National News

Union Government inks $105 million loan agreement with ADB for Hydropower Transmission

Union Government and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed $105 million loan to continue financing transmission system upgrades in Himachal Pradesh for increased supply of hydropower to state and national grid. It is third tranche part of $350 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) for Himachal Pradesh Clean Energy Transmission Investment Program approved by ADB Board in September 2011.
Himachal Pradesh Clean Energy Transmission Investment Program
The program is aimed at developing and expanding transmission network to evacuate clean and renewable power generated from State’s hydropower sources to load centers within and outside State.

Government inks $300 million loan agreement with ADB to support IIFCL

Union Government has inked $300 million Loan Agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support lending by India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL).
Important
ADB funding is expected to fund at least 13 sub-projects through IIFCL, involving roads and renewable power generation, under the last tranche. It expected to help catalyze the financial closing of $2.4 billion in investments. In addition, attached technical assistance will support IIFCL capacity development and will focus on IIFCL’s financial management and social and environmental safeguards.

India's first elephant hospital opens in Mathura
India's first specialised hospital for elephants was inaugurated by Agra Divisional Commissioner Anil Kumar in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district - Churmura village. It offers laser therapy, hydrotherapy, quarantine facilities and has a medical hoist to lift elephants.

India International Cherry Blossom Festival Held in Meghalaya
During the programme, the Chief Minister also handed over the Meghalaya Entrepreneurship Recognition Award (MEG-ERA) to Perastill R Sangma, an entrepreneur from Garo Hills. The award consists of a citation and a cash award of one lakh rupees.

Scheme

‘Gau Samridhi Plus Scheme’
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the ‘Gau Samridhi Plus scheme’ or ‘Cow Samridhi Plus Scheme’ to offer insurance coverage to dairy farmers in Kerala. It is a government subsidized scheme. It will provide insurance coverage to dairy farmers at low premium rates. Farmers from general category will receive 50% subsidy on premium. Farmers from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) category will receive 70% subsidy on premium.
 

(International News)

India and UK sign MoU for collaboration in cancer research
India and United Kingdom have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration in cancer research.   
Facts
The MoU was signed between Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) for India-UK Cancer Research Initiative for collaboration in cancer research for the next five years. Under it, both CRUK and DBT will invest 5 million pounds each in this five-year pilot project and seek further investment from other potential funding partners.

(National News)

2nd Mega Food Park in Maharashtra
Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated 2nd Mega Food Park in Maharashtra, in Wahegaon and Dhangaon village in Paithan taluka of Aurangabad district. It was launched under Mega Food Park Scheme and is promoted by Paithan Mega Food Park Pvt Ltd.
Important
It has been set up in 102 acre of land at cost of Rs 124.52 crore. The facilities at Central Processing Centre (CPC) of this mega food park include dry warehouse of 10,000 metric tonne (MT), cold storage (1,000 MT), pre-cooling facility (10 MT), ripening chambers (400 MT), individual quick freezing (IQF) facility (1.5 metric tonne per hour).

Regional meeting of World Customs Organisation
Four-day regional meeting of World Customs Organisation (WCO) was held in Jaipur, capital city of Rajasthan.  It was attended by representatives of 33 member countries of Asia. The meeting was jointly chaired by WCO Deputy Secretary General Ricardo Travino and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs Chairman S Ramesh.

Important
The meeting deliberated upon various issues including the steps required for the capacity building and reforms in customs. It also discussed and deliberated upon amended Kyoto protocol, digital customs, e-commerce among other issues.

RURAL JHARKHAND DECLARED ODF
A regional review meeting of the Eastern States was held in Kolkata, West Bengal. Teams from West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha joined the review.  The Swachh Bharat Mission Directors from the participating States were also present at the meeting.
Rural Jharkhand was declared ODF. West Bengal currently has a rural sanitation coverage of 97% and is on track to becoming ODF much before the national target of October 2019.
FACTS
There are total 25 ODF states in the country.
Sikkim was the first state to declared as ODF in 2008.

