06 November 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. Shripad Naik inaugurates DRDO’s Igniter Complex at HEMRL, Pune

Union Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik inaugurated the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) Igniter Complex at High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in Pune, Maharashtra.
HEMRL (a premier laboratory of DRDO) is primarily engaged in developing rocket and gun propellants, pyrotechnic devices, high-explosive systems and synthesis of high-energy molecules.
The laboratory has developed several ignition systems to ensure reliable initiation of rocket motors of various tactical as well as strategic missiles.
The ignition system for Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Nag, Pinaka, Long RangeSurface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM), etc. have been designed and developed in HEMRL. Technology for AKASH, Nag missiles and Pinaka Mk-I Rocket has been transferred to Ordnance Factory, Dehu Road, Pune and private industries.

2. Agriculture Minister releases 5th edition of Wastelands Atlas – 2019

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has released the fifth edition of Wastelands Atlas - 2019.
The Atlas, published jointly by Department of Land Resources and National Remote Sensing Centre, provides robust geospatial information on wasteland.
It helps roll back the wastelands for productive use through various land development programmes and schemes.
'Wastelands Atlas-2019' also provides State and district wise distribution of different categories of wastelands area in the country and will help address land degradation.

Source: AIR News

3. M Venkaiah Naidu releases a monograph of 'Musical Excellence of Mridangam' in Chennai

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has released the monograph, the Musical Excellence of Mridangam, at a function in Chennai.
According to Mr. Naidu, science has the responsibility to add values to ancient musical traditions like Mridangam and to preserve and protect the nation's cultural heritage.
Mridangam is an instrument made with ordinary and locally available materials but exhibits enormous musical beauty.
The book was authored by mridangam maestro and Padma Vibhushan awardee Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman and former scientists T. Ramasami (former Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology) and M.D. Naresh.

Source: AIR News

4. India decided not to be part of the RCEP agreement

India (the sixth FTA partner) has decided not to be part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement in the national interest.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during his speech at the RCEP Summit in Bangkok.
According to Mr Modi, the present form of the agreement does not fully reflect the basic spirit and the agreed guiding principles.
A balanced trade deficit, better market access of the Indian goods and services and protection of the industries from the unfair trade practices were the key demands of India.

Note:

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and its six FTA partners (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand).

5. Punjab Assembly holds a special session to commemorate 550th Prakash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Punjab Assembly is holding a Special Session to commemorate the 550th Prakash Purab of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh are among the main dignitaries attending the session.
The Vice President addressed the house on the philosophy of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Yesterday, President Ram Nath Kovind attended Gurbani Gayan at Rashtrapati Bhavan to mark the concluding event of year-long celebrations of 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Note:

Guru Nanak was the founder of the Sikh religion and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.
His words are registered in the form of 974 poetic hymns in the holy text of Sikhism.

6. Assam govt signs pact with AFD to restore forest ecosystems

The French Development Agency (AFD) and the Government of Assam have signed an agreement for supporting Phase II of Assam Project for Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC).
The total budget for the second phase is Rs 500 crore.
The project was launched in response to the threats posed by deforestation, poaching and over-dependence of local communities on forest resources.

Important Days

7. 6th November: International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is observed annually on 6th November.
On 5 November 2001, the UN General Assembly declared 6th November of each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (A/RES/56/4).

Source: UN.Org

Banking & Finance

8. RBI issues compensation norms for foreign, private banks

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued compensation guidelines for whole-time directors and chief executives of foreign, private, small finance, payments banks and local area banks, mandating the cash component of variable pay at 67 per cent.
If the variable pay is up to 200% of the fixed pay, at least 50 % of it should be in non-cash.
If the variable pay is above 200%, 67 per cent of it should be paid via non-cash instruments.
Banks should continue to formulate and adopt a comprehensive compensation policy covering all their employees and conduct annual reviews.
It added that the new guidelines will be effective from April 2020.
Foreign banks operating under the branch mode will have to continue to submit a declaration to RBI annually from their head offices confirming that the compensation structure of those working in the country conforms with principles and standards set by the Financial Stability Board.

