NATIONAL
1. India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage crosses 112 crore 91 lakh doses. Health Ministry has said that more than 124 crore vaccine doses have been provided to States and Union Territories so far.
2. Nation celebrates Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas; Birsa Munda Museum inaugurated in Ranchi PM Modi inaugurated the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Swantantra Senani Sangrahalaya Sah Smriti Udyaan on 15 Nov at the Central Old Jail Premises in Ranchi.
3. The Supreme Court court directed the centre to call an emergency meeting of states and other authorities to chalk out immediate steps to reduce the toxic smog in National Capital Region and said it would hear the matter again on Wednesday. The Apex Court also directed that the Centre and states should consider work-from-home for their employees in and around Delhi and farmers should be persuaded to not burn farm waste to cut down pollution.
4. PM Modi will visit Uttar Pradesh today and inaugurate Purvanchal Expressway at Karwal Kheri in Sultanpur district. After the inauguration, the Prime Minister will also witness an Airshow by the Indian Air Force on the 3.2-kilometer long airstrip constructed on the Expressway in Sultanpur district to enable landing or take-off of Indian Air Force fighter planes in case of emergency. The Prime Minister will also address a public rally in Sultanpur after the inauguration.
5. PM Modi divides 77 ministers into 8 groups, tasks them with improving governance
This exercise of dividing the ministers into eight groups was done following ‘Chintan Shivirs’ (brainstorming sessions) of the entire council that were chaired by PM Modi, with each meeting lasting for nearly five hours.
6. The central government is planning to rope in young professionals, seek suggestions from retiring officials and make the best use of technology for project monitoring, besides various other steps to be overseen by eight different groups comprising of members from the entire Council of Ministers.
7. The 77 ministers have been divided into eight groups to develop technology-based resources, create a pool of professionals for recruiting in their teams and other similar initiatives to be adopted in the offices of all ministers’ offices to bring more transparency and further improve and efficiency of the govt.
8. IIT Gandhinagar research scholars win Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Awards 2021: Two research scholars of IIT Gandhinagar — Harini Gunda, a PhD student of Chemical Engineering, and Dr Chandan Kumar Jha, a PhD alumnus and now a postdoctoral fellow in Electrical Engineering, have won the Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Awards 2021.
9. DELHI: The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal as a judge of the Delhi High Court. The move is being hailed as historic since it marks the first instance of the SC Collegium recommending the elevation of an openly homosexual member of the judiciary to the bench. If appointed, Kirpal will be India’s first openly gay judge.
10. GUJARAT : Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) in Gujarat has imposed a ban on the sale of non-vegetarian food items at stalls alongside public roads from Tuesday.
11. HIMACHAL : Dr Lal Singh, Director, Himalayan Research Group (HRG), a local NGO, has been honoured with the non-government prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj award for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development – 2021.
12. KERALA : Heavy rains lashing various parts of the state since Saturday night, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday declared a red alert in the central Kerala districts of Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur for the day.
13. MAHARASHTRA : Amajor fire broke out at Samsung service centre in Kanjurmarg East industrial area of Mumbai on Monday. The establishments of three other companies were also affected by the blaze.
14. Mumbai Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized 1,127-kilogram consignment of Marijuana (Ganja) from Naigaon Taluka of Maharashtra’s Nanded district. NCB Officer Sameer Wankhede informed that the consignment was brought from Andhra Pradesh to Maharashtra.
15. RAJASTHAN: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday announced that he will launch his party in Rajasthan in the next 1 to 1.5 months. “Since we’re launching the party, we will definitely contest the next Assembly elections,” he said.
16. UTTAR PRADESH: A UP court has rejected the bail plea of Ashish Misra and two others accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Ashish Misra (45) is the son of Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home, Ajay Misra Teni. Ashish Misra has been lodged in prison since his arrest on October 9. He was arrested in connection with the October 3 violence near Tikunia village in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district.
17. Goddess Annapurna’s idol returned by Canada after 108 yrs, installed at UP temple. An idol of Goddess Annapurna brought back from Canada after 108 years was installed at the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi on 15 Nov. The idol was earlier housed at Canada’s MacKenzie Art Gallery. It was taken to the temple in a silver palanquin, shouldered by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.
18. UTTARKHAND : Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s house in Uttarakhand’s Nainital was vandalised on Monday amid the row over his recent book in which he draws a comparison between Hindutva and terror outfits like the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
19. Hindi writer Mannu Bhandari passed away at a private hospital in Gurugram on 15 Nov. She was 90. Mannu Bhandari was suffering from age-related ailments. Mannu Bhandari was known for her novels ‘Aapki Banti’ and ‘Mahabhoj’. Her famous novel ‘Yahi Sach Hai’ was adapted into a Hindi movie ‘Rajnigandha’ in 1974.
FINANCE MINISTRY
1. Central govt to release Rs 95,082 crore as tax devolution to the states in November (22 Nov) to help them push their capital expenditure.
2. Finance Minister emphasized that the economy has been growing significantly post the second wave of pandemic and indicators such as imports, exports.
ENTERTAINMENT
1. Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday urging him to withdraw Kangana Ranaut’s Padma Shri. The DCW chief also sought registration of FIR against Kangana Ranaut on sedition charges after the actor described India’s independence in 1947 as “bheekh” or alms. Kangana Ranaut’s statement triggered a controversy, with politicians across party lines demanding that her Padma Shri be taken back.