India says ready to import more gas and oil from the United States 
India's foreign secretary said that India is open to import more gas and oil from the US.
The United States early this month re-imposed sanctions against Iran's oil exports to punish Tehran for its involvement in several Middle Eastern conflicts and curb its nuclear programmes. 

Ministry of Tourism rolls out online Certification programme for Tourist Facilitators
The Union Tourism Secretary, Smt. Rashmi Verma rolled out the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification (IITFC) Programme in New Delhi.
Successful completion of this program would enable the learner to become a Certified Tourist Facilitator of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
The Secretary added that this online programme will have lot of advantages like job creation for local people, harness the local experience and traditional knowledge and also it has the flexibility of any age or any place people to join. 

(Scheme News)

Swadesh Darshan Scheme
Union Ministry of Tourism has inaugurated two important projects as part of Development of North East Circuit under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in Arunachal Pradesh.
Swadesh Darshan scheme
It was launched by Union Tourism Ministry in 2015 with objective to develop theme-based tourist circuits in the country. These tourist circuits developed will be developed under on principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in integrated manner. Under this scheme, Government is focusing on development of quality infrastructure with objective of providing better experience and facilities to visitors on one hand and on other hand fostering economic growth.
 

(International News)

7th RCEP Inter-Sessional Ministerial Meeting concludes in Singapore
•    The Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore Mr. Chan Chun Sing was the Chair of the meeting as Singapore is currently the Chair of ASEAN this year. 
•    The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a mega regional free trade agreement being negotiated amongst 16 countries, comprising 10 ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) plus six ASEAN FTA partners, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand.

‘DHARMA GUARDIAN’ – 2018 
•    Between Indian Army and Japanese Army
•    It is a significant step towards fostering military and diplomatic ties between the two courtiers.
The primary focus of the exercise was to train and equip the contingents to undertake joint counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations in urban and semi urban terrain. 

(National News)

Hima Das appointed first youth ambassador of UNICEF India
Asian Games gold-medallist sprinter Hima Das has been appointed as the first ever youth ambassador of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) India.
Das, a native of Assam's Nagaon district, had clinched a gold medal in Women's 4 x 400 m Relay event at the 2018 Asian Games.
She had also won a silver medal in Women's 400m Race event with a clock timing of 50.59 seconds.
Hima Das became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the IAAF World Junior championships
UNICEF
Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States
Head: Henrietta H. Fore
Executive director: Henrietta H. Fore
Founded: 11 December 1946, New York City, New York, United States

Manipur: Home ministry extends ban on eight extremist groups for five years
•    The Ministry of Home Affairs Tuesday extended the ban on eight Meitei extremist organisations active in Manipur for five more years for their continued involvement in unlawful and violent activities.
•    The organisations banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act are, Peoples’ Liberation Army generally known as PLA and its political wing, Revolutionary Peoples’ Front (RPF), United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and its armed wing Manipur Peoples’ Army (MPA), Peoples’ Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and its armed wing, ‘Red Army’, Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and its armed wing, also called ‘Red Army’, Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup (KYKL), the Coordination Committee (CorCom) and Alliance for Socialist Unity Kangleipak (ASUK).

Union Agriculture Minister launches NCDC’s new scheme to promote young entrepreneurs in cooperatives 
To cater to the needs and aspirations of the youth, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has come up with a youth-friendly scheme ‘Yuva Sahakar-Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme” for attracting them to cooperative business ventures.
The scheme will be linked to Rs 1000 crore ‘Cooperative Start-up and Innovation Fund (CSIF)’ created by the NCDC. It would have more incentives for cooperatives of North Eastern region, Aspirational Districts and cooperatives with women or SC or ST or PwD members.
The funding for the project will be up to 80% of the project cost for these special categories as against 70% for others
NCDC, being the most preferred financial institution in the world of cooperatives, has embarked on Sahakar 22, a Mission for Doubling Farmers’ Income by 2022.
NCDC

