Current Affairs: 8 November – 14 November, 2020
SEBI increases Overseas Investment limits for Mutual Funds
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has enhanced the investment limits for Mutual Fund companies for overseas investments. Mutual Funds can make overseas investments subject to a maximum of US $ 600 million per Mutual Fund, within the overall industry limit of US $ 7 billion. Earlier it was USD 300 million.
Mutual Funds can make investments in overseas Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) subject to a maximum of US $ 200 million per Mutual Fund, within the overall industry limit of US $ 1 billion. Earlier it was Rs 50 million.
AAI Signs MoU With NTPC Subsidiary, NVVN
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a subsidiary of NTPC Ltd, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), to promote usage of electric vehicles and set up solar power plants at the airports managed and operated by AAI. NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) will be provided adequate land and rooftop space by AAI, free of cost, at identified AAI airports to set up solar power plants.
WhatsApp Partners with 5 Banks for UPI Payment
WhatsApp has partnered with five Indian banks to process its payment services. These are State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and Jio Payments Bank. The Facebook-owned messaging platform, WhatsApp Inc., has received the approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) based payments services in India, to let users send or receive money across the country.
Manipur’s Gyanendro Ningombam becomes new president of Hockey India
Manipur’s Gyanendro Ningombam was elected unopposed as the President of Hockey India, while former President Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad is back in the Hockey India Executive Board after being Elected Unopposed for the Senior Vice President post. Earlier, Gyanendro Ningombam has been serving as the Officiating President of Hockey India since July 2020.
ISRO launches PSLV C49 with 10 satellites
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched the 51st mission of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This is the first mission by ISRO in 2020. The carrier vehicle PSLV C49 will deliver 10 satellites in all with EOS-01 as the primary one. It is the 51st mission of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The carrier was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The EOS-01, an earth observation satellite, was intended to provide agriculture, forestry and disaster management support. The nine customer satellites are from Lithuania (1), Luxembourg (4) and USA (4). The customer satellites were being launched under a commercial agreement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), department of space.
Joe Biden wins the US Presidential Election
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. has defeated Donald Trump to become the 46th U.S. president. Biden will become the oldest president-elect in U.S. history and the first to oust a sitting commander-in-chief after one term since Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush in 1992. Biden’s electoral college vote to 290, surpassing the 270 needed to win the White House. Biden’s running mate, California Senator Kamala Harris, becomes the first Black and Indian-American woman to serve as vice president.
Vidya Balan’s short film ‘Natkhat’ eligible for Oscar nomination
The Indian film ‘Natkhat’, starring and co-produced by Vidya Balan, has won the top prize at the third edition of Best Of India Short Film Festival 2020. By winning the festival, the film has become eligible for 2021 Oscar qualification. The film has been directed by Shaan Vyas and co-produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Vidya Balan.
Shipping ministry to be renamed
The Ministry of Shipping is being expanded and renamed as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. This information was given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 November 2020, during a launch event of Ro-Pax terminal at Hazira and flagging off the Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat, which will reduce the 370-km road distance between the two places to 90-km by sea route.
1st solar-based water supply project of India launched in Arunachal Pradesh
Union Jal Shakti Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has launched India’s first solar-based Integrated Multi-Village Water Supply Project (IMVWSP) in Arunachal Pradesh. The solar-based lift water supply project is ‘first of its kind’ in the country, and has been commissioned at a cost of Rs 28.50 crore. However, such projects will be carried out in other parts of the country too.
The project would provide drinking water to 17,480 people in 39 villages of Lower Dibang Valley district in Arunachal Pradesh.
The solar-based Integrated Multi-Village Water Supply Project has been designed as an integrated project with three components, which are drinking water, green energy and tourism.
Kerala launches “Parivarthanam” scheme for better livelihood of fisherfolk
The government of Kerala has launched a pioneering eco-sustainable programme called ‘Parivarthanam’, to improve the livelihood of the fishing community. The scheme aims at improving the livelihood skills of youngsters along the coastline and also enable socio-economic uplift of the fishermen community.
Parivarthanam, which means change, will be headed by Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC).
NGT bans sale and use of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a total ban on the sale and use of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region from 9 November to 30 November. The ban will be applicable in cities and towns where the air quality is in the “poor” category.
NGT further added that in cities or towns where the air quality is “moderate” or below, only green firecrackers will be sold and the time duration of bursting them will be restricted to two hours during festivals such as Diwali, Chhath, New Year/Christmas Eve as may be specified by the state. Currently, the state governments have their own set of guidelines with regard to permitting/banning the sale and use of firecrackers during the festive season.
FASTags mandatory for all four-wheelers from January 1, 2021
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a notification that FASTags will become mandatory for all four-wheelers, including old vehicles, from January 1, 2021. For this government has made an amendment in FORM 51 (certificate of Insurance), wherein the details of FASTag ID shall be captured. This shall be applicable w.e.f. April 1, 2021.
Government has amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to make FASTag mandatory for registration of new four-wheeled vehicles, including for those sold before December 1, 2017.
FASTag would be supplied by the vehicle manufacturers or their dealers during registration.
Apart from this, a valid FASTag will also be mandatory while getting new third party insurance. The initiative aims to promote electronic toll collection and ensure that payment of fees is done at toll plazas through the electronic means only so that the vehicles pass seamlessly through the toll plazas.
Mumbai Indians wins IPL 2020 trophy
Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals in the final of Dream11 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 to lift their fifth IPL trophy.
» Rohit Sharma adjudged Game Changer of the Match in the final of IPL 2020.
» Trent Boult named the Player of the Match in the final of IPL 2020.
» Kings XI Punjab skipper KL Rahul bags the Orange Cap.
» Game Changer of the Season: KL Rahul.
» Delhi Capitals’ Kagiso Rabada wins the Purple Cap.
» Emerging Player of the season: Devdutt Padikkal (RCB).
» Rajasthan Royals speedster Jofra Archer emerges as the Most Valuable Player.
Bahrain PM Sheikh Khalifa dies at 84
The Prime Minister of Bahrain, Sheikh Khalifa passed away on November 11, 2020. He was 84. Prince Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa was the world’s longest-serving Prime Minister.
Prince Khalifa took over the post of Bahrain’s Prime Minister since its independence in 1971.
Ruskin Bond conferred with Tata Literature Lifetime Achievement Award
Ruskin Bond, one of India’s most cherished authors, has been conferred the 11th Tata Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award for 2020, to recognise his very long literary life of almost seventy years.
Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana: Government launches new employment scheme
The Government has launched a new employment scheme Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana to incentivise the creation of new employment opportunities during the C-19 recovery phase. The scheme was launched as a part of a fresh stimulus worth Rs 2.65 lakh crore announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on November 12, 2020 to boost the C-19-hit Indian economy.
The Finance Minister had announced 12 new measures under Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 during her press conference. She had announced the launch of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana’ alongside other key announcements to revive employment opportunities in India.
Moody’s projects India GDP for 2020 at -8.9%; 2021 forecast at 8.6%
Rating Agency Moody has projected the GDP of India at -8.9% for the calendar year 2020. Earlier this was projected at -9.6%.
Apart from this, India’s GDP growth for Calendar year 2021 is projected at 8.6% by Moody’s from 8.1% earlier.
‘Scooby-Doo’ Co-creator Ken Spears passes away
American television editor, writer, and producer Ken Spears, who co-created the beloved animated series “Scooby-Doo” has passed away. He was 82.
