Daily GK Update: 11th November 2021

 Summits & Conferences

1. Piyush Goyal to inaugurate 40th edition of IITF on 14th November

• Union Minister, Piyush Goyal will inaugurate 40th edition of India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2021 at Pragati Maidan in Delhi
• Theme: Aatmanirbhar Bharat
• It is a magnum of India Trade Promotion Organization representing India in totality as an ideal destination for numerous business investment opportunities
• Partner State: Bihar
• Focus States:  UP, Jharkhand 
• Overseas participation: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, SriLanka, UAE, Tunisia, Turkey.

 National Affairs

2. India ranked 10th in Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2022

• India has been placed at 10th rank in the global Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2022 on the side-lines of the COP26
• It is being released by German-watch along with Climate Action Network (CAN) and New Climate Institute
• India was at 10th place in 2020 as well
• Scandinavian countries (Denmark (4^th), Sweden (5th), and Norway (6th)), together with UK and Morocco, lead the ‘race to zero’
• Worst performers: Australia, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan

 National & International Organizations

3. USA becomes 101st member country of International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• United States of America (USA) has joined International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a member country.
• USA is now 101st country to sign the framework agreement of the ISA.
• ISA framework was first circulated for the support of countries in 2016
• ISA is an inter-governmental organization formed by India and France to accelerate the global adoption of solar power with headquarter at Gurugram
• ISA Director-General: Ajay Mathur.

 Important Dates

4. Cabinet approves to observe November 15 as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

• Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has declared November 15 as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’ to mark the birth anniversary of Sri Birsa Munda who is revered as Bhagwan (God) by tribal communities across India
• The day is dedicated to the brave tribal freedom fighters and their sacrificed for the country.
• This day will be celebrated every year from now on to recognize the efforts of the tribals for preservation of cultural heritage and promotion of Indian values.

 National Affairs

5. India launches E-Amrit portal for Electric Vehicles at COP26

• India has launched ‘E-Amrit’ portal on electric vehicles (EVs) at COP26 Summit in Glasgow, United Kingdom
• It has been developed by NITI Aayog under a collaborative knowledge exchange programme with support from UK government.
• E-Amrit: It is one-stop destination to provide all information regarding electric vehicles.
• Website will provide details related to burst myths around the adoption of EVs, as well as their purchase, investment, policies, among other things 

 National Affairs

6. PM Modi lays off National Highway and Road projects in Maharashtra

• PM Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone and dedicated various National Highway and Road projects to the nation in the temple town of Pandharpur, Maharashtra
• Aim: At improving connectivity in the region to facilitate hassle free and safe movement of devotees
• PM has laid the foundation stone for four laning of five sections of Sreesanth Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg (NH-965) and four laning of three sections of Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg (NH-965G).

 National Affairs

7. National Internet Exchange of India launches ‘Digital Payment Gateway’

• National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched ‘Digital Payment Gateway’ to make the internet accessible to everyone
• It will lead to increased ease of use for NIXI’s customers by offering real-time payments, providing uninterrupted services and ensuring seamless experience to all stakeholders.
• NIXI has partnered with PayU and NSDL to offer Payment gateway services.

 National Affairs

8. Oil companies of India will set up EV charging stations

• Oil companies of India will set up 22,000 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations on a mission mode in prominent cities and along national highways across the country.
• It has already installed 439 EV charging stations and plans to install 2000 charging stations in its retail outlet network over the next 1 year.
• Another 1000 EV Charging Stations will be set up by Bharat Petroleum within the next one year and 7000 overall. It has already set up 52 stations.

 Summits & Conferences

9. India & US holds 11th Defence Technology & Trade Initiative Group meet

• India and United States (US) held 11th Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) Group meeting virtually.
• DTTI Group meetings are normally held twice a year, alternating between India and US.
• Aim: to bring sustained leadership to bilateral defence trade relationship and create opportunities for co-production, co-development of defence equipment.
• This forum offers an opportunity for Indian and US industries to be directly involved in DTTI and facilitates dialogue 

 Summits & Conferences

10. DARPG organizes regional conference on Public Administration

• Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in collaboration with Govt of Uttar Pradesh is organizing a Regional Conference on the theme ‘Strengthening the State Institutes of Public Administration’ in a semi-virtual mode
• It will be held 11-12 November 2021 at Lucknow
• Aim: to bring national and state level training institutes on the same platform to share emerging requirements in governance for future public solutions for improving quality of life

 National & International Appointments

11. Morinari Watanabe re-elected as President of FIG

• Morinari Watanabe (Japan) has been re-elected as the President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) for a period of three year.
• He was first elected as the President of FIG in 2016 for a four-year term beginning January 2017.
• His term was then extended by one year.
• He will now continue to hold the position till 2024.
• Headquarters of International Gymnastics Federation: Lausanne, Switzerland

 National & International Appointments

12. Rohit Sharma to captain India's T-20 International team for upcoming series

• India's vice-captain, Rohit Sharma has been officially announced as Team India's T20 International captain.
• He replaced Virat Kohli.
• Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the decision, while also naming India's 16-man squad for the upcoming home series against New Zealand.
• Sharma's first assignment will be the upcoming series against New Zealand where the Black Caps will play three T20 internationals against the Men in Blue.

 Important Dates

13. National Education Day: 11th November

• National Education Day in India is observed every year on 11th November to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of independent India.
• Day was announced by Ministry of Human Resource Development on 11 September 2008.
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: He served as education minister from 15 August 1947 to 2 February 1958.

 National Affairs

14. Govt to conduct National Achievement Survey (NAS)

• Govt to conduct the National Achievement Survey (NAS) on Friday (12th November) across the country.
• Union Govt has been implementing rolling programme of sample-based NAS aimed at Classes III, V, VIII and X with a cycle period of 3 years.
• Earlier, NAS was held on 13th November, 2017
• Aim: to assess the learning interruptions and new learnings during the COVID pandemic and help to take remedial measures.
• Test would be conducted in 22 mediums of instruction