Important Current Affairs 29th November 2021

INTERNATIONAL

Indian , Maldives and Sri Lanka hold first ever Colombo security conclave

• The ships and aircraft of the Indian Navy participated in the first-ever Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) Focused Operation to enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean region, along with Sri Lanka and the Maldives, a statement from the Indian Navy said on Sunday. The two-day conclave concluded on Sunday.

• During the conclave, exercises were conducted between the lead maritime security agencies of India, Maldives and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean region.

Petr Fiala appointed as the Prime Minister of Czech Republic

• Petr Fiala has been sworn in as the new Prime Minister of the Czech Republic by President Milos Zeman. Fiala, 57, heads the three-party coalition Together (Civic Democratic Party, Christian Democrats, TOP 09 party), which garnered 27.8% of the vote in early October. Fiala succeeds Andrej Babis. The alliance narrowly defeated the ANO movement led by billionaire Babis. The centrist group of the Mayors and Independents and the left-wing Pirate Party joined with Fiala’s coalition to remove Babis, who had served as prime minister since 2017.

NATIONAL

Delhi deputy cm Manish Sisodia inaugurates 'Smart Urban Farming Expo'

• Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia inaugurated the two-day Smart Urban Farming Expo on Saturday, which is being organised by the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDC), in partnership with Urban Gro, Indian Society Of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE) and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).

• India’s first specialised urban farming fair is being organised in Thayagaraj Stadium, INA, Delhi, on November 27-28 to start a movement towards mass adoption of urban farming in the capital. The expo includes sessions on the new frontiers of urban agriculture, its associated technical horti-engineering, business, economic, social and environmental aspects.

Indian Railways is constructing the tallest pier railway bridge of the world in Manipur

• The Indian Railways is constructing the tallest pier railway bridge of the world in Manipur. The ambitious project of the Railways in Manipur is part of the Jiribam-Imphal railway line, which ultimately is part of a new broad gauge line being constructed to connect the northeastern state with the rest of the country. Currently, the tallest pier bridge record is held by 139-metre high Mala-Rijeka viaduct built at Montenegro in Europe.

Cherry Blossom Festival 2021 celebrated in Meghalaya

• The three-day Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2021 was inaugurated by Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma, and Ambassador of Japan to India, Satoshi Suzuki. It was celebrated from November 25 to 27. The festival was held in two venues, Ward’s Lake and Polo Grounds in Meghalaya. The annual festival coincides with the actual blooming of the cherry blossom flowers. It is also known as the Prunus Cerasoides, these flowers underline the Himalayas and cover the east and west Khasi hills.

Kantar's 2021 edition of India's most purposeful brands

• According to Kantar’s BrandZ India 2021 report, Amazon, Tata Tea and Asian Paints emerged as the most purposeful brands in India across technology, FMCG, and non-FMCG categories respectively. In technology ranking Amazonleads the index followed by Zomato, YouTube, and Google, and Swiggy jointly in 4th place.

• While Asian Paints topped the non-FMCG rankings, Samsung and Jio ranked jointly in the 2nd position, followed by MRF. The FMCG category rankings saw Tata Tea topping the chart, Surf Excel in 2nd position.

Assam CM launches Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme 2021

• Assam government on Sunday rolled out the microfinance loan waiver scheme to give relief to 24 lakh women in the state.

• Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme, 2021, at Collegiate HS School, Tezpur in Sonitpur district.

• Himanta Biswa Sarma ceremonially distributed cheques of Rs 25,000 to five women beneficiaries during the programme.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Vivek Johri Appointed as the chairman of CBIC

• Senior bureaucrat Vivek Johri has been appointed as the chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), an order issued on Sunday by the personnel ministry said. Johri, a 1985-batch Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) officer, is currently working as the member in the board.

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

Bajaj Allianz ties up TropoGo to distribute ‘drone insurance’ products

• Bajaj Allianz General Insurance announced its partnership with deep-tech startup TropoGo for the distribution of a drone Insurance product. With this Bajaj Allianz General Insurance becomes the 4th insurer to offer drone cover. HDFC Ergo was the first insurer to launch a drone insurance cover in June 2020, followed by ICICI Lombard in August 2021, and Tata AIG last month.

• The drone insurance product will cover Damage to the Drone and Payload it carries Third Party Liability, BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) Endorsement, and Night Flying Endorsement.