Sahitya Akademi announced winners in 24 languages

 

India's National Academy of Letters, Sahitya Akademi has announced the names of prestigious annual Sahitya Akademi Awards for litterateurs 2018 in 24 languages. 7 Books of Poetry, 6 of Short Stories, 3 of Literary Criticism and 2 of Essays have won this years Sahitya Akademi Awards 2018.



Here is the complete list of winners:

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S.no.	Winner	Language
For Poetry
1.	Dr Rakesh Kumar Vyas	Rajasthani
2.	Dr Rama Kant Shukla	Sanskrit
3.	Dr Mohanjit	Punjabi
4.	S Ramesan Nair	Malayalam
5.	Paresh Narendra Kamat	Konkani
6.	Samanta Tanti	Assamese
7.	Khiman U Mulani	Sindhi
For Novels section
1.	Chitra Mudgal	Hindi
2.	Anees Salim	English
3.	S Ramakrishnan	Tamil
4.	Rahman Abbas	Urdu
5.	Shyam Besra	Santali
6.	Inderjeet Kesar	Dogri
For Shortstories Section
1.	Sanjib Chattopadhyay	Bengali
2.	Mushtaq Ahmad Mushtaq	Kashmiri
3.	Bidhichandra Heisnamba	Manipuri
4.	Lok Nath Upadhyay Chapagain	Nepali
5.	Prof. Bina Thakur	Maithili
6.	Rituraj Basumatary	Bodo
For Literary Criticism Section
1.	K. G. Nagarajappa	Kannada
2.	Ma. Su. Pati	Marathi
3.	Dasarathi Das	Odia
For Winners in Essays Section
1.	Sharifa Vijliwala	Gujarati
2.	Dr. Kolakaluri Enoch	Telugu

 

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• The Akademi also announced its Bhasha Salman for the year 2017 and 2018. Yogendra Nath Sharma was awarded the Bhasha Salman for the North zone; G Venkatasubbiah for South zone; Gagendra Nath Das for the Eastern zone; and Shailaja Bapat for the Western zone.

 

Weekly CA Quiz: November 2018 4th week with PDF

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Daily Current Affairs 30th November, 2018

Daily Current Affairs 30 November 2018 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

India To Chair Kimberley Process From January 2019

India will chair the Kimberley Process (KP), a global initiative to remove conflict diamonds from the global supply chain, from January next year, the Commerce Ministry said.

• KP is a joint initiative of different countries, industry and civil societies to control flow of conflict diamonds.


• India is the founding member of Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) and is actively involved in KP activities to ensure that almost 99 per cent of the diamond trade in the world is conflict free. the KP has 54 participants, representing 81 countries.

IAF, US Air Force To Conduct Joint Exercise 'Cope India 2019' in West Bengal

The air forces of the United States and India are scheduled to participate in a 12-day- long joint exercise 'Cope India 2019' at two air force stations in West Bengal in December 2018.

• The exercise will be held from December 3-14 at Air Station Kalaikunda and Air Station Arjan Singh in Panagarh airbase. It showcases efforts and commitment of the two nations to build a free and open Indo-Pacific region.


• The Cope India exercise is being held after a gap of eight years, with the last one having taken place in 2010.

Govt approves construction of over 2 lakh affordable houses for poor

Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has approved the construction of over 2 lakh more affordable houses for the benefit of urban poor under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).

• Now the cumulative number of houses sanctioned under the scheme has gone to over 65 lakh. The approval was given in the 40th meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee held in New Delhi.

Government plans to set up 'Ganga Museum'

The central ministry is planning to set up a Ganga Exhibition and a Ganga Museum to showcase the history and mythology and the importance of the sacred river in the livelihood of the people living around it.

• It was announced by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), as part of the Ganga Rejuvenation programme. The central museum will be set up in Delhi and there will be regional museums in different states.


• Expert from India and the European Union has been meeting for a two-day workshop on “Developing a Ganga Museum Concept: Exchanging Experiences and Ideas between India and Europe” along with GIZ India as a part of Indo-German Development Co-operation to exchange ideas and experiences regarding various aspects of the proposed museum, knowledge center and exhibition.

Govt launches Bhasha Sangam to introduce school students to 22 Indian languages

The government has launched a unique initiative called Bhasha Sangam to introduce school students to 22 Indian languages. The initiative, under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, was launched on 22nd of November and will continue till the 21st of December.

• Bhasha Sangam is a programme for schools and educational institutions to provide multilingual exposure to students in Indian languages. Another objective of Bhasha Sangam is to enhance linguistic tolerance and respect and promote national integration.

India Rivers Week 2018

The India Rivers Week 2018 was held in New Delhi with 'Can India Rejuvenate Ganga' as the theme. During the event, environmentalists claimed that as many as 940 dams, barrages and weirs have been built on the Ganga river and these were restricting its flow and hindering its rejuvenation.

• This year at the India Rivers week, Arun Tiwari and Vishwanath Srikantaiah have won accolades for their exemplary work in the water sector. 


• The government is addressing the issue of sewage waste in the river while there is a need to improve the river flow for its rejuvenation.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

EU Aims to Be First Carbon Neutral Economy By 2050

The European Union’s executive branch proposed that the bloc should cut its emissions of greenhouse gases to net zero by 2050, a measure scientists say needs to be adopted worldwide in order to avoid catastrophic global warming.

• The European Commission is the first major economy to set its sight on achieving climate neutrality in the next three decades.

