Current Affairs 22nd & 23rd November 2020| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

National Cadet Corps to celebrate its 72nd Raising Day

• National Cadet Corps (NCC), the largest uniformed youth organisation in the world, will celebrate its 72nd Raising Day.
• The raising day function was marked by paying homage at the National War Memorial to the fallen heroes who made the supreme sacrifice of their lives. Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and DG NCC Lt. Gen Rajeev Chopra laid wreaths on behalf of the entire NCC fraternity.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan addresses Boston Center of Excellence for Health & Human Development

• Health Minister Harsh Vardhan addressed the Boston Center of Excellence for Health and Human Development through Video Conference.
• Saluting millions of front-line health workers who bravely carried on with their duty in spite of risk and adversity, including professionals other than doctors and nurses, Dr. Vardhan elaborated India’s strategy to contain COVID-19.
• Detailing that India has already mastered all components of Modern medicine from antibiotics to emergency care, surgery, immunization, and vaccine, Dr Vardhan noted that the focus is now on the cost, quality, and affordability.
• He elaborated that India has already made strides in remote diagnostics and treatment using latest telemedicine technology to treat people.

About Ministry of Science and Technology:

• Union minister of Science and Technology, Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Minister of Earth Sciences: Dr. Harsh Vardhan
• Constituency: Chandni Chowk

Ministry of Tourism organizes a webinar on “India’s Hidden Gems”under Dekho Apna Desh Webinar Series

• The Ministry of Tourism’s Dekho Apna Desh Webinar series titled “India’s Hidden Gems” on 21stNovember 2020 focused on hidden gems of India. India is truly like a kaleidoscope, where every twist and turn will present you with a different pattern of landscape, colour, cuisine and culture. This also inspires the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. The best way to experience this is by traveling to destinations that are not popular on the internet, and as much as you can, by road.
• The webinar was presented by Bindu Menon, an expat relocation manager, an intercultural trainer and a brand communications specialist by profession, a linguaphile, an India enthusiast, an avid traveler and writer by passion. Bindu has delighted in presenting India to the world at every given opportunity.
• The travel journey started from Amarambalam, Nilambur, which lies in the North of Kerala. Nilambur is a small town on the banks of the Chaliyar river in Mallappuram district, Kerala. This place is renowned for ‘Conally’s Plot’ or the oldest teak plantation in the world. The first railway line in Kerala was introduced to transport teak. This place also has a hanging bridge at the Chaliyar river. New Amarambalam forest was declared as reserved forest in the Western Ghats and it is home of the indigenous Cholanaickan tribes. Environment enthusiast can also enjoy Amara wildlife Sanctuary which is the 18th wildlife sanctuary of India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES

Karnataka aims to become a $50-bn bio-economy by 2025

• Karnataka aims to become a $50-billion bio-economy by doubling the $22.6-billion sector in five years, stated the state government at the Bengaluru Tech Summit.
• Bio-economy, which uses renewable biological resources sustainably to produce food, energy and industrial goods, has grown by at least 14 per cent in two years in Karnataka. It contributes 10.3 per cent to the Gross State Domestic Product of $221.82 billion.
• “Our target is to raise Karnataka’s bio-economy share to 50 per cent of the national bioeconomy revenue target of $100 billion by the year 2025,” stated CN Ashwath Narayan, Karnataka’s deputy chief minister and minister for electronics, IT, BT & S&T, while releasing the state’s ‘Bioeconomy Report 2020’.Karnataka expects bio-economy to touch $42 billion by 2025.

About Karnataka:

• Capital: Bengaluru
• Governor: Vajubhai Vala
• Chief minister: B. S. Yediyurappa

India International Cherry Blossom Festival in Shillong cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

• India International Cherry Blossom Festival, the calendar event of Meghalaya which attracts record number of tourists annually in Shillong, has been cancelled this year in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. The capital, Shillong hosts the only Cherry Blossoms festival in India.
• These beautiful flowers can be spotted across Meghalaya during this time of the year.
• It is expected that the flowers will continue to bloom till the end of November. But people of Meghalaya celebrate festivals through virtual mode.The beautiful hill station Shillong in Meghalaya has turned pink with blooming cherry blossoms.
• Every year, the Cherry Blossom Festival in Shillong hosts a plethora of events like fitness art, fashion show, rock concerts and much more.This time, the pomp and fervour of the festival will be missed. Due to the COVID -19 pandemic, the Cherry Blossom Festival held annually in Shillong has been cancelled this year.

