Current Affairs Daily Digest – November 29 2019
1. BlackBuck partners with IDFC, Yes Bank to provide FASTags
BlackBuck, the online trucking platform, has partnered with private lenders IDFC Bank and Yes Bank on 28 November. The partnership aims to provide FASTags to truck owners free of cost.
2. Centre approved additional houses under PMAY G for Tripura
Centre has approved additional houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) for Tripura State for the financial year 2019-20. The Union Ministry of Rural Development sanctioned 18,338 additional houses for the state on 29 November.
3. Former Japanese PM Yasuhiro Nakasone passed away
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone passed away. He was 101 years old. He is known for his friendship with the 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan. He was one of Japan’s longest-reigning premiers.
4. ADB, India sign $451 million loan to strengthen Power Connectivity in Tamil Nadu
Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $451 million loan for strengthening power connectivity between northern and southern parts of Chennai–Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) which is part of East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC). ECEC is India’s first coastal economic corridor.
5. Govt propose to set up new rocket launch pad near Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu
Union Government is planning to set up a new rocket launch pad near Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu. At present, the Indian Space Research organisation (ISRO) has two launch pads at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDCC) in Sriharikotta, Andhra Pradesh. The development comes on the backdrop of increasing launches from India, both for domestic as well as international customers.
6. NIFTEM to conduct National Organic Festival of Women Entrepreneurs
Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to organise ‘National Organic Festival of Women Entrepreneurs’.
The event will be planned and organized through National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Sonepat, Haryana. NIFTEM Vice Chancellor has agreed to organize festival annually. NIFTEM is an academic institution under the administrative control of Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
7. 1st International Conference on Landslides Risk Reduction and Resilience
The 1st International Conference on ‘Landslides Risk Reduction and Resilience – 2019’ was held in New Delhi. It was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, G. Kishan Reddy.
8. Shipping Ministry approves Loktak Inland Waterways Project in Manipur
Union Ministry of Shipping (MoS) has approved long pending demand of Government of Manipur for development of Loktak Inland Waterways Project in the north eastern state. The request for development of this project was made by L Susindro Meitei, Chairman of Loktak Development Authority and MLA Khurai in Manipur.
9. Global Diplomacy Index 2019
The 2019 Global Diplomacy Index was released by Sydney-based Lowy Institute. The index gives the latest statistics and marking about how the world’s diplomatic networks are expanding and, in certain cases, shrinking. The index ranked 61 countries across the world.
10. Cabinet approves extension of norms for mandatory packaging in jute materials
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has accorded its approval for mandatory packaging of foodgrains and sugar in jute material for Jute Year 2019-20. The scope of mandatory packaging norms under Jute Packaging Material (JPM) Act, 1987 has been retained by Union Government as per 2018.
11. Indian Army successfully test-fires Spike LR missile
The Indian Army has successfully test-fired two Spike LR (long-range) anti-tank missiles from an Infantry School at Mhow, in Madhya Pradesh.
The test-firing was witnessed by top commanders of the Indian Army including Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, who were at the Mhow cantonment to attend the annual Infantry Commanders’ Conference.
12. Particles wins the Golden Peacock Award at IFFI 2019
‘Particles’ directed by Blaise Harrison and produced by Estelle Fialon won the Golden Peacock Award at the 50th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). ‘Particles’ is an “ambitious yet modest film about the mysteries of being a teenager,” said the jury.
13. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 29 November
The resolution on the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People also encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity.
14. Uddhav Thackeray sworn in as the 18th chief minister of Maharashtra
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday took oath as the 18th chief minister of Maharashtra.Thackeray, 59, became the third Sena leader after Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane to occupy the top post.
Thackeray took over as chief minister over a month after results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections were declared on October 24.
15. Former RBI deputy governor appointed as chairman of MFI panel
Former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), H R Khan has been appointed as the first chairman of the steering committee of the Code for Responsible Lending (CRL) in micro-credit.
The CRL is a self-regulatory step for the micro-credit industry making diverse entities like banks, NBFC-MFIs and NBFCs adhere to standards of customer protection, a statement by Micro-finance Institutions Network (MFIN) said.
16. Singapore, India air forces hold joint training exercise
Singapore’s air force has deployed six of its advanced F-16 fighter aircraft to train alongside the IAF’s six Sukhoi combat aircraft during their upgraded joint military training in India.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) are conducting the Joint Military Training (JMT) from October 31 to December 12 at the Kalaikunda Air Force Station in West Bengal.
