Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Quick Gyan (QG) Section of D2G. QG is just a glimpse of what happened today all over the world.
Only For Serious Candidates : We strongly recommend you to read the Current Affairs in detail. For your convenience, we have provided quick links under each update. Make use of it.
Always Keep Yourself Updated!!!
What’s Special About the Day??
November 20 – Africa Industrialization Day
Within the framework of the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa (1991-2000), the UN General Assembly, in 1989, proclaimed 20 November Africa Industrialization Day (resolution 44/237). The Day is intended to mobilize the commitment of the international community to the industrialization of Africa. The important contribution of inclusive and sustainable industrialization in helping Africa to overcome its critical development challenges is clearly recognized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Sustainable Development Goal 9 calls to build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
Theme : Small and Medium Enterprises for Poverty Eradication and Job Creation for Women and Youth
Quick Link – Africa Industrialization Day
November 20 – Universal Children’s Day
By resolution 836(IX) of 14 December 1954, the General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children’s Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children. It recommended that the Day was to be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. The Convention, which is the most widely ratified international human rights treaty, sets out a number of children’s rights including the right to life, to health, to education and to play, as well as the right to family life, to be protected from violence, to not be discriminated, and to have their views heard.
Quick Link – Universal Children’s Day
Appointments
Barack Obama names Indian-origin Swati Dandekar as Asian Development Bank director
President Barack Obama has nominated India-born Swati Dandekar, a Nagpur and Bombay University alum, to be United States director of the Asian Development Bank, with the rank of ambassador. The nomination of Dandekar who will replace Robert M. Orr was announced by the White House along with eight other key Administration posts. Dandekar, who received a BS from Nagpur University and a Post-Graduate Diploma from Bombay University, is a former Iowa state legislator and member of the Iowa Utilities Board, according to her White House biography.
Quick Link – Swati Dandekar
Rear Admiral Sanjay Singh new Assistant Chief of Naval Staff
Rear Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh has assumed charge as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Communication Space and Network Centric Operation) on promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral. The post was created in 2013 to accord focus to the Indian Navy’s drive towards networked operations and utilisation of space-based assets.
He is the second officer to hold the post and takes over from Rear Admiral Kishan K Pandey who has moved as the Flag Officer Fleet Review, in charge of planning for the forthcoming International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam in February next year.
Quick Link – Admiral Sanjay Singh
Awards and Honours
UNHCR to be Awarded 2015 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace
Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2015 will be awarded to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The prestigious award is being given to the Office of UNHCR in recognition of its “immense contributions” in assisting millions of refugees who have fled their houses and for working under difficult circumstances to bring about changes to reduce the flow of refugees.
UN General Assembly established UNHCR on December 14, 1950 initially to help people displaced by World War II. In the decades that followed it became the principal agency that has helped displaced persons the world over. UNHCR’S mission is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees and seek lasting solutions to their plight.
Ashok Amritraj awarded honorary doctorate by a London Varsity
Tennis champion-turned Hollywood filmmaker Ashok Amritraj has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of East London for promoting talented moviemakers from across the world, including India. Armitraj has brought over 100 films to life, creating a remarkable USD 2 billion in worldwide revenues. Born in Chennai, Amritraj won acclaim as a young man through his achievements on the tennis court and played in every major professional tennis tournament, including Wimbledon and the US Open, and represented India in international competitions.
Banking & Finance
Dumping duty imposed on carbon black imports from China, Russia
The Finance Ministry has imposed definitive anti-dumping duty on certain carbon black imports from China and Russia. The anti-dumping duty would be valid for five years. It has been specifically imposed on carbon black used in rubber applications. The latest Revenue Department move follows the recommendation of the Designated Authority in Commerce Ministry in its sunset review investigation of existing anti-dumping duty on import of ‘carbon black used in rubber applications’ from China, Russia and Thailand.
Quick Link – Dumping Duty
Foreign Relations
PM to visit Malaysia and Singapore to attend Asean and East Asia Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Malaysia and Singapore from November 21. During the he will attend the 13th ASEAN-India Summit and the 10th East Asia Summit (EAS). Modi would reach Kuala Lumpur on November 21 to attend both the summits followed by a bilateral visit after which he will go to Singapore on a bilateral visit. Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, the prime minister of Malaysia, will be chairing both the summits, which will be attended by heads of state and government of other ASEAN (Association of Sourheast Asian Nations) and East Asia Summit participating countries respectively.
Quick Link – Modi’s Foreign Visit
India and China to form ministerial mechanism to boost security cooperation
India and China have agreed to form a Ministerial-level mechanism headed by their Home Ministers to step up cooperation and coordination on a host of security-related issues, including cross-border terrorism, security and law enforcement, trans-border crimes, cyber crimes and drug trafficking. The decision to form Ministerial mechanism was agreed upon after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Interior Minister Guo Shengkun in Beijing.
