1. Rajinikanth to be honoured with first “Icon of Golden Jubilee Award” at IFFI
The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2019 that is to be held in Goa from 20th November to 28th November, 2019, will honour Indian Film star S Rajnikant with a special Icon of Golden Jubilee Award.
The IFFI will also confer with the Lifetime Achievement Award fora Foreign Artiste to French Actress Isabelle Huppert.
The Icon of Golden Jubilee Award is a special award constituted by the Government of India in the year 2019.
Rajinikanth made his acting debut with director K Balachandar's Apoorva Ragangal in 1975.
Note:
This year would commemorate the 50th edition of the International Film Festival.
To celebrate the same, 50 films by women directors will be showcased at the event.
Russia will be the partner country of the IFFI 2019.
The first-ever IFFI was organized by the Films Division, Government of India, with the patronage of the first Prime Minister of India – Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.
The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) aims at providing a common platform to the cinemas across the world to project the excellence of the art of film making.
2. Writer Anand selected for Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
Noted writer Anand has been selected for the 27th Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the highest literary honour of the Kerala state government.
This award is given by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and the Government of Kerala.
His one of the famous novel is Aalkoottam which portrays the unique crises that the nation had witnessed with a rare finesse.
His Govardhante Yatrakal had won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi award, Veedum Thadavum and Jaina Manushyan Kerala Sahitya Akademi award and Marubhoomikal Undakunnath, Vayalar award.
Note:
The Ezhuthachan Puraskaram comprises a cash prize of ₹5 lakh and a citation.
Born at Irinjalakuda in 1936, his real name is P. Satchidanandan.
He served the nation as a planning director in the Central Water Commission in New Delhi.
Source: The Hindu
3. Indian-origin researcher wins award for work on batteries
An Indian origin researcher from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia, Neeraj Sharma (35) has won the ‘Early Career Researcher of the Year Award-2019’ (Physical Sciences).
The Award has been given by the Australian government for his work in lithium-ion batteries found in electronic devices, electric vehicles and the grid, as well as next-generation battery systems such as sodium-ion batteries that will leave a minimal environmental impact, and transition away from fossil fuels for energy generation and transportation.
Neeraj Sharma from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney – considered one of the global leaders in the use of neutron and X-ray scattering methods to study materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.
Note:
Australia is a country and continent surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans. Its capital is in Canberra.
Currency: Australian Doller
Prime Minister: Scott Morrison
Source: Hindustan Times
4. Sudarsan Pattnaik selected for Italian Golden Sand Art Award 2019
Acclaimed sand artist from Odisha, Sudarsan Pattnaik has been chosen for the Italian Golden Sand Art Award 2019.
He will be felicitated during the International Scorrana Sand Nativity fete in Italy which will be held between 13th and 18th November 2019.
Pattnaik will also represent India in the event. There will be eight sand sculptors who will participate in this fete.
The president of ‘Promuovi Scorrana’ Vito Maraschio sent an invitation to Pattnaik to participate in the event.
Note:
Pattnaik was awarded the fourth highest civilian honour in India, Padma Shri by the union government in 2014.
In 2017, the Odisha-based sand artist won the jury prize gold medal at the Xth World Sand Sculptures Championship in Moscow, Russia.
Source: BS
National Affairs
5. Employment falls first time — 9 million in 6 years: Study
According to a new academic paper- written by Santosh Mehrotra and Jajati K Parida and published by the Centre of Sustainable Employment at the Azim Premji UniversityThe total employment during 2011-12 and 2017-18 declined by nine million.
This is the first time such a decline has been recorded in independent India’s history.
The paper is based on both the recent “Employment and Unemployment” and “Unincorporated Non‐Agricultural Enterprise” survey data of the National Sample Survey (NSS).
6. IIT Delhi, ISRO To Set Up Space Technology Cell
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi is collaborating with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to set up a space technology cell at the campus.
The cell will work for carrying out focused research projects in the space technology domain with specific deliverables.
It is also proposed that IIT Delhi as an institute becomes an academic partner of ISRO in research areas, for example, AI, nanotechnology, functional textiles, smart manufacturing or any area of joint interest, according to IIT's director V Ramgopal Rao.
The IIT Delhi celebrating 50thConvocation on 2 November where Dr. K Sivan, Chairman, ISRO will be the chief guest.
7. Siemens signs MoU with NTPC, TERI on decarbonization, energy transition
German multinational conglomerate company, Siemens Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NTPC Limited to identify, evaluate and set up reference use cases of hydrogen sector-coupling for various upstream and downstream applications.
The collaboration is aimed at developing innovative technologies, solutions and techniques to reduce the dependence on Hydrocarbons in India.
Siemens has also inked a separate MoU with TERI for collaboration on technologies to support the energy transition in India including sector-coupling.
Among the objectives of the MoU with TERI is realizing the research and technology development projects to enable energy transitions across the electricity, transport and industrial sectors.
Note:
Siemens headquarters is Munich, Germany and its MD and CEO is Sunil Mathur
Chairman and Managing Director of NTPC is Gurdeep Singh and its headquarters is in New Delhi.
Director of TERI is Ajay Mathur and its Headquarters is in New Delhi.