UNESCO adds Jamaican reggae, Georgian wrestling and Japanese rituals in coveted list of intangible heritage

Jamaican reggae, Georgian wrestling and Japanese rituals are among the six new elements added by UN cultural agency UNESCO to its list of “intangible heritage” for the world to treasure, improving the visibility of often little-known and understood arts traditions.

• From the border between Asia and Europe, in Georgia, it added Chidaoba, which combines elements of wrestling, music, dance and special garments. Hurling, from Ireland, also made the grade. Practiced across many areas of Jordan, As-Samer, another new inscription, consists mainly of dancing and singing.

Port Blair to host India-Indonesia Business Forum

India and Indonesia will hold a business forum to facilitate the commercial and people-to-people linkages between the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with Aceh and North Sumatra Provinces of Indonesia in Port Blair. This edition of IIBF is a step forward in the continuing engagements between Aceh and Andaman.

• A team of 3 researchers from Aceh also visited Andaman recently to further explore the benefits and potential of enhancing physical connectivity between Andaman & Nicobar and Aceh.

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BOOKS & AUTHORS

Book on 'anti-farmer policies' of Modi government launched

A book detailing how Modi government's policies have led to a drop in farmers' income and caused rural distress across the country was launched in New Delhi. The book 'Modiraj Main Kisan, Double Aamad Ya Double afat' is authored by Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav.

• It was launched by agricultural economist Ashok Gulati and the Punjab State Farmers' and Farm Workers' Commission Chairman Ajay Vir Jakhar among others.

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BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Non-food credit grows at Rs 97.32 trn, highest since demonetisation: RBI

Total credit flow from banks to the commercial sector grew at 15.6 per cent year-on-year at Rs 97.32 trillion, the highest growth since demonetisation, according to an RBI data. The adjusted non-food bank credit stood at Rs 84.22 trillion in the year-ago fortnight.

• Adjusted non-food bank credit includes non-food bank credit and total non-statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) investments of banks in commercial papers, shares and bonds/debentures.

India's GDP rate down from 8.2% in Q1 to 7.1% in Q2

India's latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth figures came as a disappointment after it came down from 8.2%, registered in the first quarter (April-June) of the year 2018, to 7.1% in the second quarter (July-September).

• "The growth rate estimates of GDP at Constant Prices for July-September 2018 stand at 7.1%. These estimates represent a sizable jump from last year's Q2 growth rate estimates of 6.3%, indicating sustained acceleration in India's economic growth," the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation said.

Indian economy likely to grow at 7-7.4 per cent in FY19: NCAER

Indian economy is projected to grow at 7-7.4 per cent in the current fiscal, economic policy think-tank NCAER said. According to a report by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), the real agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA) is envisaged to grow at 3 per cent and real industry GVA at 7 per cent in 2018-19.

• The forecast for Gross Value Added (GVA) at basic prices is 7.0-7.4 per cent. These forecasts at constant (2011-12) prices are based on NCAER's annual GDP macro model, NCAER's Mid-Year Review of the Economy said.

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SPORTS

National Shooting Championship: Esha Singh Wins 3 Gold Medals



Telangana teenager Esha Singh prevailed over big names such as Manu Bhaker and Heena Sidhu to win 3 gold at the 62nd National Shooting Championships in Thiruvananthapuram. 

• Esha shot 241.0 in the Women’s final to leave behind Youth Olympic games champion Manu who finished with 238.9. Shweta, representing ONGC, won bronze with a score of 217.2.

Table Tennis: Manav Thakkar bags double crown in Portugal Open



Top-seed Manav Thakkar finished the ITTF World Junior Circuit on a high as he claimed the Junior Boys Singles and doubles gold at the 2018 Portugal Junior and Cadet Open in Guimaraes, Portugal. In what was an all-Indian final, Manav defeated Jeet Chandra in a tough match which went down to the wire. 

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APPOINTMENTS

Georgia elects Salome Zurabishvili as first woman president



Georgia has elected ruling party candidate Salome Zurabishvili as its first woman president. The French-born ex-diplomat had taken 59.61 per cent of the vote while her rival Grigol Vashadze, from an alliance of 11 opposition parties led by exiled ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM), was on 40.46 per cent.

• Extra info.:
  Georgia Capital: Tbilisi
  Currency: Georgian lari

Ajay Bhushan Pandey takes over as Revenue Secretary



Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey took over as the Union Revenue Secretary. He will continue to head the UIDAI as its CEO and will also hold his position as the Chairman of Goods and Services Tax Network.

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AWARDS

Nandita Das, Nawazuddin awarded at ASPA



Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and filmmaker Nandita Das have been awarded at the 12th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) in Brisbane, Australia. Nawazuddin was given the award for the Best Performance By An Actor for his film "Manto".

Das received the FIAPF award for achievement in films in the Asia Pacific region.

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OBITUARIES

Senior AIR broadcaster Ashutosh Jain passes away

Senior Hindi News Reader of All India Radio, Ashutosh Jain passed away in New Delhi. He was 60. Ashutosh Jain, who joined the AIR in 1989 in Chandigarh retired from Delhi in April this year.

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Daily Current Affairs 29th November, 2018

Daily Current Affairs 29 November 2018 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Govt, Ficci to organise global aviation summit in Jan 2019 in Mumbai

More than 1,000 delegates and over 50 global CEOs are expected to participate in the two-day global aviation summit scheduled to be held on January 15 and 16 next year in Mumbai, according to the Civil Aviation Ministry. 

• The ministry along with industry body FICCI would be organising the summit with the theme 'Flying for all especially for the next 6 billion'.

