Current Affairs – 11 Nov 2021

India bags 5 medals at inaugural ISSF President’s Cup

India finished the inaugural ISSF President’s Cup with five medals, including two Gold, two Silver and one Bronze. The invitation-only tournament was held at the Wroclaw in Poland, featuring the top-12 shooters in each of the shotgun, pistol and rifle categories. India’s Manu Bhaker bagged two gold medals.

Medal Winners include:

Gold

• 25m Rapid Fire pistol Mixed Team competition: Manu Bhaker
• 10m air pistol mixed team competition: Manu Bhaker

Silver

• Women’s 25m pistol silver individual competition: Rahi Sarnobat
• Men’s 10m Air Pistol individual competition: Saurabh Chaudhary

Bronze

• Men’s 10m Air Pistol individual competition: Abhishek Verma

Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar named as next Chief of the Naval Staff

Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar has been named as the next Chief of the Naval Staff by the Government of India. He is presently posted as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. He will take on the new role with effect from November 30, 2021. He will replace the incumbent Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh, who will complete his tenure on November 30, 2021.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Indian Navy Founded: 26 January 1950;
• Commander-in-Chief of Indian Navy: President Ram Nath Kovind.

Climate Change Performance Index: India ranked 10th

India has been placed at 10th spot in the global Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2022 released by Germanwatch on the side-lines of the COP26. In 2020 also India was at 10th position. India has retained its position as the top 10 best-performing countries with higher climate performance for the third year in a row.

About the Index:

• Meanwhile, the top three places in the overall ranking is once again empty as none of the country performed well enough to achieve an overall very high rating in CCPI.
• Moving ahead, Denmark occupied a fourth place as the highest-ranked country in CCPI 2022, followed by Sweden (5th), and Norway (6th) respectively.
• Other countries in the top 10 are the United Kingdom (7th), Morocco (8th) and Chile (9th).

USA becomes 101st member country of ISA

The United States of America (USA) has joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a member country. U.S is now the 101st country to sign the framework agreement of the ISA. The framework agreement was formally signed by John Kerry, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. It demonstrates that nations across the world are recognising the economic and climate mitigating value of solar, as well as this energy source’s potential as a catalyst for the global energy transition.

About the ISA’s framework:

The ISA’s framework, which was first circulated in 2016 to obtain backing from other countries, emphasises on delivering local benefits to all countries through collaborations. The ISA’s key interventions focus on enabling activities, risk mitigation and innovative financing instruments to facilitate the deployment of solar technologies. Earlier at COP26, the US joined the steering committee of the “One Sun One World One Grid” initiative that includes Australia, France, the UK and India.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• ISA Headquarters: Gurugram;
• ISA Founded: 30 November 2015;
• ISA Founded: Paris, France;
• ISA Director-General: Ajay Mathur.

Cabinet approves to observe November 15 as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the declaration of November 15 as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. 15 November has been chosen as this date marks the birth anniversary of Sri Birsa Munda who is revered as Bhagwan (God) by tribal communities across the country.

About the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas:

The Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is dedicated to the brave tribal freedom fighters and their sacrificed for the country. The day will be celebrated every year from now on to recognize the efforts of the tribals for the preservation of cultural heritage and promotion of Indian values of valour, hospitality and national pride.

Dwayne Bravo announced retirement from international cricket

Trinidadian cricketer Dwayne Bravo, the former captain of the West Indies cricket team has confirmed his retirement from international cricket. He has played in all seven T20 World Cups and he has been a part of the West Indies team that won the T20 Title in 2012 and 2016. He has scored 1245 runs at an average of 22.23 and a strike rate of 115.38 and he has picked up 78 wickets.

Novak Djokovic won 37th Masters Title at Paris 2021

Novak Djokovic (Serbia) has defeated Danill Medvedev (Russia) in the finals to win his 6th Paris Title & the record 37th Masters Title at Paris, France. In the finals, Djokovic, with an impressive 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 defeating Daniil Medvedev. With this win, Djokovic will remain at the ATP World Number 1 rank, for the record 7th consecutive year.

