November 2020 National Affairs

• Children pen manifesto for political parties in Assam
  More than 4,000 children from 17 districts of Assam have put forward their issues and recommendations for political parties to include in their manifestos ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls.
  
  They presented a 10-point children’s manifesto to develop an Assam that will be better for children.
  
  The demands include –
  Protection from violence in all forms
  
  Access to nutritious food and to quality and affordable healthcare and education
  
  Sustainable development
  
  An end to discrimination based on class, caste, gender, religion or any other ground.
  
  The manifesto was an initiative of a Delhi-based NGO in association with the UNICEF, which had launched the ‘Reimagine’ campaign for building a better post-pandemic world.
  
  As part of the process, 40 organisations from across Assam were sensitised through a series of online workshops between June and September to issues such as child rights, climate change and sustainable development goals.
  
  
• MHA approves study on ‘status of radicalisation’
  The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has, for the first time, approved a research study on ‘status of radicalisation’ in the country.
  
  Study will be conducted by G.S. Bajpai, Director of the Centre for Criminology and Victimology, National Law University, Delhi.
  
  The study will attempt to legally define ‘radicalisation’ and suggest amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
  
  Radicalisation is yet to be defined legally; this leads to misuse by the police.
  
  Aggressive policing measures could be counter-productive as the youth who were radicalised were “misguided” and not the culprits.
  
  A huge local population engulfed by systematic radicalisation can create a major security challenge for the state.
  
  The United Nations’ 26th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning the IS (Islamic State), al-Qaeda and associated individuals and entities had pointed out “significant numbers” of the IS and al-Qaeda members in Kerala and Karnataka.
  
  Cases have revealed instances of internet-facilitated indoctrination and active radicalisation in multiple states.
  
  Instances of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) have grown despite the continued government intervention. Encounters, ambushes and arrests still occur with regular frequency in the red corridor districts.
  
  Increased incidents of mob lynching, cow vigilantism and the string of assassinations of rationalists such as NarendraDabholkar, GovindPansare and GauriLankesh point towards rising extremism in the right wing cadres.
  
  The Maharashtra Government has rolled out a Deradicalisation Programme for the minority community to counter both home-grown extremism and the global Islamic State (IS) threat. The plan has been chalked out by the State Home Department that includes a 50-point socio-economic strategy.
  
  Deradicalisation is a process in which people reject the ideology they once embraced. This is a step further than disengagement, characterised by a change in behaviour (leaving the radical group, stopping violence) without giving up.
  
  
• Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister PemaKhandu pushes for highway along Tibet border
  Given Beijing’s claim over it, Arunachal Pradesh has been wary of increased activities by the People’s Liberation Army across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since the Ladakh standoff in May.
  
  With reports that China has started working on railway up to his State’s border, Chief Minister PemaKhandu has been pushing for better connectivity to the Himalayan heights, specifically the Frontier Highway along the border to facilitate faster movement of troops during a war-like situation and give locals more accessibility by default.
  
  If one goes by the history of conflicts since 1962 and unfounded claims over Arunachal Pradesh, it is imperative to protect our homeland. Many stretches of the border are indeed inaccessible.
  
  This is why we are pushing for the Frontier Highway along the 1,100 km LAC to facilitate faster movement of troops.
  
  Projects for the border areas used to get confused because of multiple agencies. We have changed this through a coordinated approach so that everyone from the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Border Roads Organisation and State agencies plan things out together for quality, speedy execution.
  
  A detailed project report (DPR) is being made after meetings with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Defence Ministry.
  
  
• Peaceful possibilities on J&K local body polls
  Elections in J&K can lead to participatory politics and meaningful dialogue.
  
  The coming local body elections in Jammu and Kashmir could be an opportunity to open a new political dialogue in the Union Territory, particularly on the question of restoring its statehood.
  
  In the first democratic exercise since the Centre revoked J&K’s special status and reorganised it into two UTs in August 2019, Panchayati Raj elections are scheduled over eight phases beginning November 28.
  
  For the first time, this part of India will have the entire 73rd Constitutional Amendment coming into operation.
  
  In October, the UT administration amended the Panchayati Raj Act, providing for District Development Councils (DDC) in each district, and establishing the three-tier PR structure.
  
  Alongside the election of 280 DDC members, by-elections for around 12,000 panchayat seats and over 230 urban body seats will also take place.
  
  Peaceful, participatory election in a troubled region can be the most forceful demonstration of the resilience of Indian democracy. It is for this reason that elections are a target for those who believe that only violence can achieve popular aspirations in Kashmir.
  
  Four JeM militants who were planning a terror attack in the Valley to disrupt the elections and sow chaos were neutralised last week.
  
  
• Vacancies unfilled, minorities’ panel has only one member
  The seven-member National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has only one member left after the retirement of its vice-chairperson while the other 5 posts have been vacant since May 2020.
  
  The Ministry for Minority Affairs clarified that the process is underway and there has been a delay in filling the vacancies because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
  
  However, it is not the first time that vacancies have not been filled in the NCM. In 2017, all seven posts remained empty for over two months.
  
  In 2004, the standing committee on social justice and empowerment, headed by Sumitra Mahajan, made specific recommendations to strengthen the NCM, highlighting its insufficient investigative powers.
  
  However, these recommendations were never implemented by the then government. The reports tabled by the NCM are hardly taken up or debated irrespective of the government in power.
  
  Section 13 of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act, 1992 mandates that the annual report, together with the memorandum of action taken on the recommendations contained therein, as well as the reasons for non-acceptance of the recommendations, if any, be tabled before Parliament annually.
  
  These reports have not been tabled in Parliament since 2010.
  
  
• AP CM Jagan Mohan Reddy launches “Abhayam app” for safety of women passengers
  The state government has launched Abhayam project, a one-of-its-kind initiative aimed at ensuring safety of women and children while travelling in public transport, particularly autorickshaws.
  
  Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the project in his camp office at Tadepalli on 23rd November, 2020. He said that the Abhayam device would be fitted in autorickshaws and cabs. He said that the Abhayam app will provide emergency help to those in distress.
  
  The Chief Minister said that his government was taking many steps towards women empowerment. This is the first Internet of Things (IoT) based women safety project. He asserted that this ambitious project was brought not due to lack of trust on auto and taxi drivers, but to bolster confidence levels of women passengers.
  
  He said “Initially, IoT devices were set up in 1,000 autos in Visakhapatnam as a pilot project and will now be introduced in Vijayawada and Tirupati. Those travelling by autos will need to install the Abhayam mobile application on their mobile. The QR code affixed to the vehicle must be scanned before boarding the vehicle. With this, the driver's photo and vehicle details will be shown. If women using a smartphone encounter difficulty in their journey, they can send the vehicle number to the police from the app and the whereabouts of the vehicle can be tracked through GPS. Passengers who do not have a smartphone can press the panic button on the IoT device attached to the vehicle and the information is sent to the Command Control Centre. This causes the cab or auto to stop immediately and alert the nearest police station.”
  
  
• “Nivar” in Bay of Bengal intensifies into severe cyclonic storm
  The cyclonic storm “Nivar” in the Bay of Bengal intensified into a SEVERE cyclonic storm early Wednesday morning.
  
  The MET Department in Chennai says it is set to further intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm later in the day today. It is expected to make a landfall from late this evening between Kaaraikal and Maamalla-Puram close to Puducherry. During its landfall, the wind speed is expected to be in the range of 130 to 140 km an hour, gushing to 155 km per hour.
  
  The MET Department in Chennai says the Severe Cyclone Nivar currently lies 380 km south-south east of Chennai, 320 km east-south east of Puducherry and 310 km east-southeast of Cuddalore. It is found to be moving westwards with the speed of six kilometres an hour for the past six hours. It is expected to move in the west-northwest direction for the next six-hours and then turn towards the north-western direction and reach the coast.
  
  Under the impact of the cyclone, seven districts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are expected to get extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places today. Sixteen other districts including Chennai and its suburbs will experience isolated heavy to very heavy rain, as informed by the weather officials.
  
  Chennai and its suburbs experienced torrential rainfall for a few hours last evening, leaving arterial roads under sheets of water. Many other parts of the state also reported fairly widespread rain in the last 24-hours.
  
  In view of the cyclone, public holiday has been declared today in Tamil Nadu. Bus and rail services remain either curtailed or suspended in the vulnerable districts due to the cyclone. The state’s inter-department teams have been deployed at all the districts that fall under the path of the cyclone.
  
  The Defence forces have mobilised teams and assets to help the states of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during and after the cyclone. AIR correspondent reports, the Indian Coast Guard has kept four Offshore Patrol Vessels ready for assisting merchant and fishing vessels in distress at sea. Two helicopters are on standby to assist in rescue and relief operations.
  
  In addition, three Dornier aircraft are mobilised at Visakhapatnam to carry out surveillance and damage assessment after the landfall of the cyclone, besides assisting in relief operations. It has readied fifteen relief operations teams to assist the administrations in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The Indian Navy on its part has mobilised five flood relief teams and a divers’ team in Chennai to help the state administration whenever required. Similar teams are on at its bases at Nagapattinam and Rameswaram as well.
  
  The naval ship INS Jyoti has been deployed from Visakhapatnam to render assistance along the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast. Meanwhile, the Madras Atomic Power Station has said it is braced up to face the cyclone as all preparatory measures have been put in place. It has said all its power plant systems are operating normal and are expected to withstand the impact of the cyclone.
  
  NIVAR is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclone and likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry today late evening with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph.
  
  As the cyclone comes closer to the coast in and around Puducherry and Karaikal are experiencing sporadic rainfall since yesterday early morning itself. The District administration is being geared up and taken a wide range of precautionary measures to meet any eventualities, due to NIVAR. Prohibitory order clamped in Puducherry district from 9PM yesterday to 6 AM tomorrow.
  
  The District collector Poorva Garg said that all the departments and National Disaster Response Force teams are well prepared. Further she said that during the 144 period the movement of one or more people in public places in the Puducherry region is prohibited and shops and other business establishments need to be closed.
  
  The Government declared a public holiday today. Further it is announced that people in distress may call 104 for medical, 108 for ambulance support and 1070 and 1077 apart from the general numbers 100, 101, 112 and 1031. The Karaikal district administration instructed the fishermen to keep their fibre boats, fishing nets and boat engines in the WORK SHELTER to avoid any damage or loss.
  
  Under the influence of the cyclone NIVAR moderate rains or thundershowers are very likely over entire Andhra Pradesh, today and tomorrow. With isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places of South coastal AP and Rayalaseema, extremely heavy rain is likely to occur at Nellore, Chittoor on 25th Nov and at Kurnool on 26th Nov'2020. According to S. Stella, Director, IMD Amaravathi, heavy rains are likely at one or two places of North coastal AP on 25th and 26th Nov 2020.
  
  
• President Kovind inaugurates All India Presiding Officers' Conference in Kevadia, Gujarat
  President Ramnath Kovind inaugurated the All India Presiding Officers' Conference at the Statue of Unity complex in Kevadia, Gujarat. Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha M. Venkaiah Naidu was present on this occasion.
  
  Lok Sabha speaker and Chairperson of the Conference Om Birla is presiding the two-day conference.
  
  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually address the valedictory session of the conference tomorrow on 26th to mark the celebration of the constitution day. Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and other dignitaries are also attending the conference.
  
  Presiding Officers of the State Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils are participating in this conference. The theme of this year's conference is Harmonious Coordination of Legislative, Executive and Judiciary - Key to a Vibrant Democracy.
  
  
• PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate RE-INVEST 2020 tomorrow (26th Nov)
  The 3rd Global Renewable Energy Investment Meeting and Expo (RE-INVEST 2020) will be held tomorrow i.e., 26th November, 2020. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate this event.
  
  During the two day virtual conference, all the leading companies will display their latest technological development in the field of renewable energy and discuss various options available for energy transition. Several world leaders, Energy Ministers of 70 countries and 200 eminent speakers will take part in the event.
  