About Meghalaya 

• Capital: Shillong
• Governor: Satya Pal Malik
• Chief minister: Conrad Sangma

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE

Mastercard, USTATED join hands for Project Kirana to empower women through financial inclusion

• Global payments technology major Mastercard has joined hands with the United States Agency for International Development (USTATED for Project Kirana that will help increase revenue streams, expand financial inclusion and digital payments adoption of kirana shops that are owned or operated by women.
• To begin with, as many as 3,000 such women are targeted to be enrolled under this project in certain places in Uttar Pradesh. Mastercard stated that around the world, gender inequality limited women-owned businesses’ ability to launch, grow and thrive.
• The initiatives will also drive inclusive growth by enabling small merchants and kirana stores with access to credit and empower women entrepreneurs by increasing their business acumen.
• Project Kirana will work to increase revenue streams, expand financial inclusion and digital payments adoption of kirana shops that are owned or operated by women, Mastercard stated.

About Mastercard:

• CEO: Ajaypal Singh Banga
• Headquarters: New York, United States

SBI Signs Pact With Luxembourg Stock Exchange

• State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSe). The MoU will help SBI and LuxSE set up a long-term cooperation mechanism, and promote ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) and green finance.
• Through this MoU, the Luxembourg Stock Exchange would work towards creating a sustainable environment for issuers, asset managers, and investors in terms of ESG focused funds and bonds, according to an official release.
• State Bank of India has raised $800 Mio in the Green Bond Market to date. The MoU with the Luxembourg Stock Exchange will open up new avenues for market development and fundraising in the green bond market,” Mr Khara added.

About SBI:

• Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founded: 1 July 1955

RBI Imposes Over Rs 5.78 Crore Fine on Six Entities Including PNB, Sodexo and PhonePe

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a total fine of over Rs 5.78 crore on six entities, including PNB, Sodexo and PhonePe, for violating regulatory guidelines. In exercise of powers vested under Section 30 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, the RBI has imposed monetary penalty on these entities for non-compliance of regulatory guidelines, it stated.
• Except Punjab National Bank (PNB), the remaining five entities are non-bank prepaid payment instrument (PPI) issuers. RBI imposes the penalty on Sodexo SVC India Pvt Ltd, Muthoot Vehicle & Asset Finance Ltd, QwikCilver Solutions Pvt Ltd, Phonepe Pvt Ltd, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, and Punjab National Bank, stated the release.
• Sodexo is slapped with the highest fine of Rs 2 crore; PNB and QwikCilver Solutions Rs 1 crore each; PhonePe Rs 1.39 crore; Muthoot Vehicle & Asset Finance Rs 34.55 lakh; and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Rs 5 lakh.

About PNB:

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• CEO: S. S. Mallikarjuna Rao

RBI panel proposes to raise promoters cap to 26% in private banks

• An internal working group set up by the RBI has proposed to raise the cap on promoters’ stake in private banks from the current 15 per cent to 26 per cent in 15 years.
• The group has also recommended that large corporate or industrial houses may be allowed as promoters of banks only after amendments to the Banking Regulation Act and strengthening of the supervisory mechanism for conglomerates, including consolidated supervision.
• The Reserve Bank of India had constituted the internal working group (IWG) on June 12, 2020, to review extant ownership guidelines and corporate structure for Indian private sector banks. The central bank released the groups’ report.
• The terms of reference of the IWG inter alia included a review of the eligibility criteria for individuals/entities to apply for banking license; examination of preferred corporate structure for banks and harmonisation of norms in this regard; and review of norms for long-term shareholding in banks by the promoters and other shareholders.
• On eligibility of promoters, it stated large corporate/industrial houses may be allowed as promoters of banks only after necessary amendments to the Banking Regulations Act, 1949 to deal with connected lending and exposures between the banks and other financial and non-financial group entities.

About RBI:

• Governor: Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy Governors: BP Kanungo, MK Jain, MD Patra and Rajeshwar Rao.
• Headquarters: Mumbai

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU

FICCI FLO inks pact with IESC, IIM Shillong to mentor women entrepreneurs

• FLO, the women wing of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), stated it has signed an agreement with Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong and Incubation and Enterprise Support Centre (IESC) to mentor entrepreneurs.
• Under this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), FICCI FLO, IESC and IIM Shillong will jointly provide guidance and mentor entrepreneurs by facilitating a nurturing, instructive and supportive environment during the initial and critical stages of starting a business, thus enabling them to reduce the initial start-up costs and establish themselves in a shorter timeframe, according to a statement.

