Weekly Current Affairs 1st to 8th November 2020

The Weekly BeePedia comprises of all the important news related to Finance & Banking, Economy, National, International, State, Science & Technology, Agriculture and Rural Development, Defence, Event, Appointments, Awards, Important Days, Obituaries, Books and Sports in an organised and crisp format.
Due to the growing importance of Static related current affairs in exams and for the convenience of the readers we try to provide general news with static related news. Thus, it is a comprehensive document and you would not be requiring any other GA document after this. It will be useful for all exams which require current affairs (RBI Grade A/B, NABARD Grade A/B and Bank POs/Clerk).

FINANCE AND BANKING

• SEBI introduces code of conduct for mutual fund managers, dealers
  • Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced a code of conduct for fund managers and dealers of asset management companies (AMCs).

• SEBI extends settlement scheme for illiquid stock option cases till Dec 31
  • SEBI has extended till December 31, 2020 the one-time settlement scheme for entities that executed reversal of trades in stock options segment of the BSE during 2014 and 2015.

• SEBI raises MFs’ foreign investment limit
  • SEBI has enhanced the overseas investment limit for mutual funds. Mutual funds can make overseas investments, subject to a maximum of $600 million per mutual fund, within the overall industry limit of $7 billion.

• SEBI asks debt MF schemes to hold 10% liquid assets; mandates stress testing
  • SEBI has made it mandatory for debt mutual fund schemes to hold at least 10 per cent of their net assets in liquid assets.

• RBI extends deadline for compliance with current accounts circular to December 15
  • RBI has extended the final date for complying with its circular on opening of current accounts to December 15, 2020.

• Govt provides Rs 670-cr support to RRBs to meet regulatory capital
  • The Central Government has provided Rs 670 crore to Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) considering their importance in agriculture finance during these difficult times.

• WhatsApp gets UPI nod
  • The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has allowed WhatsApp to roll out the UPI services in the country.

• ICICI Direct and IIM-B to incubate 10 FinTech start-ups
  • ICICI Direct (Securities) and IIM-B selected 10 early-stage start-ups for its final stage of the Fintech start-up program.

• HDFC Bank – most outstanding company in Financial Sector: Asia Money
  • HDFC Bank Ltd has been voted 'Most Outstanding Company - Financial Sector' in India, in a poll conducted by the well-known publication Asiamoney.

ECONOMY

• HAL signs ?400-cr. tech deal with Tech Mahindra
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and Tech Mahindra (TM) signed a contract worth ?400 crore for implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) to support HAL’s Project Parivartan.

• Microsoft, NSDC collaborate to empower women
  • Microsoft has collaborated with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to impart digital skills to more than one lakh underserved women in India over the next 10 months.

• Maharashtra government inks Rs 35,000-crore MoUs with 15 companies
  • The Maharashtra government has inked MoUs worth around Rs 35,000 crore with 15 companies.
  • The MoUs are expected to create 23,182 jobs in the state.
  • The MoUs were signed during the Investor Summit – ‘Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0’

• Government extends Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme by one month
  • The Union Government has extended the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) by one month till November 30th, 2020, or till such time that an amount of Rs. 3 lakh crore is sanctioned under the Scheme, whichever is earlier.

• Union Minister Harsh Vardhan releases the NCAER Report
  • Union Minister of Science and Technology, Health and Family Welfare and Earth Sciences, Harsh Vardhan released the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) Report on "Estimating the economic benefits of Investment in Monsoon Mission and High-Performance Computing (HPC) Facilities".

• ADB approves USD 132.8 million loan to improve power distribution in Meghalaya
  • The Asian Development Bank has approved USD 132.8 million loan to improve and upgrade the power distribution network in Meghalaya.

• IREDA signs MoU with MNRE, sets revenue target of 2406 cr
  • Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), for setting key targets for the year 2020-21.

• USAID provides USD 3million to COVIDActionCollab to fight COVID
  • USAID has provided USD 3 million to COVIDActionCollab (CAC) to reduce the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic.

• Italian energy utility Snam inks pacts to enter India gas, hydrogen market
  • Italian energy utility Snam signed agreements with Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Adani Group and Greenko to enter the Indian market, with a focus on natural gas, hydrogen and low-carbon mobility.

• AAI signs MoU with NTPC to set up solar power plants at airports
  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) recently, with a subsidiary of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to promote usage of electric vehicles as well as set up solar power plants at its airports.

