Current Affairs Today 27th November 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 27th November 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has partnered with the State Bank of India, to offer attractive financial benefits, on owning a Mercedes-Benz.
  2. Private lender HDFC Bank has joined hands with ICCI (Inventivepreneur Chamber of Commerce and Industries In its endeavour for supporting SMEs and Start-ups.
  3. HDFC Life and HDFC Ergo joined hands to launch a combi insurance product ‘Click 2 Protect Corona Kavach’.
  4. The Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot virtually launched a ‘National Portal for Transgender Persons’ on 25 November 2020.
  5. Indian Railway has launched a completely digitised online Human Resource Management System (HRMS).
  6. The Indian government on November 26, 2020, decided to extend the ban on the scheduled international commercial passenger services till December 31, 2020
  7. The Ministry of Shipping announced on November 26, 2020, that it has issued a draft of the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2020 for public consultation.
  8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a commemorative Rs 100 coin of the centennial foundation day of the University of Lucknow through a video conference.
  9. Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has cleared the proposal to rename the Ayodhya airport as Maryada Purushottam Sri Ram Airport, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
  10. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 16 National Highway projects in Uttar Pradesh on 26 November 2020.
  11. From December 1, West Bengal will launch an initiative to take government services to the doorsteps of people. ‘Duare Duare Sarkar’ or government at the doorstep.
  12. Union Food Processing Industries Minister Narendra Singh Tomar virtually inaugurated the Rs 107.83 crore mega food park at Phagwara in Kapurthala district of Punjab which is likely to generate 5,000 jobs.
  13. Government think-tank NITI Aayog has formed a high-level panel to explore the technological and commercial viability of the Virgin Hyperloop technology for ultrahigh speed travel in India, weeks after its first test was completed with humans on board.
  14. The Goa government will install the life-size statue of late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona in the coastal belt of North district by early next year.
  15. The Union Territory of Ladakh has got the largest solar power project set up under the Centre’s ‘Make In India’ initiative at Leh IAF station to provide sustainable energy alternative to fossil fuel and traditional methods of energy generation.
  16. A pharmaceutical company in India, Hetero will be manufacturing over 100 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine per year.
  17. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 3rd Global Renewable Energy Investment Meeting and Expo (RE-Invest 2020) on 26 November 2020 through video conferencing.
  18. Invest India, the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency, has partnered with UNDP India to develop the first-ever ‘SDG Investor Map for India’.
  19. India and Finland signed Memorandum of Understanding in the field of biodiversity conservation and environment protection.
  20. Lt Gen Harpal Singh has been appointed as the new Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army. He would take over his new appointment on December 1, 2020.
  21. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami launched ‘Thee’, a mobile phone-based application for the benefit of the general public to reach out to the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services when in need.
  22. Fixed line users will have to add a “0” before dialling any mobile number in the country from January 15 informed by the Ministry of Communications.
  23. The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi released a book on the life and ideals of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji on 25 November 2020.
  24. Australian-American lawyer, investment banker, and economist James Wolfensohn, who served as the President of the World Bank for 10 years, has passes away.
  25. Renowned Indian industrialist, Faqir Chand Kohli, who was referred as Father of Indian Information Technology (IT) Industry, has passed away. He was 96.
  26. Australian-American lawyer, investment banker, and economist James Wolfensohn, who served as the President of the World Bank for 10 years, passed away.

NEWS IN DETAILS

BANKING & FINANCE

Mercedes-Benz India teams up with SBI for car financing offers

  • Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has partnered with the State Bank of India, to offer attractive financial benefits, on owning a Mercedes-Benz.
  • The collaboration will give Mercedes-Benz access to the unparalleled market penetration of SBI’s HNI customer base, while the bank’s customers will enjoy exclusive benefits while booking a marque luxury product like Mercedes-Benz.
  • The collaboration guarantees a host of financial benefits including an attractive rate of interest, additional benefits worth INR 25,000 exclusively for YONO customers who book a Mercedes-Benz vehicle through its Icon displayed on SBI’s digital platform YONO.

HDFC Bank, ICCI join hands to support SMEs, start-ups

  • Private lender HDFC Bank has joined hands with ICCI (Inventivepreneur Chamber of Commerce and Industries In its endeavour for supporting SMEs and Start-ups.
  • Through this alliance, ICCI will be engaging, enrolling and supporting various Start-ups /SMEs /MSMEs in a bid to facilitate inter-alia financial and other facilities to/from HDFC Bank.
  • As a part of this partnership, HDFC Bank may offer bank accounts to Start-ups that are supported by INVENTIVEPRENEUR and recommended by INVENTIVEPRENEUR.

HDFC Life, HDFC Ergo unveil combi Corona Kavach health insurance policy

  • HDFC Life and HDFC Ergo joined hands to launch a combi insurance product ‘Click 2 Protect Corona Kavach’.
  • With HDFC Life’s Click 2 Protect 3D Plus and HDFC Ergo’s Corona Kavach policies, the new insurance policy offers “a complete financial protection package in the current pandemic environment.
  • An individual can choose from the available options provided by HDFC Life’s Click 2 Protect 3D Plus, including premium waiver for accidental total permanent disability or on diagnosis of critical illness and can also avail of a COVID-19 health cover.
  • The ambulance charges, home care treatment charges, pre and post hospitalisation charges if diagnosed with COVID-19 will be included in the Corona Kavach policy.
  • The COVID-19 health cover can be extended to spouse, dependent children below 25 years of age, dependent parents and parents-in-law under the family floater cover.

