Current Affairs
11 November 2020
National News
1. Digital/Online media now under govt
regulation
·
Digital/Online media has been brought under the purview
of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Currently,
there is no law or autonomous body governing digital content.
·
The 2nd Schedule of the Government of India (Allocation
of Business) Rules 1961 has been amended to include following entries
viz. Films and Audio-Visual programmes, News and current affairs
content.
·
This means that digital content providers such
as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hotstar will now be
regulated by the Union ministry headed by Prakash Javadekar.
·
The I&B
ministry will also regulate online audio-visual programmes and current affairs
content, according to the amendment order signed by President Ram Nath
Kovind. The decision has been taken in exercise of the powers
conferred by clause (3) of Article 77 of the Constitution, by
amending the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 and
it will come into effect immediately.
Important
takeaways for all competitive exams:
·
Minister of Information and Broadcasting: Prakash
Javadekar.
International
2. China launches
‘world’s first 6G experiment satellite’
·
China has sent into space the world’s
first 6G experiment satellite.
·
The 6G satellite was among three Chinese satellites
successfully launched into orbit, along with 10 commercial remote sensing
satellites developed by Argentinian company Satellogic.
·
This was the 351st rocket of China’s Long
March series.
·
As per the reports, the technology is expected to be
over 100 times faster than 5G.
·
The 6G communications test satellite was launched into
the orbit along with 12 other satellites.
·
The satellite also carries technology which will be
used for crop disaster monitoring and forest fire prevention.
Important
takeaways for all competitive exams:
·
China Capital: Beijing.
·
China Currency: Renminbi.
·
China President: Xi Jinping.
Agreements News
3.
India and Maldives sign four agreements
·
India and the Maldives have signed four
agreements, during the visit of Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan
Shringla to the Maldives. Shringla is on a two-day visit to the Indian
Ocean archipelago.
·
These MOUs will help to improve the relations between
the two countries. Maldives tourism industry has been greatly affected by COVID-19 and
because of this India provided a loan of $250 million to the country in
September 2020.
·
The Indian foreign secretary appreciated the “India
First” policy of Maldives and also said that it is strongly
reciprocated by India through “Neighborhood First” policy.
·
Grant of $100 million by India, which
is part of India’s “$500 million packages” for the Greater
Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), that will link capital Male with three
islands. India will also provide a $400-million line of credit for
the project through EXIM, the largest such infrastructure venture undertaken in
the Maldives.
·
The second agreement signed between the two countries
is to set up a plant and soil testing laboratory with a grant of 1.71
million Maldivian rufiyaas.
·
The third agreement has been signed for the
establishment of a drug detox facility with another grant of 7.7 million
Maldivian rufiyaas.
·
The fourth MOU was signed to increase cooperation in
the field of sports and youth affairs between both the countries.
Important
takeaways for all competitive exams:
·
President of the Maldives: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
·
Capital of Maldives: Male; Currency of the Maldives:
Maldivian Rufiyaa.
4.
Australia-India Water Centre inaugurated virtually
·
Australia-India Water Centre (AIWC) has been
inaugurated in a virtual event to promote water-related research, teaching, and
training between the two countries.
·
This Water Centre is led by IIT Guwahati from
the Indian side and the University of Western Sydney from the
Australian side. Along with this, the centre has 21 partners from India and
Australia.
·
The 5-year MoU has been signed to establish an
understanding of cooperation for the Australia India Water Centre (AIWC) between
the parties.
·
The agreement will bring collaboration in capacity
building, technology transfer focusing on water security, river health, safe
drinking water, etc.
·
The agreement signed on this occasion tries to explain
the cooperation between all the parties.
·
All the included parties will work closely for
collaboration in the field of water research, student and staff exchanges, for
a joint Master’s level course in water futures, workshops, short-term training,
conferences, etc.
Important
takeaways for all competitive exams:
·
Prime Minister of Australia: Scott Morrison.
·
The currency of Australia: Australian dollar.