• FASTags mandatory for all four-wheelers from January 1, 2021
  • The Central government has made FASTags mandatory for all four-wheelers including old vehicles from January 1, 2020.

• Chandauli tops Niti Aayog’s Aspirational district ranking in September
  • Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh has topped the rankings of aspirational districts by government think-tank NITI Aayog for September.

• Samsung at top in the Forbes List of World’s Best Employers
  • Korean tech major Samsung has become the best employer in the world this year, according to the rankings released by US business magazine Forbes.

NATIONAL

• MP’s Panna Tiger Reserve now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
  • UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme included Panna in India and Fuvahmulah and Addu Atoll in the Maldives, to UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
  • For India it is the twelfth entry, whereas for Maldives second and third after Baa Atoll.

• Civil service probationers train at Statue of Unity
  • The Centre’s first-ever common foundation course Aarambh (Beginning) for 2019 batch probationer civil servants has begun at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat, where around 500 newly recruited bureaucrats are undergoing six-day training.

• Public Affairs Index-2020
  • The Public Affairs Index-2020 (PAI-2020) is released by the Public Affairs Centre. The city-based not-for-profit organisation is headed by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Kasturirangan.

• Chacha Chaudhary becomes the Brand Ambassador for Namami Gange Project
  • The iconic Indian superhero, Chacha Chaudhary, the man whose brain works faster than a computer has become Brand Ambassador of Namami Gange Programme, an Integrated Conservation Mission to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.

• Aero India 2021 to be held from February 3 to 7 in Bengaluru
  • The department of Defence Production announced the date of India's biennial aviation exhibition and air show -- February 3 to 7, 2021 in Bengaluru.
  • The Defence Exhibition Organisation also announced that the 13th edition of Aero India will be held at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru.

• Gen. Naravane conferred the honorary rank of General of Nepali Army by President Bhandari
  • Indian Army Chief General M. M. Naravane was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army by President Bidya Devi Bhandari at a special ceremony.

• Centre launches ‘Nurturing Neighborhoods Challenge’
  • The Union Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) Ministry launched a challenge for cities to develop and implement initiatives to improve the quality of life of young children, caregivers and families.
  • HUA Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the ‘Nurturing Neighborhoods Challenge’ which will be open for the 100 Smart Cities, cities with population of more than 5 lakh and State/Union Territory capitals.

• Syska Group announces Rajkummar Rao as its new brand ambassador
  • Fast Moving Electrical Goods (FMEG) Company Syska Group, has roped in actor Rajkummar Rao as the new face of the brand.

• Shipping Ministry to be renamed as Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • The Ministry of Shipping is being expanded and renamed as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

• MIB constitutes committee to review Guidelines on Television Rating Agencies in India
  • Ministry of Information and Broadcasting decided to constitute a committee to review “Guidelines on Television Rating Agencies in India”.
  • Headed by Shashi S Vempati, CEO, Prasar Bharti, the committee will examine the different aspects of television rating systems in India.

INTERNATIONAL

• Joe Biden elected 46th President of the United States
  • Democratic candidate Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. better known as Joe Biden, is elected the 46th President of the United States. Mr. Biden’s running mate, Kamala Devi Harris, a U.S. Senator from California, will become the first woman and first Indian- and African-American Vice-President of the country.

• U.S. formally exits Paris climate deal
  • The US formally exited the Paris Climate Agreement. The US exited the pact after a mandatory year-long waiting period ended.

• Priyanca Radhakrishnan becomes New Zealand’s first-ever Indian-origin minister
  • Priyanca Radhakrishnan became New Zealand’s first-ever Indian-origin minister after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern brought five new ministers into her executive.

• UN General Assembly Adopts India-Sponsored Resolutions on Nuclear Disarmament
  • The First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted two resolutions sponsored by India which call for the prohibition of nuclear weapons and reduce the risks of accidental use of nuclear weapons in the world.

STATES

• Punjab govt. inks pact with GAME to support MSMEs
  • The Punjab government has signed an agreement with the Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME) to improve 'ease of doing business' for MSMEs in the state under Omidyar Network India's 'ReSolve Initiative'.