  Mr. RK Singh said that India has done tremendously well in the renewable energy sector and every major company in the world is interested in investing in India.
  
  
• Government approves 7 proposals of Food Processing Projects worth over Rs 234 crore
  The government has approved seven proposals of Food Processing Projects worth over 234 crore rupees. It also includes grants-in-aid of 60.87 crores rupees in Meghalaya, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
  
  Minister of Food Processing Industries Narendra Singh Tomar virtually chaired Inter-Ministerial Approval Committee meeting yesterday. Proposals received under the Scheme for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Cluster of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana were considered. Ministry of Food Processing Industries in a statement said that these projects will leverage private investment of 173.81 crores rupees and are expected to generate employment for 7750 persons.
  
  The scheme for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Cluster was approved in 2017 under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana to incentivize the setting up of agro processing clusters in the country. This scheme aims at development of modern infrastructure to encourage entrepreneurs to set up food processing units based on cluster approach.
  
  
• Government blocks access to 43 mobile apps
  On 24 November, 2020, The Government blocked access to 43 mobile apps. This action was taken based on the inputs regarding these apps for engaging in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity, defence, security of state and public order.
  
  Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued the order for blocking the access of these apps by users in India based on the comprehensive reports received from Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center.
  
  Earlier on 29th June Government had blocked access to 59 mobile apps and on 2nd September, 118 more apps were banned under section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
  
  
• ESIC extends ABVKY scheme up to June 2021
  ESI Corporation (ESIC) has announced the extension of the “Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana” (ABVKY) by another one year up to June 30, 2021and relaxed the eligibility conditions for the period between March 24, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
  
  The Corporation had earlier introduced (on a pilot basis) a new cash benefit under ABVKY – effective from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020, to provide cash compensation to insured persons rendered jobless. This has been extended up to end-June next year.
  
  Highlighting the relaxed (eligibility) conditions, the corporation in a notification said that the insured person should have been in employment for a minimum of two years before his/ her unemployment, and should have contributed for not less than 78 days in the contribution period immediately preceding to unemployment and minimum of 78 days in one of the three contribution periods in two years before losing the job. It has enhanced the unemployment relief up to 50 per cent of the average per day earning during the previous four contribution periods subject to a maximum 90 days of unemployment, the claim is payable for the full month of unemployment. The claim can be made 30 days from the date of losing the job.
  
  The insured person can scan and upload the documents (AB1 Claim Form, Aadhaar, bank account details etc.) online or submit a hard copy duly signed at the concerned ESIC branch office.
  
  The original eligibility conditions of the ABVKY scheme would, however, hold good for those rendered unemployed on or before March 23, 2020 and on or after January 1, 2021.
  
  
• Report on National Nutrition Mission: NITI Aayog
  NITIAayoghasreleased“AcceleratingProgressOnNutritionInIndia: WhatWillItTake”,the third progress report on the National Nutrition Mission or the Poshan Abhiyaan.
  
  NationalNutritionMissionLaunchedin2018, it is the Government of India’s flag ship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
  
  It is backed by a National Nutrition Strategy prepared by the NITI Aayog with the goal of attaining “KuposhanMuktBharat" or malnutrition-free India, by 2022.
  
  Aimistoreducestunting,undernutrition,anemia(amongyoungchildren,womenandadolescentgirls)andlow birth weight by2%,2%,3%and2%per annum respectively.
  
  To address the problem of malnutrition in a mission-mode.
  
  50% of the total budget comes from the World Bank or other multilateral development banks and the rest of the 50% is through Centre’s budgetary support.
  
  The Centre's budgetary support is further divided into 60:40 between the Centre and the States, 90:10 for the north-eastern region and the Himalayan States and 100% for the Union Territories(UTs)without legislature.
  
  More than a third of children under five suffer froms tunting and wasting and 40% of children between one and four are an aemic.
  
  Over 50% of pregnant and non-pregnant women were found to be an aemic, according to the National Family Health Survey-4 released in 2016
  
  The third progress report (October2019-April2020) takes stock of the roll-outstatus on the ground and implementation challenges encountered at various levels through larges called at sets.
  
  These data sets are the NFHS-4 and Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS).
  
  The initial Reports I and II, focused majorly on the mission’s preparedness and implementation by States and UTs, respectively.
  
  There view report was drafted in March2020 and does not fact or worsening poverty and hunger levels since then, which are expected to have gone down further due to the Covid-19.
  
  
• PM Narendra Modi chairs 33rd PRAGATI interaction
  Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the PRAGATI meeting. It marked Prime Minister’s thirty-third interaction through PRAGATI - the ICT based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, involving Central and State governments.
  
  During the meeting, multiple projects, grievances and programmes were reviewed. The projects taken up were of the Ministry of Railways, MORTH, DPIIT and Power Ministry. These projects, with a total cost of 1.41 lakh crore rupees, were related to ten states and union territories, including Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Prime Minister asked the concerned Secretaries of the Union Government and Chief Secretaries of the State Governments to ensure that they complete the work before time.
  
  Grievances related to COVID-19 and to the PM Awas Yojana (Gramin) were taken up. PM SVANidhi, agriculture reforms and development of districts as export hubs were reviewed. The Prime Minister also asked the States to develop a State Export Strategy.
  
  Prime Minister emphasized on the importance of grievance redressal, and said that focus should not only be on quantity of such redressals, but also on quality. He also remarked that reforms are beneficial only when one performs, and this is the way forward to transform the country.
  
  In the previous 32 such meetings, a total of 275 projects worth 12.5 lakh crore rupees have been reviewed, along with 47 programmes and schemes and grievances across 17 sectors have been taken up.
  
  
• Constitution Day celebrated across the country on 26th November--GK
  Constitution Day is being celebrated 26th November, 2020 across the country to mark the adoption of the Indian Constitution by the Constituent Assembly.
  
  The day is also known as National Law Day and commemorates the adoption of the Constitution in India.
  
  On 26th November in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of the country formally adopted the Constitution of India which came into force on 26th January 1950.
  
  Constitution Day was first celebrated in 2015, when NDA Government decided to mark the day as a tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar who played an important role in its framing as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee.
  
  The constituent Assembly had many members who fought for the freedom of the country and came from different regions, religions, communities reflecting the country's diversity.
  
  
• Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot E-Launches ‘National Portal for Transgender Persons’ and E-Inaugurates ‘Garima Greh: A Shelter Home for Transgender Persons’
  Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot e-launched a ‘National Portal for Transgender Persons’. He also e-inaugurated a ‘Garima Greh: A Shelter Home for Transgender Persons’ in Vadodara, Gujarat.
  
  The National Portal for Transgender Persons has been developed as per the Notification of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020.
  
  The Portal would help a transgender person in applying for a Certificate and Identity card digitally from anywhere in the country.
  
  The portal will help the transgender person to get the I-Card without any physical interface and without having to visit any office. The portal will also monitor the status of the application that ensures transparency in the process. Once the Certificate and I-card are issued, the applicant can download them from the Portal itself.
  
  In case of delay or rejection, the applicant has the option to submit grievances through the Portal which are forwarded to the concerned person and will be resolved at the earliest.
  
  The portal aims to help a lot of people from the community to come forward and get Transgender Certificate and Identity Cards as per their self-perceived identity which is an important provision of The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
  
  
• Supreme Court reserves order on in-service quota for medical admissions
  Supreme Court (SC) has reserved its order on the state governments providing a 50% in-service reservation for admissions to super-speciality medical courses (Doctorate of Medicine/DM and Master of Chirurgiae/M. Ch.) in government colleges for the academic year 2020-21.
  
  In August 2020, the SC allowed states to grant the benefit of reservation of seats to in-service doctors in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) postgraduate (PG) degree courses.
  
  The judgment held that the state has the legislative competence and authority to provide for a separate source of entry for in-service candidates seeking admission to PG/diploma courses in the exercise of powers under Entry 25, List III.
  
  In November 2020, Tamil Nadu government allowed counselling and filling of 50% of the super-speciality seats in the government medical colleges with in-service candidates in the state.
  
  The seats would be filled with candidates who have cleared NEET-Super Speciality Courses (SS) and the selection committee of the Directorate of Medical Education would prepare the merit list and conduct counselling.
  
  The state government argued that there was an acute need for super-speciality qualified doctors both in the medical academia and in practice.
  
  After 50% of seats in DM/M. Ch. courses in government medical colleges are allocated to in-service candidates, the rest will be surrendered to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
  
  DGHS is a repository of technical knowledge concerning public health, medical education and health care. It is an attached organisation of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  
  Doctors, including PG holders qualified in NEET 2020, challenged the decision saying that there is no concept of any reservation for admission to super-speciality medical courses.
  
  They referred to the verdict in Dr Preeti Srivastava & Anr. versus State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors, 1999 which held that “merit, and merit alone, is the basis for admission at the super-speciality level”.
  
  Their appeal argued that the State order was contrary to the Postgraduate Medical Education (Amendment) Regulations of 2019, which mandated that the DGHS should be in charge of the admission process.
  
  The regulations empower DGHS to conduct the counselling for all super-speciality courses in medical educational institutions of the Central and state governments, deemed universities, medical educational institutions established by municipal bodies, trusts, etc.
  
  
• Food Processing Projects worth Rs 234.68 Crores approved
  Union Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar approved food processing projects of Rs 234.68 crores. Around seven proposals received under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana were approved.
  
  The proposals were sent under the Scheme for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Processing Cluster of PMKSY.
  
  The policy was released in 2019. It aims to develop food processing sector and address critical gaps hampering its growth. The policy aims to increase the investment in the food processing sector by six times by 2035.
  
  The policy aims to incentivise supply chain infrastructure of the food processing sector. It will identify, promote production clusters and agriculture processing units.
  
  The policy aims to provide capital investment subsidy and subsidies for technology upgradation of existing units.
  
  
• Jail term, fine for ‘illegal’ conversions in Uttar Pradesh
  Uttar Pradesh government has approved the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion Bill 2020 that seeks to bar 'forceful religious conversions', including for marriage.
  
  Uttarakhand had brought a similar law in 2018.
  
  The Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act 2018 prohibits conversion by misrepresentation, force, fraud, undue influence, coercion, allurement or marriage. It also introduces jail term for the offence, which has been categorised as non-bailable.
  
  The Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020, recommends 1-5 years imprisonment if an accused fails to prove that the conversion of the woman was not for marriage or by use of force, allurement etc.
  
  The jail sentence for the offence would be 3-10 years if the woman is from the SC/ST community or is seen as part of mass conversion.
  
  The notice period to the district magistrate for the religious conversion has been doubled to two months from a month in an earlier draft.
  
  The ordinance comes days after the Allahabad high court said in a verdict that the right to choose a partner or live with a person of choice was part of a citizen’s fundamental right to life and liberty.
  
  The verdict also said earlier court rulings that ‘religious conversion for marriage was unacceptable’ was not good in law.
  
  
• Lonar Lake in Maharashtra and Keetham Lake in UP added to Ramsar sites
  Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar has expressed happiness that India has added two more Ramsar sites.
  
  They are Lonar Lake in Maharashtra which is the only crater lake of the country while the other is Sur Sarovar, also known as Keetham Lake in Agra of Uttar Pradesh.
  
  Lonar Lake was created by asteroid collision during Pleistocene Epoch. The crater sits inside the Deccan Traps of the Deccan Plateau. It has 160 birds, 12 mammal species and 46 reptiles. Two small streams called Penganga and Purna drain into Lonar Lake.
  
  In 2019, researchers of IIT Bombay found that the minerals found in Lonar Lake are very similar to those found in the moon. In 2007, nitrogen fixation was discovered in the lake.
  
  The Lonar Lake is usually green in colour due to the presence of Cyanobacteria. The lake in June 2020 turned pink. Later, it was found that this was due to the presence of salt loving bacteria called haloarchea or halophilicarchaea.
  