About FICCI:

• President: Sangita Reddy
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India

Indian Oil signed MoU with MoPNG for upcoming CBG Plants

• Indian Oil signed MoU with MoPNG for upcoming CBG Plants – An MoU has been signed with the Ministry of Petroleum and gas by the Indian Oil R&D Centre has developed robust technology on Bio-methanation, Government of India as a technology provider for the upcoming CBG Plants.
• This would help to reduce import dependence, create employment & reduce pollution as Production of CBG would increase the green energy mix and also will help in realizing Hon’ble PM’s vision of boosting farmers’ income mentioned Chairman of IOCL Shri Shrikant Madhav Vaidya while the signing of MOU with Petroleum Ministry for CBG projects.
• Indian Oil is that the first company to plug Compressed Bio-Gas from 10 shops spread across Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat, under the name Indi Green.

About Indian Oil Corporation:

• Chairperson: Shrikant Madhav Vaidya
• Headquarters: New Delhi

About The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas:

• Dharmendra Pradhan, Cabinet Minister
• Constituency: Madhya Pradesh

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Indian-American Mala Adiga Appointed As Jill Biden’s Policy Director

• US President-elect Joe Biden appointed an Indian-American, Mala Adiga, the policy director of his wife Jill Biden, who will be the First Lady.
• Ms Adiga has served as a senior advisor to Jill Biden and a senior policy advisor on the Biden-Kamala Harris campaign. Previously, Ms Adiga was director for Higher Education and Military Families at the Biden Foundation.
• A native of Illinois, Ms Adiga is a graduate of Grinnell College, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, and the University of Chicago Law School.
• A lawyer by training, Ms Adiga had been a clerk for a federal and had worked for a Chicago law firm before joining the campaign of former president Barack Obama in 2008.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Raah Foundation wins Palghar CSR Award 2020

• Raah Foundation wins Palghar CSR Award 2020 under the category of Village Development for outstanding contribution towards sustainable socio-economic development of Palghar, Kokan region at the 2nd edition CSR conclave and awards Dialogue Palghar on 6th Nov 2020.
• The youngest tribal-dominated district of Palghar features a long development road ahead as dynamic district administration, passionate NGOs and resourceful well-meaning CSRs have all close to contributing to realizing the UN Sustainable development goals.
• Dialogue Palghar was launched in 2019 to bring these stakeholders on one platform to make sure that efforts are mutually exclusive and exhaustive.
• Raah Foundation has bestowed the distinguished award within the second edition. Award was received by Head of Operations on behalf of the organization Sonia Risbood and expressed her gratitude for the popularity and also mentioned that this was a huge responsibility because the expectations from Raah Foundation have increased enormously after this award.

Books by 3 Indian writers feature in 2020 ‘100 Notable Books’ selected by The New York Times

• Critically-acclaimed books by three Indian writers have featured among this year’s ‘100 Notable Books’ list of The New York Times that also includes former US president Barack Obama’s newly released memoir ‘A Promised Land’.
• Editors of The New York Times Book Review selected 100 “notable fiction, poetry and nonfiction” works from around the world. The prestigious list also includes the work of fiction ‘A Burning’ by India-born Megha Majumdar.
• Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line’ by Deepa Anappara, who grew up in Kerala, also features on the list.
• Samanth Subramanian’s ‘A Dominant Character: The Radical Science and Restless Politics of J. B. S. Haldane’ is a nonfiction work.
• Red Pill’ by British-Indian author Hari Kunzru also features in the list.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING

UP best performer in inland fisheries, Odisha is best Marine state

• Uttar Pradesh was awarded as best performing state in inland fisheries sector while Odisha got the award of the best Marine state on the occasion of ‘World Fisheries Day’ observed by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.
• During the event, for the first time in the Fisheries Sector, the Government of India awarded best performing States for 2019-20 namely, Odisha (amongst Marine states), Uttar Pradesh (amongst Inland states) and Assam (amongst Hilly and NE states).
• The Govt. also awarded best Organisations for 2019-20 (Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd. (for Marine); Telangana State Fishermen Cooperative Societies Federation Ltd (for Inland), and Assam Apex Cooperative Fish Marketing and Processing Federation Ltd. (for Hilly region); Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh as best Marine District; Kalahandi, Odisha as best Inland District; Nagaon, Assam as Best Hilly and NE District.

About Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying:

• Giriraj Singh, Cabinet Minister
• Constituency: Begusarai
• Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Minister of State
• Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Minister of State

India becomes 4th nation to get IMO nod for navigation satellite system

• India has become the fourth country in the world to have its independent regional navigation satellite system recognised by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as a part of the World Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS).The other three countries that have its navigation systems recognised by the IMO are the US, Russia and China.
• The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) was designed to provide accurate position information services to assist in the navigation of ships in Indian Ocean waters. The Director General of Shipping (DGS) had approached the IMO for granting recognition to the IRNSS as a component of the WWRNS, similar to the US-owned Global Position System (GPS) or Russia’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) – a process that took two years.

About International Maritime Organization:

• Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
• Head: Secretary-General Kitack Lim

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SUMMITS AND CONFERENCE

80th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference to be organized at Kevadia on Nov 25

• A two day  80th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference will be organized at  Kevadia, Gujarat on 25th of this month. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stated that the theme of this year’s conference is Harmonious Coordination of Legislative, Executive and Judiciary- Key to a Vibrant Democracy. He stated, President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate the two day conference.
• He stated, it is our collective efforts to maintain the  constitutional sanctity which  is very important for  mutual  co-existence between the three organs of governance  and the sustenance of  democracy in the country. Mr Birla stated, various sessions will be organised in which presiding officers will exchange their views and shared best practices. He stated, discussions will also be held on ways to make the proceedings of  Parliament and Legislative Assemblies more productive.

India to host G20 Summit in 2023

• India is set to host the G-20 summit in 2023, instead of 2022 — the 75th year of Independence. Indonesia will assume G-20 presidency in 2022 after a swap with India, Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi stated, adding that the change of plan was agreed considering that Indonesia would also chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2023.
• G20 leaders announced that India will host the summit of the high-profile grouping in 2023 ― a year later than what was decided earlier.
• India was earlier slated to host the summit in 2022 with the Osaka declaration of the G20 stating last year that “we look forward to meeting again in Saudi Arabia in 2020, in Italy in 2021, and in India in 2022”.

About G20:

• The G20 (or Group of Twenty) is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union (EU). Founded in 1999 with the aim to discuss policy pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability.
• Chairman: King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (2020)

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE

2nd edition of SITMEX-20 underway in Andaman Sea

• Indian Navy Ships including indigenously built ASW corvette Kamorta and missile corvette Karmuk are participating in the 2nd edition of India, Singapore and Thailand Trilateral Maritime Exercise SITMEX-20 in Andaman Sea.The two day exercise got underway.
• First edition of SITMEX, hosted by Indian Navy, was conducted off Port Blair in September last year.
• The SITMEX series of exercises are conducted to enhance mutual inter-operability and imbibing best practices between Indian Navy, Republic of Singapore Navy and Royal Thai Navy.
• The 2020 edition of the exercise is being hosted by Republic of Singapore Navy which is being represented by the ‘Formidable’ Class frigate ‘Intrepid’ and ‘Endurance’ Class Landing Ship Tank ‘Endeavour’.
• Royal Thai Navy is being represented by the ‘Chao Phraya’ Class frigate ‘Kraburi’ in the exercise.

India – Singapore Bilateral Maritime Exercise SIMBEX-20 to begin in Andaman Sea

• Indian Navy is scheduled to host the 27th edition of India – Singapore Bilateral Maritime Exercise SIMBEX-20 from in Andaman Sea. It will continue till 25th of this month.
• The SIMBEX series of exercises between Indian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy  being conducted annually since 1994, are aimed at enhancing mutual inter-operability and imbibing best practices from each other.
• The 2020 edition of SIMBEX will witness participation by Indian Navy ships including destroyer Rana with integral Chetak helicopter and indigenously built corvettes Kamorta and Karmuk.
• SIMBEX-20 will witness the two friendly navies participate in advanced surface, anti-air warfare and anti-submarine warfare exercises including weapon firings, over three days of intensive joint operations at sea.