ISRO launches HysIS, 30 other satellites on PSLV-C43

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its workhouse rocket PSLV-C43 carrying India's earth observation satellite HysIS and 30 other satellites from eight countries the US (23 satellites), Australia, Canada, Columbia, Finland, Malaysia, Netherlands and Spain (one satellite each) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

• The HysIS satellite will take photographs of planet Earth in multiple frequencies with a mission life of over five years. These satellites have been commercially contracted for launch through Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO.

India-UK joint naval exercise begins at Goa

India-UK joint naval exercise "Konkan-2018" has started at Goa and would go on till December 6. The Royal Navy of UK will be represented by HMS Dragon, a Type 45 Class Destroyer equipped with an integral Wildcat helicopter.

• The Indian Navy will field INS Kolkata, the first ship of latest Kolkata class destroyers, equipped with integral Seaking and an IN submarine during the sea phase between December 2 to 6.


• The bilateral Konkan exercise provides a platform for the two navies to periodically exercise at sea and in harbour, so as to build interoperability and share best practices.

India home to a third of world's stunted children: Report

Stunting among children under five has fallen globally from 32.6 per cent in 2000 to 22.2 per cent in 2017, but India is home to almost a third of the world's stunted children, according to Global Nutrition Report published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

• The report states that India tops the list of countries, with 46.6 million stunted children, followed by Nigeria with 13.9 million and Pakistan with 10.7 million.

World-class autism township set to come up near Kolkata

In a one-of-its-kind initiative, a private firm, in association with the state government, is set to build a world-class autism township near Kolkata, where children and adults suffering from the developmental disorder can receive training, treatment and boarding facilities.

• The India Autism Center (IAC) a non-profit organization under Section 8 of Companies Act, 2013 is expected to come up over a 52-acre plot at Sirakol in South 24 Parganas in the next five years.


• A joint effort by Ratnabali Group and the state - the estimated cost for building the township has been pegged at Rs 500 crore.

Mumbai start-up launches 'personal robots' for kids



Mumbai based startup Emotix, an advanced robotics company founded by three IITians, has launched a conversational child companion robot, Miko2.

• In a world of working parents and technology fatigue, founders Sneh Vaswani, Prashant Iyengar and Chintan Raikar envisioned Miko to be something/someone that the child can converse with while also improving their cognitive skills.


• The robot can hold long conversations, track the child’s mood and is controlled from an app on the parents’ smartphone.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

G-20 Summit starts in Buenos Aires, PM Modi to attend

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in two important trilateral meetings with world leaders in Argentina's capital during which they would discuss major global challenges and developments.

• Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Buenos Aires to attend the G-20 summit, will participate in the first-ever trilateral meeting between Japan, America and India and the 2nd Russia, India China (RIC) trilateral, which is taking place after 12 years.

First Sustainable Blue Economy Conference held in Nairobi , Kenya



The first Sustainable Blue Economy Conference was held in Nairobi, capital of Kenya. It was organized by Kenya and co-hosted by Japan and Canada.

• India endorses the growth of the Blue Economy in a sustainable, inclusive and people centered manner through the framework of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

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BUSINESS & ECONOMY

RBI relaxes norms for NBFC loan securitisation

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) eased the minimum holding period (MHP) norm for the NBFC sector companies to sell or securitise their loans in order to ease the liquidity crunch.

• The MHP requirement has been relaxed to securitise loans with original maturity of above 5 years after retaining them for a period of six months. Earlier, they were supposed to hold it for at least a year.


• However, the RBI mandated that a minimum retention requirement (MRR) for "such securitisation or assignment transactions shall be 20 per cent of the book value of the loans being securitised or 20 per cent of the cash flows from the assets assigned".

Government to transfer Rs 29,000-crore AI debt to SPV

The Central government has decided to transfer Air India's debt worth Rs 29,000 crore to a special purpose vehicle (SPV). The decision to transfer the Rs 29,000-crore debt to the SPV was taken by an inter-ministerial panel Air India Specific Alternate Mechanism which has been formed to look after the divestment of the national carrier.

• The move assumes significance as it will lessen the interest payment obligation of the airline on its total outstanding debt of over Rs 50,000 crore.


• In addition, the inter-ministerial panel had decided to divest the government's stake in Air India Air Transport Services Ltd (AIATSL).


• The decision by the panel headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley envisaged that the amount raised from the divestment of AIATSL will be used to retire some of the accumulated debts of Air India.

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SPORTS

Magnus Carlsen defeats Fabiano Caruana to retain world chess title



Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen has retained his World Chess Championship title after defeating America's Fabiano Caruana 3-0 in a tie-break contest. With the defeat, Caruana missed the chance of being the first US chess champion since Bobby Fischer who won the title in 1972.

Croatia clinch 3-1 victory over France to win Davis Cup 2018

Marin Cilic beat France's Lucas Pouille in straight sets to give Croatia an unassailable lead in the Davis Cup final. Cilic won to dethrone defending champions France and secure Croatia's second Davis Cup, 13 years after their first. Croatia won all three singles matches in straight sets.

Haryana beat Manipur to win junior football national c'ship

After a gruelling contest, it was Haryana who came through as the champions of the 2018-19 BC Roy Junior National Championships (Tier II), beating Manipur by a slender 1-0 margin in the final at Railways Ground, Rajkot.

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AWARDS

Indian pilots awarded 'Asian of the Year' for Kerala floods rescue



 Indian Navy pilots Commander Vijay Varma and Captain P. Rajkumar have been awarded "Asian of the Year" award, jointly given to four entities, including the two Indians, by Singapore newspaper The Strait Times for their "death-defying rescue flying" during the Kerala floods and courageous conduct in the face of natural calamity.