National Cooperative Development Corporation 

Formed - 1963 

Headquarter - New Delhi 

Minister - Radha Mohan Singh, Minister of Agriculture

Managing Director - Shri Sundeep Kumar Nayak, IAS 

Ministry - Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare 

(Space News)

ISRO successfully launches its heaviest satellite GSAT-29 from Sriharikota
•     This is India's heaviest satellite. It is boosted by two powerful strap-on solid rocket motors, the nearly 143-foot-tall (43.5-meter) Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk.3 (GSLV Mk.3). 
•    Marks the completion of the development stage of India’s heaviest launch vehicle, GSLV Mark III, referred to as ‘Bahubali’ because it has double the carrying capacity of its predecessor, GSLV Mark II.
•    This is the second development flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III, which will be used for India’s human space flight programme scheduled for 2022 and Chandrayaan-2 in January 2019.
•    It will improve access to communication networks, specifically in the Jammu and Kashmir and North East.

(Sports News)

Former World no. 2 Agnieszka Radwanska announces retirement 
Polish tennis player Agnieszka Radwanska said on Wednesday that she has decided to end her 13 year-long career due to health reasons.Radwanska reached a career high world singles ranking of number two in 2012 after finishing as runner-up at Wimbledon. She won the season ending WTA Finals in 2015.

National News

Odisha government signed MoU with AIFF
Odisha government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) at the Kalinga Stadium complex, Bhubaneswar, Odisha in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. As per the agreement, the State government will host National team camps and also I-League side Indian Arrows.

India celebrates the 130th birth anniversary of Pt Nehru
The nation celebrates the 130th birth anniversary of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to the leader and remembered his contribution in India’s freedom struggle. Pt Nehru was born on November 14, 1889. He was known for his love for children and was fondly called Chacha Nehru. Before 1964, Children’s day was celebrated in India on November 20. It was observed as the Universal Children’s Day by the United Nations.

Global Cooling Innovation Summit held in New Delhi
The first Global Cooling Innovation Summit was held in New Delhi.  It was inaugurated by Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan.
Global Cooling Innovation Summit
The two-day summit was first-of-its-kind solutions-focused event organised to explore concrete means and pathways to address climate threat that comes from the growing demand from room air conditioners.

PM Modi inaugurates India’s first multi-modal terminal on inland waterways
The first multi-modal waterways terminal on the Ganga River is part of the Centre's Jal Marg Vikas Project which aims to develop the stretch of the river between Varanasi and Haldia for navigation of large vessels.
National Waterway-1 (Haldia-Varanasi stretch) is being developed with technical assistance and investment support from the World Bank. 

International News

2nd Startup India Investment Seminar in Beijing
Embassy of India in China in partnership with Startup India Association (SIA) and Venture Gurukool organized 2nd Startup India Investment Seminar on 12 November 2018 in Beijing for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among Indian youth.The 1st Startup Indian Investment event was organised in November 2017.

India and Morocco sign Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
India and Morocco sign an agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, mainly aimed at containing menace of terrorists funding. 
Facts
The agreement will help to strengthen bilateral cooperation between India and Morocco. It will enhance effectiveness and provide broad legal framework for prevention, investigation and prosecution of crimes as well as in tracing, restraint and confiscation of funds meant to finance terrorist acts.
 

Defence News

Curtain Raiser: INDO-Russian joint exercise INDRA 2018
The joint military exercise between Indian and Russia EXERCISE INDRA 2018 on combating insurgency under the aegis of United Nations (UN) is being conducted at Babina Field Firing Ranges, Babina Military Station from 18 November 2018.

Aim:-
The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning and conduct to enhance interoperability of the two Armies in the peace keeping/ enforcement environment under the aegis of the UN.