  These bacteria are associated with high salinity. The pink colour of the lake was not permanent and according to the scientists, the water will become transparent after the biomass of the microbes settled at the bottom.
  
  Keetham Lake or sur Sarovar Lake has more than 106 species of migratory birds rest in Sur Sarovar Lake. The water of the lake is obtained from Agra Canal. The canal originates from Okhla barrage on River Yamuna in Delhi.
  
  The aim of the Ramsar list is to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits.
  
  Wetlands declared as Ramsar sites are protected under strict guidelines of the convention.
  
  
• IRCTC Bharat Darshan Yatra from December 12
  The IRCTC will organise ‘Bharat Darshan–Dakshin Bharat Yatra’ from Hyderabad and Secunderabad to Tiruchirapalli, Thanjavur, Rameswaram, Madurai and Kanyakumari in strict adherence to Covid-19 norms from December 12 to 18.
  
  The package has been named Dakshin Bharat Yatra and it will cover major temples in South India such as Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli, Brihadeeswarar temple in Thanjavur, Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram, Meenakshi temple in Madurai and Kanyakumari.
  
  Passengers should carry their own pillows, bed sheets, nylon rope for drying clothes, lock and key with chain to secure luggage, torch light, umbrella, medicines and light woolen clothes during the journey.
  
  
• Two Ayurveda institutions at Jamnagar and Jaipur
  Prime Minister will dedicate two Ayurveda institutions to the nation on the 5th Ayurveda Day (13th November 2020).
  
  The Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar
  
  The National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur
  
  The ITRA, Jamnagar is recently created through an Act of Parliament, is poised to emerge as a world class healthcare institution.
  
  Both the Institutes are expected to play global leadership roles in the growth and development of Ayurveda in the 21st Century.
  
  Modernization of Ayurveda education and evolution of traditional medicine itself will provide the autonomy to upgrade the standard of Ayurveda education, and frame various courses as per emerging national and international demand.
  
  The nation has been celebrating Ayurveda Day on November 13 since 2016 to commemorate Dhanwantri, revered as a god of the traditional Indian medicine.
  
  This year’s celebration will focus on the potential role of Ayurveda in the management of the Covid-19 pandemic.
  
  
• 'Prerna Sthal' dedicated to work force of Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam
  'Prerna Sthal' dedicated to work force of Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam. The ‘Prerna Sthal’, Motivation Centre has been created with in-house efforts of the Naval Dockyard and is aimed as a symbol of the pride in self-reliance and a motivator for achieving AtmaNirbhar Bharat in repairs and refits of ships and submarines.
  
  The Prerna Sthal comprises a 30.5 m high National Flag Mast, inclusive of a 20x30 feet National Flag, unknown workers statues, and an arc-shaped building housing the capabilities of the Yard and its development over the ages.
  
  The dedication of 'Prerna Sthal' kick starts the Golden Jubilee Year activities of the Naval Dockyard which will commence from Mar 2021.
  
  
• Union Labour Ministry Notifies Draft Rules under the Code on Social Security 2020
  Labour Ministry released draft rules under Code on Social Security. The rules provide for Aadhaar-based registration. This includes registration of gig workers, unorganized workers and platform workers on the portal of Central Government.
  
  The draft rules provide for operationalization of provisions in the Code on Social Security, 2020 relating to Employees’ Provident Fund, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, Gratuity, Maternity Benefit, Social Security and Cess in respect of Building and Other Construction Workers, Social Security for Unorganised Workers, Gig Workers and Platform Workers.
  
  When a worker migrates from one state to another, he is entitled to get the benefits from the states where he is currently working. It is the responsibility of the Building Workers Welfare Board to make sure the benefits reach the migrated workers.
  
  The rules also include gratuity to an employee who was on fixed-term employment.
  
  It also provides single electronic registration of an establishment and also single electronic cancellation of registration in case of closure activities.
  
  The rules provide procedure for self-assessment and payment of cess by the Building and Other Construction Workers. For self-assessment, the employer shall calculate the cost of construction as specified by the State Public Works Department or Central Public Works Department. The cost of construction shall also be calculated based on the returns or the documents submitted to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority.
  
  The rate of interest for delayed payment has been reduced from 2% to 1% per month.
  
  Under the rules, the assessing officer has powers to direct that no machinery or material shall be disturbed or removed from the construction site. The rules have withdrawn the powers of the officer to stop the construction work. Also, according to the new rules, the assessing officer shall visit the site only with prior approval of Secretary of Building and Other Construction Workers Board.
  
  
• MNRE expands scope of PM-KUSUM Scheme to enable greater solar energy generation in farm sector
  Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has made amendments in the implementation guidelines of PradhanMantriKisanUrjaSurakshaevamUtthaanMahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme.
  
  It is a scheme for farmers which aim to install solar pumps, grid-connected solar and other renewable power plants across the country.
  
  Amendments
  Solar plants can now also be installed on Pasturelands and marshy lands owned by farmers.
  
  Size of solar plant has been reduced for increasing participation of small farmers. Now, solar power projects smaller than 500 kW will be allowed.
  
  Completion period have been increased from 9 to 12 months.
  
  There will be no penalty for shortfall in generation.
  
  MNRE will keep 33 percent of eligible service charges for national Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities.
  
  CFA will be allowed for solar pump capacity of higher than 7.5 HP considering up to 5 HP capacities to be set up and used by Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO)/Water User Associations (WUA)/Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) or for cluster based irrigation system.
  
  MNRE has also amended the eligibility of participation in the centralized tender.
  
  As per amended guidelines, a separate bid price for solar water pumping system with Universal Solar Pump Controller (USPC) will be invited and subsidy will be made available for these pumps as per the benchmark price of solar pumps without USPC.
  
  Ministry will use 33 percent of service charges for IEC activities.
  
  The provision has been made for the release of Service charges to implementing agencies in advance for preparatory activities.
  
  Recently, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) signed an agreement with MNRE for setting up key targets for 2020-21.
  
  
• PM unveils ‘Statue of Peace’ to mark 151st Birth Anniversary celebrations of Jain acharya Shree Vijay Vallabh SurishwerJi Maharaj
  Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled “Statue of Peace”. The statue is being unveiled to mark the 151st birth anniversary of Jain Acharya Shree Vijay Vallabh SurishwerJi Maharaj.
  
  The Statue unveiled in the honour of the Jain acharya, has been named as ‘Statue of Peace’. The 151 inch tall statue has been made from Ashtadhatu i.e. 8 metals, with Copper being the major constituent, and is installed at Vijay Vallabh Sadhana Kendra, Jetpura, in Pali, Rajasthan.
  
  The alloy is mainly used in casting metallic idols in Hindu and Jain temples. The alloy is made of metals such as gold, copper, silver, tin, zinc, iron, tin and antimony (or mercury). The metals are mixed in equal proportions to create the idol.
  
  Shri Vijay Vallabh SurishwerJi Maharaj was a Jain monk born on October 26, 1870. He was a disciple of Vijayanand Suri.
  
  He was the founder of Shri Parshwanath Jain Vidyalaya in Pali district of Rajasthan. Also, he established the Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya in Mumbai, Pune and Vadodara. He supported non-violent independent movements of Mahatma Gandhiji.
  
  
• Government to launch PLI schemes for 10 sectors
  Union Cabinet has revealed the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme to encourage domestic manufacturing investments in ten key sectors.
  
  PLI centres to support home grown assembling and cut down on imports by giving money motivators on gradual deals from items made in the nation.
  
  Other than welcoming unfamiliar organizations to set shop in India, the plan means to urge neighbourhood organizations to set up or extend, existing assembling units.
  
  10 new areas added. The ten areas have been recognized based on their capability to make occupations and make India confident, which include:
  
  Advance Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery
  
  Electronic/Technology Products
  
  Automobiles& Auto Components
  
  Pharmaceuticals drugs
  
  Telecom & Networking Products
  
  Textile Products: MMF segment and technical textiles
  
  Food Products
  
  High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules
  
  White Goods (ACs & LED)
  
  Speciality Steel
  
  
• Finance Commission presents copy of its report to the Prime Minister
  The Chairman and Members of the 15th Finance Commission presented a copy of the Commssion’s report for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26, to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Commission had submitted its report to the President of India on 4 November 2020.
  
  Chairman N K Singh along with Members of the Commission, Ajay Narayan Jha, Prof. Anoop Singh, Dr. Ashok Lahiri and Dr. Ramesh Chand along with Secretary to the Commission Arvind Mehta were present at the presentation.
  
  The Commission will also present its Report to the Union Finance Minister. The Report will be placed on the Table of the House along with Explanatory Memorandum by way of ATR as prescribed under the Constitution.
  
  
• International Crops Research Institute permitted to use drones
  Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have granted conditional exemption to the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics(ICRISAT), Hyderabad, Telangana for the deployment of drones for agricultural research activities.
  
  The conditional exemption is valid for 6 months from the date of issue of the letter or until the full operationalization of Digital Sky Platform (Phase-1), whichever is earlier. This exemption shall be valid only if all conditions and limitations as stated below are strictly adhered to. In case of violation of any condition, this exemption shall become null and void.
  
  Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Amber Dubey said drones are poised to play a big role in the agriculture sector in India especially in areas like precision agriculture, locust control, and improvement in crop yield.
  
  
• When is National Press Day observed? – GK > Days
  National Press Day is observed on 16th November every year to celebrate free and responsible press in India. On this day the Press Council of India started functioning as a moral watchdog to ensure that the press maintains high standards and is not constrained by any influence or threats. It also commemorates the day when the Press Council of India started functioning.
  
  In 1956, the First Press Commission was planned to form a Press Council to protect freedom of the press in India. On 4 July 1966, the Press Council was established in India. It came into effect from 16 November 1966. Therefore, 16 November is celebrated as National Press Day every year.
  
  According to the Global Press Freedom Index, 2020, that was released in April 2020, India ranked 140th out of 180 countries.
  
  
• OALP driving self-reliance in energy sector
  Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister signed contracts for 11 oil and gas blocks offered under the OALP Bid Round-5.
  
  OALP gives an option to a company to select the exploration blocks on its own, without waiting for the formal bid round from the Government.
  
  Under OALP, a bidder intending to explore hydrocarbons may apply to the Government seeking exploration of any new block which was not already covered by exploration.
  
  The Government will examine the interest and if it is suitable for award, then the govt will call for competitive bids after obtaining necessary environmental and other clearances.
  
  OALP was introduced as part of the new fiscal regime in exploration sector called Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP).
  
  So that, it will enable a faster survey and coverage of the available geographical area which has potential for oil and gas discovery.
  
  Successful implementation of OALP requires building of National Data Repository on geo-scientific data.
  
  
• PM Modi inaugurates Bengaluru Tech Summit 2020
  Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates Bengaluru Tech Summit on 19th November 2020 via video conferencing.
  
  The Bangalore Tech Summit is scheduled to be held from 19th to 21st November 2020.
  
  The summit is organised by the Government of Karnataka along with Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), Karnataka government’s Vision Group on Information Technology, Biotechnology &StartUp, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and MM ActivSci-Tech Communications.
  
  The Bangalore Tech Summit will invite H.E. Prime Minister of Australia Mr Scott Morrison, Vice Chairman of the Swiss Confederation Mr Guy Palmerin and many other internationally renowned figures.
  
  In addition to them, thought leaders, industry leaders, technical experts, researchers, innovators, investors, policymakers and educators from India and the world will also participate in the summit.
  
  This year, the theme of the summit is "The next step is now."
  
  The summit will discuss the major challenges in the post-pandemic world, focusing on the impact of outstanding technologies and innovations in the fields of "information technology and electronics" and "biotechnology"
  
  
• All about Kochi-Mangaluru natural gas pipeline project
  Kochi – Mangaluru natural gas pipeline project is ready for commissioning. The pipeline will supply natural gas to all seven areas (Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod) that Kerala passes through and the hilly Wayanad area.
  
  The 444-kilometre-long natural gas pipeline was launched in 2009 with an estimated cost of Rs 29.15 billion.
  
