Weekly Current Affairs for Rajasthan State exams from 09th to 13th November, 2020

Important News: State

Country’s longest motorable single-lane bridge inaugurated in Uttarakhand

• Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat inaugurated the country’s longest single-lane motorable suspension bridge in Tehri Garhwal district.
• The 725-metre long Dobra-Chanti suspension bridge has been built over Tehri Lake.
• It would help connect Pratap Nagar town with Tehri Garhwal district headquarters.
• About Tehri Dam: Tehri Dam is the tallest dam in India. It is a multi-purpose rock and earth-fill embankment dam on the Bhagirathi River near Tehri in Uttarakhand, India.

Tourist Facilitation Centre facility in Kerala

• Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated Tourist Facilitation Centre at Guruvayur, Kerala under PRASHAD Scheme.  
• Note: PRASHAD (The Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) scheme was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in 2014-15 with the objective of integrated development of identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations. The scheme is aimed at infrastructure development such as entry points, last mile connectivity, basic facilities like information centers, eco-friendly modes of transport, area lighting and illumination with renewable sources of energy, drinking water, toilets, cloak room and waiting rooms.

Important News: India

Union Cabinet Approves Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for 10 Sectors

• The Union Cabinet has approved Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme worth ₹ 2 lakh crore for 10 sectors in order to boost India's manufacturing capabilities and enhance exports.
• Production-linked incentives will be offered for sectors such as white goods manufacturing, pharmaceutical, specialty steel, automobile, telecom, textile, food products, Solar PV, Electronic/Technology Products and cell battery.
• Note: The government had earlier rolled out a PLI scheme worth ₹ 50,000 crore for large scale electronic goods makers for five years, to attract investments in mobile phone manufacturing and electronic component units.
• The government had also announced production linked incentives worth ₹ 10,000 crore for pharmaceutical companies to produce bulk drugs and medical devices.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates 'Sarhad Vistar Vikasotsav 2020' at Dhordo in Kutch

• The government has decided to organise Sarhad Vistar Vikasotsav at many places to foster developmental dialogue with villagers and the last village on Kutch border, Dhordo is the first destination on this series of programmes.
• Over 1500 Sarpanch and Gram Panchayat members from 158 border villages from Kutch, Banaskantha and Patan districts are invited to participate in this first of its kind event being organized under Border Area Development Programme (BADP).
• Note: Sarhad Vistar Vikasotsav 2020 is aimed to address the problems relating to health, education and road connectivity in remote and border villages, so that standard of living in such areas can be improved considerably.

Government scales up goal of PM-KUSUM scheme to 30.8 GW of solar capacity by 2022

• The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued an order to scale-up and expand Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme.
• According to the new order by the Ministry, the target of the scheme now is to achieve an enhanced solar capacity of 30.8 GW (Gigawatt) by the year 2022.
• Note: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had earlier in February 2019 the launch of PM-KUSUM Scheme and aimed at providing water and financial security to the Indian farmers. At that time, the scheme had the aim of adding a solar capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022.
• About PM-KUSUM Scheme: PM-KUSUM scheme has been launched for the farmers by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for the installation of grid-connected solar, solar pumps, and other renewable power plants all over India. It aims to promote renewable energy in the agricultural area along with providing financial support to the farmers.

India Receives First Shipment from Bangladesh through water connectivity route

• The first commercial shipment from Bangladesh to Karimganj, Assam on the Protocol for Inland Water Trade and Transit route was received.
• Note: The Protocol for Inland Water Trade & Transit (PIWTT) was signed between India and Bangladesh in 1972 to provide inland waterways connectivity between the two countries, particularly with the North Eastern Region of India and also to enhance bilateral trade.