• The late Singaporean para-glider Ng Kok Choong, along with Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) and Mercy Relief, a Singapore NGO, were the other three awardees.

Indian Social Entrepreneur Wins the First UN Geospatial Ambassador Award



Sanjay Kumar, Founder and CEO of Geospatial Media & Communications, was conferred the 'Global Geospatial Industry Ambassador' Award by UN-GGIM (United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management) recently at the United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress held at Deqing city in China.

• Kumar has been a geospatial evangelist for over 20 years, and in 2018 also helped found the World Geospatial Industry Council in association with top geospatial companies in the world. The UN award recognizes Kumar's perseverance to create awareness about geospatial technologies, to connect communities and build networks.


• Extra info.:
  Geospatial Media is an India-headquartered global geospatial industry think tank which provides information on the use of spatial technologies in governance, businesses and daily lives, and advocates on policy issues.

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Daily Current Affairs 28th November, 2018

Daily Current Affairs 28 November 2018 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Signs $75 Million Loan to Improve Urban Services in 4 Karnataka Towns

Government of India and the Asian Development Bank signed a $75 million loan to provide 24 x7 water supply in Karnataka’s four coastal towns of Kundapura, Mangalore Puttur and Udupi and improve sanitation infrastructure for Mangalore town.

• The Program, approved by ADB Board in 2014, aims to improve urban water resource management in selected river basins in Karnataka through modernization and expansion of urban water supply.

Defence Minister launches 'Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti'

In a bid to increase self-reliance, the Ministry of Defence will launch Operation Raksha Gyan Shakti on November 27 to increase Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) filing in design with an aim to reduce the transfer of technology and dependence on foreign companies.

• The project will be formally launched by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The aim is to train 10,000 personnel in the year 2018-19.

Health Ministry Launches Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP)

Preeti Sudan, Union Health Secretary did soft-launch of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) segment of Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) in 7 states (Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh).

• The path-breaking initiative will provide near-real-time data to policy makers for detecting outbreaks, reducing the morbidity and mortality and lessening disease burden in the populations and better health systems.


• The first one-of-its-kind initiative by the Government of India, IHIP uses the latest technologies and digital health initiatives.

CSIR to establish a High-End Skill Development Centre in Chandigarh

India’s premier National Research Laboratory CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH) announced a new partnership with Merck, a leading German science and technology company, to establish a ‘High End Skill Development Centre’ in CSIR-IMTECH, Chandigarh.

• This ‘High End Skill Development Centre’ will enrich skills by conducting workshops, trainings and seminar series on cutting edges life science processes, tools and techniques.


• Extra info.:
  CSIR: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
  HQ: New Delhi

Dehradun's Jolly Grant airport to be renamed after Vajpayee

The Uttarakhand government decided to rename the Dehradun airport after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The proposal to rename the Jolly Grant airport after Vajpayee was approved by the state cabinet at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.

• The cabinet also gave its nod to the setting up of the Uttarakhand State Agency For Public Services to ensure time-bound delivery of services and redressal of complaints.

Himachal becomes first state to launch single emergency number

Himachal Pradesh became the first Indian state to launch a single emergency number "112" which will connect to police, fire, health and other helplines through an Emergency Response Centre (ERC) in Shimla along with 12 District Command Centers (DCCs) covering entire State.

• The service is part of the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) which includes a '112 India' mobile app integrated with panic button of smartphones and ERSS state website for ease of citizen in availing immediate assistance.


• Launching the ERSS project, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh appealed residents of Himachal Pradesh to download '112 India' mobile app available in App store of Google and Apple.


• The Central government has allocated Rs 321.69 crore under the Nirbhaya Fund for the implementation of the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) project across the country.

NPCC now a 'mini-ratna'

The government conferred the National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) with the status of  Miniratna : Category –I, empowering it to "taking speedy decisions".

• Incorporated in 1957, NPCC is a premier construction company under the administrative control of Ministry of Water Resources "having mandate with creation of infrastructure to provide impetus for economic development of the country".

Gandhi Smriti to Organise ‘South Asia Regional Youth Peace Conference’ in New Delhi

Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS), functioning under Ministry of Culture will be organising a 3 day ‘South Asia Regional Youth Peace Conference’ in partnership with UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (UNESCO-MGIEP) and Standing Together to Enable Peace from November 28-30.

• The conference will be held at Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat, Delhi. The conference is being organized to mark the beginning of celebration of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.


• The thematic thrust areas include Gender; Interfaith issues; Food Security in the context of Gandhian vision of village economy; Digital Media; Arts, Democracy and Dialogue.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Guatemala focal country of 43rd International Kolkata Book Fair

The 43rd International Kolkata Book Fair will begin from January 30 next year, with the central American nation Guatemala, the heart of the Mayan World as the focal country.

• Around 20 countries from Asia, Europe and Latin America would take part in the 12-day mega event known over the decades for its huge footfall that is slated to be inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.


• The focal theme this time is 'The Heart of the Mayan World-Guatemala'.


• Extra info.:
  Guatemala Capital: Guatemala City
  Currency: Guatemalan quetzal

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BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Govt hikes FAME-I outlay to Rs 895 crore

The government has increased the outlay by Rs 100 crore to Rs 895 crore for the first phase of the FAME India scheme to promote mass adoption of electric vehicles, having extended the scheme four times.