The mechanism would be followed by a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding on security-related issues and will become operational during Guo’s visit to India next year. The decision by the two countries to deepen cooperation relating to terrorism comes in the backdrop of the Paris terrorist attacks and killing of Chinese and Norwegian hostages by Islamic State terrorists.
Quick Link – India and China
India and Brazil decide to boost trade ties
India and Brazil have decided to boost ties in sectors like infrastructure, trade and investment and mining besides exploring opportunities in nuclear energy sphere. At the seventh India-Brazil Joint Commission Meeting (JCM), co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, both sides resolved to exploit the “full potential” of the strategic partnership, with a particular focus on ramping up trade ties.
Quick Link – India and Brazil
South Australia signs historic deal with Rajasthan
South Australia has signed a historic ‘sister-state agreement’ with Rajasthan that would pave new ways to boost export and investment opportunities between the two states. The sister-state relationship between South Australia and Rajasthan is based on a two-way exchange of research, policy and technical capabilities. The agreement provides partnership and collaborative opportunities across key sectors where South Australian business can offer services and product support.
The agreement was signed by state trade and investment trade minister Martin Hamilton-Smithand Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Hamilton-Smith said the State Government will work with the State of Rajasthan to share knowledge, exchange ideas and to produce economic prosperity.
Quick Link – South Australia and Rajasthan
Indian Affairs
Indigenously developed UAV of army crashes near Pokhran
An indigenously-developed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) of the Indian Army has crashed near Pokhran in Rajasthan. It is the second such incident in 15 days. The UAV, the last of the four inducted in 2011, crashed near Pokhran in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. In the past DRDO has blamed poor handling by the army for the loss. But, the army has maintained that they failed to perform and had technical problems.
Quick Link – UAV Crashed
Nitish Kumar set to take oath as CM for fifth time
bJD(U) leader Nitish Kumar took oath on November 19 as Bihar’s 35th chief minister. The grand alliance cabinet accommodated by 28 ministers and both sons of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad – Tej Pratap and Tejashwi – sworned in as ministers on November 19.
Quick Link – Nitish Kumar and Bihar Election
Science and Technology
The Income Tax Department is developing a mobile app for taxpayers to help them file their returns. Online tax-filing company, ClearTax.in is targeting the professional CAs with the first-ever mobile tax-filing app for the Chartered Accountants (CAs). The cloud-based app will help CAs check the filing status of their clients at anytime and from anywhere. Like their retail product, this app will also come with features like automatic selection of the correct ITR form. The software will also import the TDS, TCSBSE 1.81 %, Self paid tax entries directly from the form 26 AS, thereby eliminating any manual data entry.
Quick Link – Mobile App for Tax Payers
Sports
Srishti Pandey won Indiana FIDE Rating Chess Tournament
Maharashtra’s chess player Srishti Pandey has clinched the second Indiana All India FIDE Rating Chess tournament. The tournament was organised by Nagpur Taluka Chess Association, which concluded at Dr Hedgewar Smarak Samiti Hall, Reshimbagh, Nagpur.
Usain Bolt up for World Athlete of Year award
The International Association of Athletics Federations announced Usain Bolt, Ashton Eaton and Christian Taylor are the finalists for the 2015 World Athlete of the Year award. The Jamaican sprinter Bolt retained his 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles at the world championships in Beijing in August. The 29-year-old brushed off the challenge of American rival Justin Gatlin to win the 100 in 9.79sec and clocked a world-leading time of 19.55 to secure the 200.
Quick Link – World Athlete of the Year
Obituary
Eminent bureaucrat RK Trivedi no more
Former Gujarat Governor RK Trivedi died after prolonged illness. Trivedi, who also served as the Chief ElectionCommissioner, had a long and distinguished career as a bureaucrat. He breathed his last at his Nirala Nagar residence here, according to the his family. Trivedi was honoured with Padma Vibhushan as a recognition to his services towards the nation.
He had joined civil services in 1943 and after serving the state as district magistrates in some districts, he had a long stint at the Centre. Trivedi was made Central Vigilance Commissioner in October 1980 and in June 1982, he took over as the CEC.
Quick Link – RK Trivedi
Jazz pianist Madhav Chari passes away
Madhav Chari, one of the India’s leading Jazz pianists died in Chennai on Friday. He was 48 and survived by his parents and a brother. Madhav Chari’s life exemplified the belief that the two subjects — mathematics and music — complement each other. In the case of Madhav Chari, music prevailed over all other considerations and he even quit his Ph.D. in Mathematics at the University of Illinois to become a full-time pianist. Born and brought up in Kolkata, Madhav Chari spent a part of his life in the US. He returned to Chennai and was living here for the last 15 years. He had performed across the world.
Thank You 🙂 🙂 🙂
Practice the Day’s Quiz @ Current Affairs Quiz – November 20
