Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 21st November 2019. These are important for the upcoming Exams. Candidates those who were preparing for the examination can use these current affairs and also you can download the same as PDF.
Current Affairs Today – 21st November 2019
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
World Philosophy Day observed on 21st November
- The World Philosophy Day is observed globally on the third Thursday of November every year.
- This year it was observed on 21st November.
- On this day, UNESCO highlighted the value of philosophy for the development of human thought, for each culture and individual.
- The 2019 edition aims to highlight the importance of philosophy in different regional contexts.
- The goal is to obtain regional contributions to global debates on contemporary challenges that support social transformations.
- World Philosophy Day was introduced in 2002 by UNESCO.
Extra Shots:
UNESCO: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Paris, France.
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Head: Audrey Azoulay
- Founded: 16 November 1945, London, United Kingdom
- Formation: 4 November 1946; 72 years ago
World Television Day observed on 21 November
- World Television Day is observed on 21 November every year.
- The day is observed to acknowledge the role of broadcast media.
- On this day, the journalists, writers, bloggers, and others who are associated with the medium promote the role of television in communication and globalization.
World Fisheries Day is celebrated on 21 November
- World Fisheries Day is celebrated on 21 November every year.
- The day aims to highlight the importance of healthy ocean ecosystems.
- It also ensures the sustainable stocks of fisheries in the world
FINANCE AND ECONOMY
Google selected IAFs video game for 2019 Best Game contest
- Google has selected Indian Air Force’s (IAF) video game titled Indian Air Force: A Cut Above in the Best Game-2019 contest under the Users Choice Game category.
- IAF launched the multiplayer version of its interactive mobile game.
- The video game of IAF was aimed to make the youth aware of the IAF and encourage them to join the forces.
Extra Shots:
Google LLC is an American multinational technology company that specializes in Internet-related services and products, which include online advertising technologies, search engine, cloud computing, software, and hardware. It is considered one of the Big Four technology companies, alongside Amazon, Apple, and Facebook.
- Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin Trending
- Founded: 4 September 1998, Menlo Park, California, United States
- CEO: Sundar Pichai
- Parent organization: Alphabet Inc.
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Census 2021 to be conducted in 16 languages
- Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed that Census 2021 will be conducted in 16 languages.
- During Census 2021, a mix mode approach is being adopted for data collection.
- Census will be conducted in two phases – House-listing and Housing Census from April to September 2020 and Population Enumeration during February 09-28, 2021.
- The Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) has recommended an amount of Rs. 8754.23 crore for conducting Census 2021 in 16 languages.
Extra Shots:
- Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India: Vivek Joshi
Cabinet approves establishment of the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR)
- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the establishment of the National Institute for Sowa-Rigpa in Leh, Ladakh.
- The Institute will be an autonomous National Institute under Ministry of AYUSH with the mandate to undertake interdisciplinary education and research programmes in Sowa-Rigpa in collaboration with premier national and international Institutes and facilitate the integration of different systems of medicine.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Kolkata becomes first city to install ‘Third Umpire’ RT-PCR Machines
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has installed first of its kind high-end reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machines in India for quick detection of diseases like dengue, tuberculosis and swine flu.
These machines are to serve as a ‘third umpire’ in situations when medical reports and blood tests reveal contradictory results.
The purpose is to give an accurate DNA report on blood tests in order to ascertain the exact cause of illness.
Extra Shots:
West Bengal
- Capital: Kolkata
- Chief Minister:Mamta Banerjee
- Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar
Bengaluru to get free Wi Fi for 1 hour each day
- Karnataka State has launched a scheme to provide free Wi-Fi services to Bengaluru for one hour each day.
- The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka CN Ashwath Narayan on 20 November.
Free Wi-Fi scheme:
- The scheme has been launched after a consistent demand from the public, tourists, and many other stakeholders to have such an infrastructure.
- The scheme will be implemented in nine months.
- The cost estimated for the scheme is Rs.100 crore.
Extra Shots:
Karnataka:
- Capital: Bengaluru
- Chief Minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
- Governor: Vajubhai Vala
- National Park: Anshi NP, Bandipur NP, Bannerghatta NP, Kudremukh NP, Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) NP.
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
Smriti Irani addresses South Asia Safety Summit
- The Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani was addressing the 2nd edition of South Asia Safety Summit in New Delhi.
- She has stressed the need to ensure the safety of women and children within their homes, and create safe neighbourhoods to protect them against violence and abuse.
- The summit was joined by over 100 organisations from Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and India.
- The South Asia Safety Summit is Facebook’s annual event to host critical conversations on digital safety and security.
Extra Shots:
Delhi:
- Chief Minister: Arvind Kejriwal
- Lt. Governor: Anil Baijal
World’s first Muslim yoga camp is being held on Kotdwar
- The world’s first Muslim yoga camp began at Kanva Ashram in Kotdwar town of Uttarakhand on 20 November 2019.
- The camp will be held from 20-24 November 2019.