Indian Navy - Indonesian Navy bilateral exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ begins

INS Rana of the Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command is on deployment to the South East Asia and arrived at the port of Surabaya to participate in the inaugural edition of Indian Navy – Indonesian Navy Bilateral Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ scheduled from 12  to 18 Nov 18.

The aim of the exercise is to strengthen bilateral relations, expand maritime co-operation, enhance interoperability and exchange best practices.

National News
Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will inaugurate “Hunar Haat” at India International Trade Fair, New Delhi

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will inaugurate the “Hunar Haat” on 15th November, 2018 at India International Trade Fair (IITF) at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. 

The IITF will be organized from 14th to 27th November, 2018

“Hunar Haat”, being organised across the country by the Ministry of Minority Affairs has proved to be “Empowerment & Employment Exchange” for master artisans and craftsmen.  “Hunar Haat” at Pragati Maidan, is a part of series of “Hunar Haat”, being organised in various parts of the country under a mission to provide market and opportunity to master artisans and craftsmen.

Government approves the process of constitution of new Boards of Governors for the IIMs as per the IIM Act 2017

The Government has approved the process of constitution of new Boards of Governors for the IIMs as per the IIM Act 2017.

This process is in accordance with the provisions of the Section 10 of the IIM Act 2017, and has been approved in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice. 

Important:-

The process of constitution of Boards for the IIMs, which have been given full powers of running the institutions, is a major development which signals complete autonomy of quality institutions in higher education and will ensure quality expansion of higher education

International News

PM Modi to leave for Singapore tonight to attend 13th East Asia Summit

•    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leaving for Singapore tonight to attend the 13th East Asia Summit. 

•    This will be Mr Modi's 5th East Asia Summit and his second visit to Singapore.

•    Mr Modi will also be the first head of government to deliver an address at the Singapore Fintech Festival. 
•    It is one of the largest events on financial technology.
•    Mr Modi will also hold several bilateral meetings including one with US Vice President Mike Pence during his stay.

Sports News

Hong Kong Open Badminton tournament begins today

•    Hong Kong Open Badminton tournament begins in Kowloon today. Rio Olympics Silver medalist PV Sindhu will spearhead the Indian challenge. Sindhu, seeded third, will begin her campaign against Thailand's Nitchaon Jindapol. 

•    Saina Nehwal will face the second seeded Japanese Akane Yamaguchi in the opening round.

Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah maintain top positions in ICC ODI rankings

•    India captain Virat Kohli and premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah maintained their top positions respectively in the latest ICC ODI rankings published today.

•    Kohli remained in pole position with 899 poins while limited overs Vice-captain Rohit Sharma remained second in the list.

•    Rashid Khan of Afghanistan with 353 points is the top-ranked ODI all-rounder in world cricket currently. 

•    In the overall team rankings, India with 121 points, remained second behind England who have 126 points.

Obituary News
American comic book writer Stan Lee dies at 95

American comic book writer and former chief of Marvel Comics Stan Lee has died in Los Angeles. He was 95.  

Lee created the Fantastic Four for Marvel Comics in 1961 and went on to create titles like Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk.

Obituary News
Union Minister Ananth Kumar passes away

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Ananth Kumar passed away on November 12, 2018 at a private hospital in Bengaluru. He was 59. He was diagnosed of lung cancer just three months ago.
About:
A senior BJP leader from Karnataka, Ananth Kumar represented the Bengaluru South parliamentary constituency six times in Lok Sabha since 1996. 

 A graduate in Arts and Law, Kumar was associated with the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organisation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), before joining the BJP in 1987. As an RSS worker, Kumar was arrested during Emergency.