• The phase-I of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles (FAME India) scheme was supposed to be implemented over a two-year period commencing from April 1, 2015.


• The first phase was extended four times for six months each. The latest extension is in effect till March 2019 or till a notification for the second phase.

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SPORTS

Hockey World Cup 2018 Inaugurated In Odisha



The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar was in vibrant colours after the grand opening ceremony of 14th edition of the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup kicked off with a laser show with an army of drones and fire crackers.

The opening ceremony ended with the official song of the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2018, 'Jai Hind Jai Hind Jai India' sung and composed by Rahman, written by veteran writer Gulzar featuring Shah Rukh Khan in the video.

B'desh captain fastest to 200 wickets, 3,000 runs Test double



Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan surpassed legendary English cricketer Ian Botham to become the fastest cricketer in the history of Test cricket to complete the double of 200 wickets and 3,000 runs.

• Shakib achieved this feat in his 54th Test, one less than Botham's long-standing record of 55.

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APPOINTMENTS

World Gold Council appoints David Tait as next CEO



The World Gold Council announced the appointment of David Tait as its next CEO. David will join the organisation on January 7, 2019 as CEO Designate for a transitionary period before becoming CEO on February 25.

• He will succeed Aram Shishmanian, who served as CEO over the last 10 years.


• Extra info.:
  WGC Headquartered: London, U.K.

Arvind Saxena appointed UPSC chairman



President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Arvind Saxena as the Chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). He would hold the post till August 7, 2020, or till further orders whichever is earlier.

• Prior to joining UPSC as a Member, Saxena was working as Director of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC).

A.M. Naik appointed Chairman of National Skill Development Corp



The government appointed A.M. Naik as the Chairman of National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). Naik is currently the Group Chairman of engineering conglomerate Larsen and Toubro.

• NSDC was set up in 2008 under the Public Private Partnership model. The Centre through Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship holds 49 per cent of the share capital of NSDC, while the private sector has the balance of 51 per cent.


• Extra info.:
  NSDC Headquarters‎: ‎New Delhi

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Daily Current Affairs 27th November, 2018

Daily Current Affairs 27 November 2018 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Modi govt launches PAiSA, Portal for Affordable Credit, to connect directly with loan beneficiaries



A centralized electronic platform for processing interest subvention on bank loans to beneficiaries under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) named "PAiSA - Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access", was launched by Ministry of Housing.

• The web platform has been designed and developed by Allahabad Bank which is the Nodal bank.


• PAiSA is yet another effort by the government to connect directly with the beneficiaries, ensuring that there is greater transparency and efficiency in delivery of services.


• All 35 states / UTs & all scheduled commercial banks, RRBs and Cooperative Banks are expected to be on board the PAiSA portal the year end.

‘HAUSLA-2018’ Inaugurated In New Delhi



 

The National Festival for Children of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) “Hausla 2018” of the Women and Child Development Ministry was inaugurated by Secretary Rakesh Srivastava in New Delhi. 

• The inter-Child Care Institution festival is witnessing participation of more than 600 children drawn from CCIs from 18 states in the various events like painting competition, athletics meet, football, chess competition and speech writing as part of the festival. The theme for the event is “Child Safety”.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

World’s first underground luxury hotel opened in Shanghai, China



The world’s first underground hotel has opened in Shanghai, buried almost 90 metres deep in an old quarry. Built into the side wall of a decommissioned quarry, the 18-storey InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is almost entirely subterranean.

• In the Sheshan Mountain Range on the fringes of Shanghai, the luxury hotel has two floors above ground and 16 below ground, including two floors that are underwater.

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SPORTS

Varsha Varman wins gold medal in women's trap in the National Shotgun



Varsha Varman, representing Madhya Pradesh, won the women's trap gold at the ongoing 62nd national championship for shotgun events in New Delhi.
Varsha, who narrowly missed qualifying for the Jakarta Asian Games final, shot 38 in the final to get the better of Junior World Cup finalist Soumya Gupta of Delhi, who ended with 37 hits for the silver medal.

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APPOINTMENTS

Sunil Arora appointed as new Chief Election Commissioner of India



Sunil Arora has been appointed as the next chief election commissioner by President Ram Nath Kovind. He will take over as the new CEC on December 2, 2018. He succeeds Om Prakash Rawat.

• Arora, who is currently election commissioner, will be responsible for conducting upcoming assembly elections in five states and the 2019 general elections.

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AWARDS

Renowned flautist Keshav Ginde to get Pt. Bhimsen Joshi award



Renowned flautist Pandit Keshav Ginde shall be conferred this year's prestigious Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Lifetime Achievement Award for Classical Music.

• The annual award, instituted by Maharashtra, honours maestros in classical music and singing, and carries a cash award of Rs 500,000, a memento and a citation.

Azim Premji to be conferred with highest French civilian award Chevalier del la Legion d'Honneur



French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler will confer global software major Wipro Chairman Azim Premji with the highest French civilian award Chevalier del la Legion d'Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) in Bengaluru. 

• The award is in recognition of Premji's contribution to developing the IT (Information Technology) industry in India, his economic outreach in France and his contribution to society as a philanthropist through the Azim Premji Foundation and University.

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OBITUARIES

Bollywood singer Mohammed Aziz passes away



Famous Bollywood playback singer Mohammed Aziz of 'My name is Lakhan' fame passed away due to cardiac arrest at the age of 64 in Mumbai. Apart from 'My name is Lakhan', the ardent fan of Mohammed Rafi also lent his voice to songs like 'Ek Raja Hai Ek Rani Hai' from 2001 movie 'Ek Rishtaa' and 'Kaise Kate Din' from 1991 movie 'Swarg' starring Juhi Chawla.

