Current Affairs Today 20th November 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 20th November 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

1. The Universal/World Children’s Day is celebrated on 20 November annually.
2. Karnataka Bank launched CASA (current account, savings account) mobilisation campaign which will run from November 17 to March 4, 2021.
3. State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a loan agreement of up to $1 billion with The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).
4. Barclays has revised down its GDP forecast for India in the current fiscal year 2020-21 (FY21) to (-) 6.4% from its earlier estimate of (-) 6%.
5. Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Shri Narendra Singh Tomar virtually inaugurated the capacity building component of the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises scheme (PM-FME Scheme) on 18 November 2020.
6. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has proposed a new scheme to develop Wind-Solar Hybrid Parks.
7. The Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched a portal for defence land management system.
8. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge, aimed to ensure that no person needs to enter a sewer or septic tank, unless absolutely unavoidable in the interest of greater public hygiene.
9. Indian Railways’ coach manufacturing unit, The Rail Coach Factory (RCF) Kapurthala has rolled out a semi high-speed double-decker coach that can run at a top speed of up to 160 kilometres per hour (kmph), according to the Railways.
10. PM Narendra Modi, Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering jointly launched RuPay card Phase-II in Bhutan via video conferencing.
11. The Karnataka Government has approved to carve out Vijayanagara as new district of the state.
12. A first of its kind in the state, North Police Station Kohima in Nagaland has been awarded an ISO certification.
13. Maia Sandu, a former World Bank economist, has won Moldova’s 2020 Presidential election to become the President-elect of the country.
14. Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Pakistan on November 19, 2020, sentenced ten years of jail to Hafiz Saeed in two terror funding related cases.
15. The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, and the Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Mr. Xavier Bettel, held the first-ever India-Luxembourg Virtual Summit on 19 November 2020.
16. India is placed at 77th position in the TRACE Bribery Risk Matrix 2020.
17. India and World Bank signed 120 million USD to modernise transport sector in the state of Meghalaya.
18. India and the New Development Bank signed an agreement of 500 million USD.
19. Indian Oil Corp (IOC) director-pipelines Akshay Kumar Singh will be the new managing director and chief executive of the country’s biggest gas importer, Petronet LNG Ltd.
20. Indian diplomat, Vidisha Maitra has been elected to the UN’s Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).
21. The 30th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) was held between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy from 18 to 20 November 2020.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

World Children’s Day observed on 20 November

• The Universal/World Children’s Day is celebrated on 20 November annually.
• Objective: to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.
• The day also marks the anniversary of adoption of Declaration and Convention of the Rights of the Child.

BANKING & FINANCE 

Karnataka Bank launches CASA campaign

• Karnataka Bank launched CASA (current account, savings account) mobilisation campaign which will run from November 17 to March 4, 2021.
• The bank stated that it intends to mobilise over 4.10 lakh current and savings accounts with an accretion of 650 crores of business.

Objective:

• To enable the basic banking services to the unbanked (not use banks or banking institutions) sections of the society.

Extra Shots:

Karnataka Bank

• CEO: Mahabaleshwara M. S
• Headquarters: Mangalore
• Founded: 18 February 1924

SBI signs $1 billion loan agreement with JBIC

• State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a loan agreement of up to $1 billion with The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).
• The loan will facilitate the operations of Japanese car companies in India.
• The financing will assist in Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
• While $600 million will be financed by JBIC, the rest will come from other participating lenders which include the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, MUFG Bank,Mizuho Bank, Shizuoka Bank and Bank of Yokohama.

Extra Shots:

State Bank of India

• Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founded: 1 July 1955

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Barclays Projects India’s GDP at -6.4% in FY21 & 8.5% in FY22

• Barclays has revised down its GDP forecast for India in the current fiscal year 2020-21 (FY21) to (-) 6.4% from its earlier estimate of (-) 6%.
• However, Barclays has raised its FY22 (2021-22) growth forecast to 8.5 percent from 7 percent.