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Thaawarchand Gehlot Virtually Launches ‘National Portal for Transgender Persons’

  • The Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot virtually launched a ‘National Portal for Transgender Persons’ on 25 November 2020.
  • Apart from this, the minister also e-inaugurated a ‘Garima Greh: A Shelter Home for Transgender Persons’ in Vadodara, Gujarat.

National Portal for Transgender Persons

  • The portal is an end to end online process developed within 2 months of Notification of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020 on 29 September, 2020.
  • It would help a transgender person to apply for a Certificate and Identity card digitally from anywhere in the country without any physical interface.

Garima Greh

  • ‘Garima Greh: A Shelter Home for Transgender Persons’ will be run in association with Lakshya Trust, a Community based organisation entirely run by the Transgenders.
  • It would provide shelter to Transgender persons, with basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and recreational facilities.
  • It would also provide support for the capacity-building/skill development of persons in the Community, which will enable them to lead a life of dignity and respect.

Indian Railway launches digitised online HR Management System

  • Indian Railway has launched a completely digitised online Human Resource Management System (HRMS).
  • Railway Board Chairman and CEO Vinod Kumar Yadav launched the system for railway employees and pensioners through video conferencing on November 26, 2020.
  • The move is aimed at improving the efficiency and productivity of the Indian Railway system.

India extends suspension on international flights till December 31

  • The Indian government on November 26, 2020, decided to extend the ban on the scheduled international commercial passenger services till December 31, 2020, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Centre issues draft Merchant Shipping Bill for public consultation

  • The Ministry of Shipping announced on November 26, 2020, that it has issued a draft of the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2020 for public consultation.
  • The draft bill by the government aims to replace and revoke the Merchant Shipping Act of 1958.
  • According to the statement by the Ministry, the bill has been drafted with an aim of promoting the Indian Shipping Industry’s growth by incorporating the best practices that are adopted by other advanced countries such as Japan, the US, Singapore, the UK, and Australia.

PM Modi unveils Rs 100 Coin, Postal Stamp to Mark Centennial Foundation Day of University of Lucknow

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a commemorative Rs 100 coin of the centennial foundation day of the University of Lucknow through a video conference.
  • He also released a special commemorative postal stamp issued by India Post and its special cover during the event.

Ayodhya Airport to be renamed as Maryada Purushottam Sri Ram Airport

  • Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has cleared the proposal to rename the Ayodhya airport as Maryada Purushottam Sri Ram Airport, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
  • The proposal for the same will be sent to the Ministry of Civil Aviation after it is passed by the state Assembly.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Highway projects worth Rs 7477 Cr in Uttar Pradesh

  • Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 16 National Highway projects in Uttar Pradesh on 26 November 2020.
  • The construction cost of these infra projects is estimated to be around Rs 7477 crore.
  • These highway projects include a road length of 505 kilometers and will provide better connectivity, convenience to the public as well as lead to economic growth in the state.

Mamata Banerjee launches “Government At Doorstep” scheme

  • From December 1, West Bengal will launch an initiative to take government services to the doorsteps of people. ‘Duare Duare Sarkar’ or government at the doorstep.
  • To run until Gandhi Jayanti on January 30, the initiative will attempt to ship pending companies to folks.
  • From 11 am to 3 pm every day from December 1, government camps will be held in every block in the state where people can come and demand any service they have not received yet.

Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates Phagwara Mega Food Park in Punjab

  • Union Food Processing Industries Minister Narendra Singh Tomar virtually inaugurated the Rs 107.83 crore mega food park at Phagwara in Kapurthala district of Punjab which is likely to generate 5,000 jobs.
  • The mega food park, spread over 55 acres of land and that will benefit 25,000 farmers, is equipped with warehouses in 3,944 square meters, silos with 20,000 tonne capacity, cold storage with 3,000 tonne capacity as well as individually quick-frozen and deep freezer units and other facilities.
  • So far, 37 mega food parks have been sanctioned across the country, of which 20 have started functioning.

NITI Aayog forms panel to study feasibility of Hyperloop technology in India

  • Government think-tank NITI Aayog has formed a high-level panel to explore the technological and commercial viability of the Virgin Hyperloop technology for ultrahigh speed travel in India, weeks after its first test was completed with humans on board.
  • The committee has NITI Aayog member V.K. Saraswat as its Chairman and Adviser (Infrastructure Connectivity, NITI Aayog) Sudhendu Jyoti Sinha as its convener.
  • Its other members are Railway Board Chairman & CEO V.K. Yadav, the secretaries of the ministries of Housing and Urban Affairs, Road Transport and Highways, and the Maharashtra government’s Transport Secretary.
  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Chairman, the Delhi Metro’s Managing Director, the IIT-Delhi Director and the Chairman (Technology Information) of the forecasting and assessment council are also its members.