  The project will be put into use in 2014.
  
  However, due to opposition in terms of security and commercial reasons, land prices are the main obstacle, so the cost of the project has almost doubled to 57.5 billion rupees.
  
  The 1st phase of the project was put into use in the Kochi Metropolitan Area in August 2013.
  
  GAIL India has completed the last 540 meters of the sinister extension of the Chandragiri River in northern Kerala.
  
  Kuttanad is the main connection point of the pipeline, from which the pipeline branches to Mangaluru and Bengaluru.
  
  With the commissioning of the pipeline, the demand for natural gas in Kerala is expected to increase from the current 60 million cubic meters to 800-90 million cubic meters per year. Through tax alone, the country can make a profit of 100 billion rupees, which can profit from it. In addition, huge environmental benefits are also expected.
  
  
• 4 Indian cities selected by WEF to pioneer roadmap for smart cities
  The World Economic Forum selected 36 cities from 22 countries for pioneering a policy road map for smart cities.
  
  These smart cities are being developed under the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance. Of the 36 cities selected, four are Indian cities. The four Indian cities selected are Bengaluru, Faridabad, Indore and Hyderabad.
  
  The selected 36 cities will collaborate with global experts and enhance their city policies in areas ranging from cyber security to services to be provided to physically challenged people.
  
  These 36 cities will adopt five policies namely better broadband coverage, privacy protection, accountability for cyber security, better accessibility to digital city services for physically disabled and increased openness of city data. With these inputs they will frame a road map to become a smart city which will then be used by other cities in the world in following phases of the initiative.
  
  The pioneer cities launched their activities on November 17 at a global event broadcast by the Smart City Expo World Congress which is the world’s premier smart cities event.
  
  
• Supreme Court asks Centre to set up mechanisms to deal with fake news
  The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to provide information on the existing legal mechanisms to deal with complaints about the content on television channels.
  
  Further it has asked the Centre to create an authority to check fake news and bigotry on air.
  
  The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by various organisations who objected to the reporting by certain television news channels and news portals on the Tablighi Jamaat event held in March 2020.
  
  The religious gathering emerged as one of the early hot spots of Covid-19 in the national capital.
  
  The petitions sought a direction from the court to stop the dissemination of fake news and to identify and take strict action against sections of the media that communalized the incident.
  
  In October 2020, the bench asked the Centre to file a response on steps taken to ensure fake news is not circulated through online and electronic media platforms.
  
  The government, through the Ministry, filed an affidavit in November and cited its advisories, which maintained that media coverage of the case predominantly struck a balanced and neutral perspective.
  
  It held that as a matter of journalistic policy, any section of the media may highlight different events, issues and happenings across the world as per their choice and it was for the viewer to choose from the varied opinions offered by the different media outlets.
  
  The court rejected the affidavit as inadequate and asked if the regulatory provisions of the Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act of 1995, meant for cable networks, would apply to TV broadcasts as well.
  
  
• Finance panel for public-private partnerships to ramp up health infrastructure
  The 15th Finance Commission has mooted a greater role for public private partnerships to ramp up health infrastructure and scale up public spending on health from 0.95% of the GDP to 2.5% by 2024.
  
  While public outlays should focus on primary health care at the panchayat and municipality levels, private players should be relied on for specialty healthcare.
  
  “The total spending of around 0.95% of GDP is not adequate both in relation to our peer groups, and in relation to the commitments under the National Health Policy of 2017.
  
  There is no doubt that public spending, both by the Centre and the States, need to go up very significantly. And the endeavour must be to raise public spending from 0.95% of GDP to 2.5% of GDP by 2024.
  
  While India does not have adequate health infrastructure, the picture is “exceedingly skewed” among the States with the poorest of them having the worst health infrastructure. “It’s somewhat unfortunate.
  
  A working relationship is needed and this relationship can be built only if, first and foremost, the trust deficit that exists [between industry and government] now is bridged.
  
  
• 14,34,000 loans sanctioned under PM SVANidhi scheme
  Over 27 lakh 33 thousand applications have been received under Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atma-Nirbhar Nidhi- PM- SVANidhi Scheme.
  
  Out of the total applications received, over 14 lakh and 34 thousand have been sanctioned and about 7.88 lakh loans disbursed.
  
  Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in a statement said that vendors who had left for their native places due to Covid-19 lockdown are eligible for the loan.
  
  It said, the provision of loans has become hassle-free as one can upload the application online on their own at any common service centre or Municipal office or by going to a bank.
  
  Banks are reaching the doorsteps of people to provide loans for helping them start their ventures.
  
  In order to ensure fast implementation of the scheme with transparency, accountability and consistency, a digital platform with web portal and mobile app has been developed to administer the scheme with end-to-end solution.
  
  Urban Local Bodies are playing pivotal role in the implementation of the scheme.
  
  
• State’s nod must for Centre to extend CBI jurisdiction: Supreme Court
  The Supreme Court of India pronounced that the consent of State Government is mandatory for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to extend its jurisdiction in the state.
  
  The verdict has come after the eight non-BJP states withdrew their consent for CBI to probe fresh cases in the jurisdiction of the state. The states were Jharkhand, Kerala, West Bengal, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab and Chhattisgarh.
  
  The functioning of CBI is regulated by the DSPE (Delhi Special Police Establishment) Act. The Section 5 and Section 6 of the act permits the Central Government to extend its powers to the state. However, Section 6 of the act says that the Centre has powers to extend CBI investigation only when the state gives its consent.
  
  This is unlike other Central Government Agencies. For instance, the National Investigation Agency on the other hand, enjoys all-India jurisdiction.
  
  NIA was constituted after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. It mainly focuses on investigation of terrorist attacks.
  
  
• India ranks 77 in global bribery risk matrix
  The Global Bribery Risk Matrix was released by TRACE. India ranked 77 with a score of 45 in the global list.
  
  In 2019, India was at 78th position with a score of 48. In 2020, India has performed better than that of China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Bhutan was the only neighbour that was ranked better than India. Bhutan secured 48th rank on the list.
  
  The overall score of India was 45. Under the domain Interactions with Government, India scored 50. Under the domain, Anti-bribery deterrence and enforcement, India scored 53. Under the domain Government and Civil Service Transparency India scored 36. Under the domain capacity for civil oversight India scored 40.
  
  This says that civil service transparency of India is strong as compared to the other major parameters. The Civil Services are always considered as the backbone of Indian Governance.
  
  Denmark topped the list followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden and New Zealand. The bottom most ranks were occupied by North Korea, Turkmenistan, South Sudan, Venezuela, Eritrea.
  
  
• Centre launches Safai Mitra Suraksha Challenge in 243 cities
  The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the “Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge”. The challenge aims to ensure that no life of septic tank or sewer cleaner is lost during cleaning. The challenge stresses on the fact that safety and dignity of sanitation workers is the core of Swachh Bharat Mission.
  
  The Challenge was launched on the occasion of World Toilet Day. The results of the challenge are to be announced on independence day. The challenge aims to promote mechanized cleaning. The prizes to the participating cities are to be awarded in three sub categories as follows
  
  Cities with population more than 10 lakhs.
  
  Cities with population 3-10 lakhs.
  
  Cities with population less than 3 lakhs.
  
  According to Ministry of Social Justice, Manual Scavenging has been prohibited in India. Manual scavenging is the practice of cleaning or handling human excreta from sewers. They are the most disadvantaged and poorest communities in India.
  
  The Supreme Court of India, in 2014, made it mandatory to provide Rs 10 lakhs as compensation to the families of those who have died during sewerage works.
  
  The Central Government is currently demolishing insanitary latrines. The insanitary latrines are being converted into sanitary latrines. Also, it provides rehabilitation package to the manual scavengers. It includes access to education for children of former manual scavengers, alternate livelihood and other skill development programmes.
  
  
• MNRE proposes scheme for development of wind-solar hybrid parks
  The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has proposed a new scheme to develop Wind-Solar Hybrid Parks. The scheme aims to address the key issues faced by renewable energy projects.
  
  The Wind-Solar Hybrid park will be a concentrated zone of power projects. It will provide an area with the required infrastructure. This will include evacuation facilities as well.
  
  The evacuation areas are important to minimise the risks of the projects. The sites to develop the wind-solar hybrid parks are to be selected by National Institute of wind Energy
  
  The capacity of each park is expected to be 500 MW and more. However, there are no restrictions to develop lower capacity park. In case of lower capacity parks, the capacity of the park should not be less than 50 MW.
  
  Wind energy and Solar Energy are emerging as alternative sources of energy to conventional energy sources in India. The estimated wind power potential of India is 695 GW and that of solar power is 749 GW.
  
  Wind power is mainly concentrated in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.
  
  The park will help to fasten the development of wind power in the country. The scheme will help to minimise uncertainties faced by the developer such as clearances, land, transmission, etc.
  
  The development of wind power is scarce as it requires scattered land and thus the transmission cost is high. The scheme will help the DISCOMs to fulfil their non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO).
  
  
• Culture Minister hands over Bronze idols of Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Goddess Sita to Tamil Nadu Idol Wing
  Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism handed over the Bronze idols of Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Goddess Sita to Idol Wing, Government of Tamil Nadu at a ceremony held in ASI Headquarters, DharoharBhawan in New Delhi.
  
  On September 15, 2020, these bronze idols were handed over to the Indian High Commission in London by the London Metropolitan Police.
  
  According to photographs completed in 1958, these idols belonged to Sri Rajagopal Vishnu Temple (a temple built during the Vijayanagara period) in Anandamangaram, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu.
  
  According to an investigation by the Police Idol Unit of Tamil Nadu, these idols were stolen from the Vishnu Temple in Rajagopal, Sri Lanka on November 23/24, 1978.
  
  The bronze idols of Lord Rama, Lakshmana and GoddessSita are the masterpieces of Indian Metal Art respectively. In terms of style, the history of these sculptures can be traced back to the 13th century AD.
  
  The Minister congratulated the Archaeological Survey of India, Special Idol Wing, Government of Tamil Nadu, DRI and High Commission of India, London for their continuous efforts in bringing these idols back to the country
  
  The Minister also announced that as a part of the commemoration ceremony of 75th year of Indian Independence, the agencies/applicants working in the areas of Indian Independence Movement, the life of freedom fighters, Indian traditions, heritage and culture, tourism development and promotion and other issues relating to national importance will be exempt from payments of fees/charges for shooting/photography in different monuments of ASI ( except World heritage sites/ Iconic sites) during the period commencing from the Birth Anniversary of former Prime Minister Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on December 25, 2020 to August 15, 2021.
  
  The applicants/agencies will need to apply online for permission to carry out such shooting activities.
  
  
• When the Indian Army celebrates Corps of Engineers Day?
  Indian Army celebrated the 240th Corps of Engineers Day on 18 November 2020.
  
  At the grand ceremony held at the "National War Memorial", Chief Engineer Lieutenant General SK Shrivastava, along with other serving officials, JCO and other military ranks, laid a wreath here to pay tribute to those brave soldiers who gave their lives for the country.
  
  The Engineer Corps not only provides combat engineering support, but also develops infrastructure for the armed forces and other defense organizations, and maintains connectivity across our vast border areas, and can also provide assistance to civilians during natural disasters.
  
  These tasks are performed through the four pillars of the Corps: Combat Engineer, Military Engineer Service, Border Highway Organization, and Military Investigation.
  
  The Engineer Corps was divided into three groups, namely Madras Sappers, Bengal Sappers and Bombay Sappers, which merged into the Corps on November 18, 1932.
  
  Since its establishment, history is full of outstanding contributions to war and peace by the Engineer Corps.
  
  
• Maternity benefits for second child in Rajasthan
  Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday launched a maternity benefit scheme for four districts under which mothers will get Rs.6,000 for the second child.
  
  This will supplement the Centre's PradhanMantriMatruVandanaYojana (PMMVY) under which mothers get Rs.5,000 for their first child.
  
