Hello and welcome to exampundit.in. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 19th November 2020. These are important for the upcoming Exams. Candidates who were preparing for the examination can use these current affairs and also you can download the same as PDF.
Current Affairs Today – 19th November 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- Every year, the World COPD Day is celebrated on November 18. COPD is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
- Every year, the United Nations and several other international organizations celebrate World Toilet Day on November 19.
- The National Naturopathy Day is observed in India on 18 November every year, to promote positive mental and physical health through drugless system of medicine, called as Naturopathy.
- The SBM Bank India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Bank of Mauritius, has announced to launch a ‘neo banking platform’ to reach its customers in the country with the help of technology.
- The Reserve Bank of India has created a Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH).
- Private sector lenders HDFC Bank and IndusInd Bank have been put in the ‘red flag’ list, a system used for monitoring foreign portfolio investor (FPI) limits.
- The Investment bank, Goldman Sachs has revised upwards the growth forecast for India in FY21 to -10.3% from its earlier projection of -14.8% in September 2020.
- The Energy Efficiency Services Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of New and Renewable Energy, Goa.
- The World Economic Forum selected 36 cities from 22 countries for pioneering a policy road map for smart cities.
- The first solar powered Textile Mill in Asia will come up in Parbhani district, Maharashtra.
- The Madhya Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has decided to set up a ‘Gau Cabinet’ for the protection, conservation and promotion of cows in the state.
- Japan and Australia signed the “Reciprocal Access Agreement” to counter the growing influence of China in the South China sea and in the Pacific Island Nations.
- The US Government announced that the US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq will be reduced.
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has temporarily suspended the issuance of new visit visas to visitors from 12 countries including Pakistan until further notice.
- On November 17, 2020, during the 12th BRICS Summit, the members adopted counter terrorism strategy.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bengaluru Tech Summit virtually.
- The National Action Plan for Vulture Conservation, 2020-25 was recently approved by National Board for Wild life.
- India and Kazakhstan held seventh round of foreign office consultations via video conference.
- Assam won four awards in fisheries sector from the National Fisheries Development Board operating under the Ministry of Fisheries.
- Indian Navy’s warfare capabilities, the ninth Boeing P-8I surveillance plane was delivered to it from the US at its naval airbase in Goa on November 18, 2020.
- FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) cancelled the Women Under-17 world cup due to COVID-19 pandemic.
- Indian cricketer Sudeep Tyagi, has announced his retirement from all forms of the game on 17 November 2020.
- Param Siddhi is a high-performance computing-artificial intelligence (HPC-AI) supercomputer that was established at C-DAC under the National Supercomputing Mission.
- The first crewless Gaganyaan Flight which was earlier pushed to be launched in the first half of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will now be launched only by the end of 2021.
- The former President of the United States Barack Obama published a memoir called “A Promised Land”.
- Haryana’s first woman MP and former Puducherry Lt.-Governor Chandrawati passed away on November 15. She was 92.
- Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Bhanwarlal Meghwal has passed away from brain haemorrhage. He was 72.
- The Japanese physicist Masatoshi Koshiba, who won 2002 Nobel prize in Physics, has passed away at the age of 94.
- Former Governor of Goa and veteran BJP leader Mridula Sinha has passed away.
NEWS IN DETAILS
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
November 18 observed on World COPD Day
- Every year, the World COPD Day is celebrated on November 18. COPD is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
- The World COPD day is observed to increase awareness about the chronic inflammatory lung condition.
- This year, the day is celebrated under the theme
- Theme: Living Well with COPD-Everybody, Everywhere.
World Toilet Day observed on November 19
- Every year, the United Nations and several other international organizations celebrate World Toilet Day on November 19.
- The official convener of the World Toilet Day is the UN-Water.
- Theme: Sustainable Sanitation and Climate Change
Ministry of AYUSH Observes Third Naturopathy Day on 18th November
- The National Naturopathy Day is observed in India on 18 November every year, to promote positive mental and physical health through drugless system of medicine, called as Naturopathy.
