Indian Constitution Day 2021 : Indian Constitution Day observed on 26 November
In India, Constitution Day is observed every year on November 26 to mark the anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the country. In India, 26 November is celebrated as Constitution Day or Samvidhan Diwas. On this day in 1949, the constitution was adopted which came into force on January 26, 1950, marking the beginning of a new era in the history of India. The day aims to spread the importance of the constitution and to spread the thoughts and ideas of BR Ambedkar, the father of the Indian constitution.
History of the day:
On 19th November 2015, during the year-long celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, the Government of India declared November 26th as the Constitution Day. Previously this day was celebrated as Law Day. 26 November was chosen to spread the importance of the constitution and to spread thoughts and ideas of Ambedkar.
ADB approves USD 1.5 bn loan to India for COVID-19 vaccine procurement
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $1.5 billion loan (approx Rs 11,185 crore) to help the Government of India purchase safe and effective vaccines against the coronavirus (COVID-19). The fund will be used to procure at least 66.7 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses for an estimated 31.7 crore people of the country. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is expected to co-finance an additional USD 500 million for the project.
Beijing-based AIIB is a multilateral development bank focused on developing Asia. It has members from all over the world. It will support India’s National Deployment and Vaccination Plan which aims to fully vaccinate 94.47 crore people aged 18 years and above, accounting for 68.9 per cent of the population.
About the vaccine:
Vaccines are critical in overcoming the intertwined health, social, and economic impacts of the pandemic, including rejuvenating economic activities, sustaining health services, restoration of livelihoods, and reopening of educational institutions, with a renewed focus on social and human development priorities.
Centre releases new series of Wage Rate Index
The Labour ministry has released the new series of wage rate index (WRI) with the base year being 2016. The government periodically revises the base year of WRI for key economic indicators in order to provide a clear picture of economic changes and record the wage pattern of workers. The new series of WRI with base 2016=100 will replace the old series with base 1963-65.
According to the recommendations of the International Labour Organization and National Statistical Commission, the base year of WRI numbers has been revised from 1963-65 to 2016 by the Labour Bureau to enhance the coverage and to make the index more representative. The new WRI series has expanded the scope and coverage in terms of the number of industries, sample size, occupations under selected industries as well as weightage of industries among other indicators.
Key facts:
- A total of 37 industries have been covered in the new WRI basket (2016=100) as against 21 industries in the 1963-65=100 series.
- The New WRI Series with base 2016=100 would be compiled twice a year on a point-to-point half-yearly basis, as on 1st January and 1st July of every year.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- International Labour Organization Director-General: Guy Ryder;
- International Labour Organization Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland;
- International Labour Organization Founded: 1919.
Moody’s Projects India’s GDP growth forecast in FY22 at 9.3%
Moody’s Investors Service in its latest report has projected that the economic growth in India will rebound strongly. It has pegged GDP growth for the nation at 9.3% and 7.9% in FY22 and FY23, respectively. India recently hit record Covid-19 vaccination rates. Moody’s notes that the vaccination drive in India has gathered pace after the second wave.
Around 30% of the population of India is now fully vaccinated with two doses while around 55% of the population has received at least one dose. Improved vaccination coverage has led to stabilisation in consumer confidence.
Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurates 5th World Congress on Disaster Management
The fifth edition of the World Congress on Disaster Management (WCDM) was virtually inaugurated by the Union Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh. The event has been organised at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi campus from November 24-27, 2021. The theme of the 5th WCDM is Technology, Finance and Capacity for Building Resilience to Disasters in the Contexts of Covid-19.
About the WCDM:
World Congress on Disaster Management is a unique initiative of Disaster Management Initiatives and Convergence Society (DMICS) Hyderabad to bring researchers, policymakers and practitioners from around the world on a common platform to discuss various challenging issues of disaster risk management. The first WCDM was held in 2008 in Hyderabad and inaugurated by Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.
Vice President represents India at 13th ASEM Summit Virtually
The 13th edition of the ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Summit has been organised on November 25 and 26, 2021. The Summit is being hosted by Cambodia as ASEM Chair. The theme of the two-day ASEM Summit is Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth. The Indian delegation is being led by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu through the virtual platform.
About the Summit:
- The ASEM Summit will bring together countries in Asia and Europe to exchange views on regional and global issues and strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas.
- ASEM grouping have 51 member countries and two regional organisations — the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
- The 2021 summit marks the 25th anniversary of the ASEM process.
Cabinet approves extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana
Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) for another four months. The Phase V of the PMGKAY scheme will be operational from December 2021 till March 2022. Under the scheme, all the beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) receives food grains @ 5 kg per person per month.
About the schemes:
- The estimated additional food subsidy for Phase V of the scheme is of Rs. 53344.52 Crore
- The total food-grains outgo for PMGKAY Phase V will be about 163 LMT.
PM Modi lays foundation stone of International Airport at Jewar in UP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the Foundation Stone of Noida International Airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh. The Jewar airport is the second international aerodrome in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). It is the fifth international airport in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh has now become the state with the highest number of international airports in India.