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Daily Current Affairs 26th November, 2018

Daily Current Affairs 26 November 2018 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

UN selects Noida to participate in Global Sustainable Cities 2025 plan

The United Nations selected Uttar Pradesh’s Noida and Greater Noida to participate in its Global Sustainable Cities 2025 initiative. The twin-cities in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, adjoining the national capital, have been selected in the “University City” category ahead of Mumbai and Bengaluru as the only invitee from India.

• Overall 25 cities across the world have been selected in five categories by the UN Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) cities initiative, Senior UN Advisor and CEO UN Global Sustainability Index Institute Roland Schatz said.

UP govt to install 221-metre bronze statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya



 

Uttar Pradesh government will install a 221-metre bronze statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh principal secretary (information) Avanish Awasthi said. The height of the actual statue would be 151 metres, its overhead umbrella would be 20 metres while the pedestal would be 50 metres. A museum would be housed at the pedestal.

Nitish Kumar unveils Lord Buddha's 70-feet statue in Bihar's Rajgir



Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar unveiled a 70-feet tall statue of Lord Buddha at Rajgir in Nalanda district. It is the second tallest statue of Buddha in the country.

• The statue has been installed above a 16-metre radius pedestal in the middle of Lake Ghora Katora. It is made of pink sandstone. The Chief Minister said this place will be developed as a centre of eco-tourism.

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BANKING & FINANCE

Govt To Infuse INR 42,000 Crore In PSU Banks By March

The government will infuse Rs 42,000 crore in the state-owned banks by March-end and the next tranche would be released by mid-December. Close to Rs 42,000 crore remain to be infused as capital in public sector banks in the current financial year.

• State-owned banks will need less capital to meet their capital adequacy norms, as the Reserve Bank of India recently decided to defer the deadline for them to meet the global norms or Basel-III requirement by a year till March 2020.

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BUSINESS & ECONOMY

India's GDP growth in Q2 likely to slow to 7.5-7.6%: SBI

Ahead of the official release of the second-quarter GDP figures, State Bank of India (SBI) estimated the country's economy to expand by 7.5-7.6 per cent, slower than the prior quarter, mainly on account of a slowdown in rural demand.

• India's largest lender also said in its Ecowrap report that the SBI Composite Leading Indicator (CLI), a basket of 21 leading indicators for the quarter in consideration, is showing a marginal declining trend.

India, ADB ink $200 mn loan pact to improve Bihar's state highways

The Indian government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $200-million loan agreement for improving Bihar's state highways.

• ADB would provide the loan to finance the widening and upgrading of about 230 km of state highways in Bihar to all-weather standards with road safety features.

RBI Cuts Mandatory Hedging To 70% For Foreign Loans

Further easing the External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) norms, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the mandatory hedging provision to 70 per cent from 100 per cent.

• The relaxation in hedging is for Indian companies raising foreign currency-denominated ECBs under Track I, which refers to medium-term borrowings with average maturity between three and five years.


• Further, it is also clarified that ECBs falling within the aforesaid scope but raised prior to the date of this circular will be required to mandatorily roll over their existing hedge(s) only to the extent of 70 per cent of outstanding ECB exposure.

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SPORTS

Netherlands win FIH Women's Hockey Champions Trophy



The Netherlands outclassed Australia 5-1 to win its seventh Women's Hockey Champions Trophy at the Wujin Hockey Stadium in Changzhou China.

• The tournament featured only six teams, including world's top four of the Netherlands, Britain, Australia, Argentina as well as Asian Games champion Japan and host China.


• Australia finished second, followed by Argentina, China, Britain and Japan.

Manu won double gold in shooting



Manu Bhaker of Haryana won a double gold in junior sport pistol while Ravi Kumar and Rahi Sarnobat were crowned national champions in the men and women's events respectively in Thiruvananthapuram. The 16-year-old Bhaker claimed the individual gold in junior girl's sport pistol with 24, a yellow metal in junior team and a silver in senior team.

• Ravi and Rahi were crowned national champions in the men's 10m air rifle and women's 25m pistol events respectively in the ongoing National Shooting Championship.

Hamilton Wins Abu Dhabi GP



World champion Lewis Hamilton recorded his 11th win of the season as the F1 season came to an entertaining close in Abu Dhabi. The world champion crowns a championship-winning season with victory in the final race. Vettel takes second, ahead of Max Verstappen in third.

• Extra info.:
  Lewis Hamilton- British racing driver - Mercedes

Syed Modi International Championships: Sameer Verma Won Gold, Saina Silver



India's Sameer Verma defeated Lu Guangzu of China in the men's singles final to successfully defend and win the Syed Modi International Championships in Lucknow. 
However, in the women's singles, world number nine Saina Nehwal suffered an 18-21, 8-21 loss to China's Han Yue.

• Extra info.:
  The 2018 Syed Modi International Badminton Championships venue: Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium, Lucknow.

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IMPORTANT DAYS

Indian Constitution Day



Constitution Day (National Law Day), also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated in India on 26 November every year to commemorate the adoption of Constitution of India. On 26 November 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India, and it came into effect on 26 January 1950.

• The Government of India declared 26 November as Constitution Day on 19 November 2015.