- As a part of the occasion, National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN), Pune under Ministry of AYUSH has organised a series of webinars on ‘Gandhian philosophy of Self Reliance through Self Health Reliance’ on Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations from 2nd Oct 2020.
- The 48-day program of webinars will continue till the third National Naturopathy Day, which falls on 18 November 2020.
BANKING & FINANCE
SBM Bank India and PayNearby collaborates to launch neo banking platform ‘Nivesh’
- The SBM Bank India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Bank of Mauritius, has announced to launch a ‘neo banking platform’ to reach its customers in the country with the help of technology.
- The neo banking service launched is called ‘Nivesh’ and is a unique Goal Based Recurring Deposit Platform.
Extra Shots:
State Bank of Mauritius
- CEO: Parvataneni Venkateswara Rao
- Headquarters: Port Louis, Mauritius
- Founded: 1973
RBI creates Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) with Shri Senapathy (Kris) Gopalakrishnan as Chairperson
- The Reserve Bank of India has created a Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH).
- The aim of RBIH is to promote innovation across the financial sector by leveraging on technology and creating an environment which would facilitate and foster innovation.
- Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) would be managed by a Governing Council (GC) consisting of 10 members (including a chairperson). Shri Senapathy (Kris) Gopalakrishnan, co-founder and former co-Chairman, Infosys, has been appointed as the first Chairperson of the RBIH.
Extra Shots:
RBI
- Governor: Shaktikanta Das
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founder: British Raj
- Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
- Deputy Governors: M. D. Patra, B.P. Kanungo, M. K. Jain and M Rajeshwar Rao
HDFC Bank & IndusInd enters ‘red flag’ list upon reaching close to foreign investment cap
- Private sector lenders HDFC Bank and IndusInd Bank have been put in the ‘red flag’ list, a system used for monitoring foreign portfolio investor (FPI) limits.
- A listed company enters the red flag list where foreign holdings are close to breaching the permissible limits. In other words, if the foreign investment in the company is within/less than 3 percent of the permissible NRI/FPI limits or the sectoral cap, the company is put under the red flag list.
- FPIs can invest up to 74 percent in both HDFC Bank and IndusInd Bank.
- The current FPI shareholding in case of HDFC Bank is 71.3 percent, and of IndusInd Bank is 73. 1 percent.
Extra Shots:
HDFC Bank
- CEO: Aditya Puri
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founded: August 1994, India
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Goldman Sachs Projects India’s GDP Forecast at -10.3% in FY21, 13% in FY22
- The Investment bank, Goldman Sachs has revised upwards the growth forecast for India in FY21 to -10.3% from its earlier projection of -14.8% in September 2020.
- For the financial year 2021-22 (FY22), the Goldman Sachs has projected India’s GDP at 13%.
Extra Shots:
Goldman Sachs
- CEO: David M. Solomon
- Founded: 1869, New York, New York, United States
- Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
- Founders: Marcus Goldman, Samuel Sachs
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
First Convergence Project of India to generate green energy
- The Energy Efficiency Services Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of New and Renewable Energy, Goa.
- According to the agreement, the first convergence project of India to generate Green Energy for agriculture and rural areas is to be set up in Goa.
- The project is to focus on energy solutions that are evolved based on the concepts that combine climate change, renewable energy and Artificial Intelligence.
Four Indian Cities selected by World Economic Forum to pioneer roadmap for Smart Cities
- The World Economic Forum selected 36 cities from 22 countries for pioneering a policy road map for smart cities.
- These smart cities are being developed under the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance.
- Of the 36 cities selected, four are Indian cities.
- The four Indian cities selected are Bengaluru, Faridabad, Indore and Hyderabad.
Extra Shots:
World Economic Forum
- Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland
- Founder: Klaus Schwab
- Founded: January 1971
- Leader: Klaus Schwab
Asia’s first solar powered Textile Mill to come up in Maharashtra’s Parbhani district
- The first solar powered Textile Mill in Asia will come up in Parbhani district, Maharashtra.