About Indian Navy:

• Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral Karambir Singh
• Founded: 26 January 1950
• Headquarters: Integrated Defence Headquarters, New Delhi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS

Daniil Medvedev beat Dominic Thiem to win ATP Tour Finals in London

• In Tennis, Daniil Medvedev beat Dominic Thiem to win ATP Tour Finals, the biggest title of his career. Medvedev fought back from losing the first set to beat Thiem 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 in a thrilling final in London. Thiem was denied the title second year in a row.
• In the doubles final, Dutch-Croatian duo Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic claimed their first title together edging Jurgen Melzer and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-2, 3-6, 10-5.

DAILY CA NOV 21^ST

• World Philosophy Day is observed on the third Thursday of November every year to be celebrated this year on November 19.
• Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) is a day on which the work of women entrepreneurs is observed and discussed, held on the November 19 of each year.
• The United Nations’ (UN) World Television Day is annually observed in many places around the world on November 21.
• Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister of Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Law and Justice released a “My Stamp on Chhath Puja”.
• Oriental Insurance Company Limited’s (OICL) Chairperson & Managing Director SN Rajeswari has been appointed as Whole-Time Member (Distribution) of the insurance regulator Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
• Peruvian politician Francisco Sagasti has been sworn-in as the country’s interim President.
• Bhubaneswar has become the first city in the country to receive the ISO Certification for Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM).
• Scottish author Douglas Stuartwon the Booker Prize for fiction with his first novel Shuggie Bain, with judges saying his tale of love and alcoholism set in Glasgow in 1980s was destined to be a classic.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves acquisition by Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (“RRVL”), Reliance Retail and Fashion Lifestyle Limited (“RRVL WOS”) of the retail and wholesale undertaking and the logistics and warehousing undertaking of the Future Group under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a Bilateral Summit with E. Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in virtual format.
• Indian Navy received the first of the four new P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft.
• The 30th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy took place from November 18-20.
• India is at 77th position with a score of 45 in a global list that measures business bribery risks of 2020.
• The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has become Asia Pacific’s first Level 4+ (Transition) accredited airport under ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.
• World Fisheries Day is being celebrated. The day is observed every year on 21st of November to demonstrate solidarity with all fisher-folk communities, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders throughout the world.
• World Children’s Day is being celebrated, November 20. It was first celebrated in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide, and for improving children’s welfare.
• Within the framework of the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa (1991-2000), the United Nations General Assembly, in 1989, proclaimed 20 November “Africa Industrialization Day” (A/RES/44/237).
• World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) -18-24 November every year.The theme for the human health sector for WAAW 2020 is “United to preserve antimicrobials”.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually inaugurated five state-of-the-art facilities to mark the eighth convocation of Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University – PDPU at Gandhinagar .
• Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the Seismic Survey Campaign by Oil India Limited. The survey under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy, OALP, will be undertaken in 5 blocks of 8 districts of Odisha in the Mahanadi basin and nearby areas.
• Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan chaired an event to mark the National Newborn Week 2020, being observed from 15th to 21st November .This year, the theme of National Newborn Week is ‘Quality, Equity, Dignity for every newborn at every health facility and everywhere.
• RailTel has bagged Indian Railway’s e-office phase 3 project from the Indian Railways. Under the project, RailTel will implement e-office for Zonal Railways (Phase 3) using cloud enabled e-office application developed by NICs (National Informatics Centre) on November 11, 2020 .
• Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge, aimed to ensure that no person needs to enter a sewer or septic tank, unless absolutely unavoidable in the interest of greater public hygiene.
• Life Insurance Corporation of India has launched a digital application for agents for onboarding to get a life insurance policy.The Digital Application is called “ANANDA”, which is an acronym for Atma Nirbhar Agents NewBusiness Digital Application.
• Moody’s Investors Service has revised its GDP projection for India in 2020-21 to a 6% contraction compared to a 11.5% drop it had estimated. The rating agency has also marginally elevated its forecast for 2021-22 GDP growth from 10.6% to 10.8%.
• Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot stated Rs 6,000 will be given to women becoming mothers for the second time under a new government scheme.He stated the beneficiary women will get the amount directly in their bank accounts in five phases.
• During the ongoing Bengaluru Tech Summit, eight MoUs were announced with Finland, UK, Sweden, USA and Netherlands. Karnataka and Finland have decided to come together to work in the areas of Artificial Intelligence for public service in Agriculture, transport, health, safety, governance and service delivery.
• Bharti Airtel stated it will acquire 2 per cent stake in solar power company Avaada MHBuldhana for Rs.4.55 crore in an all-cash deal.
• IBM stated it plans to acquire TruQua Enterprises, a solution provider focused on the SAP ecosystem.
• Finance Nirmala Sitharaman virtually participated in the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in New Delhi. Finance Ministers of the G20 countries gathered to discuss their views on the global economic outlook and downside risks in wake of the COVID-19.
• Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ will be conferred with the Vatayan Lifetime Achievement Award at a virtual ceremony on November 21, 2020. This award will be conferred to the Minister for writing, poetry and other literary works.
• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has been ranked as the best institute in India and 27th globally, in terms of employability of its students, in the Global Employability Ranking and Survey (GEURS) 2020 results.
• Willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), one of longest migrating small bird which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and the Palearctic, sighted for the first time in the country at Punchakkari in the capital.