Extra Shots:

Barclays

• CEO: Jes Staley
• Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Union Minister Narendra Singh inaugurates capacity building component of the PM-FME Scheme

• Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Shri Narendra Singh Tomar virtually inaugurated the capacity building component of the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises scheme (PM-FME Scheme) on 18 November 2020.
• He also launched the GIS One District One Product (ODOP) digital map of India.
• Under the capacity building component of the PM-FME scheme, training would be given to the master trainers through online mode, classroom lecture and demonstration, and self-paced online learning material.
• The master trainers will then train the district-level trainers, who will eventually train the beneficiaries.

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy proposed to develop Wind-Solar Hybrid Parks

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has proposed a new scheme to develop Wind-Solar Hybrid Parks.
• The scheme aims to address the key issues faced by renewable energy projects.
• The capacity of each park is expected to be 500 MW and more.
• The Wind-Solar Hybrid park will be a concentrated zone of power projects.
• It will provide an area with the required infrastructure.

Defence Minister launched portal for Land Management System

• The Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched a portal for defence land management system.
• The system will bring in transparency, speed and efficiency in dealing land management.
• The portal has been integrated with GIS (Geographical Information System) based tools.
• This will improve the decision-making process by removing unnecessary communication between the stakeholders.
• Defence Land encroachment is the major issue in defence land management.

Centre launches Safai Mitra Suraksha Challenge in 243 cities

• Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge, aimed to ensure that no person needs to enter a sewer or septic tank, unless absolutely unavoidable in the interest of greater public hygiene.
• The initiative, that promotes mechanized cleaning, also aims to ensure that no life of any sewer or septic tank cleaner is ever lost again owing to the issue of ‘hazardous’ cleaning.
• The virtual event witnessed participation of representatives from 243 cities across the country, coming together to take a pledge to mechanize all sewer and septic tank cleaning operations by 30th April 2021.
• The initiative was launched on the occasion of World Toilet Day.

Indian Railways rolls out double-decker coach which can run at 160 kmph speed

• Indian Railways’ coach manufacturing unit, The Rail Coach Factory (RCF) Kapurthala has rolled out a semi high-speed double-decker coach that can run at a top speed of up to 160 kilometres per hour (kmph), according to the Railways.
• The RCF has developed the new double-decker coach that can carry more and more passengers in a single train journey in shortest possible time.

PM Modi, Bhutanese PM jointly launch Rupay card Phase-2

• PM Narendra Modi, Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering jointly launched RuPay card Phase-II in Bhutan via video conferencing.
• For this purpose, Bhutan’s four space engineers will go to ISRO in December.
• The implementation of phase-1 of RuPay card enables Indian visitors to Bhutan to access ATMs and point of sale terminals in Bhutan.
• The two PMs had launched phase-1 of the project during PM Modi’s visit to Bhutan in August 2019.
• The implementation of phase-1 of RuPay card enable Indian visitors to Bhutan to access ATMs and point of sale terminals in Bhutan.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Vijayanagara becomes 31st District of Karnataka, carved out of Ballari district

• The Karnataka Government has approved to carve out Vijayanagara as new district of the state.
• Vijayanagara will be the 31st district of the State.
• The new district would be carved out of Ballari and named after the Vijayanagara empire that ruled from this region.

North Police Station in Kohima receives an ISO certification

• A first of its kind in the state, North Police Station Kohima in Nagaland has been awarded an ISO certification.
• The Police station is located in the heart of Kohima Town which was the first established police station under Naga Hills district by the British Regime in the year 1933.
• The whole process of online application, process, upgradation, documentation and online auditing was completed in a span of 30 days.

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Maia Sandu Elected as First-Ever Woman President of Moldova

• Maia Sandu, a former World Bank economist, has won Moldova’s 2020 Presidential election to become the President-elect of the country.
• She received 57.72% of the vote.
• She is the first women to be elected as the President of Moldova and would assume office on 23rd December 2020.
• Meanwhile the incumbent President of Moldova, Igor Dodon received 42.28% of the vote.
• The 48-year-old Sandu is the current leader of the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS).
• She was the former Prime Minister of Moldova from 8 June 2019 until 14 November 2019.

