Current Affairs

20^th & 21^st November 2022

Top 20 Daily Current Affairs: National & International News

Here is the Daily Current Affairs of the 20th and 21st November 2022 covering the following news headlines: World Television Day, World Children’s Day, Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix, 22nd FIFA men’s world cup, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Gandhi Mandela award.

National News

1.First Unani Medicine Regional Center of Northeast Inaugurated in Silchar, Assam

The first institute of Unani medicine in the Northeast region of India was inaugurated in Silchar town of Assam. The Unani medicine institute in Silchar of Assam was inaugurated by Union Ayush minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

The new complex spreads over an area of 3.5 acres, built with an investment of Rs.48 crore. The National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) developed the complex, which is a Government of India enterprise. It was handed over to Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.

2.MoS for Education Subhash Sarkar Confers National Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2021-22

Thirty-nine schools from across the country have been awarded the Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar for the 2021-22 academic session. Minister of State for Education Dr Subhash Sarkar conferred National Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2021-22 in New-Delhi.

The schools selected from among the total 8.23 lakh entries are 28 government and aided while 11 are private schools.  A total of 39 schools have been selected for the national award including 34 in the overall category and five in sub-categories by the national selection committee.

The schools will get an award money of Rs 60,000 each. Besides, every school will get a certificate of participation showing the category-wise scores and overall rating of the school.

International News

3.Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar attends FIFA world cup inauguration in Qatar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has joined the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and other dignitaries in the inauguration of FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Dhankhar is in Doha for a two-day visit to represent India at the inauguration of FIFA’s showpiece event.

Besides attending the inaugural ceremony of the Football World Cup, the Vice President will also interact with members of the Indian community during the visit. The 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor will host the opening ceremony on 20 November 2022 just before the first match between host Qatar and Ecuador.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Qatar Capital: Doha;

Qatar Currency: Qatari Riyal.

State News

4.Maharashtra Government Doubles Pension of Freedom Fighters

The Maharashtra Government has decided to double the pension of freedom fighters from ten thousand to twenty thousand rupees per month. Accordingly, freedom fighters associated with India’s freedom struggle, Marathwada Mukti Sangram and Goa Liberation Movement will benefit from this decision.

This will benefit around 6,229 surviving patriots across Maharashtra who had taken part in India’s freedom struggle (1947), the Marathwada Liberation struggle (1948) and the Goa Liberation movement (1961). The largesse will entail an additional annual burden of Rs 74.75 crore on the state exchequer, for the pension scheme launched way back in 1965.

It was intended to recognise the contributions of all those who took part in several of these historical and nationalistic movements in the past which finally led to the integration of the country.

Appointments News

5.Retired IAS Arun Goel appointed as Election Commissioner of India

President Droupadi Murmu has appointed retired IAS Arun Goel as the Election Commissioner in the Election Commission with effect from the date he assumes the office.

A Punjab cadre officer of the 1985 batch, Goel will join Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey in the poll panel.

Till recently, Mr Goel was the heavy industries secretary and has also served in the Union Culture ministry. He was to retire on December 31, 2022, but his voluntary retirement came into effect on November 18.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Chief Election Commissioner of India: Rajiv Kumar;

Other Election Commissioner: Anup Chandra Pandey;

Election Commission Formed: 25 January 1950;

Election Commission HQ: New Delhi.

Economy News

6.Goldman Sachs Slashes India’s GDP Forecast for 2023 to 5.9%

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. sees India’s economic growth slowing next year, citing a hit to consumer demand from higher borrowing costs and fading benefits from pandemic reopening, while lowering its growth forecast. Gross domestic product (GDP) may expand by 5.9% in calendar year 2023 from an estimated 6.9% this year.

India’s export growth fell sharply in October. It contracted 16.7% annually from 4.8% growth. September. This indicates a decrease in global demand.

India’s exports saw a contraction for the first time in the post-pandemic phase and the last time exports contracted was back in February 2021.

Ranks and Reports News

7.Network Readiness Index 2022: India ranked 61st

India has moved up by six slots to improve its position and rank 61st as per the Network Readiness Index 2022 (NRI 2022) report prepared by a US-based Portulans Institute, an independent non-profit research and educational institute.

In a statement issued by the Telecom Ministry, it was stated that India’s overall score has improved to 51.19 in 2022 from 49.74 in 2021. The NRI 2022 report ranks a total of 131 economies that together account for about 95 per cent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The United States ranks first on the list, with an overall score of 80.3. Singapore comes in second with a score of 79.35, and Sweden comes in third with a score of 78.91. Singapore leads Asia Pacific, followed by South Korea and Japan.