  The scheme is being implemented in Udaipur, Pratapgath, Banswara and Dungarpur on pilot basis for five years.
  
  These districts were selected because nutrition indicators among children and anaemia levels among mothers are worse than the average for the State.
  
  
• Body mass index of Indian 19-year-olds among lowest in 200 countries
  India ranks third and fifth from the bottom respectively among countries where 19-year-old girls and boys have a low body mass index, according to a study in The Lancet. The study provides new estimates for height and BMI trends in 2019 across 200 countries.
  
  BMI is measured as the weight in kg divided by the square of the height in metres. World Health Organization guidelines define a normal BMI range as 18.5 to 24.9, overweight as 25 or higher, and obesity as 30 or higher.
  
  The mean BMI of 19-year-old boys is 20.1 in India, compared to a high of 29.6 in the Cook Islands and a low of 19.2 in Ethiopia.
  
  For Indian girls, the mean BMI is again 20.1, compared to a high of 29.0 in Tonga and a low of 19.6 in Timor-Leste.
  
  The mean height of Indian 19-year-olds is 166.5 cm for boys and 155.2 cm for girls, well below the high of Netherlands boys (183.8 cm) and girls (170 cm).
  
  The 20 cm or higher difference between countries with the tallest and shortest mean height represents approximately 8 years of growth gap for girls and approximately 6 years for boys. For example, 19-year-old girls in India have the same mean height as 12-year-old Dutch girls.
  
  In developing countries, like India, have a dual burden i.e., over nutrition and under nutrition.
  
  The prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents of both Indian girls and boys is lower when compared to children of developed nations. The reasons could be several, like variations in the epigenetic, dietary intakes, familial, psychosocial, parental education, occupations, income etc.
  
  
• Academia and the free will
  India has scored considerably low in the international Academic Freedom Index (AFI) with a score 0.352.
  
  Academic freedom, in general, refers to a scholar's freedom to express ideas without risk of official interference or professional disadvantage.
  
  Academic Freedom Index has been published by Global Public Policy Institute as a part of a global time-series dataset (1900-2019) in close cooperation with Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Scholars at Risk and the V-Dem Institute.
  
  The index proposes a score for each country to help determine the level of academic freedom its universities and academic centres really enjoy.
  
  It tries to quantify the freedom of university scholars to debate politically and culturally controversial topics without fearing for their safety or studies.
  
  The scores are scaled 0-1. The index did not report data for 35 countries - including the United States and Australia.
  
  Uruguay and Portugal top the AFI, with scores of 0.971 each, followed closely by Latvia (0.964) and Germany (0.960).
  
  India has an AFI of 0.352, comparable to the scores of Saudi Arabia and Libya.
  
  It is in 5th position in South Asia.
  
  Countries like Malaysia (0.582), Pakistan (0.554), Brazil (0.466), Somalia (0.436) and Ukraine (0.422) have scored better than India.
  
  India has not fared well in components like institutional autonomy, campus integrity, freedom of academic and cultural expression and constitutional protection of academic freedom.
  
  Most universities in the country are subjected to unsolicited interference from governments in both academic and non­academic issues.
  
  A majority of ap­pointments, to top ranking posts like that of vice chancellors, registrars, have been highly politicised.
  
  Such political appointments not only choke academic and creative freedom, but also lead to corrupt practices.
  
  This promotes unhealthy favouritism and nepo­tism in staff appointments and student ad­missions.
  
  This reflects a ‘rent seeking culture’ within the academic community.
  
  
• NPPA plays crucial role in making Cancer Drugs affordable
  Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has said that 42 anti-cancer drugs showed price reduction up to 90 per cent following National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority. NPPA's price rationalisation initiated in February 2019.
  
  NPPA had launched a Pilot on Trade Margin Rationalisation for 42 anti-cancer drugs as a step towards making the healthcare more affordable for the suffering patients.
  
  All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN) has also appreciated the steps taken by NPPA to curb profiteering in sale of anti-cancer medicines by capping the trade margin in public interest.
  
  Today also cancer remains as one of the leading causes of adult illness and death due to chronic and non-communicable diseases (NCD) world-over including in India.
  
  According to World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and in 2018 there were approximately 18 million cases globally, of which 1.5 million were in India alone.
  
  There were around 0.8 million cancer deaths in India in 2018 against 9.5 million globally. The numbers of new cases are estimated to double in India by 2040.
  
  National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) is being implemented under National Health Mission (NHM) for up-to the district level activities.
  
  Under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat, PradhanMantri Jan ArogyaYojana (PM-JAY) is being implemented to reduce the financial burden for poor and vulnerable groups arising out of catastrophic hospital episodes and to provide access to quality health services.
  
  NPPA regulates the prices of all Drugs as per the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013.
  
  It fixes the Ceiling Price of scheduled formulations as per the list of medicines specified in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) which are included in the First Schedule of Drug Pricing Control Order (DPCO), 2013.
  
  
• When is the National Cancer Awareness Day 2020 observed? – GK >days
  National Cancer Awareness Day is observed on November 7 to educate people about cancer
  
  The day is important, it educates people about the serious threat that is cancer.
  
  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second-deadliest disease which causes death among people.
  
  Union Health Minister first announced National Cancer Awareness Day in September 2014. He launched the state-level movement on cancer control, and encouraged people to report to municipal clinics for free screening.
  
  A woman dies of cervical cancer every eight minutes.
  
  Tobacco chewing has been directly linked to cancer, leading to most deaths in the year 2018.
  
  While male is prone to dying by cancer of oral cavity and lungs, women could die of breast cancer and oral cavity cancer
  
  
• Telemedicine service ‘eSanjeevani’ completes 7 lakh consultations
  eSanjeevani, the national telemedicine service set up by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has completed 7 lakh consultations. Over 10 thousand consultations recorded on eSanjeevani daily. It is shaping into the largest OPD services set up in the country.
  
  eSanjeevani was launched amid the Covid-19 pandemic to enable patient-to-doctor tele-consultations.
  
  Offered at no cost, this e-health service has made it convenient for the people to avail of the health services without having to travel. It enables two-way interaction and even generates a prescription slip.
  
  It is hosting over 40 online Out Patient Department (OPD) services, more than half of these are speciality OPDs which include Gynaecology, Psychiatry, AntiRetroviral Therapy (ART) for the AIDS/HIV patients, Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) etc.
  
  The eSanjeevani’s platform has enabled two variants of telemedicine namely - doctor to doctor (eSanjeevaniAB-HWC) and patient to doctor (eSanjeevaniOPD).
  
  The former is being implemented under the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre (AB-HWC). It aims to implement tele-consultation in all the 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres in conjunction with identified medical college hospitals in a 'Hub and Spoke' model.
  
  
• Five years of OROP
  The Union government has dispensed more than Rs. 42,700 crore to 20.6 lakh resigned defence personnel through the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, which was told 5 years prior in 2015.
  
  OROP infers the payment of the uniform benefits to military officials for a similar position for a similar length of administration, independent of the date of retirement.
  
  OROP suggests overcoming any issues between the rate of pension of current and past retirees at intermittent spans.
  
  Prior to OROP, ex-servicemen used to get benefits according to the Pay Commission's suggestions of when they had resigned.
  
  Uttar Pradesh and Punjab have the most noteworthy number of OROP recipients. Military Personnel who had resigned till June 30, 2014, are covered under it.
  
  The execution of the plan depended on the proposal of the Koshiyari board, a 10 part all-party parliamentary board framed under the chairmanship of Bhagat Singh Koshiyari.
  
  The choice to actualize OROP was given by a request in November 2015, with the advantage compelling from July 2014 itself. This had been a long-standing interest of ex-servicemen in the nation.
  
  Military Personnel resigned up to 30.06.2014 were covered under this Order. OROP implies that each trooper who resigns in a similar position gets a similar pension, independent of his date of retirement.
  
  
• PM inaugurates and lays foundation stone of various development projects in Varanasi
  Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects in Varanasi through video conference. The Prime Minister launched 16 schemes worth Rs 220 crore and informed that the work has already begun on 14 schemes worth Rs 400 crore in Varanasi.
  
  The projects inaugurated include Sarnath Light and Sound show, upgradation of LalBahadurShastri Hospital Ramnagar, sewerage related works, infrastructure facilities for protection and conservation of cows, multipurpose seed storehouse, agriculture produce warehouse of 100 MT, IPDS phase 2, a housing complex for players in Sampurnanand Stadium, Varanasi city smart lighting work, along with 105 AnganwadiKendras and 102 GauAshrayKendras.
  
  To provide legal rights to the people living in the village on their lands and houses, ‘SwamitvaYojana’ has been launched. The issuance of property cards comes under this scheme
  
  The projects for which foundation stones were laid today, include the redevelopment of DashashwamedhGhat and KhidkiyaGhat, barracks for PAC police force, redevelopment of certain wards of Kashi, parking facility along with redevelopment of park in BeniyaBagh, upgradation of the multi-purpose hall in Girija Devi SanskritikSankul, repair work of roads in the city and development of tourist places.
  
  
• Ministry of Shipping renamed as Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  Prime Minister renamed the Ministry of Shipping as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
  
  The decision to change the name of the Shipping Ministry is part of government's efforts to revamp the ports and create world-class Inland Water Transport.
  
  The Ministry of Shipping encompasses within its fold shipping and port sectors which include Shipbuilding, Ship-repair, Major Ports, National Waterways, and Inland Water Transport.
  
  The capacity of the ports in terms of their berths and cargo handling equipment needs to be vastly improved to cater to the growing requirements of the overseas trade.
  
  The shipping industry needs to be enabled to carry higher shares of the sea-borne trade in indigenous bottoms.
  
  
• Prime Minister Modi to inaugurate new state-of-the art-complex of Income -Tax Appellate Tribunal’s Cuttack bench
  Prime Minister Modi on November 11, 2020, will inaugurate the state-of-the art-office cum residential complex of Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal- ITAT in Cuttack, Odisha.
  
  As per the Law and Justice Ministry, the inaugural function which will be held virtually will be attended by Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Ravi Shankar Prasad, ITAT President, Justice PP Bhatt, Judges and Chief Justice of Odisha High Court, Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes, PC Modi and other officials.
  
  Cuttack’s ITAT has been functioning from rented premises since 1970 which is almost 50 years, and has jurisdiction for appeals arising from Odisha state. Its jurisdiction extends to the whole of Odisha.
  
  Income- Tax Appellate Tribunal is a quasi-judicial institution which was set up in 1941. ITAT is specialized in dealing with appeals under the Direct Taxes Acts.
  
  ITAT was started in 1941 with six members and constituted of three benches- one each at Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai. As the number of benches increased, currently there are 63 benches at 27 different stations that cover all the cities in the country having a seat of the High Court.
  
  
• Online news, online films, audio-visual programmes to come under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
  The Central Government has issued an order bringing online films and audio-visual programmes, and online news and current affairs content under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
  
  As part of this digital content providers and OTT platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and others will now come under the ambit of the ministry. At present, there is no independent authority to oversee the digital content in the country.
  
  A notification in this regard was issued by the cabinet secretariat stated that "films and audio-visual programmes made available by online content providers and news and current affairs content on online platforms" shall be included in the 'India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961.
  
  The development has come days after the Supreme Court sought Centre's response on a PIL seeking regulation on OTT platforms by an autonomous body.
  
  A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian issued notices to the central government, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Internet and Mobile Association of India.
  
  “With cinemas theatres unlikely to open anytime soon in the country, OTT/Streaming and different digital media platforms have surely given a way out for filmmakers and artists to release their content without being worried about getting clearance certificates for their films and series from the censor board,” the plea stated.
  
  None of the OTT/Streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Zee5, and Hotstar have signed the self-regulation provided by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting since February 2020, it added.
  
  Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar had said last year that "the government will not take any step that may curb media freedom". However, suggested some kind of regulation for OTT platforms.
  