National Milk Day



Back in 2014, all the dairy majors of India, along with the Indian Dairy Association, decided to observe the birthday of Verghese Kurien, on November 26, as National Milk Day. Kurien was the architect of Operation Flood which was launched in 1970 by India's National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

• As the program came into force, India escalated from 50th position to the peak in terms of milk production in just a couple of decades.


• Extra info.:
  NDDB Headquarters Anand, Gujarat

NCC Day



The week-long celebrations for the 70th National Cadet Corps (NCC) Day kicked off with a "Run for Fun" marathon in Lucknow. Major General A.K. Sapra, Additional Director General NCC (UP Directorate) flagged off the marathon in which around 800 people participated.

• The event was aimed at creating awareness among NCC cadets and the common people on issues like environmental conservation and to promote a sense of fitness and well-being.

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Weekly CA Quiz: November 2018 3rd week with PDF

Hello Aspirants.
We have chosen the best 65 questions from the Current Affairs of the Third Week of November (16 November - 23 November). Take the quiz and excel in your upcoming exams. Take the quiz to check your knowledge. To start the quiz, click on start quiz button below. To end the quiz, click on Quiz-Summary after the last question and then click on finish quiz. Weekly Current Affairs Quiz November 2018 3rd Week

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Daily Current Affairs 25th November, 2018

Daily Current Affairs 25 November 2018 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Romanian Foreign Minister arrives in India



Romania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Melescanu arrived in New Delhi on a four-day official visit to the country. His visit coincides with India and Romania completing 70 years of diplomatic relations.

• On November 26, Melescanu will be meeting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan.


• During the visit, the Romanian Foreign Minister is slated to deliver a lecture on 'Going global vs. staying local: Romania's agenda as a connector between Europe and Asia' at the Observer Research Foundation, according to the MEA. He will conclude his visit on November 27.


• Extra info.:
  Romania Capital: Bucharest
  Currency: Romanian leu

Lupin launches India's first chatbot for patients

Lupin announced the launch of a chat bot named 'ANYA' specially designed to provide medically verified information for health-related queries. ANYA is the first bot of its kind to be launched in India for disease awareness.

• It's a made in India for India initiative aimed at answering patient queries related to ailments. Launched at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes, ANYA is an intelligent and patient-friendly chat bot trained to help patients with health-related concerns.


• As a start to digitize the patient journey in the overall healthcare space, Lupin is starting with ANYA to address queries related to diabetes.


• Extra info.:
  Lupin Limited is a transnational pharmaceutical company based in Mumbai.

India sets new Guinness World Record with plankathon



India has achieved a new spot on the Guinness World Records as 2,353 people, led by Bollywood actress and fitness enthusiast Shilpa Shetty Kundra, in Pune held the abdominal plank position for 60 seconds simultaneously.

• The initiative was organised by Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company at the Armed Forces Medical College ground in Pune.


• India set the new record breaking the earlier record created by China where 1,779 people held a plank for 60 seconds at the Central Park in Lu'an, Anhui, China on March 18 in 2017.

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BUSINESS & ECONOMY

India GDP to slow down marginally, but remain strong at 7.5% in 2019 & 2020: OECD

India ’s economic growth will slow down somewhat but remain robust, at close to 7.50% in 2019 and 2020, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has said in its 2018 Economic Outlook. India’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 6.7% in 2017-18.

• OECD projects GDP at market prices to grow 7.3% in 2019 and 7.4% in 2020 from 7.5% in 2018.


• Extra info.:
  OECD Headquarters: Paris, France

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SPORTS

Australia wins Women's World T20



Australia bagged their fourth women's World Twenty20 crown after a thumping eight wicket victory over England at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in ‎North Sound, ‎Antigua and Barbuda.

• They had earlier clinched the prestigious title in the years 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Bhavani Devi becomes first Indian to win gold medal in Senior Commonwealth Fencing Championship in Canberra



India's C.A. Bhavani Devi won the gold medal in the Sabre event in the Senior Commonwealth Fencing Championship 2018 held in Canberra, Australia.
Bhavani Devi is the first Indian to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Championship. She defeated England's Emily Ruaux 15-12 in the final.

Pravin Tambe registers record-breaking hat-trick in T10 league



Pravin Tambe registered history in the T10 cricket league, where he stunned Kerala Knights with a five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick. The 47-year-old spinner, Tambe, who also represented Rajasthan Royals in the past displayed a shaky start with consecutive wide balls but went to have a record-breaking performance in the match.

• The 10 over format tournament is being held in the UAE and commenced on October 21st.

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AWARDS

Bharat Electronics wins CII-Exim Bank Business Award

State-run Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) won the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-Exim Bank Business Excellence Award and the jury's commendation for being a role-model organisation. The award is the highest recognition in the CII-Exim Bank Award for Business Excellence, instituted by the CII and the Export-Import Bank of India to enhance the competitiveness of India Inc.

• BEL Chairman and Managing Director M.V. Gowtama received the award at the Quality Summit, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Bengaluru.


• Extra info.:
  Bharat Electronics Limited Headquarters: Bengaluru
  CII HQ: Headquarters: New Delhi, India

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OBITUARIES

Magician, actor Ricky Jay dies at 72



Magician Ricky Jay, who also acted in films and TV shows such as "Boogie Nights", "House of Games" and "Deadwood", is dead at 72. Jay was also known for his card tricks and memory feats. 

• A documentary about his life, "Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay", was released in 2012.

Veteran Kannada Films Rebel Star Ambareesh passes away



Veteran Kannada films rebel actor M.H. Ambareesh passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru. He was 66. He was former cabinet minister in the previous Congress government. Ambareesh entered filmdom through the role of 'Jaleel' in veteran director Puttanna Kanagal's 'Naagarahaavu' in 1972.

