Hello and welcome to exampundit.in. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 6th and 7th 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 – 6th and 7th November 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is an international day observed annually on November 6.
- Every year on November 7, India observes National Cancer Awareness Day to create awareness about the prevention and early detection of cancer.
- Private lender ICICI Bank has launched a comprehensive banking programme for its millennial customers, (in the age bracket of 18 years to 35 years), called ‘ICICI Bank Mine’.
- The Facebook-owned messaging platform, WhatsApp Inc., has received the approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) based payments services in India, to let users send or receive money across the country.
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has enhanced the investment limits for Mutual Fund companies for overseas investments
- Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched the website of Atal Medical and Research University, Ner Chowk Mandi through video conferencing from Shimla.
- The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) conducted a joint tri-service exercise code-named ‘Bull Strike’ from 03 to 05 November 2020, at the remotely located Teressa Island, in the strategically important Nicobar group of Islands.
- The United States has officially withdrawn from the Paris climate accord on 04 November 2020.
- The President of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli has been sworn for a second five-year term.
- China launched 13 satellites in a single rocket successfully.
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR) 2020 Conference on 05 November 2020, aimed at attracting investment in the country.
- The 4th High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-India Dialogue was hosted by the OPEC Secretariat, on 05 November 2020 via videoconference.
- The Bilateral Summit between India and Italy was held virtually on 6th November, 2020.
- The India-Indonesia fifth joint working group on coal was held.
- The Government of Karnataka signed an Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for a period of 10 years with Tata Technologies Ltd.
- The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a subsidiary of NTPC Ltd. on 05 November 2020, to promote usage of electric vehicles and set up solar power plants at the airports managed and operated by AAI.
- The Government of Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Serum Institute of India for priority delivery of 3 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses.
- Noted Malayalam filmmaker Hariharan has been selected for the prestigious JC Daniel Award for 2019.
- PM Modi is to hold a virtual bilateral summit with his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte. The leaders are to sign 15 pacts in the field of energy, trade, ship building and culture.
- The 40th Meeting of the SAARCFINANCE Governors’ Group was held virtually on 04 November 2020, under the Chairmanship of Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor, RBI.
- The iconic Indian superhero, Chacha Chaudhary, whose brain works faster than a computer, has been selected as the brand ambassador for the centrally-sponsored NamamiGangeProgramme.
- Dilip Rath, the Chairman of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has been unanimously elected to the Board of International Dairy Federation (IDF).
- The President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind appointed the new Chief Information Commissioner Shri Yashvardhan K Sinha.
- The Indian Space Research Organization is to launch an all-weather Earth Observation Satellite, EOS-01 using PSLV-C49 rocket.
NEWS IN DETAILS
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict observed on 06 November
- The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is an international day observed annually on November 6.
- It was established on November 5, 2001 by the United Nations General Assembly, during Kofi Atta Annan’s tenure as Secretary-General.
National Cancer Awareness Day observed on 07 November
- Every year on November 7, India observes National Cancer Awareness Day to create awareness about the prevention and early detection of cancer.
- The day was first observed in 2014 and coincides with the birth anniversary of the eminent and renowned scientist Marie Curie.
BANKING & FINANCE
ICICI Bank launches ‘Mine’ a comprehensive banking programme for millennial customers
- ICICI Bank has launched a comprehensive banking programme for its millennial customers, (in the age bracket of 18 years to 35 years), called ‘ICICI Bank Mine’.
- The ‘ICICI Bank Mine’ is India’s first and unique product launched by the bank to offer a mobile-first, highly personalised and experiential led banking experience to the millennial customers.
Extra Shots:
ICICI Bank
- CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founder: Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India
- Founded: June 1994, Vadodara
Whatsapp Partners with 5 Banks for UPI Payment
- WhatsApp Inc., has received the approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) based payments services in India, to let users send or receive money across the country.
- The messaging platform began the pilot operations of its payments service in India with 1 million users in early 2018.
- Whatspp has partnered with five Indian banks to process its payment services.
- These are State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and Jio Payments Bank.
- The service can however be expanded in graded manner.
- It means that initially Whatsapp can only roll out the payments service to only its 20 million users.
Extra Shots:
NPCI
- Headquarters location: Mumbai
- Founded: 2008
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
SEBI increases Overseas Investment limits for Mutual Funds to USD 600 million
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has enhanced the investment limits for Mutual Fund companies for overseas investments as mentioned below:
- Mutual Funds can make overseas investments subject to a maximum of US $ 600 million per Mutual Fund, within the overall industry limit of US $ 7 billion. Earlier it was USD 300 million.