- The Jai Bhawani women’s cooperative textile mill will become the first Solar Powered textile mill in Asia.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announces ‘Gau Cabinet’ for protection of cows
- The Madhya Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has decided to set up a ‘Gau Cabinet’ for the protection, conservation and promotion of cows in the state.
- The Cabinet will comprise of the departments of animal husbandry, forests, panchayat and rural development, revenue, home and farmers welfare.
- The first meeting of the Cabinet will be held at 12 pm on ‘Gopashtami’ on November 22 at the Cow Sanctuary in Agar-Malwa district named ‘Kamdhenu Gau Abhyaranya’
- It is India’s first cow sanctuary which was set up by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Madhya Pradesh government in September 2017.
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Japan and Australia sign Defence Pact to counter China
- Japan and Australia signed the “Reciprocal Access Agreement” to counter the growing influence of China in the South China sea and in the Pacific Island Nations.
- The deal called Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) was signed between Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on 17 November 2020.
- RAA will allow Japanese and Australian troops to visit each other’s countries and conduct training and joint operations.
- The treaty will strengthen their security ties and facilitate cooperation between defence forces.
Extra Shots:
Japan (Capital/Currency): Tokyo/Japanese yen
- Prime minister: Yoshihide Suga
Australia (Capital/Currency): Canberra/ Australian dollar
- Prime minister: Scott Morrison
US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq withdrawn partially
- The US Government announced that the US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq will be reduced.
- The US forces in Afghanistan is to be reduced from 4,500 to 2,500 and in Iraq from 3,000 to 2,500.
UAE suspends visit visas for 12 countries including Pakistan
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has temporarily suspended the issuance of new visit visas to visitors from 12 countries including Pakistan until further notice.
- The news was confirmed by Pakistan’s Foreign Office on November 18, 2020.
Extra Shots:
UAE (Capital/Currency): Abu Dhabi/ United Arab Emirates dirham
President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
BRICS countries adopt Counter Terrorism Strategy
- On November 17, 2020, during the 12th BRICS Summit, the members adopted counter terrorism strategy.
- The main objective of the strategy is to deal with terrorism.
The Counter Terrorism Strategy is based on the following principles
- Respect sovereignty of participating countries
- Commit to international laws
- Recognize coordinating role of the United Nations
- Consider member countries’ priorities and national interests
- Adopt comprehensive approach to combat terrorism
Extra Shots:
BRICS
- Founded: June 2006
- Formation: 2009
PM Modi virtually inaugurates Bengaluru Tech Summit 2020
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bengaluru Tech Summit virtually.
- The world’s largest health insurance programme, Ayushman Bharat or reaching electricity and providing shelter to the poor, he said that the policy of his Government is to find tech solutions for their quick implementation.
- The summit to be held for three days starting today will see the participation of 4000 delegates, 270 speakers in 75 panel discussions. 25 tech nations are participating in the summit along with thought leaders, industry captains, technocrats, researchers, innovators, investors, policy makers and educators.
RANKS AND INDICES
National Action Plan for Vulture Conservation, 2020-2025
- The National Action Plan for Vulture Conservation, 2020-25 was recently approved by National Board for Wild life.
- The plan has suggested that new veterinary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs be tested on vultures before they are commercially released.
- The new plan automatically removes veterinary use of a drug if it is found to be toxic to vultures.
- Under the plan, every state will host at least one vulture safe zone to conserve the remnant population of vultures in the state. These centres will facilitate conservation and breeding of vultures.
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
India-Kazakhstan sign Memorandum of Understanding
- India and Kazakhstan held seventh round of foreign office consultations via video conference.
- The countries signed the “Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community Projects in Kazakhstan”.
- The countries reviewed their bilateral cooperation within the framework of their strategic partnership.
- The consultations covered economic, political, defence, energy, space, cultural matters.
- The countries also agreed to enhance their cooperation in multilateral forums including the forthcoming term of India as a member of United Nations Security Council for the period 2021-22.
Extra Shots:
Kazakhstan (Capital/Currency): Nur-Sultan/ Kazakhstani tenge
- President: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
Assam wins best state award in fisheries sector
- Assam won four awards in fisheries sector from the National Fisheries Development Board operating under the Ministry of Fisheries.