Goa Government to install statue of Football Great Late Diego Maradona

  • The Goa government will install the life-size statue of late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona in the coastal belt of North district by early next year.
  • The statue would be installed somewhere at Candolim or Calangute to inspire the football playing youth.
  • 350-kg statue, an actual-size statue as tall as late Maradona is part of the state government’s initiative to encourage football culture.

Ladakh gets largest solar project at Leh Indian Air Force station

  • The Union Territory of Ladakh has got the largest solar power project set up under the Centre’s ‘Make In India’ initiative at Leh IAF station to provide sustainable energy alternative to fossil fuel and traditional methods of energy generation.
  • The project namely ‘Provision of Solar Photo Voltaic Powerplant 1.5 MW’ has been completed within 12 months well before the completion deadline of March 31, 2021.

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Indian pharma firm to manufacture Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine

  • A pharmaceutical company in India, Hetero will be manufacturing over 100 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine per year.
  • The decision has been taken under the terms of the deal unveiled on November 27, 2020, between Hetero and RDIF Sovereign Wealth Fund of Russia.
  • Hetero will begin the production of Sputnik V in India at the start of 2021.
  • The phase II-III clinical trials of Sputnik V have been underway in India.

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

PM Modi Inaugurates 3rd global renewable energy event RE-INVEST  2020

  • Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 3rd Global Renewable Energy Investment Meeting and Expo (RE-Invest 2020) on 26 November 2020 through video conferencing.
  • The summit is organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
  • The theme for RE-Invest 2020 is ‘Innovations for Sustainable Energy Transition’.
  • The two-day virtual programme will provide an international forum for investment promotion in renewable energy sector and an opportunity to various countries, states, business houses & organizations to showcase their strategies, achievements and expectations.
  • The first two editions of RE-Invest were held in 2015 and 2018.
  • It must be noted that India has set an ambitious target of having 175GW of renewable energy by 2022 and 450GW by 2030.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

UNDP and Invest India joins hand to launch the SDG Investor Map for India

  • Invest India, the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency, has partnered with UNDP India to develop the first-ever ‘SDG Investor Map for India’.
  • The map lays out 18 Investment Opportunities Areas (IOAs) in six critical SDG enabling sectors, that can help India to move forward on Sustainable Development path.

India-Finland sign MoU on biodiversity conservation

  • India and Finland signed Memorandum of Understanding in the field of biodiversity conservation and environment protection.
  • The agreement was signed by the Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and his counterpart Krista Mikkonen of Finland.
  • According to the Memorandum of Understanding, the countries will exchange their best practices in areas such as prevention of air and water pollution, waste management, low carbon solutions, sustainable management of natural resources and promotion of circular economy.
  • It aims to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of environmental protection and biodiversity conservation on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit.
  • This will help in the promotion of sustainable development.

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

Lt Gen Harpal Singh appointed new Engineer-in-Chief of Indian Army

  • Lt Gen Harpal Singh has been appointed as the new Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army. He would take over his new appointment on December 1, 2020.
  • He is presently the Director-General of Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
  • Apart from this, Major Gen Rajeev Chaudhary has been appointed as the new Director-General of the BRO.
  • The BRO is responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads along the borders with China and Pakistan.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS

Tamil Nadu CM launches ‘Thee’ app

  • Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami launched ‘Thee’, a mobile phone-based application for the benefit of the general public to reach out to the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services when in need.
  • The application has been designed to help the general public in case of fire accidents, floods, mishaps in deep wells, rescue of wildlife, chemical or gas leaks, among other accidents.
  • Arrangements have been made to facilitate people in need getting help within 10 seconds of their using the app.

Prefix ‘0’ for all landline to mobile calls from January 15

  • Fixed line users will have to add a “0” before dialling any mobile number in the country from January 15 informed by the Ministry of Communications.
  • This will free up sufficient numbering resources for future use.
  • There will be no change in dialling plan from fixed to fixed, mobile to fixed and mobile to mobile calls.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

PM Modi Releases Book on the Life of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji

  • The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi released a book on the life and ideals of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji on 25 November 2020.
  • The book has been penned by Kirpal Singh Ji, who is based in Chandigarh.
  • Guru Nanak, also referred to as Baba Nanak, was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.

OBITUARY

Former World Bank President, James Wolfensohn, passes away at 86

  • Australian-American lawyer, investment banker, and economist James Wolfensohn, who served as the President of the World Bank for 10 years, has passes away.
  • He was 86.
  • Wolfensohn had served as the ninth president of the World Bank Group from 1995 to 2005.

FC Kohli, Father of Indian IT industry & first CEO of TCS, passes away at 96

  • Renowned Indian industrialist, Faqir Chand Kohli, who was referred as Father of Indian Information Technology (IT) Industry, has passed away. He was 96.
  • Popularly known as F. C. Kohli, he was the founder and the first and longest serving CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest software services company.

Former World Bank President James Wolfensohn passes away