration. To begin with, in the indirect tax administration, the DIN would be used for search authorisation, summons, arrest memo, inspection notices and letters issued in the course of any enquiry.

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• The New Colombo Plan Mobility Program is a signature initiative of Government of Australia, which will provide Australian University students the opportunities to gain cross-cultural awareness and experiences that are vital to today’s globally connected workforce.
• According to a recent announcement made by the Government of Australia, 1, 607 university students from Australia will be undertaking a study and work-based experience in India.
• This is as part of the 2020 New Colombo Plan Mobility Programme. India remains one of the most popular destinations for students from Australia under the programme.

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• Guyana, a country of 780,000 that neighbors Brazil and Venezuela in the region’s northeast corner, will see its economy balloon 86 per cent next year after expanding 4.4 per cent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. That’s 14 times the projected pace of China and driven by Exxon Mobil Corp.’s discovery of oil.

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• RCEP stands for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
• India decided to not join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) after it failed to address India’s key concerns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement while speaking at the 2019 RCEP Summit in Bangkok on November 4, 2019.
• India was looking for more protection of its domestic industry and agricultural sector from the surge of imports under the deal, especially from China. Since the deal could not offer any such specific protection, India decided to not join it to protect the national interest, protect the poor and stop unfair imports.

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• President Donald Trump announced America’s formal withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, marking its latest abdication of global multilateral obligations.
• The implications will be far-reaching. The U.S. is ceding the leadership of international energy policy to the People’s Republic of China.

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• The People’s Republic of China is currently the world’s largest producer of wind and solar energy and the largest investor in green energy projects.
• Five of the world’s six largest solar manufacturing companies can be found in China, as well as the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer.
• The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.

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• India will be one of the ‘Guest of Honour Country’ at China’s second International Import Expo (CIIE) to be opened at Shanghai on November 5 where it plans to make a strong pitch for exports of its Pharma, IT and agricultural products among others. In this year’s expo to be inaugurated by Chinese President Xi Jinping,

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• A naval exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2019 between the US and Bangladesh, began in Chattogram, Bangladesh, on 4 November 2019. It was announced by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing of Bangladesh armed forces.
• The exercise is provided with different subject-based training and exercise.
• Exercise CARAT aims to provide an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the operational activities of the US and Bangladesh navies of the two countries. The main objective of the naval exercise is to get acquainted with advanced technology through various theoretical and practical training.

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• A few days after India redrew the political map of Jammu and Kashmir after scrapping Article 370, the Nepal government strongly objected to the inclusion of 'Kalapani' under the Indian Territory.
• In the new political maps released by India, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is part of the newly created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir while Gilgit-Baltistan is in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
• However, the Nepal government made it clear that Kalapani is an integral part of the country and that talks are still on between New Delhi and Kathmandu over this "unresolved" area.
• The inclusion of Kalapani into the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand has been objected by Nepal as it considers the unresolved territory a part of the Darchula district in Nepal.

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• The Tamil Nadu State government has issued an order to add 9,000 words to the Tamil vocabulary.
• Currently, the language has over 4.7 lakh unique words.