- Mutual Funds can make investments in overseas Exchange Traded Fund (ETF(s)) subject to a maximum of US $ 200 million per Mutual Fund, within the overall industry limit of US $ 1 billion. Earlier it was Rs 50 million.
Extra Shots:
SEBI
- Founded: 12 April 1992
- Sector: Securities market
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Chairperson: Ajay Tyagi
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Himachal Pradesh CM launches website of Atal Medical and Research University
- Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched the website of Atal Medical and Research University, Ner Chowk Mandi through video conferencing from Shimla.
- The main objective of setting up of this University was to provide quality health care and education, to produce the best health care personnel, provide single platform for health educationists of the state and to improve and standardize health education in the process of teaching, learning and evaluation system.
Extra Shots:
Himachal Pradesh:
- State formed on: 25 January 1971
- Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya
- Chief Minister: Jai Ram Thakur
- Official language: Hindi
- Literacy Rate: 83.78%
Andaman and Nicobar Command carries out joint tri-services exercise code ‘Bull Strike’ at Teressa Island
- The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) conducted a joint tri-service exercise code-named ‘Bull Strike’ from 03 to 05 November 2020, at the remotely located Teressa Island, in the strategically important Nicobar group of Islands.
- All the three Services components of ANC, including the Army, Navy and Air Force, got together for the war games for enhancing interoperability and test synergy among the three Services, to maximise combat potential.
- In addition, Search and Rescue (SAR) and Medical Evacuation procedures were practiced by participating troops.
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
United States Formally Exits Paris Climate Accord
- The United States has officially withdrawn from the Paris climate accord on 04 November 2020.
- With this, the US has now become the only country to formally pull out of the deal since it was adopted in 2015.
- The landmark Paris climate agreement was signed in 2015 to protect the planet from the worsening impacts of the climate crisis.
- As per the rules of the agreement, a country cannot officially leave before one full year of notifying the UN of its intent to withdraw.
- The United States notified the United Nations of its withdrawal on November 4, 2019.
John Pombe Magufuli sworn in as President of Tanzania for second 5-year term
- The President of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli has been sworn for a second five-year term.
- He took the oath of the office on 05 November 2020.
- Magufuli won 84% of the total votes in elections held on October 28.
- He was elected as the fifth President of Tanzania, and is in office since 2015.
Extra Shots:
Tanzania (Capital/Currency): Dodoma
- President: John Pombe Magufuli
China successfully launches 13 satellites in a single rocket
- China launched 13 satellites in a single rocket successfully.
- Of these 13 satellites, 10 were from Argentina. This is the biggest launch of foreign satellites by the country.
- The satellites were launched on the Long March 6 carrier rocket.
Extra Shots:
China (Capital/Currency): Beijing/ Renminbi
- President: Xi Jinping
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
PM Modi Chairs Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR) 2020 Conference
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR) 2020 Conference on 05 November 2020, aimed at attracting investment in the country.
- The conference focused on discussions around India’s economic and investment outlook, structural reforms and the government’s vision for making the country a $5 trillion economy.
- The Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR) was organised by the Ministry of Finance and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund.
- It provided a platform for exclusive dialogue between leading global institutional investors, Indian business leaders and the highest decision makers from the government of India and financial market regulators.
Dharmendra Pradhan co-chairs 4th High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-India Dialogue
- The 4th High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-India Dialogue was hosted by the OPEC Secretariat, on 05 November 2020 via videoconference.
- The Meeting was co-chaired by HE Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary General of OPEC and Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Steel.
- This was the first time that the meeting of this Institutional Dialogue was held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The virtual meeting was joined by OPEC Member countries, Secretary Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India and CMD & MDs of India’s oil and gas industry from both the public and the private sector.
Extra Shots:
OPEC
- Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
- Founded: September 1960, Baghdad, Iraq
India-Italy Virtual Summit 2020
- The Bilateral Summit between India and Italy was held virtually on 6th November, 2020.
- The Summit was attended by the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Italy Prof. Giuseppe Conte.
- The two leaders reviewed the broad framework of the bilateral relationship and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation against common global challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic.
- A wide range of issues were discussed including political, economic, scientific & technological, space and defence cooperation.
- 15 MoUs/Agreements were signed during the Summit in various sectors such as energy, fisheries, ship building, design etc.
Extra Shots:
Italy (Capital/Currency): Rome/Euro
- Prime Minister: Giuseppe Conte
India-Indonesia 5th Joint Working Group on Coal held virtually
- The India-Indonesia fifth joint working group on coal was held.
- The meeting of the working group was held through video conference.
- India is currently looking for opportunities to import more coal from Indonesia.
- This is because the coal prices in world market is declining at rapid rate.
- The plan is to replace coal imports destinies with Indonesia and not increase coal imports.
