27 November 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. Billie Eilish is Billboard’s 2019 ‘Woman of the Year’

Singer Billie Eilish (17-year) has been named as Billboard’s 2019 Woman of the Year.
Billie Eilish is the youngest artist ever to be named Billboard’s Woman of the Year.
Pop star Taylor Swift will be honoured at Billboard’s event, receiving the inaugural Woman of the Decade award.
Billie has disrupted the entertainment industry through her music and social media platforms, leaving an indelible impact on the global cultural zeitgeist.
Eilish gets her crown during the Billboard Women in Music event on 12th December this year.

Source: Indian Express

Science & Defence

2. ISRO launches India’s earth observation satellite ‘Cartosat-3’

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched India’s most sophisticated Earth observation satellite Cartosat-3 and 13 US nanosatellites from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
The launch enhanced India's ability in high-resolution imaging and also reinforce India as a global launch destination for small satellites using its workhorse rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
According to ISRO, the 1,625 kg Cartosat-3 is an advanced agile satellite to obtain panchromatic and multispectral imagery with an operational life of five years.
The advanced earth observation and imaging satellite will be used for weather mapping, cartography or army defence and other strategic applications.

Source: Times of India

State Affairs

3. Uttar Pradesh govt to set up state's 1st vulture conservation

The Uttar Pradesh government will set up state's first vulture conservation and breeding centre in farenda area of Maharajganj district.
The new centre will be set up on the lines of Jatayu Conservation Centre at Pinjore in Haryana (first in the country).
It would be set up in association with Bombay Natural History Society, a wildlife research organization.
It will be the first scientific assessment of vultures in the state to find out which species is most threatened and the locations where these natural scavengers are thriving.

Note:

There has been a sharp decline in the population of vultures in the country which has come down from 40 million to 19,000 in a span of over three decades.

4. Guru Ghasidas National Park to become Chhattisgarh’s 4th tiger reserve

Chhattisgarh government has announced that the state is set to have Guru Ghasidas National Park in Kotiya district as its fourth ‘tiger reserve’.
This decision was taken in 11th meeting of Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Board chaired by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had approved to declare Guru Ghasidas National Park as a tiger reserve in 2014.
At present there are three tiger reserves in state:

Achanakmar Tiger Reserve in Bilaspur.
Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve in Gariaband,
Indravati Tiger Reserve in Bijapur district.

Obituaries

5. Tamil television and film actor Bala Singh passes away

Tamil television and film actor Bala Singh (67-years) passed away in a private hospital in Chennai.
Bala Singh was known for playing villainous roles with much aplomb.
He played notable characters in Kamal Haasan's Indian, Ullaasam, Simmarasi, Dheena, Virumaandi, Saamy, Kannathil Muthamittal, Pudhupettai and many more films.
Bala was last seen in the serial Aathira as Rajarajan in the year 2016.

Source: The Times of India

6. Cartoonist Sudhir Dar passes away

Cartoonist Sudhir Dar (87-years) passed away due to cardiac arrest in Noida.
Sudhir Dar began his career with The Statesman (in 1961), after which he moved to the Hindustan Times.
Dar’s cartoons were often political in nature, often taking direct shots at the bureaucracy and the general corruption in Indian politics

Source: The Hindu

7. Former Indian Navy chief Sushil Kumar passes away

Former Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sushil Kumar (79-years)passed away at a military hospital in New Delhi.
Sushil Kumar was Navy Chief from 1998-2001.
He authored a book named "A Prime Minister to Remember- Memories of a Military Chief" which highlighted the key defence-related decisions taken by late former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Kumar had credited Vajpayee for turning the strategic tactical loss into a massive victory.

Source: India Today

Resign

8. Devendra Fadnavis Resigns as Maharashtra Chief Minister

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (BJP leader) has announced his resignation after the Supreme Court asked him to face a floor-test to test the strength of his government’s position.
His deputy, Ajit Pawar, had already stepped down earlier in the day.

Source: AIR

9. Subhash Chandra resigned as Chairman of the Zee Entertainment Enterprises' board

Media mogul Subhash Chandra has resigned as Chairman of the Zee Entertainment Enterprises' board with immediate effect.
Mr. Chandra will continue as a non-executive director, which he founded in 1992.
Subhash Chandra resigns to comply with a rule mandating that Chairman can’t be related to MD & CEO.
Zee board appoints six independent directors; all the appointments will have to be approved by the shareholders.

Note:

Zee Entertainment Enterprises is an Indian mass media company owned by Essel Group. Headquartered in Mumbai,
ZEEL has reported a revenue of Rs 6,857.86 crore for 2018-19.

National Affairs

10. Seminar "DEFCOM INDIA 2019" underway in New Delhi

Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik has inaugurated a two-day seminar "DEFCOM INDIA 2019’ in New Delhi.
The theme of ‘DEFCOM INDIA 2019’ is ‘Communications: A Decisive Catalyst for Jointness’.
The seminar is devoted to the seminal theme of leveraging communications for achieving jointness between the three services.

Source: AIR News

11. India to host naval drill Milan 2020 in March

The Indian Navy will host military drill 'Milan 2020' in March which will witness the participation of several countries.
MILAN stands for ‘Multilateral Naval Exercise’.
41 nations from South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe that share defence cooperation with India have been invited for the drill.

12. CCEA approves to increase authorized capital of FCI

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved to increase the authorized capital of Food Corporation of India (FCI) from existing 3,500 crore rupees to 10,000 crore rupees.
With this, additional equity capital can be infused in FCI through the Union Budget, to fund the foodgrains stock, perpetually held by FCI.
This will reduce the borrowings of FCI, save its interest cost and reduce food subsidy in consequence.

Source: AIR News

13. PM Modi launches Fit India School grading system in schools across India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Fit India School grading system in schools across the country. The grading will be in 3 categories.
Ranking system: Schools can declare themselves as fit by visiting the Fit India portal and the rankings will be assigned after survey. Fit India School rankings are divided into 3 categories-
Fit India Schools, which is the first level of ranking
Fit India School three-star (3 stars)
Fit India School five star (5 stars)

14. Indian Railway Institute of Financial Management (IRIFM) Set up in Hyderabad

The Indian Railways has set up the Institute of Financial Management (IRIFM) at Moula-Ali, Secunderabad (Hyderabad district) in Telangana.
The institute was formally inaugurated by Vinod Kumar Yadav (Chairman, Railway Board.
The new entity (IRIFM) will impart professional training in the management of railway finances).
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited conceived and constructed the project, on a 14-acre campus at a cost of Rs 85 crore.

Book & Author

15. Book titled “Finding The Gaps” authored by Simon Taufel released

Former Australian cricket umpire Simon Taufel released his book titled “Finding The Gaps” in Kolkata.
Simon Taufel (retired in 2012) is a five-time ICC Umpire of the Year (between 2004 and 2008) and part of ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires.
The Australian stood in his first One-Day International in 1999, and his first Test in 2000.

Sports

16. Ekalabya award 2019 for Odia weightlifter Jhilli Dalabehera

Odia women weightlifter Jhilli Dalabehera will receive the 27th Ekalabya Award for 2019.
Jhilli Dalabehera has brought laurels for both the State and the country in several national and international events.
She has won two gold, three silver and a bronze medal in different International weightlifting events.

Note:

The annual award instituted in 1993 by Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT) comprises a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh along with a citation.
Ekalabya Award instituted to encourage and inspire young sportspersons to perform at the national and international arena.