·
Capital of Australia: Canberra.
Defence News
5.
Rajnath Singh unveils model of Anti-Satellite Missile at DRDO Bhawan
·
A model of Anti Satellite (A-SAT) Missile installed
inside DRDO Bhawan was unveiled by Union Defence
Minister Rajnath Singh. The installation of the A-SAT model
will inspire the DRDO fraternity to take up many more such challenging missions
in future.
·
‘Mission Shakti’ was the country’s first-ever
Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) Missile Test successfully conducted on 27th
March 2019 from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha, where
a fast-moving Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit was
neutralised with pinpoint accuracy.
·
This made India 4th nation in the
world with the capability to defend its assets in outer space.
Important
takeaways for all competitive exams:
·
DRDO Chairman: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy.
·
DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi.
Ranks and Reports
6. Azim Premji tops
Edelgive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020
·
The founder-chairman of Wipro Ltd, Azim Premji has
topped the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020.
·
The 75-year-old made the highest contribution of Rs
7,904 crore between April 2019 and March 2020 towards philanthropic
causes.
·
It ranks individuals from India who donated Rs 5 crore
and above between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020, towards philanthropic
contributions.
·
Shiv Nadar, founder and chairman of HCL
Technologies, ranked second (Rs 795 crore) on the list.
·
He topped the list in 2019. India’s richest man and
the chairman of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani stood at
the third spot (Rs 458 crore). 7 women found a place in the
list with Rohini Nilekani (donating Rs 47 crore) being India’s
most generous woman; followed by Anu Aga & family of Thermax (Rs
36 crore), and Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (Rs 34 crore).
Awards
7. Ruskin Bond
conferred with Tata Literature Lifetime Achievement Award
·
Ruskin Bond, one of India’s most cherished
authors was conferred Tata Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award
for 2020.
·
He has a substantial body of work, close to 100 books
– across genres for children and adults.
·
Bond writing has charmed both categories of readers
into lifelong love and admiration.
·
He has been recognised by the Indian Council of Child
Education for his contribution to the growth of children’s literature in India.
·
His famous works: Room on the roof, Blue
Umbrella, etc. He was conferred the Padma Shri & Padma Bhushan.
Summits
and Conferences
8.
PM Modi Leads Indian delegation at 20th SCO Council of Heads of State Summit
·
The 20th Summit of SCO Council of Heads of
State was held on November 10, 2020, in Video Conference Format.
·
The Meeting was chaired by the Russian
President Vladimir Putin. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi led
the Indian delegation.
·
11 SCO Member States were represented by their
Presidents, while India and Pakistan were represented at the level of Prime
Minister.
·
The Secretary-General of the SCO Secretariat,
Executive Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, the Presidents
of the four Observers (Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Mongolia) of the SCO also
attended the meeting.
·
This was the third meeting that India participated
after becoming a full member in 2017.
·
India will host the next regular meeting
of SCO Council of Heads of Government on November 30, 2020, in
virtual format.
Science and Technology
9. Indian Astronomers
collaborate with 2020 Nobel Physics Nobel Laureate
·
Indian astronomers have collaborated with the 2020
Physics Nobel Laureate Prof. Andrea Ghez for the design of back-end
instruments and possible science prospects of the Thirty Meter
Telescope (TMT) project.
·
The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is a proposed
extremely large telescope (ELT) which is planned to be installed at Maunakea on
the island of Hawaii.
·
The TMT project is an international partnership
between CalTech, Universities of California, Canada, Japan, China, and
India, to revolutionize the understanding of the universe and the
enigmas in it.
·
Some of the Indian astronomers like Dr Annapurni
Subramanium, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and
Dr Shashi Bhushan Pandey, a scientist at Aryabhatta Research Institute of
Observational Sciences (ARIES) along with many others collaborated
with Prof. Ghez in the ongoing research and developmental activities of the TMT
project.
Books and Authors
10. Thavaasmi book
launched by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu
·
Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu has
launched the book titled “Thavaasmi: Life and Skills through the lens
of Ramayana”.