The Network Readiness Index (NRI) report maps the network readiness landscape of 131 economies based on their performance in four areas: technology, people, governance, and impact. The country’s main strength relates to People, while Governance has the most scope for improvement.

This year’s index includes 49 high-income economies, 32 upper-middle-income economies, 36 lower-middle-income economies, and 14 low-income economies.

8.Shahjahanpur District of UP Amongst Top Ranked District on the Jal Jeevan Mission

Shahjahanpur has become number one in the country in giving maximum number of tap connections in a month. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, Shahjahanpur has created history in providing tap connections to every household in rural areas.

According to the data given on the website of Jal Jeevan Mission, Bulandshahr, Bareilly, Mirzapur have also got a place in this survey. This achievement is being considered as a big leap in the matter of rural drinking water supply. In this survey, districts are selected across the country on the basis of the progress of the scheme.

The names of Shahjahanpur, Bulandshahr and Bareilly have been registered among the best performing districts of UP in October. In the ranking of districts, Shahjahanpur topped the best performing category by scoring 689990 marks. Bulandshahr is second by scoring 657180 marks and Bareilly is third in this category by scoring 619114 marks.

Awards News

9.Khalid Jawed’s wins the 2022 JCB Prize for Literature

Author Khalid Jawed’s “The Paradise of Food”, translated by Baran Farooqi from Urdu, won the fifth JCB Prize for Literature. The book, originally published as “Ne’mat Khana” in 2014, is the fourth translation to win the award and the first work in Urdu.

“The Paradise of Food” tells the story of a middle-class joint Muslim family over a span of fifty years where the narrator struggles to find a place for himself, at odds in his home and the world outside.

Jawed received the prize money of Rs 25 lakh along with a trophy, a sculpture by Delhi artist duo Thukral and Tagra, “Mirror Melting”. Baran Farooqi also received an additional Rs 10 lakh for the award. The winner was selected by a panel of five judges, consisting of journalist and editor AS Panneerselvan, author Amitabha Bagchi, author-academician Rakhee Balaram, translator-historian J Devika and author Janice Pariat.

10.Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama honoured with Gandhi Mandela award

The 14th Dalai Lama was conferred the Gandhi Mandela Award 2022 at Thekchen Choeling in Dharamshala’s McleodGanj by Himachal Pradesh governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. The Tibetan spiritual leader, receiving the peace prize from the New Delhi-based Gandhi Mandela Foundation. The event was attended by former Chief Justice of India Justice KG Balakrishnan and former Supreme Court Justice Gyan Sudha Misra.

The award is given to personalities who have carried forward the legacies of Gandhi and Mandela by making significant contributions in the fields of Peace, Social Welfare, Culture, Environment, Education, Healthcare, Sports and Innovation.

11.53rd IFFI 2022: Chiranjeevi honoured with Indian Film Personality of the Year 2022

At the opening ceremony of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi was honoured with the Indian Film Personality of the Year 2022 award.

Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Anurag Thakur announced that the Indian Film Personality of the Year award will be conferred upon megastar Chiranjeevi. In a career spanning nearly four decades, Chiranjeevi has acted in more than 150 films, primarily in the Telugu film industry.

Summits and Conferences News

12.India Launches Official Website And Theme of SCO 2023

India has launched the official website of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as it will host the next SCO summit as a chairman of organisation in 2023. The website highlights the events that will be undertaken under the chairmanship of India next year.

The theme of the event is “For a SECURE SCO”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had floated the concept of SECURE at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China in 2018. Explaining the SECURE concept, the Prime Minister said ‘S’ for security for citizens, ‘E’ for economic development, ‘C’ for connectivity in the region, ‘U’ for unity, ‘R’ for respect of sovereignty and integrity, and ‘E for environment protection.

Schemes and Committees News

13.BCCI Dissolves 4-Member National Selection Committee Headed by Chetan Sharma

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dissolved the four-member National Selection Committee headed by Chetan Sharma after India team’s uninspired performance in T20 World Cup. Apart from chief selector Chetan Sharma, other members of the selection committee were Sunil Joshi, Harvinder Singh and Debashish Mohanty.

The team selection for tournaments like the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup was unsatisfactory. Constant chop and change on the team’s leadership and the sideline of Shikhar Dhawan, while persisting with KL Rahul being the reasons for the disbarment of the national selection committee.