2. Actress Kangana Ranaut says she will return her Padma Shri if anyone can prove she disrespected martyrs.
During a television interview, she said that India attained freedom in 2014 when PM Modi came to power. She described the country’s independence in 1947 as ‘bheek.’ She was called out by several politicians and netizens.
3. Defending herself, she shared a photo from a book that talks about India’s struggle for independence, acrtess Kangana wrote, “Everything is very clearly mentioned in the same interview 1857 first collective fight for freedom along with the sacrifice of greats like Subhash Chandra Bose, Rani Laxmibai and Veer Savarkar ji. 1857 I know but which war took place in 1947 I am not aware, if someone can bring to my awareness I will give back my Padma Shri and apologise also please help me with this.”
4. Ex-Miss World Manushi Chhillar, who is set to make her Bollywood debut with ‘Prithviraj’, said that she was “immensely grateful” to work with Akshay Kumar, who supported her through the shoot. “His work ethic, his dedication to the craft is an inspiration to me,” she said. Manushi further said she was “positive” that the movie will entertain the audience worldwide.
5. Akshay Kumar-starrer ‘Ram Setu’ will reportedly be shot in Daman instead of Sri Lanka. As per reports, ‘Ram Setu’ was set to be filmed in Sri Lanka, however, due to complications in permission because of the pandemic, the crew will shoot the movie in Daman. The movie will release on Diwali 2022.
DEFENCE
1. Former Intelligence Bureau Special Director Takes Charge As CISF Chief : Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sheel Vardhan Singh on Monday assumed charge of the Director-General of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Senior IPS officer Sheel Vardhan Singh, who is BA (Honours) in English literature, joined the Indian Police Service in 1986 at the age of 23 and was allotted Bihar cadre.
2. Army recovers warlike stores including 20 rounds of M-79 grenade launcher in Manipur
Manipur. The operation is carried out by Phundrei Battalion of Assam rifles. Recovered near Wabagai Yanbi High School in Kakching district.
3. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled a plaque to rename Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses after late Manohar Parrikar. Renaming as Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA).
Speaking on the occasion in New Delhi, Rajnath Singh remembered the former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for his thoughtful leadership during the 2016 counter-terror strikes and implementation of the One Rank One Pension scheme.
4. After lifting the ban on dealings with Italian firm Agusta Westland, the Defence Ministry has come out with a fresh list of firms that have been banned, debarred or suspended from doing business with the military.
5. The Indian Navy deserves to be complimented for receiving the “Project 15B” Kolkata class (DDGHM) stealth destroyer Vishakhapatnam (D-66) on October 31, which incidentally was the 37th death anniversary of Indira Gandhi, who was one of the rare political figures in India who could grasp the supreme importance of sea power.
6. Army Chief General M M Naravane on 14 Nov (Sunday) left for Israel on a five-day visit to further strengthen the expansive bilateral defence ties with the country. This comes soon after external affairs minister S Jaishankar and defence secretary Ajay Kumar’s visits to the country.
7. US defense giant Lockheed Martin has again pitched its F-21 fighter aircraft for India’s exclusive use while portraying it as the most suitable aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The company has already stated that if the Indian Air Force (IAF) placed an order for 114 jets valued roughly at $18 billion under the MMRCA 2.0, the F-21 fighters will not be sold to any other country.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. Pakistan on 15 Nov handed over 20 Indian fishermen, who completed their four-year prison terms for allegedly fishing in Pakistani waters, to India at the Wagah border.
2. India allows fully-vaccinated travelers from 99 nations to skip quarantine.
3. India has successfully launched the 41st Scientific Expedition to Antarctica with the arrival of the first batch of its contingent at the southern white continent. The first batch comprising of 23 scientists and support staff reached the Indian Antarctic Station Maitri.
4. The 41st expedition has two major programs. The first program encompasses geological exploration of the Amery ice-shelf at Bharati Station. The second program involves reconnaissance surveys and preparatory work for drilling of 500 metres of ice core near Maitri. It will help in understanding the Antarctic climate.
The Indian Antarctic program, which began in 1981, has completed 40 Scientific Expeditions so far. India has built three Permanent Research Base Stations in Antarctica, named Dakshin Gangotri, Maitri and Bharati.
5. Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India early next month, Moscow has started deliveries of S-400 air defence systems to India.
MORE WORLD NEWS
1. Egypt has banned all unvaccinated and untested public sector employees from entering their office in an effort to boost vaccinations. Public university students are also barred from campuses if not vaccinated, according to government rules. From December 1, members of the public will be unable to enter government offices without proof of partial vaccination.
2. Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to resume the ‘Dosti’ bus service in 2022 after a break of more than five years. The decision was taken during the recent visit by an Afghan delegation led by interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The bus service will connect Pakistan’s Peshawar to Afghanistan’s Jalalabad.
3. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will visit Turkey for the first time in 10 years. This visit will come after years of tensions between the two countries.
4. China and the US will hold a virtual summit on November 16. The Chinese foreign ministry said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and the US President Joe Biden will have a candid and in-depth exchange of views on strategic issues related to the future of China-US relations and important issues of mutual concern.
(Source: Various Newspapers)