The 15th Finance Commission submits its Report for 2021-22 to 2025-26 to the President of India on 9 November 2020

• Shri N K Singh is the chairman of the Fifteenth Finance Commission.
• The Commission was asked to give its recommendations on many unique and wide-ranging issues in its terms of reference-the vertical and horizontal tax devolution, local government grants, disaster management grant, examine and recommend performance incentives for States in many areas like power sector, adoption of DBT, solid waste management etc., examine whether a separate mechanism for funding of defence and internal security ought to be set up.
• Note: As per the terms of reference (ToR), the Commission was mandated to give its recommendations for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26 by 30 October, 2020. Last year, the Commission had submitted its report containing recommendations for the year 2020-21 which was accepted by the Union Government and tabled in the Parliament on 30 January 2020.

Saffron bowl of India extends to the North East

• The saffron bowl, which was so far confined to Kashmir, may soon expand to the North East of India. Plants from seeds transported from Kashmir to Sikkim and acclimatized there are now flowering in Yangyang in the Southern part of the North-East state.
• North East Centre For Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), an autonomous body under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India supported a pilot project to explore the feasibility of growing saffron in North East region of India, with the same quality and higher quantity.
• The Botany and Horticulture department of Sikkim Central University carried out tests to understand the soil and actual pH conditions of Yangyang of Sikkim and found it comparable to saffron growing places of Kashmir.
• Note: Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the "saffron crocus". It is used in cosmetics and for medicinal purposes.

“HunarHaat” returns after a gap of seven months

• Union Ministers Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the “HunarHaat”, being organised at Delhi Haat, Pitampura from 11th to 22nd November, 2020.
• Note: “HunarHaat” is available at virtual and online platform also. Products of artisans are also available on http://hunarhaat.org. Union Minority Affairs Ministry is registering these artisans and their indigenous products on “GeM” (Government e Marketplace).

India's first solar-based water supply project launched in Arunachal Pradesh

• India's first solar-based Integrated Multi-Village Water Supply Project (IMVWSP) was dedicated to the people of Arunachal Pradesh by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
• The solar-based lift water supply project for 39 villages in Lower Dibang Valley district in northeastern Arunachal Pradesh was commissioned at a cost of Rs 28.50 crore.
• The project is designed to provide drinking water to 17,480 people and has been conceived as an integrated project with an element of drinking water, green energy and tourism component in it.
• Note: The Chief Minister Pema Khandu launched the "Arunachal Jal Sankalp", a state government dedicated flagship programme to supplement the Jal Jeevan Mission and to sustain the drinking water systems.

First of its kind policy consultations with Indian Diaspora on STIP (Science Technology and Innovation Policy) 2020

• In a first of its kind policy consultation, Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan interacted with the highly-skilled Indian diaspora to facilitate channels for them to contribute to India’s STIP 2020.
• Country aims to connect the diaspora with Indian scientific and economic ecosystem to accelerate the growth in Science technology and innovation.
• It is important to build policy level mechanisms that enable creation of suitable opportunities for attracting best talents back home.
• Note: The VAIBHAV Summit and the recently launched dedicated, one-stop platform for S&T diaspora engagement, “PRABHASS” (Pravasi Bharatiya Academic and Scientific Sampark) are some proactive steps of the Government towards this engagement.

Shaktikanta Das Chairs 40th SAARCFINANCE Governors' Group Meeting

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das inaugurated and chaired the 40th meeting of the SAARCFINANCE Governors' Group.
• The group took stock of the macroeconomic situation in the SAARC region and discussed the current SAARCFINANCE initiatives.
• Mr. Das is also the chairperson of the SAARCFINANCE, which is a network of central bank governors and finance secretaries of the SAARC region.
• Note: The meeting was attended by the Governors from SAARC Central Banks- Bangladesh Bank, Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan, Maldives Monetary Authority, Nepal Rastra Bank, State Bank of Pakistan, Central Bank of Sri Lanka and Da Afghanistan Bank.

