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INDIAN AFFAIRS
Government hiked outlay for phase I of FAME by additional Rs. 100 crore to Rs 895 crore
On November 25, 2018, the Ministry of Finance notified an increase of Rs. 100 crore in the outlay , to Rs 895 crore from Rs 795 crore, for the first phase of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles (FAME India) scheme.
i. The approval of additional Rs. 100 crore was done as per the recommendations of the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC).
ii. The objective of the scheme is to promote mass adoption of electric vehicles and the scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
iii. The implementation of the first phase of the scheme has been extended four times, for six months each, with the latest being till March 2019.
Finance Ministry:
♦ Union Minister: Shri Arun Jaitley.
♦ Minister of State: Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Shri P. Radhakrishnan.
MoRTH issued notification for inclusion of Quadricycles as Non Transport Vehicles
On November 23, 2018, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) notified the insertion of the item ‘Quadricycle’ as a ‘non transport’ vehicle under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988.
About a Quadricylce:
i. A Quadricycle is a vehicle of the size of a 3-wheeler but with 4 tyres and fully covered like a car.
ii. It has an engine like that of a 3-wheeler which makes it a cheap and safe mode of transport for last mile connectivity.
Ministry for Road Transport & Highways:
♦ Union Minister: Shri. Nitin Gadkari.
♦ Minister of State: Shri. Mansukh L. Mandaviya.
Open Transit Data portal for spotting location of cluster buses launched by Delhi government
On November 23, 2018, Delhi Government launched a dedicated Open Transit Data portal in the website www.otd.delhi.gov.in – to spot locations of cluster buses at intervals of 10 seconds.
i. This portal was designed and developed by IIIT-Delhi.
ii. Thus, Delhi became the first city in the country to open up transit data of city buses.
iii. This portal would provide information of 1,700 buses including:static and real time data, geo-coordinates of bus stops, route maps, timetables, and real time GPS feeds of bus locations every 10 seconds.
iv. In future, the portal will incorporate multi-modal transport data feed including those of Metro trains and last mile connectivity vehicles.
v. It will also enable the government to install real-time Passenger Information Systems (PIS) or display boards at bus stops and terminals also providing the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) at any bus stop.
Delhi:
♦ Chief Minister: Arvind Kejriwal
♦ Deputy CM: Manish Sisodia.
♦ Governor: Shri. Anil Baijal.
♦ National Parks: National Zoological Park, Chilla National Park.
J-K Governor inaugurated annual week-long ‘Jhiri Mela’ festival in Jammu
On November 23, 2018, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik inaugurated a week long annual ‘Jhiri Mela’ festival at village Jhiri in Jammu district.
i. The governor announced the construction of a ‘Sarai’ (inn) at village Jhiri for the devotees.
ii. The annual fair is celebrated as a commemoration to the memory of a martyred farmer named, ‘Baba Jittoo’.
iii. A cultural programme comprising folk songs and a Dogri dance was presented by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages on the occasion.
Background:
Baba Jittoo’, a farmer gave up his life about 500 years ago in protest against the oppressive demands of a land lord.
Jammu & Kashmir:
♦ Lakes: Mansar Lake, Dal lake, Anchar Lake, Khushal lake, Tarsar Lake.
National Parks in Jammu and Kashmir:
♦ Dachigam National Park, Hemis National Park, Kishtwar National Park, Salim Ali National Park.
3-day annual Jangalmahal Festival began in West Bengal
On November 23, 2018, a three-day-long annual ‘Jangalmahal’ festival began in the adjoining forested areas of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts of West Bengal.
i. Initiated and organized by the ‘Jangal Mahal Udyog’, the festival aims to revive and popularise the culture and heritage of Jangal Mahal.
Odisha’s Baliyatra festival inaugurated
On 23rd November 2018 the historic Bali Yatra festival was inaugurated in Cuttack, Odisha on the occasion of Kartik Purnima by State Finance Minister Shashi Bhusan Behera.
i. The 10 days long festival is the largest trade fair in Orissa and is likely to witness a footfall of millions of people and more than 1500 makeshift stalls to showcase a wide range of products, including ethnic items brought by artisans from across the country.
ii. It is held on the banks of Mahanadi river in Cuttack, to mark the day when ancient Sadhabas (ancient meriners) would set sail to distant lands of Bali, for trade and cultural expansion.