Here is the list of  winners:

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

A new book ‘Finding A Straight Line Between Twists and Turns’ by Aseem Chawla

Aseem Chawla, one of India’s leading tax lawyers and well-known international tax and policy expert released his new book “Finding A Straight Line Between Twists and Turns – An Imperfect, Yet Honest Reflections on the Indian Tax Landscape” published by Matrix Publishers. The book provides an in-depth analysis of both national and international of the Indian tax landscape over a decade.

A new book “Sunrise over Ayodhya – Nationhood in our Times” by Salman Khurshid

Former union minister and Congress leader Salman Khurshid, who recently launched his book on the Ayodhya verdict named “Sunrise over Ayodhya – Nationhood in our Times”. Khurshid said, “People used to think that it will take 100 years for the verdict to come. After the verdict, people started giving opinions perhaps without reading it or understanding that what, why or how did Supreme Court give the judgement.”

Supreme Court Verdict:

The Supreme Court in its order on November 9, 2019, directed the central government to hand over the 2.77 acres of disputed land to a trust, set up for the construction and management of a Ram temple. A five-judge Constitution bench presided by the then Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had also directed that a suitable plot of land admeasuring five acres be handed over to the Sunni Central Waqf Board granting it the liberty to construct a mosque at the alternate site.

Philosopher Koneru Ramakrishna Rao passes away

Well-known educationist, teacher, and philosopher, Koneru Ramakrishna Rao passed away. He was an internationally recognized psychologist and served as president of the US-based Parapsychological Association and the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology. He was awarded Padma Shri in 2011.

Ramakrishna Rao was instrumental in bringing in numerous curricular reforms to link classrooms with the community during his tenure as the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University and Chairman of the APSCHE.

IPS officer Sheel Vardhan Singh to head CISF

The government has announced the appointment of chiefs of two key Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). These are the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau Sheel Vardhan Singh has been appointed as the new CISF DG, while National Police Academy Director Atul Karwal has been appointed as the NDRF DG. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for appointments.

Singh, a 1986 batch Indian Police Service officer of Bihar cadre, is currently Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau. Singh has been appointed as the Director-General, CISF up to 31.08.2023.

Amitabh Bachchan roped in as brand ambassador of Amway India

Amway India, a Direct Selling FMCG company announced the appointment of Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador. It is a time in moment as the two brands have come together to proliferate messages on the significance of holistic health & wellness, women empowerment, and inspiring youth towards entrepreneurship for a progressive India. As a part of the momentous association, he will endorse the brand Amway and all the Nutrilite products by Amway.

“Nehru: The Debates that Defined India” by Tripurdaman Singh and Adeel Hussain

A book titled “Nehru: The Debates that Defined India” is co-authored by Tripurdaman Singh and Adeel Hussain. A new book serves as a revisionist exploration of India’s first and longest-serving prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and investigates the overlooked role of his contemporaries and opponents in shaping his political vision.

Delhi govt launched ‘Shramik Mitra’ Scheme for Construction Workers

The Government of Delhi launched the ‘Shramik Mitra‘ scheme for construction workers. Under the scheme, 800 ‘Shramik Mitras’ will reach out to construction workers, and spread awareness on the government schemes. Delhi Govt has also increased the Dearness allowance for Unskilled, Semi-skilled workers, to increase their salary by around 1%. Shramik Mitras will inform construction workers registered by the Construction Board at the ward level about assistance schemes of the government.

Under the Shramik Mitra scheme:

• The Shramik Mitra scheme is an initiative by the Delhi Government to ensure that the benefits of all government schemes reach construction workers in Delhi. Under the scheme, around 800 Shramik Mitras will go door-to-door of all construction workers in the national capital to make them aware of several government schemes in the interest of the workers.
• , approximately 800 Shramik Mitras will be appointed by the government who will be given training under the programme. These Shramik Mitras will work as District, Ward, and Vidhan Sabha level coordinators.
• The Shramik Mitra scheme will appoint at least 3 to 4 Shramik Mitras across all wards who will reach out to workers registered by the Construction Board at the ward level. The Shramik Mitras will also help workers in applying and availing process of the benefits of these government schemes.
• There are about 6 lakh construction workers in Delhi who have registered themselves with the Construction Board through various registration campuses that were launched by the CM Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Delhi Chief minister: Arvind Kejriwal;
• Delhi Governor: Lt. Governor Anil Baijal.