Former Delhi chief secretary M M Kutty to be first chairperson of Air Quality Commission

• The Centre has notified the Commission for Air Quality Management for the National Capital Region (NCR) to set up the new agency with sweeping powers to monitor and act against sources of air pollution across five north Indian states (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan).
• The ordinance empowers the agency to make rules, set emission standards, and slap fines of up to Rs1 crore or imprison violators for up to five years.
• Note: The Commission replaces all ad hoc committees and bodies created as per court orders. They include the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority that was formed to oversee measures to check air pollution in NCR in 1998.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting constitutes a committee to review guidelines on Television Rating Agencies in India

• The Chairman of the Committee shall be Shri Shashi S. Vempati, CEO, Prasar Bharti.              
• The present guidelines issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on Television Rating Agencies in India were notified after detailed deliberations by the Parliamentary Committee, Committee on Television Rating Points (TRP) constituted by the MIB and recommendations of Telecom Regulatory Authority.
• A committee has been hereby constituted to study different aspects of the television rating system in India.

Chacha Chaudhary becomes the Brand Ambassador for Namami Gange Project

• The iconic Indian superhero, Chacha Chaudhary, whose brain works faster than a computer has now come forward to join hands with the Namami Gange Programme. Diamond Toons will conceptualize and publish this new ‘Talking Comics’ with Chacha Chaudhary spreading awareness on the cultural and spiritual significance of River Ganga and deploy best available knowledge across the masses for Ganga rejuvenation. The teaser was released during Ganga Utsav 2020.
• Note: The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) organised three-day Ganga Utsav 2020 from Nov 02 to 04.

Ministry of Shipping renamed Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

• The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, a branch of the Government of India, is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to ports, shipping and waterways.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Ro-Pax terminal at Hazira and Flags off Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat

• There will be several wide-ranging benefits of the Hazira-Ghogha Ro-Pax ferry service. 
• It will work as a Gateway to South Gujarat and Saurashtra region. It will reduce the distance between Ghogha and Hazira from 370 Km to 90 Km. 
• The reduced cargo travel time from 10 to 12 hours to about 4 hours will result in huge savings of fuel and lower the maintenance cost of vehicles drastically.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Chaired Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR) 2020 Conference

• The VGIR 2020 was organised by the Union Ministry of Finance and National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. 
• It is an exclusive dialogue between leading global institutional investors, Indian business leaders and the highest decision-makers from the Government of India and Financial Market Regulators.
• VGIR 2020 focuses on discussions around India's economic and investment outlook, structural reforms and the government's vision for the path to a USD 5 trillion economy.
• Note: The roundtable witnesses participation from 20 of the world's largest pension and sovereign wealth funds with a total Assets Under Management of about US$6 trillion. These global institutional investors represent key regions including the US, Europe, Canada, Korea, Japan, Middle East, Australia, and Singapore.

Important News: World

Bahrain Prime Minister, World's Longest-Serving, passed away

• Bahrain's Prince Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, the world's longest-serving prime minister who had held the post since independence in 1971, died at the age of 84.

17th ASEAN-India Summit 2020

• Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India along with Vietnamese counterpart HE Nguyen Xuan Phuc, co-chaired the 17th ASEAN-India Summit on 12 November 2020.
• Summit reviewed the status of the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership and took stock of progress made in key areas such as connectivity, maritime cooperation, trade and commerce, education and capacity building.
• About Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): It is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region, and India and several other countries including the US, China, Japan and Australia are its dialogue partners.
• The 10 member countries of ASEAN are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.
• Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia
• Founded: 8 August 1967

First-ever virtual Indo-Africa Summit 2020

• The IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a three-day long Indo-Africa Virtual Summit 2020.
• The inaugural day of this Summit was graced by the presence of Hon’ble Union Minister, Shri Piyush Goyal and Hon’ble Cabinet Secretary (Minister) Kenya, Dr. Amina Mohamed.
• Its mission is to enhance ties to 100*100 matrix by 2025, i.e. A target of 100 billion USD of Bilateral Trade and 100 billion USD of Investment between India and Africa.  
• Note: The combined markets of India and Africa encompass 2.5 billion people and GDP of 5.5 trillion USD.
• The African continental free trade came into force in 2019. Indian companies can benefit from setting up industry in Africa. As of June 2020, India had extended 121 lines of credit to 41 African countries to set up businesses there.