·
The book was authored by Rallabandi Srirama
Chakradhar and co-author by Amara Sarada Deepthi.
·
Thavaasmi is in 4 volumes prepared by a team of young
professionals.
·
The book presents the story of Ramayana as a dialogue
between a father and daughter with a number of exercises making it an
interesting learning experience.
Sports News
11. Mumbai Indians
wins IPL 2020 trophy
·
Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals in
the final of Dream11 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 to lift
their fifth IPL trophy.
·
Chasing 157 runs for victory, Mumbai
were helped by their captain Rohit Sharma, who hit 68 runs off 51 balls.
·
Mumbai had defeated Chennai Super Kings in
the IPL 2019 final. They have now become the only side after Chennai Super
Kings to defend the title.
·
Rohit Sharma adjudged Game Changer of the Match
in the final of IPL 2020.
·
Trent Boult named the Player of the Match in the
final of IPL 2020.
·
Kings XI Punjab skipper KL Rahul bags
the Orange Cap.
·
Game Changer of the Season: KL Rahul.
·
Delhi Capitals’ Kagiso Rabada wins
the Purple Cap.
·
Emerging Player of the season: Devdutt
Padikkal (RCB).
·
Rajasthan Royals speedster Jofra Archer emerges
as the Most Valuable Player.
Important Days
12. National Education
Day: 11 November
·
In India, the National Education Day or
Rashtriya Shiksha Diwas is celebrated on 11 November every
year.
·
The day is celebrated to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education
minister of independent India.
·
According to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, schools are the
laboratories that produce future citizens of the country. He is the person
behind IITs and various other institutes in India.
·
On 11 September 2008, the Ministry
of Human Resource Development (HRD) has announced to commemorate the
birthday of the great person by recalling the contribution of Maulana Abul
Kalam Azad in the field of education by celebrating 11 November as National
Education Day.
Obituaries
13. Veteran Gujarati
columnist Carlos Gonzalez Valles SJ passes away
·
Author & Gujarati columnist, Father Carlos
Gonzalez Valles SJ passed away.
·
A Jesuit priest born in Spain, he was a Mathematics
teacher. He wrote in Gujarati, English & Spanish.
·
He translated many mathematical concepts into Gujarati
and coined terms. He is popularly known as Father Valles.
14. ‘Scooby-Doo’
Co-creator Ken Spears passes away
·
American television editor, writer and producer Ken
Spears, who co-created the beloved animated series “Scooby-Doo” passed
away.
·
He was also the co-founder of television animation
production company, Ruby-Spears Productions, along with the
late Joe Ruby.
·
Together, Spears and Ruby created Scooby-Doo,
Dynomutt, Dog Wonder, and Jabberjaw, among other programs. Joe Ruby
has recently passed away on August 26, 2020.
Miscellaneous
15. Nepal President
releases Special Anthology on Mahatma Gandhi
·
Nepal President, Bidya Devi
Bhandari has released a special pictorial anthology on Mahatma Gandhi
to mark the 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
·
This anthology is written in the Nepali
language.
·
The book was launched at a special function held at in
Kathmandu in the presence of Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Vinay Mohan
Kwatra.
·
This anthology on Gandhi is titled as “Maile
Bujheko Gandhi” or “the Gandhi as I understood”.
·
The book has been released to mark the birth
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the culmination of the 2 year-long
celebrations of ‘150 years of Mahatma’.
·
This anthology has been published by the Indian
Embassy together with the BP Koirala India-Nepal Foundation.
Important
takeaways for all competitive exams:
·
Prime minister of Nepal: KP Sharma
Oli; President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari.
·
Capital of Nepal: Kathmandu; Currency:
Nepalese rupee.
Great Information sharing.I am very happy to read this article .. thanks for giving us go through info.Fantastic nice. I appreciate this post.Take a look at Who Doesn’t Want A Natural And Clear Skin? Asks L’Occitane
ReplyDelete