DAILY CA NOV 22^nd & 23^rd

• National Cadet Corps (NCC), the largest uniformed youth organisation in the world, will celebrate its 72nd Raising Day.
• Health Minister Harsh Vardhan addressed the Boston Center of Excellence for Health and Human Development through Video Conference.
• The Ministry of Tourism’s Dekho Apna Desh Webinar series titled “India’s Hidden Gems” on 21stNovember 2020 focused on hidden gems of India.
• Karnataka aims to become a $50-billion bio-economy by doubling the $22.6-billion sector in five years, stated the state government at the Bengaluru Tech Summit.
• India International Cherry Blossom Festival, the calendar event of Meghalaya which attracts record number of tourists annually in Shillong, has been cancelled this year in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. The capital, Shillong hosts the only Cherry Blossoms festival in India.
• Global payments technology major Mastercard has joined hands with the United States Agency for International Development (USTATED for Project Kirana that will help increase revenue streams, expand financial inclusion and digital payments adoption of kirana shops that are owned or operated by women.
• State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSe).
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a total fine of over Rs 5.78 crore on six entities, including PNB, Sodexo and PhonePe, for violating regulatory guidelines.
• An internal working group set up by the RBI has proposed to raise the cap on promoters’ stake in private banks from the current 15 per cent to 26 per cent in 15 years.
• FLO, the women wing of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), stated it has signed an agreement with Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong and Incubation and Enterprise Support Centre (IESC) to mentor entrepreneurs.
• Indian Oil signed MoU with MoPNG for upcoming CBG Plants – An MoU has been signed with the Ministry of Petroleum and gas by the Indian Oil R&D Centre has developed robust technology on Bio-methanation, Government of India as a technology provider for the upcoming CBG Plants.
• US President-elect Joe Biden appointed an Indian-American, Mala Adiga, the policy director of his wife Jill Biden, who will be the First Lady.
• Raah Foundation wins Palghar CSR Award 2020 under the category of Village Development for outstanding contribution towards sustainable socio-economic development of Palghar, Kokan region at the 2nd edition CSR conclave and awards Dialogue Palghar on 6th Nov 2020.
• Critically-acclaimed books by three Indian writers have featured among this year’s ‘100 Notable Books’ list of The New York Times that also includes former US president Barack Obama’s newly released memoir ‘A Promised Land’.
• Uttar Pradesh was awarded as best performing state in inland fisheries sector while Odisha got the award of the best Marine state on the occasion of ‘World Fisheries Day’ observed by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India
• India has become the fourth country in the world to have its independent regional navigation satellite system recognised by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as a part of the World Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS).
• A two day 80th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference will be organized at  Kevadia, Gujarat on 25th of this month. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stated that the theme of this year’s conference is Harmonious Coordination of Legislative, Executive and Judiciary- Key to a Vibrant Democracy.
• India is set to host the G-20 summit in 2023, instead of 2022 — the 75th year of Independence. Indonesia will assume G-20 presidency in 2022 after a swap with India.
• Indian Navy Ships including indigenously built ASW corvette Kamorta and missile corvette Karmuk are participating in the 2nd edition of India, Singapore and Thailand Trilateral Maritime Exercise SITMEX-20 in Andaman Sea.The two day exercise got underway.
• Indian Navy is scheduled to host the 27th edition of India – Singapore Bilateral Maritime Exercise SIMBEX-20 from in Andaman Sea. It will continue till 25th of this month.
• In Tennis, Daniil Medvedev beat Dominic Thiem to win ATP Tour Finals, the biggest title of his career. Medvedev fought back from losing the first set to beat Thiem 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 in a thrilling final in London.