20th Summit of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Council of Heads of State held on November 10, 2020

• The Meeting was chaired by the President of the Russian Federation Mr. Vladimir Putin.
• SCO summit was attended by the Heads of States of all 8 SCO Member States- Russia, India, China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The Heads of States of 4 observer states of SCO- Iran, Afghanistan, Mongolia and Belarus are also participated in the summit.
• The summit focused on regional peace, security and prosperity, against terrorism, smuggling of illegal weapons, drugs and money-laundering.
• Note:
  • India had become a full member of the SCO in 2017. Prior to that, India had an observer status, which was granted to it in 2005. 
  • 21th Summit of SCO Council of Heads of State will be chaired by the Republic of Tajikistan next year.
  • India will host summit of SCO Council of Heads of Government on November 30, 2020.

4th India – Philippines Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation

• The 4th Meeting of the India-Philippines Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation, co-chaired by Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister and Mr. Teodoro Locsin Jr., Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Philippines, was held on 06 November 2020.
• The meeting focused on expanding trade and investment links, to work towards strengthening cooperation in agriculture, health and pharmaceuticals, tourism, energy, ICT, and science & technology
• Commitment to a multifaceted partnership in line with India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN’s Outlook on Indo-Pacific to achieve shared security, prosperity and growth for all in the region.

Indian diplomat Vidisha Maitra elected to United Nations Advisory Committee

• In a significant victory for India at the United Nations, Indian diplomat Vidisha Maitra was elected to the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly.
• The victory comes as India gets ready to sit in the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member for a two-year term beginning January 2021.

Indian Army Chief General M M Naravane conferred honorary rank of General of Nepali Army by President of Nepal, Bidya Devi Bhandari

• He was honoured at a special ceremony at the President's official residence 'Shital Niwas' in Kathmandu. He was also presented with a sword and scroll during the function.

John Magufuli won a second term as Tanzanian President

• He got more than 84% of the vote in this election. His main opponent, Tundu Lissu, earned 13% of the vote.
• Facts about Tanzania
  • Country in East Africa
  • Capital: Dodoma
  • Currency: Tanzanian shilling

India-Italy Virtual Summit 

• A Virtual Bilateral Summit between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Italy Prof. Giuseppe Conte was held on 6th November, 2020.
• The leaders discussed a wide range of issues including political, economic, scientific & technological, space and defence cooperation. On regional and international issues, both sides agreed to coordinate closely at multilateral fora especially G-20. 
• 15 MoUs/Agreements in various sectors such as energy, fisheries, ship building, design etc. were signed coinciding with the Summit.
• Note: Italy will assume the Presidency of G-20 in December 2021 followed by India in 2022. Together, India and Italy will be part of the G20 Troika from December, 2020.

Joe Biden to be next US President; Kamala Harris becomes first woman in American history to be elected as Vice President

• Democrat Joe Biden beat Republican Donald Trump to become the 46th President of the United States.
• Indian-origin Kamala Harris, the first Black American and the first Asian American will become Vice President.

Award and Honor

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu presents 2nd National Water Awards

• The Best State Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions have gone to Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Rajasthan respectively.
• Mizoram won the first prize in the special category States.
• In North, the Award for Best District in Revival of Rivers and Water Conservation was given to Ayodhya and Almora, in South, Vellore and YSR Kadapa, in West, Sangli and Kachchh, in East, Bilaspur and Surajpur, in Northeast, West Tripura and in Aspirational district category to Khandana and Vizianagaram respectively.
• Note: 2nd National Water Awards 2019 was launched by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti on 1st September, 2019. 
• National Water Awards 2018 was organised last financial year and winners were selected and felicitated with awards/citations on 25th February, 2019.

Hareesh wins the JCB Prize for Literature 2020

• Malayalam author S. Hareesh has won for his novel, Moustache which been translated into English by Jayasree Kalathil and published by HarperCollins India.
• The JCB Prize for Literature is regarded as the richest literary prize in India. As per the norm, the Malayalam author will receive a ₹25 lakh cash prize and the translator will receive an additional ₹10 lakh.

