Daily Current Affairs 21 November 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
NATIONAL NEWS
Cabinet approves establishment of the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR)
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the establishment of the National Institute for Sowa-Rigpa in Leh, Ladakh.
- The Institute will be an autonomous National Institute under Ministry of AYUSH with the mandate to undertake interdisciplinary education and research programmes in Sowa-Rigpa in collaboration with premier national and international Institutes and facilitate the integration of different systems of medicine.
Amit Shah launches special winter-grade diesel for Ladakh
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the supply of special winter-grade diesel for high altitude Ladakh, which faces sub-zero temperatures during the winter months.
Govt to open Passport Seva Kendra in Kartarpur
The Ministry of External Affairs said that the government is opening one Passport Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSKs) in Dera Baba Nanak so that people should not face difficulty in getting passports.
IRCTC & KSTDC signs MoU to operate Golden chariot train
The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corp (KSTDC) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to market and operate the Golden Chariot train. The luxurious Golden Chariot train will start plying from March 2020.
Andhra Pradesh joins hands with IIM-A to curb corruption
In a bid to curb corruption in government departments, Andhra Pradesh government has roped in the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) to work with the state’s Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB).
- IIM-A and ACB will work in coordination with each other to curb corruption “right from the village to all government departments”.
Kolkata becomes first city to install ‘Third Umpire’ RT-PCR Machines
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has installed first of its kind high-end reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machines in India for quick detection of diseases like dengue, tuberculosis and swine flu.
- These machines are to serve as a ‘third umpire’ in situations when medical reports and blood tests reveal contradictory results.
DSEJ launches special enrollment drive under ‘Aao School Chalein’
In Jammu, the Directorate of School Education (DSEJ) has launched a special enrollment drive under the banner ‘Aao School Chalein’ for increasing the enrollment in government schools.
- Apart from increasing the enrollment in the Government schools, the prime focus of the drive is on the strengthening of pre-schooling of children in the age group of 3 to 5 years.
Smriti Irani addresses South Asia Safety Summit
The Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani addressed the 2nd edition of South Asia Safety Summit in New Delhi.
- The summit was joined by over 100 organisations from Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and India.
- The South Asia Safety Summit is Facebook’s annual event to host critical conversations on digital safety and security.
India to host 2020 World Conference on Access to Medical Products
India will host the 2020 World Conference on Access to Medical Products from September 23 to 25 next year, the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey said.
India ranks 59 on IMD World Talent Ranking Report; Switzerland first
India has slipped 6 places to 59 rank on a global annual list of 63 countries, due to low quality of life and expenditure on education, according to the latest edition of IMD World Talent Ranking.
- The ranking, which is based on the performance in three main categories — investment and development, appeal and readiness.
- The list has been topped by Switzerland.
India successfully test-fires nuclear capable Prithvi-2 missile
India has successfully carried out night-time test-firing of two Prithvi ballistic missiles off the coast of Odisha. The trials of the 300 km-range missiles were carried out by the Strategic Forces Command.
GRSE delivers ICGS ‘Amrit Kaur to Indian Coast Guard
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) delivered to the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) ‘Amrit Kaur’, the third in a series of five ‘Fast Patrol Vessels’ (FPV).
- ICGS ‘Amrit Kaur’ is a 50-metre-long and 7.5-metre- wide medium-range surface vessel, with a displacement of around 308 tonnes.
BANKING & FINANCE
Public sectors banks disburse Rs 2.53 lakh crore loans in October
Union Ministry of Finance said that Public Sector Banks (PSBs) have disbursed loans to the tune of Rs 2.53 lakh crore during October under the ‘Customer Outreach’ initiative.
- Adding that new term loan and working capital loan constitute 60 per cent of total disbursement, the ministry in an official statement said that an amount of Rs 1.06 lakh crore was disbursed towards new term loan, while Rs 46,800 crore was given as a working capital loan.
- The banks also credited Rs 19,627.26 crore to the non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
SPORTS
Manu Bhaker bags gold medal in ISSF World Cup Finals
India’s Manu Bhaker created history at World Cup Finals in Women’s 10m Air Pistol event. She shot 244.7 to claim the top prize in the season-ending tournament of International Shooting Sport Federation at Putian in China.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won F1 Brazilian Grand Prix
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) won F1 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos in São Paulo, Brazil.
APPOINTMENTS
Sudhir Mital elected president of Gymnastics Federation of India
Former Competition Commission of India chairman Sudhir Mital and Shantikumar Singh were elected as president and general secretary respectively, of the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI).
Lt Col Jyoti Sharma appointed as Army’s first female JAG officer
Lieutenant Colonel Jyoti Sharma has been appointed as Indian Army’s first female Judge Advocate General officer to be deployed on a foreign mission.
- She will serve the government of the East African country of Seychelles as a legal expert & would give her opinion about defence and military act.
AWARDS
Bodybuilder Chitharesh Natesan becomes first Indian to clinch Mr Universe Title
A Delhi-based bodybuilder, Chitharesh Natesan, who is a native of Kochi, has become the first Indian to win the Mr.Universe 2019 crown at the World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship that took place in South Korea’s Jeju.
- Chitharesh Natesan won the title at WBPF 2019 in 90 kg category.
- Also, India secured second place in the team championship category, finishing behind Thailand.
NTPC wins the ‘Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability’ 2019
NTPC Ltd, India’s largest power generation company, has been bestowed with the ‘Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability’ 2019, during the 19th International Conference on Corporate Governance & Sustainability held in London (U.K).
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Men’s Day
International Men’s Day is an annual international event celebrated on 19 November. It is an occasion to celebrate boys and men’s achievements and contributions, in particular for their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care. The broader and ultimate aim of the event is to promote basic humanitarian values.
- The theme for 2019 is “Making a Difference for Men and Boys”.
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