• India's first solar-powered miniature train launched at Veli Tourist Village in Kerala
  • A solar energy-driven miniature train, billed as the country's first of its kind, was inaugurated at the Veli Tourist Village in Kerala by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

• Kerala launches Parivarthanam scheme for better livelihood of fisherfolk
  • A pioneering eco-sustainable programme Parivarthanam, to help the fishing community was launched in Kerala, aiming to improve the livelihood skills of youngsters along the coastline and also enable socio-economic uplift of the fishermen community.

• India’s first ‘Tyre Park’ to come up in West Bengal
  • West Bengal will soon feature India’s first ‘Tyre Park’, where artworks made from scrap and defective parts will be on display. The idea behind the park is waste can be converted into art.

• DMC launches new initiative named ‘plastic lao mask le jao’ (bring plastic, take mask)
  • In an initiative to fight against the menace of plastic waste and contain the spread of Covid-19, Dehradun Municipal Corporation launched an initiative named ‘plastic lao mask le jao’ (bring plastic, take mask)

• Kabartal Wetland designated as New Ramsar Sites
  • Kabartal also known as Kanwar Jheel in Bihar’s Begusarai district has been recognised as a wetland of international importance — the first such wetland in the state — under the Ramsar Convention.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• ISRO launched earth observation satellite EOS-01
  • The Indian Space Research Organisation has successfully launched the earth observation satellite, EOS-01, on board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
  • The EOS-01 satellite was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

• TRIFED signs MoU with JD Centre of Arts
  • Tribal Co-operative Marketing Federation of India (TRIFED) has signed MoU with JD Centre of Arts for collaborating on joint socio-cultural research work and anthropological study of tribal art and tradition in tribal dominated regions of India.

• Indo-Dutch ‘Centre of excellence for vegetables, flowers’ opens in Kerala
  • An Indo-Dutch Centre of excellence (CoE) for vegetables and flowers has been opened in Kerala's Wayanad district

DEFENCE

• Bangladesh and US launch joint naval exercise CARAT Bangladesh 2020
  • The Bangladesh and US navies launched the ‘Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Bangladesh 2020’ to expand relationships and broaden maritime awareness between the two countries.

• India, US, Japan and Australia kick-start Malabar naval exercise in Bay of Bengal
  • The navies of India, United States, Japan and Australia kick started the first phase of the Malabar exercise in the Bay of Bengal.

• Enhanced version of Pinaka Mk-1 missile successfully flight-tested
  • An enhanced version of the Pinaka Mk-1 missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was successfully flight-tested from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.

• Triservice exercise ‘Bull Strike’ conducted at Nicobar Islands
  • The armed forces conducted a joint tri-service exercise ‘Bull Strike’ at the Teressa Island in the Nicobar group of islands located close to the strategic Strait of Malacca.

EVENTS

• 8th India-Mexico Joint Commission Meeting
  • The 8th India- Mexico Joint Commission Meeting was held through Video-Conference.
  • The Meeting was co-chaired by Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of Republic of India (EAM) and H. E. Marcelo Ebrard, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Mexican States.

• Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR) 2020 conference
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR) 2020 conference in a bid to attract investments into the country.

• 8th meeting of India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investments
  • The eighth meeting of the India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investments was hosted by India virtual format due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The meeting was co-chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi.

• 40th SAARCFINANCE Governors' Group Meeting
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das inaugurated and chaired the 40th meeting of the SAARCFINANCE Governors' Group.

AWARDS AND REWARDS

• Kerala Tourism bags World Travel Mart London award
  • Kerala Tourism has been bestowed the coveted 'Highly Commended' Award by World Travel Mart London, as a recognition for its remarkable activities aimed at promoting Responsible Tourism (RT) during the challenging times of COVID-19 pandemic.

• Hariharan bags JC Daniel award for lifetime contributions to Malayalam cinema
  • Noted filmmaker Hariharan has been selected for the JC Daniel Award, Kerala government’s highest honour for lifetime contributions to Malayalam cinema.

• Writer Paul Zacharia selected for Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
  • Noted Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia has been selected for this year’s Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the Kerala government’s highest literary honour.

SPORTS

• Jio named title sponsor for 2020 Women’s T20 Challenge
  • The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Jio as the title sponsor for the 2020 edition of the Women’s T20 Challenge scheduled to be played from November 4 to November 9, in Sharjah.

• Lewis Hamilton Wins Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
  • Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton won the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
  • His Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas was second. Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo placed third.