Hariharan wins JC Daniel award for lifetime contributions in Malayalam cinema

• Noted filmmaker Hariharan has been selected for the JC Daniel Award, the Kerala state government's highest honour for lifetime contributions to Malayalam cinema. The award carries a purse of Rs 5 lakh, a citation, and a sculpture.

Defense

Indian Navy’s fifth Scorpene class submarine Vagir launched

• Indian Navy's fifth Scorpene class submarine Vagir was launched at the Mazagon Dock in south Mumbai.
• Note:
  • Vagir is part of the six Kalvari-class submarines designed by French naval defence and energy company DCNS. They are being built as part of Indian Navy's Project-75.
  • In order to meet the requirements of the Indian Navy, the Defence public sector undertaking (PSU) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDSL) was assigned the task to build six Scorpene-class submarines. 
  • INS Kalvari, the first of the six Scorpene-class submarines, was launched in 2015 and commissioned into service in late 2017.
  • After INS Kalvari launch, Khanderi, Karanj and Vela were launched.
  • Sixth Scorpene submarine 'Vagsheer' is in various stages of outfitting.
  • These submarines can undertake missions like anti- surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and area surveillance.

UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) adopts two India sponsored resolutions on Nuclear disarmament

• The first committee of the UNGA has adopted two India-sponsored resolutions on nuclear disarmament which aim to reduce risk of nuclear accidents and call for a prohibition on the use of nuclear weapons.
• Two resolutions- Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons and Reducing Nuclear Danger under the Nuclear weapons cluster
• Note: The UNGA first committee deals with the issue of disarmament and works in close cooperation with the United Nations Disarmament Commission and the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament, the other two bodies to deal with the nuclear issue.
• The resolution on Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons was backed by a majority of UN Members and was tabled by India since 1982.
• The resolution on Reducing Nuclear Danger which was tabled since 1998 puts focus on unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons and underscore the need for a review of nuclear doctrines.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh unveils Anti -Satellite (ASAT) Missile model in DRDO Bhawan

• ‘Mission Shakti’ was country’s first ever ASAT missile test successfully conducted on 27th March 2019. This was a highly complex mission, conducted at extremely high speed with remarkable precision.
• The successful conduct of Mission Shakti made India the fourth nation in the world with the capability to defend its assets in outer space.
• Note: Earlier Shri Rajnath Singh and Shri Nitin Gadkari witnessed the demonstration of Fire Detection and Suppression System (FDSS) for Passenger Buses. Demonstrations were given on Water Mist Based FDSS for Passenger Compartment and Aerosol Based FDSS for engine fire.

Tri-service exercise ‘Bull Strike’ conducted at Nicobar Islands

• The armed forces conducted a joint tri-service exercise ‘Bull Strike’ at the Teressa Island in the Nicobar group of islands located close to the strategic Strait of Malacca.
• The exercise was conducted by the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) from November 3 to 5 involving the three Services components of ANC, elements of the Army’s Parachute Brigade, Navy commandos MARCOS and Special Forces.

Two-Day Joint Coastal Security Exercise 'Sagar Kavach' 

• A two-day joint coastal security exercise, "Sagar Kavach" was launched at Paradip Coast from 5 to 6 November.
• The exercise is being carried out by a joint effort of the state of Odisha and West Bengal governments. More than 10 such departments, including the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, the Odisha Police, the local fishermen, the forest department, and the port marine department, have joined the joint exercise.

The Bangladesh and US Navies launched the ‘Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Bangladesh-2020’ 

• The exercise demonstrates US’s continuing commitment to work with the Bangladesh military to address shared maritime security concerns in the region and strengthen partnership to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Science & Technology

AIM (Atal Innovation Mission) and Russia’s SIRIUS (Scientific International Research In Unique Terrestrial Station) launch ‘AIM–Sirius Innovation Programme 3.0’

• The first Indo-Russian bilateral youth innovation initiative, the AIM–Sirius programme seeks to develop technological solutions (both web- and mobile-based) for the two countries.
• Over a two-week programme, from 7–21 November 2020, 48 students and 16 educators and mentors will create 8 virtual products and mobile applications addressing global challenges across a range of areas such as culture, distance education, applied cognitive science, health and well-being, sports, fitness, and games training, chemistry, artificial intelligence, and digital financial assets in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic.
• Note: Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the country, based on a detailed study and deliberations on innovation and entrepreneurial needs of India in the years ahead.