Extra Shots:

Moldova (Capital/Currency): Chișinău/ Moldovan leu

• President: Maia Sandu

Pakistani Court sentences 10 years jail term to JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed

• Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Pakistan on November 19, 2020, sentenced ten years of jail to Hafiz Saeed in two terror funding related cases.
• He is a 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack Mastermind and Chief of Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD).
• In 2020, this will be the fourth conviction of Hafiz Saeed.

Extra Shots:

Pakistan (Capital/Currency): Islamabad/ Pakistani Rupee

• Prime Minister: Imaran Khan

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

First India-Luxembourg Virtual Summit

• The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, and the Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Mr. Xavier Bettel, held the first-ever India-Luxembourg Virtual Summit on 19 November 2020.
• Both countries have friendly relation of over more than seven decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1948.
• During the Summit, both parties agreed for enhanced cooperation in areas of trade, finance, steel, space, ICT, innovation, manufacturing, automotive, sustainable development, including through renewable energy, and the fight against climate change.
• Three MoUs were signed as a part of the Summit.

Extra Shots:

Luxembourg (Capital/Currency): Luxembourg City/ Euro

• President: Xavier Bettel

RANKS AND INDICES

India Ranks 77 in TRACE Bribery Risk Matrix 2020

• India is placed at 77th position in the TRACE Bribery Risk Matrix 2020.
• India has achieved the score of 45 in a global list that measures business bribery risks of 2020. India’s rank stood 78 position in 2019.
• North Korea, Turkmenistan, South Sudan, Venezuela and Eritrea had the highest commercial bribery risk.
• Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and New Zealand showed the lowest bribery risk.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

India-World Bank sign 120 million USD agreement to implement Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project

• India and World Bank signed 120 million USD to modernise transport sector in the state of Meghalaya.
• The project aims to improve 300 km of strategic road segment through climate resilient and nature-based solutions.
• The project will help Meghalaya to emerge as the major connecting hub of trade with border countries such as Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
• The project will cater small scale industries, agriculture areas, tourism, health and education centres.

Extra Shots:

World Bank

• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
• President: David Malpass
• Parent organization: World Bank Group
• Founded: July 1944, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States

India-New Development Bank sign 500 million USD agreement

• India and the New Development Bank signed an agreement of 500 million USD.
• Under the agreement, the New Development Bank is to lend the funds to implement Delhi- Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System project.
• The funds will be used to provide reliable, fast, safe and comfortable public transport system in the region.

Extra Shots:

New Development Bank

• Headquarters location: Shanghai, China
• Founder: BRICS
• Founded: 15 July 2014, Fortaleza, State of Ceará, Brazil
• Leader: Marcos Prado Troyjo
• Parent organization: BRICS
• First president: K. V. Kamath

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

Indian Oil Corp director A K Singh to head Petronet LNG

• Indian Oil Corp (IOC) director-pipelines Akshay Kumar Singh will be the new managing director and chief executive of the country’s biggest gas importer, Petronet LNG Ltd.
• He will replace Prabhat Singh who completed his 5-year term.
• Petronet is a joint venture of IOC, GAIL, Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and BPCL.

Extra Shots:

Indian Oil Corp

• Chairperson: Shrikant Madhav Vaidya
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 30 June 1959

Indian diplomat Vidisha Maitra elected to UN advisory committee

• Indian diplomat, Vidisha Maitra has been elected to the UN’s Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).
• India has been a member of the committee since its inception in 1946.

DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

30th India-Thai Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT)

• The 30th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) was held between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy from 18 to 20 November 2020.
• The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Karmuk, an indigenously built Missile Corvette and Thailand Ship (HTMS) Kraburi, a Chao Phraya Class Frigate along with Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both the navies participated in the CORPAT.

Extra Shots:

Thailand (Capital/Currency): Bangkok/Bhatt

• Prime Minister: Prayut Chan-o-cha

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