• Shane Watson announces retirement from all forms of cricket
  • Shane Watson, the former Australia all-rounder and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener, formally announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

" >

The Weekly BeePedia comprises of all the important news related to Finance & Banking, Economy, National, International, State, Science & Technology, Agriculture and Rural Development, Defence, Event, Appointments, Awards, Important Days, Obituaries, Books and Sports in an organised and crisp format.
Due to the growing importance of Static related current affairs in exams and for the convenience of the readers we try to provide general news with static related news. Thus, it is a comprehensive document and you would not be requiring any other GA document after this. It will be useful for all exams which require current affairs (RBI Grade A/B, NABARD Grade A/B and Bank POs/Clerk).

FINANCE AND BANKING

• SEBI introduces code of conduct for mutual fund managers, dealers
  • Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced a code of conduct for fund managers and dealers of asset management companies (AMCs).

• SEBI extends settlement scheme for illiquid stock option cases till Dec 31
  • SEBI has extended till December 31, 2020 the one-time settlement scheme for entities that executed reversal of trades in stock options segment of the BSE during 2014 and 2015.

• SEBI raises MFs’ foreign investment limit
  • SEBI has enhanced the overseas investment limit for mutual funds. Mutual funds can make overseas investments, subject to a maximum of $600 million per mutual fund, within the overall industry limit of $7 billion.

• SEBI asks debt MF schemes to hold 10% liquid assets; mandates stress testing
  • SEBI has made it mandatory for debt mutual fund schemes to hold at least 10 per cent of their net assets in liquid assets.

• RBI extends deadline for compliance with current accounts circular to December 15
  • RBI has extended the final date for complying with its circular on opening of current accounts to December 15, 2020.

• Govt provides Rs 670-cr support to RRBs to meet regulatory capital
  • The Central Government has provided Rs 670 crore to Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) considering their importance in agriculture finance during these difficult times.

• WhatsApp gets UPI nod
  • The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has allowed WhatsApp to roll out the UPI services in the country.

• ICICI Direct and IIM-B to incubate 10 FinTech start-ups
  • ICICI Direct (Securities) and IIM-B selected 10 early-stage start-ups for its final stage of the Fintech start-up program.

• HDFC Bank – most outstanding company in Financial Sector: Asia Money
  • HDFC Bank Ltd has been voted 'Most Outstanding Company - Financial Sector' in India, in a poll conducted by the well-known publication Asiamoney.

ECONOMY

• HAL signs ?400-cr. tech deal with Tech Mahindra
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and Tech Mahindra (TM) signed a contract worth ?400 crore for implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) to support HAL’s Project Parivartan.

• Microsoft, NSDC collaborate to empower women
  • Microsoft has collaborated with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to impart digital skills to more than one lakh underserved women in India over the next 10 months.

• Maharashtra government inks Rs 35,000-crore MoUs with 15 companies
  • The Maharashtra government has inked MoUs worth around Rs 35,000 crore with 15 companies.
  • The MoUs are expected to create 23,182 jobs in the state.
  • The MoUs were signed during the Investor Summit – ‘Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0’

• Government extends Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme by one month
  • The Union Government has extended the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) by one month till November 30th, 2020, or till such time that an amount of Rs. 3 lakh crore is sanctioned under the Scheme, whichever is earlier.

• Union Minister Harsh Vardhan releases the NCAER Report
  • Union Minister of Science and Technology, Health and Family Welfare and Earth Sciences, Harsh Vardhan released the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) Report on "Estimating the economic benefits of Investment in Monsoon Mission and High-Performance Computing (HPC) Facilities".

• ADB approves USD 132.8 million loan to improve power distribution in Meghalaya
  • The Asian Development Bank has approved USD 132.8 million loan to improve and upgrade the power distribution network in Meghalaya.

• IREDA signs MoU with MNRE, sets revenue target of 2406 cr
  • Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), for setting key targets for the year 2020-21.

• USAID provides USD 3million to COVIDActionCollab to fight COVID
  • USAID has provided USD 3 million to COVIDActionCollab (CAC) to reduce the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic.

• Italian energy utility Snam inks pacts to enter India gas, hydrogen market
  • Italian energy utility Snam signed agreements with Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Adani Group and Greenko to enter the Indian market, with a focus on natural gas, hydrogen and low-carbon mobility.

• AAI signs MoU with NTPC to set up solar power plants at airports
  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) recently, with a subsidiary of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to promote usage of electric vehicles as well as set up solar power plants at its airports.