India’s latest Earth Observation Satellite EOS-01 launched successfully by ISRO

• India’s workhorse rocket PSLV-C49 has successfully launched India’s latest Earth Observation Satellite EOS-01 and placed into its intended orbit. 
• Nine satellites, including four each from the US and Luxembourg and one from Lithuania, have been launched in the Mission.
• The successful PSLV mission has resulted in increased capacity for the user agencies of the nation in viewing the surface of the earth seamlessly for agriculture, forestry and disaster management applications.
• Note: Earth Observation Satellite EOS-01 will form part of a family of such payloads that will enhance the capacity of the nation to view the earth from above in a seamless fashion irrespective of the weather or atmospheric conditions.

Environment & Ecology

US (United States) formally exited the Paris Climate Agreement

• The US is the only country to withdraw from the global pact.
• The US is the second leading producer of all carbon dioxide emissions globally, behind China.
• The Paris Agreement is an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, dealing with greenhouse-gas-emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance.
• Signatories: 195
• Signed: 22 April 2015
• Effective: 4 November 2016
• Location: Paris, France

NCAER Report on “Estimating the economic benefits of Investment in Monsoon Mission and High Performance Computing Facilities”

• The report was released by the Union Minister of Science and Technology, Health and Family Welfare and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
• Main highlights of the report:
  • The NCAER report refers to economic benefits as direct monetary gains to crop farmers, livestock rearers, and fishermen in the country.  According to the report, India’s investment of nearly 1,000 Crores in the National Monsoon Mission and High-Performance Computing (HPC) facilities would provide benefits worth rupees 50 thousand Crores to nearly 1.07 Crore below poverty line (BPL) agricultural households and 53 Lakh BPL fisher-folk households in the country.
  • Note: National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) is an independent, not for profit, economic policy research and think tank based in New Delhi.

Ranking & Index

Stanford University’s list of top 2 percent scientists

• In the list of 1,59,683 persons, 1,492 Indians have found a place, with a majority of them being from IITs and IISc and other top institutes.
• This database includes the top 2 percent of scientists of the world from different fields on the basis of standardized citation indications.
• The results were published in PloS Biology recently and they have been classified into 22 scientific fields and 176 sub-fields in the report.
• There are 16 Scientists from Indian who are ranked 30 or higher in the world.
• In the field of Nuclear & Particle Physics, there are two Indians: Ashoke Sen (ranked 13) and T. Padmanabhan (ranked 24).
• There are two Indian in the field of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry: Prof. Gautam Desiraju (ranked 2) and CNR Rao (ranked 3).
• Biotechnology has two names: Dr. Ashok Pandey (ranked 8) and Dr. S Venkata Mohan (rank 29).
• The remaining 10 Indians are distributed as one each in different subjects, defined by a somewhat subjective classification.

Important Days

National Education Day

• The birth anniversary of India’s first Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad is celebrated across the nation as National Education Day on November 11.
• Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin served as the first education minister of independent India from 1947 to 1958. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1992.
• Note: The Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education) on September 11, 2008, announced, “The ministry has decided to commemorate the birthday of this great son of India by recalling his contribution to the cause of education in India.”

November 10, World Science Day for Peace and Development

• The theme of this day is “Science for and with Society in dealing with COVID-19”.
• World Science Day for Peace and Development is an international day that highlights the important role that science has in society and is celebrated each year on November 10.
• World Science Day was proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2001 and celebrated for the first time in 2002.

November 7, National Cancer Awareness Day 2020

• In 2014, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan had first announced the National Cancer Awareness Day with an aim to create awareness on early detection and educate people against living a cancer-causing lifestyle. 
• According to the WHO, in India every year since 2018, over 1 million cases of cancer have been brought to light.
• Note: World Cancer Day is an international day marked on February 4.