Source: AIR News

9. LIC allows a revival of the lapsed policy of over 2 years

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has allowed policyholders to revive their policies that have lapsed for more than two years.
Earlier, after the IRDA Product Regulation 2013 (from 1st January 2014), the revival period was restricted to two consecutive years from the date of the first unpaid premium.
Now, The LIC policyholders who bought their policies after January 1, 2014, could revive their, Non-linked policies within five years of the first unpaid premium.
Unit-linked policies within three years of the first unpaid premium.

Science & Defence

10. Kolkata students create Guinness World Records with the largest astrophysics assemble

The Guinness World Records for the largest astrophysics lesson (45 minutes) and assembly of spectroscopes was successfully achieved at the Science City, Kolkata at IISF-2019 with the participation of over 1,598 students.
IISF (India International Science Festival) is the largest science festival in the world.
Astronomers use spectroscopes to know details like temperature, chemical composition, etc. of celestial objects hundreds of millions of light-years away from us.
A small personal model of advanced spectroscopes can easily be made by anyone using a box made of cardboard that has a very narrow window used to channel light into the spectroscope.
A piece of a Compact Disc is used to split the light by a process called diffraction.
On the second day of IISF, the largest electronics lesson and assembly of optical media communication units at a single location will be attempted with the participation of over 1,000 students.

Source: AIR News

International Affairs

11. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar attended 15th meeting of Governing Council of SACEP in Dhaka

The Union Minister Prakash Javadekar (Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Information & Broadcasting) has attended the 15th meeting of the Governing Council of South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) in Dhaka.
The SACEP is an inter-governmental organization which was established in 1982.
Its member countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka aim to promote and support protection, management and enhancement of the environment in the region.
The 14th meeting of the SACEP Governing Council was held in Colombo (March 2018).

Source: DD News

12. US-Bangladesh Navy exercise CARAT-2019 begins in Bangladesh

The second phase of the biggest US- Bangladesh Navy exercise 'Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)- 2019' started in Chattogram (till 7th November 2019).
CARAT is one of the U.S. Navy’s longest continually running exercise in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Assistant chief of naval staff (operations) Bangladesh Navy rear admiral M Makbul Hossain was present as the chief guest in the opening ceremony.
The exercise provides an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the operational activities of the Navies of two countries and to get acquainted with advanced technology through various theoretical and practical training.

Appointment

13. BJP MLA Gian Chand Gupta elected speaker of Haryana Assembly

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Panchkula Gian Chand Gupta has been unanimously elected as the Speaker of Haryana Assembly.
Mr Gupta’s name was proposed by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and seconded by Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala.
BJP party stitched an alliance with Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) and managed to get the support of seven independent MLAs in the 90-member Haryana Assembly

Note:

Haryana Vidhan Sabha comprises 90 Members of Legislative Assembly, directly elected from single-seat constituencies.
Total members: 90 (INC- 31, BJP – 40, INLD -1, JJP – 10, HLP – 1 and Independents (IND)- 7.

Source: Hindustan Times

Sports

14. Novak Djokovic beats Denis Shapovalov to win fifth Paris Masters title

Serbian professional tennis player Novak Djokovic (32-years) eased to a record-extending fifth Paris Masters title.
He defeated Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4 in the final.
Now, he has won 34 Masters titles (16-time Grand Slam champion), moving to within one of Nadal at the top of the all-time list, and 77 on the ATP Tour in total.
It was Djokovic's fifth trophy of the season after previous triumphs at Wimbledon and the US Open, as well as at the Madrid Open and in Tokyo.

Source: BBC

15. Barty became first Australian to top WTA rankings

Ashleigh Barty finished the season in style by beating defending champion Elina Svitolina 6-4 6-3 to add the WTA Finals title.
Now, Barty, became the first Australian to top the WTA rankings at the end of the year since they were introduced in 1975.
With this win, Barty rose to the No. 1 ranking in the game becoming the first Australian to hold the year-end top spot.

Source: DD News

16. Deepak Kumar wins Bronze at Asian Shooting Championships

Deepak Kumar secured India's 10th Tokyo Olympic quota in shooting after winning the men's 10m air rifle bronze medal at the 14th Asian Championships in Doha.
India has already secured nine Tokyo quotas in rifle and pistol and lies behind China who has 25 quotas and Korea's 12 in the Asian region, besides the host-country Japan, in terms of quotas won.
Deepak is the second Indian shooter to earn an Olympic quota in the men's 10 metres air rifle event after Divyansh Singh Panwar.

Source: DD News