  
• Dubbaka Assembly By-Polls Results 2020: BJP’s M Raghunandan Rao wins
  BJP's candidate M Raghunandan Rao won over TRS Party candidate Solipeta Sujatha by a close margin of 1470 votes, in the Dubbaka Assembly By polls 2020.
  
  Meanwhile Congress Party'ss Cheruku Srinivas Reddy ended far behind at only 21,819 votes as compared to the BJP's 62,772 votes and the TRS's 61,302 votes.
  
  The by poll was necessitated due to the death of sitting TRS MLA Solipeta Ramalinga Reddy due to health problems in August this year. His widow Solipeta Sujatha was ruling party's choice.
  
  
• NDA Gets Majority in Bihar Assembly Elections
  BJP enabled the ruling NDA to attain a simple majority in the Bihar assembly. BJP, which had contested 110 seats, won 74 while the JD(U) which fought 115, won only 43. the RJD emerged as the single largest party in the assembly bagging 75 seats. Its vote share at 23.03 per cent was also the highest for any single party in the elections.
  
  The Congress managed to win only 19 of the 70 it had contested. The Left parties won16 out of the 29 seats the CPI(ML), the CPI and the CPI(M) had contested.
  
  The performance of CPI(ML), the most radical among the mainstream Left groups, stood out as it won 12 of the 19 seats it contested. The CPI and the CPI(M) won two seats each.
  
  Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM clinched five seats while its alliance partner in Bihar, Mayawati's BSP, bagged one. Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party, which pulled out of the NDA and contested nearly 150 seats, managed to win just one. The winners also included an Independent.
  
  
• YSR Jala Kala: Free Irrigation Borewell Digging started
  Drilling of free bore wells for irrigation purpose has commenced in the state of Andhra Pradesh from yesterday.
  
  It may be recollected that on September 28, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a scheme to drill 2 lakh bore wells free of cost for farmers in the arid lands under the YSR Jala Kala scheme. This was to support needy farmers who do not have irrigation water sources other than borewell water. The scheme was launched with an expenditure of Rs 2,340 Crore to be implemented in the next four years.
  
  Arrangements have been made to start drilling work of boreholes in agricultural lands in 162 constituencies excluding those in urban areas seats in the state. As a part of the programme, the local MLA will be the chief guest for the first borehole-drilling program in their respective constituencies.
  
  In addition to drilling the borewell free of cost, the government will also provide a motor or pump set free of cost. The State Government aims to bring five lakh acres of agricultural land under full cultivation through this scheme in the coming four years benefitting more than 3 lakh farmers under this scheme.
  
  The government has made all arrangements to provide rigs for drilling bores, for each assembly constituency. Meanwhile, Rural Development Commissioner Girija Shankar and Watersheds project Director Venkat Reddy held a teleconference with district PDs on Monday.
  
  District authorities were instructed to make all arrangements for the commencement of the drilling program and clearly stated that the first bore drilling works should be conducted under the auspices of the local MLAs in their respective areas.
  
  
• Ministry of Textiles has launched #Local4Diwali Campaign
  The Ministry of Textiles has launched Local for Diwali campaign.
  
  It is appealed to the people to celebrate Diwali by buying and gifting local textiles and handicraft items to support local weavers and artisans.
  
  It was appealed to people to take a picture of their favourite article like clothing or a handicraft product and tag the person you purchase it from and go #Local4Diwali. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged the citizens to use Indian handicrafts and also communicate to more and more people about them.
  
  
• FASTag crosses historical 2 crore users landmark: NHAI
  The number of FASTag users in the country has reached two crore historical landmarks, registering growth of 400 percent in a year. This has increased the total toll collection to 92 crore rupees per day which is a substantial increase in the daily toll collection from 70 crore rupees per day, a year back.
  
  FASTag is contributing to nearly 75 percent of the total toll collection.
  
  It said, digital payment through FASTag is being actively promoted by NHAI to enhance the user experience on National Highways and reduce pollution on account of queuing of vehicles at the Toll Plazas.
  
  The Government’s direction to move towards 100 per cent digital transaction for payments at the Toll Plazas on National Highways provided the required impetus for the FASTag adoption.
  
  FASTag uses radio-frequency identification technology that provides users a smooth and effortless cross-over at Toll plazas without waiting and halting. The payment is made digitally through the FASTag linked to the bank wallet.
  
  
• India Post Payment Bank launches doorstep service to submit digital life certificate
  India Post Payments Bank, IPPB have successfully launched the initiative of doorstep service for submission of Digital Life Certificate through Postman.
  
  The facility to submit life certificate online through Jeevan Pramaan Portal was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November, 2014 with the objective to provide a convenient and transparent facility to pensioners for submission of Life Certificate.
  
  In order to make this facility available across the country, Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare roped in the India Post Payments Bank to utilise its huge network of Postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks in providing doorstep facility to pensioners for submission of life certificate digitally.
  
  The IPPB is utilising its national network of more than one lakh 36 thousand access points in Post Offices and more than one lakh 89 thousand Postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks with smart phones and biometric devices to provide Doorstep Banking Services.
  
  As a result a huge number of pensioners across the country shall be able to avail doorstep service through Postmen and Gramin Dak Sevak, without visiting to bank branch or standing in a queue outside the bank branches.
  
  
• 2nd National Water Awards for the excellence in Water Management and Conservation across the Nation
  Ministry of Jal Shakti organized the 2nd National Water Awards on 11th & 12th November 2020, at 11.00 hrs to honour the excellence in Water Management and Conservation across the Nation.
  
  Out of 1112 valid applications, a total of 98 winners were selected in 16 categories. The categories in which entries were invited include Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best Research/ Innovation/ New Technology, Best Education/ Mass Awareness effort, Best TV show, Best Newspaper, Best School, Best Institution/ RWA/ Religious Organisation, Best Industry, Best Water Regulatory Authority, Best Water Warrior, Best NGO, Best Water User Association and Best Industry for CSR Activity. Water Users Association and Best Industry for CSR Activity are the two categories which were included in National Water Awards 2019. Few of these categories have sub-categories in different zones of the country. The winners were felicitated with trophies/citation. Except for three categories - ‘Best State’, ‘Best State’ and ‘Best Water Regulatory Authority’, winners from the rest thirteen categories were awarded cash prizes.
  
  The Best State Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions have gone to Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Mizoram won the first prize in the special category States. Best District Award was sub-divided into six zones – North, South, West, East, Northeast and Aspirational and into two sub categories – Revival of Rivers and Water Conservation. In North, the Award for Best District in Revival of Rivers and Water Conservation was given to Ayodhya and Almora, in South, Vellore and YSR Kadapa, in West, Sangli and Kachchh, in East, Bilaspur and Surajpur, in Northeast, West Tripura (WC) and in Aspirational district category to Khandana and Vizianagaram respectively.
  
  The aim of the National Water Awards is to acknowledge individuals/organizations doing commendable work in the field of water conservation and management. Also, it strives to create awareness among the people about the importance of water and motivate them to adopt the best water usage practices.
  
  
• Telangana bans firing crackers on Deepavali festival
  In Telangana, the State Government has banned firing crackers on the eve of Deepavali festival in the state. Orders have been issued to this effect after the High Court asked the government to ban crackers for this Deepavali festival over a Public Interest Litigation.
  
  The court also directed the state to file an Action Taken Report by 19th of this month and create awareness among people about the ban of crackers as part of measures to prevent spread of Corona virus and pollution in the wake pandemic.
  
  The High Court bench headed by Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan issued the directives in response to a petition filed by a practising advocate, IndraPrakash. Meanwhile, the Viswa Hindu Parishad condemned the decision to ban firing crackers on the eve of Deepavali.
  
  On the other hand, the Crackers Wholesalers’ Association took strong objection over enforcing a ban on a last minute of their business and expressed concern over its members incurring huge losses.
  
  
• Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
  The 206th Session of the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will be held from 1st to 4th November.
  
  The agenda of the Virtual Session includes the election of the new President of IPU through remote electronic secret ballot.
  
  Gabriela Cuevas Barron (MP, Mexico) had completed her term on 19th of this month.
  
  Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
  The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments.
  
  Its primary purpose is to promote democratic governance, accountability, and cooperation among its members; other initiatives include advancing gender parity among legislatures, empowering youth participation in politics, and sustainable development.
  
  The organization was established in 1889.
  
  As of 2020, the national parliaments of 179 countries are members of the IPU, while 13 regional parliamentary assemblies are associate members.
  
  The IPU has played a leading role in the development of international law and institutions, including the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the League of Nations, and the United Nations.
  
  It also sponsors and takes part in international conferences and forums, and has permanent observer status at the United Nations General Assembly.
  
  Objectives of IPU
  Building strong democratic parliaments
  
  Advancing gender equality and respect for women’s rights
  
  Protecting and promoting human rights
  
  Contributing to peace-building, conflict resolution and security
  
  Promoting inter-parliamentary dialogue and cooperation
  
  Promoting youth empowerment
  
  Mobilizing parliaments around the global development agenda
  
  Bridging the democracy gap in global governance
  
  
• AP 3rd best governed State: Public Affairs Index
  The Public Affairs Index, 2020 was released by Public Affairs Centre, a non-profit organisation.
  
  The report was released by the committee headed by a former Indian Space Research Organisation chairman Kasturirangan.
  
  In this annual report, States were ranked on governance performance based on a composite index in the context of sustainable development.
  
  The governance performance is analysed in the context of sustainable development defined by the three pillars of equity, growth and sustainability.
  
  Kerala was adjudged the best governed State in the large States category, while Uttar Pradesh ended at the bottom.
  
  Four southern States — Kerala (1.388 PAI Index point), Tamil Nadu (0.912), Andhra Pradesh (0.531) and Karnataka (0.468) stood in the first four ranks in the large State category in terms of governance.
  
  Uttar Pradesh(-1.461), Odisha (-1.201) and Bihar (-1.158 ) were at the bottom of the ranking.
  
  In the small State category, Goa ranked first with 1.745 points, followed by Meghalaya (0.797) and Himachal Pradesh (0.725). The worst performers with negative points were Manipur (-0.363), Delhi (-0.289) and Uttarakhand (-0.277).
  
  Chandigarh emerged at the top in the category of Union Territories with 1.05 PAI points, followed by Puducherry (0.52) and Lakshadweep (0.003). Dadar and Nagar Haveli (-0.69), Andaman, Jammu and Kashmir (-0.50) and Nicobar (-0.30) were the worst performers.
  
  
• When is National Unity Day observed? -- GK > days
  Nation is paying tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 145th birth anniversary. The day is also observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas across the country
  
  Popularly known as Sardar Patel, he was an Indian politician. He served as the first Deputy Prime Minister of India.
  
  He was an Indian barrister, and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress who played a leading role in the country's struggle for independence and guided its integration into a united, independent nation.
  
  In India and elsewhere, he was often called Sardar, meaning "chief" in Hindi, Urdu, and Persian.
  
  He acted as Home Minister during the political integration of India and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.
  
  Patel was born in Nadiad District Kheda and raised in the countryside of the state of Gujarat. He was a successful lawyer.
  
  He subsequently organised peasants from Kheda, Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat in non-violent civil disobedience against the British Raj, becoming one of the most influential leaders in Gujarat.
  
  He was appointed as the 49th President of Indian National Congress, organising the party for elections in 1934 and 1937 while promoting the Quit India Movement.
  
  His commitment to national integration in the newly independent country was total and uncompromising, earning him the sobriquet "Iron Man of India".
  
  He is also remembered as the "patron saint of India's civil servants" for having established the modern all-India services system.
  
  He is also called the "Unifier of India".
  
  The Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue, was dedicated to him on 31 October 2018 which is approximately 182 metres (597 ft) in height.
  
  
• Prevention of Sexual Harassment, POSH law guidelines
  According to a new provision in the Code on Wages 2019, ‘conviction for sexual harassment’ can be a ground for denying bonus payouts to employees.
  