International News
69% Pakistanis between Ages 15 To 65 Don't Know What Internet Is: Survey
 
•    Around 69 percent Pakistanis between the ages of 15 and 65 do not know what the internet is an information communication technology (ICT)-based survey has revealed.
•    The survey was conducted by LirneAsia, a think-tank based in Sri Lanka that carries out ICT research.
•    The report is based on a survey of 2,000 households in Pakistan.
•    LirneAsia claims that the sampling methodology was designed to ensure representation of 98 per cent target population aged 15 to 65 at a national level.
•    Conducted between October-December 2017, this demand side survey helps understand how users use or do not use ICT services.

India and Morocco sign Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters

An Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters was signed by Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Home on behalf of the Government of Republic of India and Mr Mohamed Aujjar, Minister of Justice on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, here today.
The Agreement will strengthen bilateral cooperation with Morocco and enhance effectiveness and provide a broad legal framework for prevention, investigation and prosecution of crimes; as well as in tracing, restraint and confiscation of funds meant to finance terrorist acts.

Asian Development Bank grants EESL $13 million to promote efficient energy usage in the country
 
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) would provide USD 13 million loans to EESL to promote efficient energy usage in India.
ADB and the Energy Efficiency Services (EESL) signed a USD 13 million grant, to be provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), for the additional financing of an ongoing ADB-supported project that is promoting end-use energy efficiency, it said in a release.

National News    

Public Service Broadcasting Day being observed today

 
The Public Service Broadcasting Day was observed across India on November 12, 2018. The day is observed every year to commemorate the first and last visit of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi to the studio of All India Radio, Delhi in 1947.

Mahatma Gandhi had on November 12, 1947 visited the studio of All India Radio to address the displaced people from Pakistan who were temporarily settled in Kurukshetra, Haryana after the partition of the Indian subcontinent.

Union Minister Harshvardhan annouces launch of Global Cooling Prize
Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today announced the launch of the Global Cooling Prize, an international competition to incentivize the development of a residential cooling technology that will have at least five times less climate impact that the standard Room Air Conditioning (RAC) units sold today.
Global Cooling Prize is a competition with global reach and participation to achieve dramatic breakthroughs in cooling technologies.
The objective of this competition would be to develop a cooling technology that requires radically less energy to operate, utilizes refrigerants with no ozone depletion potential and with low global warming potential, and has the potential to be cost-effective at scale. 

Power Minister inaugurates INSPIRE 2018
 
The second edition of was International Symposium to Promote Innovation & Research in Energy Efficiency (INSPIRE 2018) launched in New Delhi.
It was jointly organised by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and World Bank. 
The three-day symposium focused on enhancing grid management, e-Mobility, financial instruments and technologies for energy efficiency in India. 

 Award News    

Ladakh’s LAMO Centre wins UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award

 
The LAMO Centre of Ladakh won the 2018 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation on November 9, 2018. This aristocratic house was restored from a state of partial ruin.
The centre won the ‘Award of Distinction’ for its systematic restoration project that used local building materials and indigenous construction techniques while skilfully introducing modern amenities to assure its ongoing use.

(International News)

3rd ASEAN summit begins in Singapore

•    The 33rd ASEAN Summit began today in the city-state of Singapore.

•    The main event is being held at Suntec Singapore Convention Centre, wherein the ten ASEAN members will be discussing key issues on economic, security and cultural cooperation. 

•    The summit is being chaired by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. 

•    During this summit, the ASEAN leaders are expected to adopt the ASEAN Smart Cities Framework and a broad agreement is likely to be reached on RCEP during the summit. 

•    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the East Asia Summit and Associated meetings on 14th and 15th November. 

•    ASEAN - Association of South East Asian Nations.

24th Kolkata International Film Festival begins at Netaji Indoor Stadium

24th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) began at Netaji Indoor Stadium, Kolkata. 

This festival was inaugurated by Bollywood Actor Amitabh Bachchan in the presence of West Bengal chief minister Mamta Banerjee. 

This festival will serve as a platform to showcase cinemas across the globe.