Ex-Union Minister Jaffer Sharief passes away



Former Union railway minister and veteran Congress leader from Karnataka C K Jaffer Sharief passed away at a hospital in Bengaluru. He was 85.

• A veteran parliamentarian from Bengaluru North and Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituencies, Sharief was Union Railway Minister from 1991-1995 under the PV Narasimha Rao government at the Centre.

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IMPORTANT DAYS

Elimination of Violence against Women



The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The premise of the day is to raise awareness of the fact that women around the world are subject to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence.

• The Orange-themed event was organised by the United Nations Women, along with the UN in India, as part of the UN Secretary General's UNiTE campaign that is set to continue till the International Day of Human Rights on December 10.


• The event, which was organised under the theme 'Orange The World: #HearMeToo', focused on women and girls who continue to experience violence and abuse, which is often overlooked, normalized, justified and made invisible.

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Daily Current Affairs 24th November, 2018

Daily Current Affairs 24 November 2018 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Maldivian Foreign Minister arrives in New Delhi on four-day visit to India



Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has arrived in New Delhi on a four-day visit to India. The Maldivian Foreign Minister is visiting India with the aim to repair the bilateral ties which came under severe strain during the previous government in the island nation.

• Both nations had vowed to renew close ties and agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean region.


• Extra info.:
  Maldives Capital: Male
  Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa

Domestic Gold Council To Be Set Up In India

The Government has decided to set up a domestic Gold Council in India. Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu said this while inaugurating the 2nd Edition of India Gold and Jewellery Summit in New Delhi.

• Mr Prabhu underlined the need for an integrated Gold policy to address all the issues in holistic way. He said that his ministry will make sure that gems and jewellery business does not suffer from financial issues.

Odisha’s Baliyatra festival inaugurated



Odisha Finance and Excise minister Sashi Bhusan Behera, in the presence of three of his cabinet colleagues, inaugurated the Baliyatra festival in Cuttak. The festival, associated with the maritime glory of ancient Kalinga, is basically a trade and cultural fare that attracts revellers not only from state but from outside also.

• The day also being auspicious Kartika Purnima, more than a lakh people visited both the fare grounds and were seen relishing their favourite food stuffs from the vendors and food stalls lined up for the occasion.

J-K Governor inaugurates Jhiri Mela

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik inaugurated a week long 'Jhiri Mela' at village Jhiri in Jammu district. The annual fair is commemorated in the memory of the martyrdom of 'Baba Jittoo', a farmer who gave up his life about 500 years ago in protest against the oppressive demands of a land lord. 
Governor welcomed the devotees who have thronged the shrine of Baba Jitto and his daughter 'Bua Kodi'.

• A cultural programme comprising folk songs and a Dogridance was presented by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages on the occasion.

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BUSINESS & ECONOMY

EIB, SBI to finance wind energy projects

The European Investment Bank and State Bank of India have formally agreed to finance the renewable energy sector by providing new support for wind energy projects across India. Under the agreement, promoters of onshore wind projects will be able to benefit from long-term low cost financing under a dedicated €600-million renewable energy financing programme already supporting large scale solar investment across India.

• Preliminary discussions with promoters in a number of Indian states have already led to the identification of schemes that could benefit from the expanded EIB-SBI financing.

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SPORTS

Mary Kom scripts history, becomes six-time boxing World Champion



Legendary boxer Mary Kom scripted history, becoming India's only six-time world boxing champion after defeating Hanna Okhota of Ukraine. 

• Mary has also registered her name in history books as she has now equalled male pugilist Felix Savon of Cuba, becoming an all-time best boxer with six gold and one silver medal in World Championships.

Odisha CM releases Men's Hockey World Cup anthem by Rahman



Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik released Men's Hockey World Cup anthem composed by renowned music director and composer A.R. Rahman and penned by veteran lyricist Gulzar.

• The Chief Minister released the hockey sports anthem 'Jai Hind' in the presence of Rahman in Bhubaneswar.


• Rahman will be performing live during the inaugural ceremony of hockey world cup at Kalinga Stadium on November 27 and also at a concert at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on November 28.

World T20 Renamed As T20 World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) renamed the World Twenty20 championships as the Twenty20 World Cup, with an aim to enhance the profile of the prestigious event and ensure that its status is at par with the pinnacle events of the One-Day Internationals (ODI) and Test formats.

• The next edition of the events in 2020 to be held in Australia will be known as the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020 and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2020.

Former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba retires from playing



The former Chelsea and Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba has confirmed his retirement as a player. The 40-year-old scored 164 goals in 381 appearances over two spells with Chelsea, helping them win the Premier League four times and the Champions League in 2012, as well as four FA Cup triumphs and three League Cup victories.

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AWARDS

Filmmaker Nandita Das to receive FIAPF Award



Filmmaker Nandita Das will be honoured with the International Federation of Film Producers Associations( FIAPF) Award at the 12th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) in Brisbane on 29 November.

• She will be presented the award in recognition of her achievement in film in the Asia Pacific region. This was announced by Michael Hawkins, chairman of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and its academy in a statement in Brisbane.

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OBITUARIES

Former Indian Hockey Player Sandeep Michael Passes Away



Former Indian hockey player Sandeep Michael, who captained the Indian junior team to an Asia Cup gold in 2003, passed away after battling an unspecified neurological problem. The former forward was 33. Michael found fame at the senior level in a tournament in Australia in 2003.

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