  As per the extant law, bonus dues are barred only in case of employees dismissed for fraud, violent conduct and theft or sabotage.
  
  The new Code is expected to become operational once the government notifies the rules.
  
  This is a huge step to get people to be on their best behaviour in the workplace as the prospect of losing one’s benefits may make employees more careful of their conduct.
  
  This is also a step forward towards creating seriousness about instances of sexual harassment at the workplace and in general.
  
  This move will serve as an additional deterrent apart from the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) law of 2013.
  
  POSH law guidelines
  As per the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) law of 2013, firms are required to form an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to inquire into complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace.
  
  The Committee is required to make recommendations to employers on the action required pursuant to its inquiry in such complaints.
  
  The ICC has the powers to decide if someone is guilty and report it further to the police, though not all sexual harassment cases translate into a police case.
  
  Under the POSH Act, sexual harassment includes any one or more of the following unwelcome acts or behaviour (whether directly or by implication):
  
  Physical contact and advances
  
  A demand or request for sexual favours
  
  Making sexually coloured remarks
  
  Showing pornography
  
  Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.
  
  
• Draft rules for the Industrial Relations Code
  The Ministry of Labour notified the draft rules for the Industrial Relations Code, 2020. The rules are to be implemented by April, 2021.
  
  The Industrial Relations Code, 2020, was among the three labour Codes passed by Parliament, subsumed three laws regarding industrial disputes, trade unions and standing orders, which lists details of service conditions of employees.
  
  The draft rules enable employers to seek permissions and workers to submit notice for strike electronically.
  
  The notice of strike would have to be signed by the secretary and five elected representatives of the registered trade union and given to the employer, with a copy sent to the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) electronically or otherwise.
  
  The rules also proposed establishing a re-skilling fund for retrenched workers.
  
  Employers would have to electronically transfer an amount equal to 15 days of the last drawn wages of the retrenched workers or worker into an account maintained by the government within 10 days of the retrenchment.
  
  The fund so received shall be transferred by the Central Government to each worker or workers account electronically within 45 days of receipt of funds from the employer and the worker shall utilize such amount for his re-skilling.
  
  
• National Jal Jeevan Mission
  National Jal Jeevan Mission is organizing a conference with ministers’ in-charge of rural water supply of all States and Union Territories to discuss various issues to implement the mission with speed, scale and skill.
  
  The goal of Jal Jeevan Mission is to ensure that every household has assured drinking water supply in an adequate quantity of prescribed quality on a long-term basis.
  
  The broad objectives of the Mission are:
  To provide FHTC to every rural household.
  
  To prioritize provision of FHTCs in quality affected areas, villages in drought prone and desert areas, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages, etc.
  
  To provide functional tap connection to Schools, Anganwadi centres, GP buildings, Health centres, wellness centres and community buildings
  
  To monitor functionality of tap connections.
  
  To promote and ensure voluntary ownership among local community by way of contribution in cash, kind and/ or labour and voluntary labour (shramdaan)
  
  To assist in ensuring sustainability of water supply system, i.e. water source, water supply infrastructure, and funds for regular O&M
  
  To empower and develop human resource in the sector such that the demands of construction, plumbing, electrical, water quality management, water treatment, catchment protection, O&M, etc. are taken care of in short and long term
  
  To bring awareness on various aspects and significance of safe drinking water and involvement of stakeholders in manner that make water everyone's business
  
  The goal of the mission, have finalized the saturation plan as below: Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTCs)
  
  100% FHTCs - 2020: Goa (Target achieved)
  
  100% FHTCs - 2021: A&N Islands, Bihar, Puducherry, Telangana
  
  100% FHTCs - 2022: Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Punjab, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh
  
  100% FHTCs - 2023: Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Tripura
  
  100% FHTCs - 2024: Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, West Bengal.
  
  
• Mansar Lake Project in Jammu to attract 20 lakh tourists every year
  In the view of increasing tourism, Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region, inaugurated the Mansar Lake Development Plan in J & K (Jammu and Kashmir).
  
  The project is to attract almost 20 lakh tourists every year & create employment for 1.15 crore person-days with an income output of 800 crore/year.
  
  The day is a historic day for the people of Mansar Region, as the Mansar Lake Development Plan is getting completed after a long wait of 70 years.
  
  The recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir region had received the highest priority in development, particularly the Udhampur-Doda-Kathua parliamentary constituency.
  
  The numbers of national projects initiated in the region during the last 6 years are greater than the number of projects initiated in the earlier 7 decades.
  
  ShahpurKandi Irrigation Projects which were revived after four decades and the Ujh multipurpose project, which has also been revived after over 5 decades, the region has seen many such projects in the last six years.
  
  The world's highest railway bridge coming up in Reasi.
  
  Mansar is of importance from pilgrimage as well heritage point of view beyond being the most scenic attraction due to vast Mansar Lake and its flora and fauna.
  
  7% of the region's GDP is contributed by tourism, but the novel coronavirus has impacted the sector.
  
  Centre has given 706 crores for the tourism sector, and the multi-pronged approach is being adopted to bring Jammu and Kashmir as one of the most preferred tourist destinations in the World Map.
  
  
• VAIBHAV Summit: A Unique Confluence of Resident and Overseas Indian Scientists/Academicians
  The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Vaishwik Bharatiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Summit, a global virtual summit of overseas & resident Indian researchers & Academicians on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, 2020, which concluded on the occasion of SardarVallabhbhai Patel Jayanti, October 31, 2020.
  
  VAIBHAV has paved the way in establishing research capability as an important avenue towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
  
  It has also paved the way for aligning contemporary research in the country towards a shared purpose in each area. Resident & overseas Indians have given an integrated perspective of research and academic capabilities to seamlessly contribute to India’s Science and technology capability for global good.
  
  The Summit has created an interactive and facile mechanism in the Cyberspace, and has promoted collaboration and the development of leadership.
  
  VAIBHAV is a grand initiative in the area of science and research not just for academic institutes but also for public-funded R&D organizations and Industry that utilizes the outcome of the research.
  
  The key highlights of this summit:
  18 Verticals (Areas)
  80 Horizontals (Subjects)
  230 Panel Discussion Sessions
  23 Days of Panel Deliberations
  3169Panelists
  22500 Attendees
  722 Hours of Formal Deliberations
  
  The Summit intended to “create an ideal research ecosystem, merging tradition with modernity to create prosperity”.
  
  The discussions were held on computational sciences, electronics & communication, quantum technologies, photonics, aerospace technologies, health and medical sciences, pharma and biotechnology, agro-economy and food security, material & processing technologies, advanced manufacturing, earth sciences, energy, environmental sciences, management and social sciences.
  
  Some of the areas of collaborations are wafer-level packaging, 3D integration for MEMS, Heterogeneous integration of 2D materials on Silicon platform, Full Mission Mode Engine Cycle Analysis, Aero Elastic Analysis of Fan, Hot Turbine Blade Cooling Technology, Membrane separation for purification of elements, Ge purification for detector application, Highly doped Ge for THz and Mid IR frequencies
  
  Directed research support, regulatory requirement for industries to identify future technical trajectories, and incentives to promote academia-industry collaborationare key mechanisms for enabling research collaboration and commercialization.
  
  The goal is to create a broader ecosystem of knowledge and innovation in the country through global interactions, for India and the world.
  
  
• Kochi-Muziris Biennale: Art exhibition and festival
  Kochi-Muziris Biennale’s 5th edition has been postponed to 2021.
  
  Kochi-Muziris Biennale is an art exhibition & festival which is the largest of its kind in South Asia.
  
  Kochi Biennale Foundation organizes the festival at Kochi, Kerala. The Foundation is a non-profitable charitable trust engaged in promoting and supporting art and culture and also educational activities in India.
  
  The organization works throughout the year to strengthen contemporary art infrastructure and broaden public access to art across India through diverse programs.
  
  Muziris was a port city once upon time, among the earliest of its kind in the world. When Kerala established itself as a significant centre for spice, the ancient port of Muziris emerged as its hub.
  
  At present, the Muziris Heritage Project is one of India's most significant conservation projects, where the state & the central governments have come together to conserve a rich culture that is as old as 3000 years or more.
  
  The biennale displays artworks across various mediums, including film, installation, painting, sculpture, etc.
  
  
• Ganga Utsav-2020 begins virtually with COVID-19 precautions
  The Ganga Utsav-2020 began virtually on November 2. The festival will continue till 4th of November.
  
  The event of Ganga Utsav activities broadly can be put in 6 broad themes. These broad themes are Ganga Dialogue, Story Telling, Cultural Events, Mini Ganga Quest, Ganga Film Festival, and Release of Movies and Publications.
  
  National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is organising 'Ganga Utsav 2020'.
  
  Ganga Utsav is a cultural and educational festival to celebrate the glory of the holy river Ganga.
  
  The aim is to connect masses to the cause of river rejuvenation and sensitive them about ecological issues through conversations and entertainment. Ganga Task Force conducted afforestation drive with NCC cadets and educational tour for youth in project area.
  
  On November 4, 2008, Ganga was declared "National River''. Since 2016, every year the NMCG has been celebrating Ganga Utsav on November 4, with an objective to promote stakeholder engagement and ensuring public participation under the aegis of Ganga Knowledge Centre.
  
  
• Prime Minister interacts with Officer Trainees of Indian Civil Services in “Aarambh”
  Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the Officer Trainees (OTs) of the Indian Civil Services at LBSNAA Mussoorie virtually. This is a part of the integrated foundation course AARAMBH launched for the first time in 2019.
  
  This is the first ever of its kind common foundation course for civil service probationers.PM exhorted the young officers to take the decisions in the context of the nation’s interests and to strengthen the unity and integrity of the country. He also stressed that the focus of the “steel frame” of the country should not be merely in managing the daily affairs but in working for the progress of the nation.
  
  He pointed out the transformation in the training pattern of civil servants in the last 2-3 years. He remarked that the Integrated Foundation Course 'Aarambh' is a symbol of a new tradition.
  
  He also referred to one of the recent reforms in Civil Services the Mission Karmayogi. It is an attempt at capacity building of Civil Servants to make them more creative and confident. The role of all bureaucrats in the present mode of working in the country is to ensure Minimum Government and Maximum Governance.
  
  
• Indian Naval Ship Airavat arrives in Sudan with food aid as part of Mission Sagar-2
  Under the mission Sagar-2, the Indian government is providing assistance to friendly foreign countries to overcome natural calamities and the Corona virus pandemic.
  
  Mission Sagar-II follows the first ‘Mission Sagar’ undertaken in May-June 2020, wherein India reached out to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, and provided food aid and medicines.
  
  As part of Mission Sagar-II, Indian Naval Ship Airavat will deliver food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea. Mission Sagar-II is in line with the vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region ‘SAGAR’.
  
  
• Kochi’s transport system to see drastic changes
  The Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority (KMTA) will come into effect in Kochi. Kochi is Kerala’s financial centre. KMTA will work as an umbrella body to shape and preside over an integrated, seamless urban transport system in the city.
  
  In November, 2019, the Kerala Assembly passed the KMTA bill, clearing the way for metropolitan transport authorities to be formed in three cities in the state – Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kochi.
  
  The KMTA will be an independent body. The body will be chaired by the state’s transport minister with the transport secretary acting as vice-chairperson. It can have a maximum of 15 members including the district collector, city police commissioner, secretaries of local bodies, mayor, local MLA and representatives from state bus corporation.
  
  KMTA is responsible for operation, maintenance, development and supervision of public transport modes in urban areas in the city. Kochi is the largest and most populous metropolitan area in Kerala. Kochi is serviced by all major public transport modes: private and public buses, waterways, trains, Metro rail, cabs, auto-rickshaws and ferries.
  
  The urban planners in the city have complained that these modes of transport, suffer from lack of integration and connectivity, leading to inefficiency. In 2017, when the first phase of the Metro rail was inaugurated in Kochi, the need for a transport authority that can streamline multiple modes of transport with a single ‘command and control’ centre strengthened.
  