Uttarakhand cabinet approved renaming of Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport after former PM Vajpayee
On November 24, 2018, the Uttarakhand government chaired by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, approved a total of 27 proposals including renaming the Dehradun airport after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
ii. The cabinet also gave its approval to the setting up of the Uttarakhand State Agency For Public Services to ensure time-bound delivery of services and redressal of complaints.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
2-day 21st round of India-China Special Representatives border talks held in Dujiangyan, China
On November 24, 2018, the 2-day 21st round of India-China Special Representatives border talks concluded at Dujiangyan near southwest China’s Chengdu city.
- National Security Advisor Ajit Doval from the Indian side and
- Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi from the Chinese side.
ii. This was the first round of talks for Wang who earlier in 2018 succeeded State Councillor Yang Jiechi.
iii. The following were discussed in the constructive talks:
- India and China maintaining their peace and tranquility in border areas,
- Working on the India-China Closer Developmental Partnership,
- Working on a mutually acceptable solution to the India-China boundary question at an early date.
- Reviewing of the progress made in bilateral ties in the Wuhan Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping that held in April 2018.
Background:
Senior defence officials of India and China held the 9th India-China Annual Defence and Security Dialogue in Beijing on November 13 after a one-year gap due to the Doklam standoff.
China:
♦ Capital: Beijing.
♦ Currency: Renminbi.
BANKING & FINANCE
NBFC Mudra loans grew faster than banks in FY18: report by MUDRA
On November 23, 2018, According to the 2017-18 annual report of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Non Banking Financial Company(NBFC) sanctioned Mudra loans under PMMY, grew faster than banks in FY 2018.
i. This is the first time that the bad loan data has been released by Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency (Mudra).
Highlights of the report:
i. NBFCs sanctioned approximately Rs 27,000 crore of Mudra loans during the fiscal 2018 as against Rs 92,492.68 crore sanctioned by public sector banks.
ii. Thus NBFCs not only met their Mudra target of Rs.9,050 crore for FY18, but their sanctions for the year were a five-fold jump from the previous year.
iii. NBFC Mudra loans sanctions rose 396% from last fiscal compared with just 29% increase of Mudra loans by state-run banks.
iv. Among this, AU Small Finance Bank was the top lender among Small Finance Banks (SFBs) and the State Bank of India (SBI) was the top lender among state-run banks followed by Canara Bank and Punjab National Bank.
v. According to the report, a total of 577 crore small businesses and micro units are there in the country which are majority owned by scheduled caste, scheduled tribe or other backward classes.
vi. In the financial year 2017-18, overall loans worth Rs 2.54 lakh crore were classified as Mudra loans.
vii. This was an increase of 41% from Rs 1.80 lakh crore of loans sanctioned in the last financial year.
viii. For 2018-19, a target of Rs 3 lakh crore has been set.
Background:
MUDRA in its last annual report stated that it has begun the process of tracking bad loans in the portfolio of Mudra loans.
About Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY):
♦ Launched: 2015.
♦ It is a scheme to provide loans up to Rs. 10 lakh based on 3 categories, to non-corporate, non-farm small and micro-enterprises. The categories are:
- Shishu (up to Rs.50,000).
- Kishore (from Rs.50,001 to Rs.5 lakh).
- Tarun (from Rs.500,001 to Rs.10,00,000)
♦ These are provided by commercial banks, regional rural banks, small finance banks (SFBs), cooperative banks and microfinance institutions and NBFCs.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NASA And SpaceX Prep Historic Test Flight To Space
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in collaboration with SpaceX, a private American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company, is going to send humans for the first time in eight years through SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule for Commercial Crew Program.
i. Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley of NASA will be the first two astronauts to test the commercial spaceflight.
ii. As part of the preparation, the space agency will first shoot out an unpiloted test flight on January 7 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida, United States. It will undergo an in-flight abort test sometime before its first crewed flight in June 2019.