Obituaries

Veteran author & Gujarati columnist Father Carlos Gonzalez Valles SJ passed away

• A Jesuit priest born in Spain, he was a Mathematics teacher in Gujarat. He wrote extensively in Gujarati, English and Spanish. He translated many mathematical concepts into Gujarati and coined terms for them. He was popularly known as Father Valles.

Sports

Sports Ministry approves six centres as Khelo India Centre of Excellence

• The Sports Ministry has approved six centres as the Khelo India Centre of Excellence. The Ministry has also sanctioned over 67 crore rupees in the current financial year to upgrade these six centres. 
• The six centres include States Sports Academy in Assam, JNS Complex in Meghalaya, New Sports Complex in Daman & Diu, MP State Academy in Madhya Pradesh, Shree Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex in Maharashtra and Paljor Stadium in Sikkim.

13th IPL (Indian Premier League) 2020 

• Winner: Mumbai Indians
• Runner Up: Delhi Capitals
• Orange Cap: KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab)
• Purple Cap: Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals)
• Player of the series: Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals)
• Venue: United Arab Emirates
• Number of teams- 8 (Chennai Online Classroom Program Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad)
• This is the fifth IPL title for the Mumbai Indians

2020 Women's T20 Challenge 

• Winner: Trailblazers
• Runner Up: Supernovas
• Player of the series: Radha Yadav (Supernovas)
• Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.
• Number of teams- 3 (Supernovas, Trailblazers and Velocity)

Rolex Paris Masters: Paris, France, November 02 – 08, 2020

Singles

• Winner: Daniil Medvedev
• Runner-Up: Alexander Zverev

Doubles

• Winner: Felix Auger-Aliassime, Hubert Hurkacz
• Runner-Up: Mate Pavic, Bruno Soares

Gyanendro Ningomban elected as Hockey India president

• Manipur’s Gyanendro Ningombam was elected unopposed as the President of Hockey India while former President Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad is back in the Hockey India Executive Board after being Elected Unopposed for the Senior Vice President post.
• Gyanendro becomes the first President from the north east India to spearhead Hockey India. He was Senior Vice President of Hockey India, Senior Vice President of Manipur Hockey, and also Chief Executive Officer of Manipur Hockey. 
• About Hockey India: It is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt. of India as the sole body responsible towards promoting Hockey in India. 
• Founded: 20 May 2009
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Affiliation: International Hockey Federation (FIH)

Rafael Nadal becomes fourth man to win 1,000 ATP Tour matches

• Spaniard Rafael Nadal defeated his countryman Feliciano Lopez in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters to achieve what was his 1000th victory.
• Note: Nadal joins Jimmy Connors (1,274), Roger Federer (1,242) and Ivan Lendl (1,068) in the elusive 1,000 wins club.

Astana Open-2020, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan 

Singles

• Winner: John Millman
• Runner-Up: Adrian Mannarino

Doubles

• Winner: Sander Gille, Joran Vliegen 
• Runner-Up: Max Purcell, Luke Saville

Miscellaneous

Anupam Kher’s new book "Your Best Day Is Today!" 

• Kher shared his experiences during the coronavirus-induced countrywide lockdown in this book.
• Note: Kher’s previous two books are "Lessons Life Taught Me Unknowingly" published last year and another is "The Best Thing About You is You!", which was released in 2011.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launched the book titled “Thavaasmi: Life and Skills through the lens of Ramayana”

• The author of this book is Shri Rallabandi Srirama Chakradhar and co-author is Smt. Amara Sarada Deepthi. The book is in four volumes.
• It presents the story of Ramayana as a dialogue between a father and daughter with a number of exercises making it an interesting learning experience.

Vidya Balan's short film ‘Natkhat’ becomes eligible for Oscar nomination

• Natkhat, starring and produced by Vidya Balan, has won top prize at the third edition of Best of India Short Film Festival 2020, which makes it eligible for Oscar nomination.
• The film also won a prize money of $2,500 (approximately Rs 1,85,497) and an opportunity for a television broadcast deal on ShortsTV.

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