Source: BusinessLine
8. AYUSH Minister Inaugurates National Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorders
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH Shri Shripad Yesso Naik inaugurated National Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorders (NRIUMSD) in Hyderabad.
It is upgraded institutions from the Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine (CRIUM).
On the occasion, Shri Naik praises the success of the CRIUM in the treatment of vitiligo and other chronic and stubborn diseases and said that it’s perhaps the only medical institution in the world that has treated more than 1.5 lakh patients of Vitiligo alone.
Source: PIB
Sports
9. Pooja Gehlot wins silver in UWW Under-23 World Championships
Pooja Gehlot (53kg) in wrestling claimed India's second silver medal after going down to Japan's Haruna Okuno in the finals of the UWW Under-23 World Championships in Budapest.
Pooja lost 0-2 to Okuno in the summit clash. She had entered the finals after beating Turkey's Zeynep Yetgil in the semifinals of the tournament.
10. South Africa win Rugby World Cup
South Africa defeated England in the final to win the Rugby World Cup.
South Africa beat England 32-12 in the world cup final in Japan.
The victory under Siya Kolisi, the team's first black captain, was another symbolic moment for the Springboks.
In 1995, former President Nelson Mandela's famously celebrated on the podium with captain Francois Pienaar after their first world cup win.
This is the third time that the Springboks have won the trophy equalling New Zealand's record.
Earlier, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 2007 and in 1995.
11. Lakshya Sen wins SaarLorLux Open badminton tournament in Germany
India's Lakshya Sen has won the SaarLorLux Open badminton tournament at Saarbrücken in Germany.
He defeated Weng Hong Yang of China in an exciting final last night.
World number 51 Lakshya took 59 minutes to overcome Weng in the summit clash.
The 18-year-old from Uttarakhand had entered the final beating Kiran George in an all-Indian semifinal.
12. Novak Djokovic Beats Denis Shapovalov to Win 5th Paris Masters Title 2019
Novak Djokovic of Serbia has won the fifth Paris Masters title for 2019 by defeating Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov in the final.
Thus, he sealed his 34th Master’s title and fifth overall ATP victory of the year 2019.
Djokovic will lose top spot in the rankings to Nadal next week, but could still equal Pete Sampras' record by finishing a sixth year as the world's best player.
Economy and Banking
13. India’s economy to grow 6.6% in 2020-24: OECD
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), India’s gross domestic product (GDP) could grow 6.6% in 2020-24, lower than its 2013-17 average of 7.4%.
The organisation has predicted regional GDP growth of 5.7% over 2020-24, down from 6.7% in 2013-17.
As per the report, China would need to bridge the gap between demand and supply of digital talent, while improving digital literacy and increasing access to digital devices are critical in India.
14. Sumant Kathpalia appointed as new MD & CEO of IndusInd Bank
Sumant Kathpalia has been chosen as the new Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of IndusInd Bank.
He will replace Romesh Sobti.
Kathpalia is the head of consumer loans at the Hindujas-promoted lender and his name has been forwarded to the Reserve Bank for approval.
Sobti, who has been at the helm for over a decade, will be retiring in March 2020 at age of 70.
The 55-year-old Kathpalia has also been with the bank since 2008 and is credited with building a consumer loan portfolio from scratch, as part of a strategy to diversify the loan book adopted by the bank.
State Affairs
15. Jharkhand assembly elections to be held in 5 phases
According to the Election Commission, Jharkhand assembly polls will be held in five phases between November 30 and December 20, and the counting of votes will take place on December 23.
As per the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, the polls to 81-member assembly will be held on November 30, December 7, 12, 16 and 20.
Note:
Jharkhand was formed in the year 2000 by dividing Bihar into two-state.
First CM of the state was Babulal Marandi
First Governor of Jharkhand was Prabhat Kumar
Present Governor is Draupadi Murmu
Raghubar Das is the first chief minister of Jharkhand who have completed the full term of five years in the state.
International Affairs
16. Germany to invest 1 bn euros green funds for urban mobility in India
German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to invest 1 billion euros over the next five years on environmentally-friendly urban mobility in India.
Merkel, whose visit to the country coincided with one of the worst spells of air pollution in Delhi/NCR, also emphasized on the need to replace diesel-run public transport with electric vehicles.
Germany would also put in 200 million euros to reform the bus sector in Tamil Nadu.
17. Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurates Guru Nanak Chair at University of Birmingham
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri has inaugurated a new Guru Nanak Chair at the University of Birmingham to enable research around the teachings of the founder of the Sikh religion.
He announced the new Chair to mark the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak, during his visit to Birmingham where he delivered an Annual Lecture on the Contemporary Relevance of Guru Nanak's Teachings.
18. Russia's Nuclear Submarine Test-Fires Ballistic Missile from White Sea
Russia's newest nuclear submarine was successfully test-fired a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile from the White Sea off Russia's northwestern coast.
The Knyaz Vladimir, or Prince Vladimir, fired the missile from underwater that landed on target on the Kamchatka peninsula in far eastern Russia.
Launched in 2017, the Prince Vladimir submarine is the first upgraded model of Russia's Borei class of ballistic missile submarines, designed to be more maneuverable and quieter than previous models.