Marathon: Russia’s Roscosmos to venture into the Internet of things (IoT) with new satellite system
On November 25, 2018, Russia’s state space corporation, Roscosmos planned to venture into the Internet of Things (IoT) with the launch of a new satellite system named ‘Marathon’.
i. The satellite system will be a part of Russia’s Sphere satellite constellation, which will be fully established by 2026.
ii. The Sphere constellation project, will involve the construction and deployment of 640 satellites.
Roscosmos:
♦ Headquarters: Moscow.
Russia:
♦ Capital: Moscow
♦ Currency: Russian ruble
SPORTS
Bangladesh captain fastest to 200 wickets, 3,000 runs Test double
On 24th November, 2018 Bangladesh Test captain and left arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan became the fastest to complete the double of 200 wickets and 3000 runs in the Test format of the game. Shakib achieved the feat in his 54th Test beating the long-standing record of 55 matches by all-rounder Ian Botham.
i. He also became the first Bangladeshi bowler to claim 200 Test wickets after a comprehensive 64-run victory against West Indies in the first Test of the on-going series in Chittagong. Windies all-rounder Keiron Pollard became his 200th Test victim. On the same day and against the same opposition six years ago – November 24, 2012 – Shakib had picked up his 100th Test wicket.
2018 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 (9th Nov to 24th Nov)
From 9th November to 24th November, The Sixth Edition of International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20 World Cup was hosted by the defending champion West Indies. It was the second ICC Women’s World Twenty20 hosted by West Indies after 2010 edition. 10 Countries participated and total 23 matches were played in the event.
i. Australia defeated England by eight wickets in the final held in Antigua to secure their fourth Women’s World Twenty20 title. England scored 105 in the final which was easily chased by Australia with the loss of only 2 wickets in 15.1 Overs.
ii. Australia’s Alyssa Healy was named as the player of the tournament.
iii. India’s quest for a maiden ICC Women’s World T20 title ended with an eight-wicket defeat against England in the Semi-Finals of the ICC Women’s World T20.
Key Points
i. Harmanpreet Captained Indian team in ICC Women’s World T20.
ii. India’s Men Cricket Team captain Virat Kohli launched “Jersey knows no gender” campaign to support women’s team in the event.
iii. The Tournament will be broadcasted live in more than 200 countries for the first time.
ICC to Use DRS for the First Time in the Women’s T20 World Cup
International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to introduce Decision Review System (DRS), using ball tracking and edge detection technology for the first time in Women’s T20 World Cup 2018.
About DRS
i. Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) commonly known as DRS is the technology-based system which is used to assist Match Officials of Cricket in decision making.
ii. DRS was first introduced in Test Cricket. It was tested for the first time in India vs Sri Lanka match in 2008 and officially launched by on 24th November 2009.
Uber partners ICC to support Women’s World T20
On 8th November 2018, Global Cab hailing Major, Uber had partnered with International Cricket Council (ICC) to support the Sixth edition of Women’s World T20 held in West Indies.
Key Points
i. Uber is the first Ridesharing and food delivery platform to partner with ICC for 2018 Women’s World Twenty20.
ii. ICC and Uber aims to leverage one of the most popular sports of world, Cricket to engage broader cricketing community in a discussion about the role a sports can play to empower girls and women around the world.
iii. This partnership also focuses on programmes to provide sponsorship to aspiring women cricketers.
About Uber
♦ Founder: Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp
♦ Headquarters: San Francisco
ICC Team up with Google
International Cricket Council (ICC) partnered with Google to provide its cricketing fans a great viewing experience of the Semi-finals and Final of the ICC Women’s World T20 which was held in West Indies.
Key Points
i. This Partnership includes enabling the live casting of Video content from ICC Mobile app on cast-enabled devices i.e. Google Home Hub and Chromecast.
ii. This collaboration between ICC and google enabled the viewers to stay up to date on matches, teams and favourite players.