  A precondition set by the Centre in 2013 for the approval of a rapid transit rail in Kochi was to integrate all public modes of transport and introduce a common ticketing system for the convenience of commuters under the National Urban Mobility Policy.
  
  
• National Medical Commission notifies “Minimum Requirements for Annual MBBS Admissions Regulations (2020)”
  Notification issued replaces the “Minimum Standard Requirements for Medical Colleges, 1999 (for 50/100/150/200/250 Annual Admissions)” of the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI).
  
  New Regulation shall be applicable to all new medical colleges proposing to be established, and to the established medical colleges proposing to increase their annual MBBS intake from the academic year 2021-22. The new Regulation has deleted the quantum of land required for setting up a medical college and its affiliated teaching hospitals.
  
  The notification defines the minimum requirements of space for all student centric areas in the institution and the functional areas required. The standard outlines the sharing of all available teaching spaces by all departments.
  
  Mandating all teaching spaces to be enabled for e-learning and also digitally linked to each another. A well-equipped “Skills Laboratory” for training students is essential now. It also defines a Medical Education Unit for training medical teachers in educational pedagogy.
  
  The space required for Library and the number of books and journals have been rationalized and reduced. Student counselling services has been mandated recognizing the increasing stress observed amongst medical students and residents in recent times.
  
  The new regulation now mandates the availability of a fully functional 300 bed multi-speciality hospital for at least 2 years at the time of application for establishing a new medical college. The human resource of teaching faculty has also been rationalized in the new Regulation. Over and above the minimum prescribed faculty, provision for “visiting faculty” has been made to enhance quality of training.
  
  Two new teaching departments have now become mandatory in all medical college hospitals for the training of undergraduate medical students. These include the Department of Emergency Medicine (which has replaced the earlier Casualty Department) and will ensure access and prompt, appropriate response to emergencies particularly trauma; and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation which shall fill a large gap for those in need of comprehensive rehabilitative care.
  
  The Regulation has also outlined “desirable” and “aspirational” goals beyond the minimum requirements stated in the standards so as to stimulate medical institutions to strive for excellence. These elements will be utilized by the National Medical Commission while rating the medical institutions in the country.
  
  
• Chhattisgarh CM launches scheme for distribution of fortified rice
  The State Government of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel launched Fortified Rice Distribution Scheme through Public distribution System (PDS). The fortified rice is a mixture of iron, vitamin B-12 and folic acid enriched Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK), which meet the nutritional requirements in the diet and thereby help in controlling malnutrition and anaemia.
  
  It will be distributed through fair price shops. The government believes that micronutrients, which enable the body to produce enzymes and hormones essential for growth, can play a crucial role in the country.
  
  Rice is the fifth food item that the government is promoting with fortification — salt, edible oil, milk and wheat being the others. During 1980s, the government made addition of iodine to salt compulsory.
  
  The fortification of wheat is being implemented in states under Poshan Abhiyaan to improve nutrition among children, adolescents, pregnant mothers and lactating mothers.
  
  Fortification of edible oil, was made compulsory across the country by FSSAI in 2018. Fortification of milk was started in 2017 under which the National Dairy Development Board of India (NDDB) is pushing companies to add vitamin D. For rice fortification, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is the nodal agency.
  
  Indo-Israeli Centre of Excellence for Vegetables Protected Cultivation
  Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone of Indo-Israeli Centre of Excellence for Vegetables Protected Cultivation near Guwahati with Israeli Ambassador Dr. Ron Malka on November 2, 2020.
  
  Rs. 10.33-crore project is to bolster the agricultural activities in the state by giving exposure to the latest Israeli technologies.
  
  Centre of Excellence would provide a major boost to agricultural and horticultural production in Assam, that it would be an extra value added to the government's efforts to double farmers' income. The close bond of friendship between India and Israel in recent years and said that India and Israel is a perfect match where both countries complement each other.
  
  Department of Posts releases special cover to commemorate Golden Jubilee of DST
  Central Minister for Science & Technology, Health & Family Welfare and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Minister of State for Posts, Education and Electronics & IT, Sanjay Dhotre released the Special Covers commemorating the Golden Jubilee of Department of Science &Technology (DST) on November 2, 2020.
  
  Dr. Harsh Vardhan congratulated DST saying that scientists have proved their mettle in all fields of science at the international level. He revealed that India has international collaboration with over 80 countries in various scientific areas as on today.
  
  MoS for Posts Sanjay Dhotre applauded the achievements of the DST and said, the Department of Posts feels proud in providing Special Cover for the DST highlighting its immense achievements.
  
  
• Accurate forecast helps farmers: survey
  Study carried out by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) on behalf of the Ministry of Earth Sciences to evaluate economic benefits of the government’s investment in the National Monsoon Mission, found that accurate forecasting helps farmers and fishermen to save crores of rupees.
  
  The total annual economic benefits to agricultural households (farmers and livestock owners) from accurate weather forecasting by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and other agencies has been calculated at Rs 13,331 crore.
  
  For every rupee spent by the government on National Monsoon Mission, the country would gain economic benefits worth Rs 50, which is 50 times more benefit on the investment over the next five-year period.
  
  The most prominent weather services of IMD is the agro-meteorological services for farmers for their day-to-day operations.
  
  The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services provides ocean state forecasts and warnings to fisherfolks going out to the sea every day.
  
  98 per cent farmers made modifications such as changing variety/breed of crop, arranging storage of harvest, early/delayed harvesting, changed crop, early/delayed sowing, changed schedule of ploughing/land preparation, changed pesticide application schedule, changed fertiliser application schedule and changed scheduled irrigation.
  
  94 per cent farmers surveyed said this helped them either avoid losses, or increase income.
  
  82 per cent fishermen surveyed reported using Ocean State Forecast (OSF) advisories before they venture into the sea every time, and 95 per cent of them reported to have avoided empty trips by following OSF advisories.
  
  The study estimates this helped them save Rs 18.25 crore operational costs by avoiding venturing into the sea.
  
  Potential fishing zone (PFZ) advisories resulted in successful trips generating additional income of approx. Rs 1.92 crore.
  
  
• 30 Indian cities likely to face acute water risks by 2050: WWF
  About 30 Indian cities will face increasing “water risks” in the next few decades according to a new report released by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
  
  Cities include, Jaipur, Indore, Amritsar, Pune, Srinagar, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kozhikode and Visakhapatnam.
  
  Globally, the report estimates that “hundreds of millions of people in cities across the globe could face dramatically increased water risks.”
  
  100 cities will witness a massive rise in water risks by 2050. The list also includes cities such as Beijing, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Mecca and Rio de Janeiro.
  
  Almost half of these cities are in China, with other hotspots in South Asia, Middle East, South America and Africa.
  
  These cities overall, are home to 350 million people.
  
  Globally, populations in areas of high-water risk could increase to 51 per cent by 2050.
  
  Cities across the world have paid a high price in recent years due to worsening water risks. From acute risks that have seen historic floods to chronic risks that have seen their taps running dry.
  
  The water challenges cities are facing are only going to increase in the coming decades because the impacts of climate change will primarily be felt through water.
  
  
• Cabinet approves Luhri Stage-I Hydro Power Project
  The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the investment for 210 MW Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project located on river Satluj which is situated in Shimla &Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh. This project will generate 758.20 million units of electricity annually.
  
  This project is being implemented by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) on Build-Own-Operate-Maintain (BOOM) basis with active support from Government of India and State Government.
  
  The Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project shall be commissioned within a span of 62 months.
  
  The power generated from the Project will help in providing Grid stability and will improve the power supply position.
  
  Besides adding valuable renewable energy to the Grid, the project would also lead to reduction of 6.1 lakh Tons of carbon dioxide from environment annually, thus contributing to improvement in air quality.
  
  The construction activities of the project will result in direct & indirect employment to around 2000 persons and will contribute to overall socio-economic development of the State.
  
  SJVN has forayed into the fields of Renewable Energy, Power Transmission and Thermal power generation. It has envisaged Internal Growth Targets of total installed capacity from all sources of 5000 MW by 2023, 12000 MW by 2030 and 25000 MW by year 2040.
  
  Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited, a joint venture between Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh in ratio of 75:25 is engaged in the business of planning, promoting, organizing and executing projects relating to generation, distribution, operation and maintenance and sale of power.
  
  
• MoS Tourism virtually opens project in Kerala's Guruvayur
  Union Minister for Tourism & Culture inaugurated the “Tourist Facilitation Centre” facility constructed under the project “Development of Guruvayur, Kerala” under PRASHAD Scheme.
  
  The project for “Development of Guruvayur” under the scheme was approved by the Ministry of Tourism.
  
  The component viz. ‘Tourist Facilitation Centre’ has been successfully completed. Other components of the projects are the CCTV Network Infrastructure, Tourist Amenities Centre and Multi Level Car Parking. The CCTV Network has already been completed.
  
  The ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive’ (PRASHAD) launched by the Ministry of Tourism in the year 2014-15 with the objective of integrated development of identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations.
  
  The scheme aimed at infrastructure development such as entry points (Road, Rail and Water Transport), last mile connectivity, basic tourism facilities like Information/ Interpretation Centers, ATM/ Money exchange, eco-friendly modes of transport, area Lighting and illumination with renewable sources of energy, parking, drinking water, toilets, cloak room, waiting rooms, first aid centers, craft bazars /haats/ souvenir shops/ cafeteria, rain shelters, Telecom facilities, internet connectivity etc.
  
  The PRASAD scheme is 100% funded by the Central Government. Around 30 infrastructural development projects have been identified under the PRASAD scheme. This includes Buddhist sites such as Ajanta and Ellora, Bodhgaya.
  
  
• Tele-Law has touched a new milestone with 4 Lakh beneficiaries having received legal advice under this through CSCs
  It primarily aims to address issues at the pre-litigative stage. In digitally connects marginalized and poor people with panel lawyers, to seek legal advice and consultation through use of video conferencing and telephone service available at the Common Services Centers situated at the gram panchayat level.
  
  The programme benefits people entitled to free legal aid under Section 12 of Legal Services Authorities, Act, 1987 that include women, children, Members of scheduled caste, scheduled tribes etc. to seek legal advice free of cost. Others can avail services at Rs 30/- per consultation.
  
  To ensure its seamless penetration in far flung and remote areas, a TeleLaw mobile application has been developed to enable pre-registration of cases by PLVs.
  
  Tele Law web portal providing key information about the programme is available in 22 languages. Tele-Law Dashboard has been developed to capture real time data on cases registered and advice enabled.
  
  E-Tutorial on use of Tele-Law mobile application has been uploaded on Tele-Law portal. Tele-Law pamphlets are also available in 22 languages on the Tele-Law portal.
  
  
• PM chairs Virtual Global Investor Roundtable
  PM to chair Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR). The Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR) is being organized by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and National Investment & Infrastructure Fund.
  
  The roundtable is an exclusive dialogue between leading global institutional investors, Indian business leaders & the highest decision-makers from the Government of India (GoI) and Financial Market Regulators.
  
  The Roundtable will see participation from 20 of the world's largest pension & sovereign wealth funds with total assets of about US 6 trillion dollars.
  
  The global institutional investors represent key regions including the US, Europe, Korea, Japan, Middle East, Canada, Australia, and Singapore.
  
  The roundtable will witness the participation of key decision-makers of these funds, i.e., the CEOs and CIOs.
  
  The Roundtable will also see participation of a number of top Indian Business Leaders.
  
  VGIR 2020 will focus on India's economic and investment outlook, structural reforms & the government's vision for the path to a US 5 trillion dollars economy.
  
  The event provides an opportunity for leading global investors & Indian business leaders to engage and deliberate with senior policymakers on how to further accelerate the growth of international investments in India.
  
  VGIR 2020 will also provide an occasion for all stakeholders to further cement the strong partnerships that have been built and to foster engagement with international institutional investors who are looking to increase their Indian investments.

Published date : 20 Nov 2020 01:18PM