19 November 2019 - Daily Current Affairs
1. Darjeeling’s green and white teas get GI tag
- The two tea varieties of Darjeeling (green tea and white tea) have been registered as a geographical indication (GI) products in the country.
- These two varieties of Darjeeling tea have been registered under Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999 (effective from October 2019).
- This will “strengthen the protection of the intellectual property rights of the Darjeeling tea” which is considered as “niche and luxury” products in the country and abroad.
- Total annual production of 8.5 million kilograms of Darjeeling tea, green tea comprises one million kilogram and white tea one lakh kilogram.
- A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on products which correspond to a specific geographical location (e.g. a town, region, or country).
- Green Tea: Green Tea is made from the same tea leaves. It does not undergo the process of withering and oxidation.
- White Tea: White Tea is known as the most delicate tea varieties. The leaves are harvested before the leaves open completely.
2. Health ministry launches ‘SAANS’ campaign in Gujarat
- Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan has launched ‘SAANS’ (Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully) campaign to reduce child mortality due to pneumonia.
- Mr. Vardhan launched the campaign while inaugurating the 6th National Summit on Good, Replicable Practices and Innovations in Gujarat.
- The objective of the SAANS campaign to reduce child mortality due to pneumonia, which contributes to around 15% of deaths annually of children under the age of five.
- The Union government aims to achieve a target of reducing pneumonia deaths among children to less than three per 1000 live births by 2025.
3. Union Minister for Rural Development inaugurates SARAS at IITF 2019 in New Delhi
- Union Minister for Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar has inaugurated the SARAS India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
- More than seven crore women have joined Self-Help Groups so far and the Ministry is making all efforts to take this number to 10 crores.
4. ECI to establish a visiting chair in memory of TN Seshan
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to establish and fund a visiting chair on an interdisciplinary approach to Electoral Studies in memory of TN Seshan (former CEC).
- It will be established in the Centre for Curriculum Development at India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), New Delhi (from 2020-2025).
- The Chair will be mentored by Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami.
- The Visiting Chair programme will be targeted at young academics with a proven track record in fields relatable to electoral studies.
- The Chair will also be expected to curate one national level seminar on specific aspects of Electoral Studies.
5. Pakistan becomes 1st country to introduce the new vaccine to combat typhoid
- Pakistan has become the first country in the world to introduce World Health Organisation-recommended typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) in its national immunisation program.
- It will initially be used during a two-week immunisation campaign starting from 18 to 30th November in the urban areas of Sindh.
- Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) is a one-dose vaccine, that will be injected intramuscularly.
- About 1.2 crore doses of the vaccine have been supplied by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech for this initiative.
- It is expected to provide long-lasting immunity power in adults, children and 9-month infants.
- In January 2018, Typbar TCV became the world’s first conjugate vaccine prequalified by the WHO.
- That enabled the procurement and supply to UNICEF, GAVI, and Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).
Science & Defence
6. ISRO to launch Cartosat-3, 13 commercial nanosatellites on 25th November
- India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C47) will launch Cartosat-3 and 13 commercial nanosatellites into Sun Synchronous orbit from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.
- PSLV-C47 is the 21st flight of PSLV in 'XL' configuration, that is with 6 solid strap-on motors.
- PSLV-C47 will also carry 13 commercial nanosatellites from the United States of America as part of a commercial arrangement with New Space India Limited (NSIL), Department of Space.
- The launch is tentatively scheduled at 09:28 Hrs (IST) on 25th November 2019.
- Cartosat-3 satellite is a third-generation agile advanced satellite having high-resolution imaging capability.
7. India Inks $91 Million Loan with ADB for Comprehensive Water Management in Karnataka
- The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed USD 91 million loans under Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Program (IWRM)
- The project will help to modernize the Vijayanagara Channel irrigation systems, prepare river basin management plans in the Krishna river basin that will help improve irrigation water use efficiency and contribute to improving sustainable water security in Karnataka.
- The investment program will help the Government of Karnataka in strengthening its institutions involved in integrated water resource management and modernizing the irrigation system infrastructure for improving water use efficiency in the State
8. 1st Indo-Qatari joint Naval Exercise Za’ir-Al-Bahr (Roar of the Sea) begins in Doha
- The Bilateral Maritime Exercise Za’ir-Al-Bahr (Roar of the Sea) between the Indian Navy and Qatari Emiri Naval Forces has been started in Doha to enhance interoperability between the two navies.
- The exercise (five days) will include a three-day ‘harbour phase’ and two-day ‘sea phase’.
- From the Indian side, Indian Navy Guided Missile Stealth Frigate INS Trikand and Patrol Aircraft P8-I are participating in the exercise.
- The versatile Anti-Ship Missile equipped Barzan Class Fast Attack Craft along with Rafale multi-task fighter aircraft will participate from Qatar Navy.
- The sea phase will include a tactical maritime exercise involving the domains of surface action, air defence, maritime surveillance and interdiction operation and anti-terrorism.
9. Smriti Irani Inaugurates Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh (BPKK) to Tackle Malnutrition
- The Ministry of Women and Child Development in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched India’s first Poshan Atlas to create a repository of diverse crops.
- The Poshan Atlas was inaugurated by Smriti Zubin Irani along with Bill Gates in New Delhi.
- The Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh is a repository of diverse crops across 128 agro-climatic zones to help enable better nutritional outcomes.
- The Kosh aims to reduce malnutrition among women and children across the country, through a multi-sectoral results-based framework, including agriculture.
Important Days
10. World Toilet Day being observed today
- World Toilet Day is observed across the world on 19th November with an aim to motivate millions across the world on issues of sanitation.
- The theme for 2019 is ‘Leaving No One Behind’.
- It’s all about inspiring action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which promises sanitation for all by 2030.
- In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly officially designated 19th November as World Toilet Day.
- World Toilet Day is coordinated by UN-Water in collaboration with governments and partners.
11. Quami Ekta Week to be observed across the country from 19-25th November
- The Quami Ekta Week (National Integration Week) is being observed across the country from the 19th to 25th November 2019.
- The week is observed to highlight the strength and resilience of the nation to withstand any potential threats to the secular fabric.
- These occasions will also provide an opportunity to reaffirm age-old traditions and faith in the values of tolerance, co-existence, and brotherhood in a multi-cultural and multi-religious society.
| 19th Nov | National Integration Day |
| 20th Nov | The Welfare of Minorities Day |
| 21st Nov | Linguistic Harmony Day |
| 22nd Nov | Weaker Sections Day |
| 23rd Nov | Cultural Unity Day |
| 24th Nov | Women’s Day |
| 25th Nov | Conservation Day |
Sports
12. South Korea’s Joohyung Kim Wins Panasonic Open India 2019
- Korean teenager Joohyung Kim (17-years) has won the 2019 Panasonic Open India held at Gurgaon, Haryana.
- India’s Shiv Kapur and Chikkarangappa S finished tied second.
- With this win, the Joohyung Kim has become the second-youngest winner on the Asian Tour.
13. Spain’s striker David Villa retires from football
- Spanish striker David Villa (37 years) has announced his retirement from football.
- He represented Spain in three World Cups and was also a member of the Spanish side that lifted the trophy in 2010 and won the European Championships in 2008.
- David Villa retired from the national team with 59 goals in 98 matches, making him Spain's all-time top goalscorer as well as the country's top scorer in the World Cup, with nine goals.