International Cricket Council (ICC)
♦ Chairperson: Shashank Manohar
♦ CEO: David Richardson
♦ Headquarters: Dubai, UAE
Women’s Boxing World Championship (Nov 15-24)
From 15th to 24th November 2018, International Boxing Association (AIBA) Organized Women’s World Boxing Championship 2018 at Indira Gandhi Sport Complex in New Delhi. India ended the Championship at 3rd position with 4 medals including 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze. China topped the medal tally with 5 medals including 4 gold and Chinese Taipei ranked at second position with 2 medals (2 Gold).
On 24th November 2018, India’s MC Mary Kom won the Gold in the Women’s Boxing championship 2018 by defeating Ukraine’s Hanna Okhota by 5-0 in Women’s Light Fly (45-48 kg) Category.
Highlights
i. Mary Kom becomes the 1st woman boxer to win 6 world championship titles.
ii. Ukraine’s Hanna Okhota bags silver medal.
iii. Madoka Wada of Japan and Kim Hyang-mi of North Korea got Bronze medals.
Women’s Feather (57kg) Category
Germany’s Ornella Wahner won the gold by defeating India’s 21 years old Sonia’s Chahal by 4-1 in Featherweight category.
Highlights
i. Sonia Chahal ends her maiden World Boxing Championship Journey with a Silver Medal.
ii. Jo Son-hwa from Japan and Jemyma Betrian from Netherlands won bronze medals.
Women’s Light Welter (64kg) Category
In Women’s Light welterweight category, India’s Simranjit Kaur had to settle with a bronze medal after her defeat in the semi-finals against China’s Dou Dan who won the gold medal by defeating Ukraine’s Mariia Bova in the final. Ukraine’s Mariia Bova had to settle with Silver.
Women’s Welterweight (64-69kg) Category
21 Years Old India’s Lovlina Borgohain won bronze medal after her defeat in the semifinal against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-chin. Nien-chin won the gold whereas China’s Gu Hong won Silver in the Women’s Welterweight Catergory.
About International Boxing Association (AIBA)
♦ Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
♦ President: Mr Gafur Rahimov
♦ Women’s Boxing Championship 2019 Venue: Ulan-Ude, Russia
OBITUARY
Former Railway Minister and 7 times MP, CK Jaffer Sharief, passed away in Bengaluru at 85
On November 25, 2018, former Union railway minister CK Jaffer Sharief passed away in Bengaluru at the age of 85.
ii. He also served as a minister of state for Railways from 1980 to 1984.
iii. He handled several other central union portfolios like coal and irrigation.
iv. Overall, Sharief served 7 terms as the member of parliament, the last of which was from 1999 to 2000.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Day – 21st November
On 21st November 2018, World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day was organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in collaboration with health care professionals and COPD patient groups throughout the world. The day was aimed at raising awareness about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and improving COPD care throughout the world.
Key points:
i. The theme of this year’s event was ‘Never too early, never too late’.
ii. COPD is a preventable disease that causes breathlessness, chronic sputum production and coughing. Key risk factors for COPD are tobacco smoking, indoor and outdoor air pollution, and exposure to occupational dusts and chemicals.
iii. COPD is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the world with about 251 million current cases of COPD in the world and is projected to be the 3rd leading cause of death by 2020.
iv. iCOPD is not curable, but treatment can relieve symptoms, improve quality of life and reduce the risk of death.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – 25th November
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, is marked on 25th November every year. It aims to raise public awareness around the issue as well as increase both policymaking and resources dedicated to ending violence against women and girls worldwide. To support the cause an initiative was launched by United Nations (UN) in 2008 and is known as the ‘UNiTE to End Violence against Women’.
i. Orange is the official UN colour of the Day. It symbolizes a brighter future for women and girls free of violence.
ii. Events for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women are coordinated by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
iii. This year a 16 days long activism against gender-based violence ‘UNiTE Campaign’ will be organised from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.
iv. The UNiTE Campaign’s global advocacy theme this year is: Orange the World: #HearMeToo.
About United Nations:
♦ Headquarters: New York
♦ Secretary-General: Antonio Guterres