Around 171 films and 150 short and documentary films from 70 countries will be screened at the festival.
This edition will also celebrate 100 years of Bengali cinema by screening classics by auteurs.

(Day & Dates News)

National Education Day is celebrated on November 11

11th November is National Education Day. This day is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of independent India, who served from 15 August 1947 until 2 February 1958. 

The Bharat Ratna recipient was not only responsible for streamlining Indian education system but also foresaw the establishment of the first IIT, IISc, and the University Grants Commission in his tenure.

(Appointment News)
3 new members appointed to CBDT

3 senior IRS officers K Dash, Akhilesh Ranjan and Neena Kumar have been appointed as new members of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

Prior to this appointment, Dash was serving as principal chief commissioner of I-T (PCCIT) in Bhopal, Ranjan and Kumar were serving as PCCsIT in Delhi. 

Important Points to Note: 

With these three new joinings, CBDT now has full house strength of five members and chairman. 
The two other members of CBDT are IRS officers Aditya Vikram and P C Mody while the borad’s Chairman is Sushil Chandra.

(Award News)

Super 30 founder Anand Kumar to be honoured with Global Education Award in Dubai

•    Indian educational program Super 30 founder Anand Kumar today honoured with prestegious Global education award 2018 in Dubai.

•    He was honored for his ‘pioneering’ contributions to the field of education.

National News    

Indian Army inducts 3 artillery gun system
Indian Army inducted three major globally combat proven artillery gun system viz. M777 A2 ultra light howitzers (ULH), K-9 Vajra-tracked self-propelled guns and ‘Composite Gun Towing Vehicle’ at Deolali Field Firing Range in Maharashtra. 
Facts

• M777 A2 Ultra Light Howitzers : It is 155mm, 39 Calibre ULHs towed artillery gun, with maximum range of 24-30km procured from US. 
• It will be procured under India-US deal signed in November 2016 for 145 M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers. Under it, 25 guns will be imported and rest will be assembled in India by BAE Systems in partnership with Mahindra Defense.

National Legal Services Day
National Legal Services Day (NLSD) is observed every year in India on 9th November to spread awareness for ensuring reasonable fair and justice procedure for all citizens.
National Legal Services Day (NLSD)
It was started by Supreme Court of India in 1995 to provide help and support to poor and weaker sections of the society.

CIMAP signs agreement with US-based RIFM for improving the quality of fragrant oils
Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) has signed MoU with US-based Research Institute for Fragrant Materials (RIFM) for improving the quality of fragrant oils. It was signed at conclusion of two-day annual conference of International Fragrance Association (IFA) in Paris, capital city of France.
Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) is a frontier plant research laboratory of CSIR. It was originally established as Central Indian Medicinal Plants Organisation (CIMPO) in 1959. It is headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

International News

SIMBEX: Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise

India and Singapore will hold 25th joint naval exercise SIMBEX, acronym for Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise from November 10 to 21 in India off Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.
SIMBEX 2018
It will witness diverse range of exercises at sea such as live weapon drills including multiple missile firings, heavy weight torpedo (HWT) and medium range gun and anti-submarine rocket firings; advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercises, submarine rescue demonstrations; integrated surface and anti-air warfare (AAW); unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations and cross deck helicopter flying among others.

Appointment

Ashok Kumar Gupta appointed as Chairperson of Competition Commission of India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed former IAS officer Ashok Kumar Gupta as Chairperson of Competition Commission of India (CCI). He replaces acting chairperson Sudhir Mital. 
Competition Commission of India

• CCI is quasi-judicial statutory body established under The Competition Act, 2002. It was established in October 2003 and became fully functional in May 2009.
• CCI aims to eliminate practices that adversely affect competition in different industries and protect interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade.

National News    

RBI may set-up a digital payments ombudsman by March 2019

09 November 2018 Current Affairs: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may set-up an ombudsman for digital payments by March to reduce the burden on banking ombudsman because of a rising number of complaints.