- Assam received the best state award under the category of best hilly and North Eastern State in Fisheries.
Extra Shots:
Assam:
- Capital: Dispur
- Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
- Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
- National Park: Dibru-Saikhowa NP, Kaziranga NP, Manas NP, Nameri NP, Rajiv Gandhi Orang NP, Dehing Patkai
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Indian Navy receives ninth P-8I surveillance aircraft from Boeing
- Indian Navy’s warfare capabilities, the ninth Boeing P-8I surveillance plane was delivered to it from the US at its naval airbase in Goa on November 18, 2020.
- The P-8I surveillance plane delivered recently to the Indian Navy is the first of the four additional planes, which were ordered by India from Boeing after the completion of the initial order for eight aircraft.
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
FIFA cancels U-17 Women World Cup in India
- FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) cancelled the Women Under-17 world cup due to COVID-19 pandemic.
- It has been postponed to 2021.
- The 2020 FIFA Women Under-17 World Cup was to be held in India.
- Both Under-17 and Under-20 women’s World cup were to be held in India.
- This has been cancelled and the country has been awarded to host the 2022 cup.
- FIFA announced that Costa Rica will host the FIFA Under-20 Women
Extra Shots:
FIFA
- President: Gianni Infantino
- Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland
- Founded: 21 May 1904, Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris, France
- Founded at: Paris, France
- Motto: For the Game. For the World.
Sudeep Tyagi announces retirement from all forms of cricket
- Indian cricketer Sudeep Tyagi, has announced his retirement from all forms of the game on 17 November 2020.
- The 33-year-old had played for the Indian national cricket team in four ODIs and a lone T20I as a fast bowler,
- Apart from this, the right-arm medium-fast bowler had also featured in 14 games in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS
India’s AI supercomputer among world top 500 most power non-distributed computers
- Param Siddhi is a high-performance computing-artificial intelligence (HPC-AI) supercomputer that was established at C-DAC under the National Supercomputing Mission.
- It has secured rank 63 in TOP 500 most powerful non-distributed computer system list in the world.
- Param Siddhi was jointly developed by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Department of Science and Technology.
ISRO to launch first crewless Gaganyaan flight by end of 2021
- The first crewless Gaganyaan Flight which was earlier pushed to be launched in the first half of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will now be launched only by the end of 2021.
- As part of the unmanned Gaganyaan Flight, ISRO has planned on sending a humanoid which has been developed indigenously.
Extra Shots:
ISRO
- Headquarters: Bengaluru
- Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
- Founded: 15 August 1969
- Director: Kailasavadivoo Sivan
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Barack Obama publishes book “A Promised Land”
- The former President of the United States Barack Obama published a memoir called “A Promised Land”.
- It is the first of the two volumes that Obama had written during his tenure as President of United States which is between 2009 and 2017.
OBITUARY
Former Puducherry Lt Governor Chandrawati passes away
- Haryana’s first woman MP and former Puducherry Lt.-Governor Chandrawati passed away on November 15. She was 92.
- Chandrawati became the first-ever woman MP from Haryana in 1977.
- The senior Congress leader served as the Lt.-Governor of Puducherry from 19 February 1990 to 13 December 1990.
Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Bhanwarlal Meghwal passes away
- Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Bhanwarlal Meghwal has passed away from brain haemorrhage. He was 72.
- The five-time MLA represented the Sujangarh assembly constituency of Churu district of the state.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condoled the death of Meghwal.
Japanese Nobel laureate physicist Masatoshi Koshiba passes away at 94
- The Japanese physicist Masatoshi Koshiba, who won 2002 Nobel prize in Physics, has passed away at the age of 94.
- Koshiba won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2002 along with Raymond Davis Jr “for pioneering contributions to astrophysics, in particular for the detection of cosmic neutrinos”.
Former Goa Governor Mridula Sinha passes away at 77
- Former Governor of Goa and veteran BJP leader Mridula Sinha has passed away.
- She was 77.
- Mridula Sinha was the first woman Governor of Goa.
- She was also a renowned Hindi writer.