• FASTags mandatory for all four-wheelers from January 1, 2021
  • The Central government has made FASTags mandatory for all four-wheelers including old vehicles from January 1, 2020.

• Chandauli tops Niti Aayog’s Aspirational district ranking in September
  • Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh has topped the rankings of aspirational districts by government think-tank NITI Aayog for September.

• Samsung at top in the Forbes List of World’s Best Employers
  • Korean tech major Samsung has become the best employer in the world this year, according to the rankings released by US business magazine Forbes.

NATIONAL

• MP’s Panna Tiger Reserve now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
  • UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme included Panna in India and Fuvahmulah and Addu Atoll in the Maldives, to UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
  • For India it is the twelfth entry, whereas for Maldives second and third after Baa Atoll.

• Civil service probationers train at Statue of Unity
  • The Centre’s first-ever common foundation course Aarambh (Beginning) for 2019 batch probationer civil servants has begun at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat, where around 500 newly recruited bureaucrats are undergoing six-day training.

• Public Affairs Index-2020
  • The Public Affairs Index-2020 (PAI-2020) is released by the Public Affairs Centre. The city-based not-for-profit organisation is headed by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Kasturirangan.

• Chacha Chaudhary becomes the Brand Ambassador for Namami Gange Project
  • The iconic Indian superhero, Chacha Chaudhary, the man whose brain works faster than a computer has become Brand Ambassador of Namami Gange Programme, an Integrated Conservation Mission to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.

• Aero India 2021 to be held from February 3 to 7 in Bengaluru
  • The department of Defence Production announced the date of India's biennial aviation exhibition and air show -- February 3 to 7, 2021 in Bengaluru.
  • The Defence Exhibition Organisation also announced that the 13th edition of Aero India will be held at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru.

• Gen. Naravane conferred the honorary rank of General of Nepali Army by President Bhandari
  • Indian Army Chief General M. M. Naravane was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army by President Bidya Devi Bhandari at a special ceremony.

• Centre launches ‘Nurturing Neighborhoods Challenge’
  • The Union Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) Ministry launched a challenge for cities to develop and implement initiatives to improve the quality of life of young children, caregivers and families.
  • HUA Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the ‘Nurturing Neighborhoods Challenge’ which will be open for the 100 Smart Cities, cities with population of more than 5 lakh and State/Union Territory capitals.

• Syska Group announces Rajkummar Rao as its new brand ambassador
  • Fast Moving Electrical Goods (FMEG) Company Syska Group, has roped in actor Rajkummar Rao as the new face of the brand.

• Shipping Ministry to be renamed as Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • The Ministry of Shipping is being expanded and renamed as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

• MIB constitutes committee to review Guidelines on Television Rating Agencies in India
  • Ministry of Information and Broadcasting decided to constitute a committee to review “Guidelines on Television Rating Agencies in India”.
  • Headed by Shashi S Vempati, CEO, Prasar Bharti, the committee will examine the different aspects of television rating systems in India.

INTERNATIONAL

• Joe Biden elected 46th President of the United States
  • Democratic candidate Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. better known as Joe Biden, is elected the 46th President of the United States. Mr. Biden’s running mate, Kamala Devi Harris, a U.S. Senator from California, will become the first woman and first Indian- and African-American Vice-President of the country.

• U.S. formally exits Paris climate deal
  • The US formally exited the Paris Climate Agreement. The US exited the pact after a mandatory year-long waiting period ended.

• Priyanca Radhakrishnan becomes New Zealand’s first-ever Indian-origin minister
  • Priyanca Radhakrishnan became New Zealand’s first-ever Indian-origin minister after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern brought five new ministers into her executive.

• UN General Assembly Adopts India-Sponsored Resolutions on Nuclear Disarmament
  • The First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted two resolutions sponsored by India which call for the prohibition of nuclear weapons and reduce the risks of accidental use of nuclear weapons in the world.

STATES

• Punjab govt. inks pact with GAME to support MSMEs
  • The Punjab government has signed an agreement with the Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME) to improve 'ease of doing business' for MSMEs in the state under Omidyar Network India's 'ReSolve Initiative'.