India’s humiliating 10-wicket defeat to England in the T20 World Cup semifinal. Heads were expected to roll after the Rohit Sharma-led team, seen as one of the main title contenders, fell to a crushing defeat to the Three Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Putting the Indian bowlers to the sword, England’s opening duo Joss Buttler and Alex Hales romped to a win with four overs to spare.

14.Govt to Set up 100 Academies to Promote Archery Amongst Tribal Children

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda has said the government has decided to set up 100 archery academies in the country to promote talent amongst tribal children by nurturing their archery skills.

Mr. Munda said, his Ministry is continuously working for enhancing educational and health facilities and also focusing on generating employment in the tribal areas. He informed that the government is setting up Eklavya Model Residential School and implementing ‘Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna which aims at mitigating gaps and providing basic infrastructure in villages with significant tribal population.

Sports News

15.22nd FIFA World Cup 2022 kick starts in Al Khor, Qatar

The 22nd FIFA men’s world cup was formally declared open at a colourful ceremony held at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar on 20 November. It is for the first time that an Arab country is hosting the football tournament.

32 teams will play for the most coveted prize in international football, with the final scheduled to take place on December 18 at the Lusail stadium, the biggest one among the eight stadiums being used to host the World Cup.

On December 18, 2022, Qatar’s National Day, the opening game takes place at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor between Qatar and Ecuador.

The name of the football to be used during the world cup is Al Rihla.

The official mascot of the Qatar World Cup is La’eeb. The adventurous, fun and curious La’eeb was unveiled during the Qatar 2022 Final Draw, which took place in Doha on April 1, following a tradition that was initiated in England 1966.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

FIFA President: Gianni Infantino;

FIFA Founded: 21 May 1904;

FIFA Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland.

16.Formula-1 Racing: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix

Formula One (F1) world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull team won the season ending F1 Abu Dhabi race in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The battle for second place remained a major story with Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez entering the race tied at 290 points, but it was Leclerc who came out on top with a second-place finish on the Yas Marina Circuit.

Books and Authors News

17.A book titled ‘The World: A Family History’ authored by british historian Simon Sebag

British Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore has released a new book titled ‘The World: A Family History’. In ‘The World: A Family History’, Montefiore he tells how humanity evolved by the stories of different and famus families.

The two-part book, which will be published by Hachette India, will tell the story of humankind in “a ground-breaking, single narrative that will forever shift the boundaries of what history can achieve”. The begins with the story of a family some 9,50,000 years ago.

In the coming pages, Montefiore takes the readers on an epic journey through the families that have shaped the world, including the Caesars, Medicis, Incas, Ottomans, Mughals, Bonapartes, Habsburgs, Zulus, Rothschilds, Rockefellers, Krupps and Churchills.

Important Days

18.World Children’s Day 2022 celebrates on 20 November

World Children’s Day is celebrated on November 20 annually. The day aims to promote international togetherness and awareness among children as well as to improve their welfare.

November 20 marks the anniversary of the UN General Assembly adopted a Declaration and Convention on children’s rights. This year, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) wants to remind world leaders to “fulfil the promise of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”.

The theme for International children’s day is, “Inclusion, for every child”. This theme means that every child belonging to any society, community or nationality is entitled to equal rights.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

UNICEF Headquarters: New York, New York, United States;

UNICEF Founded: 11 December 1946;

UNICEF Head: Catherine M. Russell.

19.World Television Day 2022 observed on 21st November

World Television Day is observed on 21 November, every year. It is a day that recognizes the value and impact of television in our lives. We all know television plays a crucial role in society and in an individual’s life. It is our daily source of entertainment and information.

All the entertainment and information that we receive from television helps us to stay updated about the world. To highlight the importance of television as something beyond an electronic tool, World Television Day is celebrated annually on November 21.

On 21 and 22 November 1996 the United Nations held the first World Television Forum, where leading media figures met under the auspices of the United Nations to discuss the growing significance of television in today’s changing world and to consider how they might enhance their mutual cooperation. That is why the General Assembly decided to proclaim 21 November as World Television Day.

Obituaries News

20.Veteran Punjabi actress Daljeet Kaur Khangura passes away

Daljeet Kaur, a veteran actor well-known for her lead roles in several superhit Punjabi movies, has passed away in Punjab’s Ludhiana district. She was 69 years old.

Daljeet was one of Pollywood’s best-known actors. Kaur had appeared in several successful films, including Mamla Garbar Hai, Putt Jattan De, Patola, Ki Banu Duniya Da, and Saida Jogan.