About the airport:
- The airport has been developed by Zurich Airport International AG over 1,330 acres of land area.
- The airport is expected to be operational by September 2024.
- Once operational, this airport will be the largest airport of India and the first net-zero emissions airport of the country.
Nirmala Sitharaman launched Tejasvini & Hausala schemes
Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman has launched two schemes named ‘Tejasvini & Hausala schemes’ of J&K Bank for girls. Under 18-35 years of age to start their businesses and ‘Shikhar & Shikara’ schemes of Punjab National Bank (PNB) for development of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
About the Tejasvini Scheme:
Tejaswini Scheme in the course of the credit score outreach programme in Jammu. The scheme goals to offer monetary help as much as Rs 5 lakh to younger ladies for establishing gainful self-employment ventures, suited to their expertise, aptitude & native situations. Tejasvini scheme focuses on offering monetary help of Rs. 5 lakh to ladies between 18-35 years for beginning their enterprise.
About the Hausla Scheme 2021 for Women Entrepreneurs:
Hausla Scheme beneath the J&K Trade Promotion Organisation for empowering present ladies entrepreneurs to be role models of their respective sectors. It not solely supplies ability improvement, but additionally, credit score assist, advertising assist & mentorship.
About the ‘Shikhar & Shikara’:
- Shikhar scheme focuses on meeting credit requirements up to INR 2 crore for the hotel, tour & tourism industry.
- ‘Shikara’ which goals to supply finance for the acquisition of the latest shikara and restore & upkeep of shikara and houseboats by means of collateral-free time period loans with handy reimbursement beneath EMI mode in seven years. Shikara scheme will prove credit up to INR 15 lakh for purchase/repair of Shikaras is provided in Kashmir valley.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- J&K Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha.
Equitas SFB partnered with HDFC Bank to offer co-branded credit cards
Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB) partnered with HDFC (Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited) Bank to launch its new co-branded credit cards. Through this partnership, Equitas SFB will utilize the HDFC bank’s reach in the credit card market and also to provide its customers a better banking ecosystem.
About the credit card:
The credit card can be availed in two categories. The first category is the ‘Excite Credit Card’ which offers a credit limit from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh and the second category is the ‘Elegance Credit Card’ which offers a credit of over Rs 2 lakh.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Equitas Small Finance Bank Ltd Founded: 2016;
- Equitas Small Finance Bank Ltd Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu;
- Equitas Small Finance Bank Ltd MD & CEO: Vasudevan Pathangi Narasimhan.
37th India-Indonesia CORPAT exercise held in Indian Ocean
The 37th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) is being held in the Indian Ocean region from 23-24 November 2021. CORPAT is held twice in a year to ensure safety and security. It was conducted for the first time in 2002. Indigenously built Indian Naval Ship (INS) Khanjar and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft is participating in the CORPAT. Indonesian Naval Ship KRI Sultan Thaha Syaifuddin, (376) is participating from Indonesia.
Other Military Exercises with Indonesia:
- Samudra Shakti: A bilateral maritime exercise.
- Garuda Shakti: A joint military exercise.
A book titled “Contested Lands: India, China and the Boundary Dispute” by Maroof Raza
Former Army Officer Maroof Raza has authored a new book titled “Contested Lands: India, China, and the Boundary Dispute”. The book features the history of India’s boundary making with Tibet and China and analyses the current India-China boundary contestation stemming from interpretations of history in the post-colonial period.
Maroof Raza’s other books: Kashmir’s Untold Story (co-authored with Iqbal Chand Malhotra), Shourya Gatha: Bharat Ke Veer Senani (co-authored with Lt. Col. Sheodan Singh),War Despatches 1971 (co-authored with Brig B.S. Mehta).
Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Sabah becomes new Prime Minister of Kuwait
Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah has been appointed the new Prime Minister of Kuwait. Sheikh Sabah also served as Kuwait’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Envoy at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) from 1995 to 1998. He has also been awarded with the Order of King Abdulaziz of First Class in 1998 by Saudi Arabia.
Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah issued an order on behalf of the emir, appointing Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to form a new government and provide a list of names for approval.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Kuwait Capital: Kuwait City;
- Kuwait Currency: Kuwaiti dinar.
India’s candidate elected to executive committee of Interpol
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special director Praveen Sinha was elected the delegate for Asia in the executive committee of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) following a tough contest involving China. In the election, four contestants were China, Singapore, South Korea and Jordan. India’s National Central Bureau (NCB-India) reached out to its counterparts around the world to campaign for this election. The elections were held in Istanbul, Turkey during the ongoing 89 INTERPOL General Assembly.
About the INTERPOL:
Interpol is the world’s largest international police organization with a National Central Bureau in all 195 member states. It has seven regional bureaus all over the world. It was formed in 1923. Its motto is connecting police for a safer world. It is headquartered in Lyon, France. Kim Jong Yang is its President.