Who is the Banking Ombudsman?

The Banking Ombudsman actually is a senior official appointed by the RBI to redress customer complaints against pitfalls in the stipulated banking services covered by the Banking Ombudsman Scheme 2006.

The Banking Ombudsman may award compensation not exceeding Rs 1 lakh to the complainant for mental agony and harassment.

Allahabad Bank to get 3,054 crore capital infusion from govt

•    State-run Allahabad Bank on Thursday said the Centre is infusing Rs 3,054 crore into it during the current fiscal.

•    Allahabad Bank had posted a loss of Rs.1, 944 crore in the June quarter compared to a profit of Rs. 28.8 crore a year ago.

•    The bank received Rs. 1,790 crore as capital from the government in July this year.

•    Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had imposed additional restrictions on the bank under the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework in May this year.

Cabinet clears strategic sale of government stake in Dredging Corporation
 

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the strategic sale of government stake in Dredging Corporation of India to a consortium of four ports.

The government currently holds 73.44 per cent in Dredging Corporation of India Ltd (DCIL).

Every graduate girl in Bihar to get Rs 25,000 now

 •    Bihar government has approved a proposal to pay Rs 25,000 to every girl graduating in 2018 and onwards.

•    The one-time payment will be made to every girl who graduated from the colleges of the state on or after April 25 this year, irrespective of pass division, community or region.

•    The Cabinet alloted 300 crore rupees for disbursal of this payment to an estimated one lakh twenty thousand girls expected to clear their graduation course this year.

•    The scheme is a part of a larger government scheme that aims to pay each girl 54 thousand rupees including the payments made to her, right from birth to graduation.

Defence News

Bilateral Exercise SIMBEX 18 - marks Silver Jubilee this Year

The 25th edition of SIMBEX, an acronym for “Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise” is scheduled from 10th to 21st November 2018 off Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.

Bilateral cooperation between Singapore and India was first formalised when RSN ships began training with the Indian Navy in 1994. 

SIMBEX 2018 will be the largest edition since 1994 in terms of scale and complexity. 

Defence Minister inducts K9 Vajra, M777 howitzer guns into Army

The Army on Friday inducted new artillery guns and equipment, including K9 Vajra and M777 howitzers, at Deolali artillery centre in Nashik district of Maharashtra.

The induction ceremony took place in the presence of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Army chief General Bipin Rawat. 

International News

Cabinet approves extradition agreement with Morocco

Union Cabinet chiared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday approved signing and ratifying the extradition agreement between India and Morocco.

The agreement will provide a strong legal base for the extradition of fugitive offenders who are accused of economic offences, terrorism and other serious offences in one contracting state and found in another contracting state.

National News

Cabinet approves setting up of Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh
 
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved setting up of a Central Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh. 

The "Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh" will be set up in Relli village of Vizianagaram District as provided under the Thirteenth Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (No. 6 of 2014).  
Cabinet has also approved the provision of funds of Rs. 420 crore for the first phase expenditure towards establishment of the Central Tribal University.

Government to Lease Six Airports, Cabinet Approves Plan

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the leasing out of six airports -- Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru -- for operation, management and development under the Public Private Partnership (PPP).

International News

DEPwD organises Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities
“Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities, 2018” is being organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment here during 9-11 November, 2018.

This year, India is hosting the event in collaboration with Government of Korea and Rehabilitation International (RI).The Global IT Challenge for disability is a capacity building project that helps youth with disabilities to overcome their limitations and challenges for a better future through access to ICT.

Alibaba, WFP form partnership to eliminate hunger by 2030

The UN World Food Programme and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group have formed a strategic partnership to support efforts eliminate hunger globally by 2030.

WFP Executive Director David Beasley and Alibaba Partner and Chairman of the Alibaba Foundation Sun Lijun signed an agreement at Alibaba's headquarters in Hangzhou, China.