• India's first solar-powered miniature train launched at Veli Tourist Village in Kerala
  • A solar energy-driven miniature train, billed as the country's first of its kind, was inaugurated at the Veli Tourist Village in Kerala by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

• Kerala launches Parivarthanam scheme for better livelihood of fisherfolk
  • A pioneering eco-sustainable programme Parivarthanam, to help the fishing community was launched in Kerala, aiming to improve the livelihood skills of youngsters along the coastline and also enable socio-economic uplift of the fishermen community.

• India’s first ‘Tyre Park’ to come up in West Bengal
  • West Bengal will soon feature India’s first ‘Tyre Park’, where artworks made from scrap and defective parts will be on display. The idea behind the park is waste can be converted into art.

• DMC launches new initiative named ‘plastic lao mask le jao’ (bring plastic, take mask)
  • In an initiative to fight against the menace of plastic waste and contain the spread of Covid-19, Dehradun Municipal Corporation launched an initiative named ‘plastic lao mask le jao’ (bring plastic, take mask)

• Kabartal Wetland designated as New Ramsar Sites
  • Kabartal also known as Kanwar Jheel in Bihar’s Begusarai district has been recognised as a wetland of international importance — the first such wetland in the state — under the Ramsar Convention.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• ISRO launched earth observation satellite EOS-01
  • The Indian Space Research Organisation has successfully launched the earth observation satellite, EOS-01, on board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
  • The EOS-01 satellite was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

• TRIFED signs MoU with JD Centre of Arts
  • Tribal Co-operative Marketing Federation of India (TRIFED) has signed MoU with JD Centre of Arts for collaborating on joint socio-cultural research work and anthropological study of tribal art and tradition in tribal dominated regions of India.

• Indo-Dutch ‘Centre of excellence for vegetables, flowers’ opens in Kerala
  • An Indo-Dutch Centre of excellence (CoE) for vegetables and flowers has been opened in Kerala's Wayanad district

DEFENCE

• Bangladesh and US launch joint naval exercise CARAT Bangladesh 2020
  • The Bangladesh and US navies launched the ‘Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Bangladesh 2020’ to expand relationships and broaden maritime awareness between the two countries.

• India, US, Japan and Australia kick-start Malabar naval exercise in Bay of Bengal
  • The navies of India, United States, Japan and Australia kick started the first phase of the Malabar exercise in the Bay of Bengal.

• Enhanced version of Pinaka Mk-1 missile successfully flight-tested
  • An enhanced version of the Pinaka Mk-1 missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was successfully flight-tested from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.

• Triservice exercise ‘Bull Strike’ conducted at Nicobar Islands
  • The armed forces conducted a joint tri-service exercise ‘Bull Strike’ at the Teressa Island in the Nicobar group of islands located close to the strategic Strait of Malacca.

EVENTS

• 8th India-Mexico Joint Commission Meeting
  • The 8th India- Mexico Joint Commission Meeting was held through Video-Conference.
  • The Meeting was co-chaired by Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of Republic of India (EAM) and H. E. Marcelo Ebrard, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Mexican States.

• Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR) 2020 conference
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR) 2020 conference in a bid to attract investments into the country.

• 8th meeting of India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investments
  • The eighth meeting of the India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investments was hosted by India virtual format due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The meeting was co-chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi.

• 40th SAARCFINANCE Governors' Group Meeting
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das inaugurated and chaired the 40th meeting of the SAARCFINANCE Governors' Group.

AWARDS AND REWARDS

• Kerala Tourism bags World Travel Mart London award
  • Kerala Tourism has been bestowed the coveted 'Highly Commended' Award by World Travel Mart London, as a recognition for its remarkable activities aimed at promoting Responsible Tourism (RT) during the challenging times of COVID-19 pandemic.

• Hariharan bags JC Daniel award for lifetime contributions to Malayalam cinema
  • Noted filmmaker Hariharan has been selected for the JC Daniel Award, Kerala government’s highest honour for lifetime contributions to Malayalam cinema.

• Writer Paul Zacharia selected for Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
  • Noted Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia has been selected for this year’s Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the Kerala government’s highest literary honour.

SPORTS

• Jio named title sponsor for 2020 Women’s T20 Challenge
  • The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Jio as the title sponsor for the 2020 edition of the Women’s T20 Challenge scheduled to be played from November 4 to November 9, in Sharjah.

• Lewis Hamilton Wins Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
  • Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton won the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
  • His Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas was second. Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo placed third.

• Shane Watson announces retirement from all forms of cricket
  • Shane Watson, the former Australia all-rounder and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener, formally announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.