Extra Shots:
Indonesia (Capital/Currency): Jakarta/ Indonesian rupiah
- President: Joko Widodo
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
Tata Technologies collaborates with Karnataka Govt
- The Government of Karnataka signed an Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for a period of 10 years with Tata Technologies Ltd.
- The objective of the agreement is to conceive and implement projects of high social impact and complement the nation-building efforts of the Government. Post upgradation, these ITIs will not only cater to advanced skill requirements of students as well as prospective employers but also act as technology hubs, including skill centres for the large industry as well as MSME.
Extra Shots:
Tata Technologies
- CEO: Warren Harris
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Founded: 1989
AAI Signs MoU With NTPC Subsidiary, NVVN, To Set Up Solar Power Plants At Airports
- The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a subsidiary of NTPC Ltd. on 05 November 2020, to promote usage of electric vehicles and set up solar power plants at the airports managed and operated by AAI.
- Under the MoU, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), a subsidiary of NTPC, will be provided adequate land and rooftop space by AAI, free of cost, at identified AAI airports to set up solar power plants.
- Initially, NVVN will begin working on the projects at airports in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.
- The solar capacity required at airports in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan is around 55 MW and 8 MW, respectively to become 100% solar powered airports.
Extra Shots:
AAI
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founded: 1 April 1995
India-Bangladesh sign MoU on COVID-19 Vaccine
- The Government of Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Serum Institute of India for priority delivery of 3 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses.
- This COVISHIELD Vaccines was developed by AstraZeneca and University of Oxford.
- According to the agreement, initially 1.5 crore people will be vaccinated as each person requires two vaccine doses.
- Currently there are three COVID-19 vaccines under trial in India. They are the Russian Vaccine called Sputnik V, Oxford University Vaccine called COVISHIED and the COVAXIN jointly developed by Indian Council of Medical Research and Bharat Biotech.
Extra Shots:
Bangladesh (Capital/Currency): Dhaka /Bangladeshi taka
- President: Abdul Hamid
AWARD
Filmmaker Hariharan wins JC Daniel award for 2019 for lifetime contributions to Malayalam cinema
- Noted Malayalam filmmaker Hariharan has been selected for the prestigious JC Daniel Award for 2019.
- He has been bestowed with the award for his contribution to Malayalam cinema during the past five decades
APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS
Shaktikanta Das Chairs 40th SAARC Central Bank Governors Meet
- The 40th Meeting of the SAARC FINANCE Governors’ Group was held virtually on 04 November 2020, under the Chairmanship of Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor, RBI.
- The meeting was attended by the Governors from SAARC central banks.
- During the meeting, Mr Das also inaugurated the SAARCFINANCE Sync, a closed user group secure communication network.
- SAARC FINANCE is a network of central bank governors and finance secretaries of the SAARC region.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the current chair of SAARCFINANCE.
Extra Shots:
SAARC
- Founded: 8 December 1985, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Headquarters: Kathmandu, Nepal
Chacha Chaudhary roped in as Brand Ambassador for NamamiGange Project
- The iconic Indian superhero, Chacha Chaudhary, whose brain works faster than a computer, has been selected as the brand ambassador for the centrally-sponsored NamamiGangeProgramme.
- Diamond Toons, which launches the comic books of Chacha Chaudhary, will conceptualize and publish this new ‘Talking Comics’.
- In this comic Chacha Chaudhary character will spread awareness on the cultural and spiritual significance of River Ganga and deploy best available knowledge across the masses for Ganga rejuvenation.
NDDB Chairman Dilip Rath elected to the Board of International Dairy Federation
- Dilip Rath, the Chairman of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has been unanimously elected to the Board of International Dairy Federation (IDF).
- He was elected during the Annual General Assembly of IDF on 04 November 2020.
- The International Dairy Federation (IDF) represents the global dairy sector and ensures the best scientific expertise is used to support high quality milk and nutritious, safe and sustainable dairy products.
Extra Shots:
NDDB
- Founded: 16 July 1965
- Headquarters location: Anand
Yashvardhan K Sinha appointed as the new Chief Information Commissioner
- The President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind appointed the new Chief Information Commissioner Shri Yashvardhan K Sinha.
- was appointed as the Information commissioner in 2019 and now has been appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS
ISRO to launch all-weather Earth Observation Satellite
- The Indian Space Research Organization is to launch an all-weather Earth Observation Satellite, EOS-01 using PSLV-C49 rocket.
- The Earth Observation Satellite to be launched is a Radar Imaging Satellite. It is the third of the three-spacecraft constellation.
- The other two are RISAT-2B and RISAT-2BR1. These two satellites were launched in 2019.
Extra Shots:
ISRO
- Headquarters: Bengaluru
- Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
- Founded: 15 August 1969