Yoga Camp:
- The yoga camp shows the health benefits associated with practising Yoga.
- Yoga elevates one’s heart, mind, and thoughts to such a level that the individual begins to care for all. It leads people towards universal welfare.
- Yoga elevates the effect on the way one looks upon things.
Extra Shots:
Uttarakhand:
- Capital: Dehradun
- Chief Minster: Trivendra Singh Rawat
- Governor: Baby Rani Maurya
- National Park: Corbett NP, Gangotri NP, Govind NP, Nanda Devi, Rajaji NP, Valley of Flowers NP.
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
Health ministry signs pact with Gates Foundation for support in innovation
- The Union ministry of health and family welfare signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). Under the MoC, Gates Foundation will provide technical, management and program design support through its grantees and other partners, with a special focus on innovation, best practices and enhancing performance management, while working closely with the government.
- The Foundation will support the ministry’s work towards strengthening the primary health aspects such as reducing maternal and child mortality, improving nutrition services and increasing the immunization reach.
Cabinet approved the MoU signed between India and Finland to boost tourism
- The Cabinet led by PM Modi approved an MoU signed between India and Finland to strengthen cooperation in the field of Tourism.
MoU highlights:
- The MoU will establish the basis for a cooperative relationship to encourage and promote successful bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism
- It allows the countries to share data, knowledge, expertise, etc. related to tourism
- Both the countries can also share their experiences in making policies, regulation and standards in planning, implementation, and development of tourism policy
Extra Shots:
Finland (Capital/Currency): Helsinki/Euro
- President: Sauli Niinistö
APPOINTMENT
Abhay has been appointed as the DGP of Odisha
- The Odisha State government has appointed senior IPS officer Abhay as the Director-General of Police (DGP) Odisha.
- He was appointed based on the recommendation of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
- Abhaya will replace IPS officer BK Sharma, who is at present Director, Fire Service, and holding the additional charge of DGP of the state.
Extra Shots:
Odisha:
- Capital: Bhubaneswar
- Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
- Governor: Ganeshi Lal
- National Park: Bhitarkanika NP, Simlipal NP
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won F1 Brazilian Grand Prix
- Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) won F1 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos in São Paulo, Brazil.
- Verstappen was followed by Pierre Gasly (France) and Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro (Spain) in the second and third place respectively.
Manu Bhaker bags gold medal in ISSF World Cup Finals
- India’s Manu Bhaker created history at World Cup Finals in Women’s 10m Air Pistol event.
- She bagged India’s first gold medal in the tournament this year.
- She shot 244.7 to claim the top prize in the season-ending tournament of International Shooting Sport Federation at Putian in China.
- Serbia’s Zorana Arunovic won the silver while Quian Wang of China bagged the bronze.
Extra Shots:
ISSF: The International Shooting Sport Federation is the governing body of the Olympic Shooting events in rifle, pistol and shotgun disciplines, and of several non-Olympic Shooting sport events.
- Headquarters: Munich, Germany
- President: Vladimir Lisin
- Founded: 1907
- Sport: Shooting
- Membership: 150 regions
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
GRSE delivers ICGS ‘Amrit Kaur to Indian Coast Guard
- Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) delivered to the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) ‘Amrit Kaur’, the third in a series of five ‘Fast Patrol Vessels’ (FPV).
- ICGS ‘Amrit Kaur’ is a 50-metre-long and 7.5-metre- wide medium-range surface vessel, with a displacement of around 308 tonnes.
- It is capable of performing a rescue, patrolling, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching operations in the maritime zones of the country.
Extra Shots:
GRSE: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd, abbreviated as GRSE, is one of India’s leading shipyards, located in Kolkata, West Bengal. It builds and repairs commercial and naval vessels. Presently GRSE has also started building export ships in a mission to expand its business.
Headquarters: India
Founded: 1884
AWARDS
Naturalist Sir David Attenborough will receive Indira Gandhi peace prize 2019
- The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2019 will be conferred on renowned naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough for his tireless work to preserve and protect biodiversity.
- His name was selected for the prize by an international jury chaired by former president Pranab Mukherjee, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.
Extra Shots:
- This prestigious award, named after former Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi, has been accorded annually by Indira Gandhi Trust since 1986.
- It is awarded to individuals or organizations in recognition of their creative efforts towards promoting international peace, development.
- The award consists of a monetary award of 25 lakhs and a citation.
- The 2017 Prize had gone to former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh.
Virat Kohli named PETA India’s Person of the Year
- India captain Virat Kohli was named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India’s ‘Person of the Year for 2019’ for his animal advocacy efforts.
- Kohli’s efforts to improve conditions for animals include sending a letter on PETA India’s behalf to officials calling for the release of Malti, an elephant used for rides at Amer Fort, who was reportedly violently beaten by eight men.
- The PETA awards are given to people or organisations that take initiative in the welfare of animals and violence against animals.
Extra Shots:
- PETA established: March 22, 1980
- Headquarters: Norfolk, Virginia, United States.
