Daily Important News will speed up the preparation for the Civil Services Examination and it also plays a crucial role to grasp the current affairs topic comprehensively. Here we have covered most of the topics related to various categories including National, International, Sports, Science and Technology, and so on.
1. Operationalisation of Revamped Website of MoSPI
– The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has upgraded its website with improved functionality and content accessibility from 18th November 2020.
– It can be accessed using the URL: mospi.gov.in.
– The new website has been designed using the latest portal development technology with the purpose of providing an integrated digital experience to Users.
– The revamped website has been developed as per GIGW guidelines of DARPG and NIC.
– Website design is kept clutter-free and minimalist ensuring the clear identity of elements and providing visual appeal with viewer friendliness. Website is mobile device compatible and disables friendly.
– Visitors can provide information on User experience, adding the desired element of “public participation” and boost the potential of e-Governance Visitor can share the content link on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc) through share button available across the website.
– To facilitate the process of a smooth transition, link to the old website will be available on the new website for a period of 6 months. The old website can also be accessed using URL: mospi.nic.in.
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2. Global Prevention Coalition (GPC)
– Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare digitally addressed the Ministerial meeting of the Global Prevention Coalition (GPC) for HIV Prevention.
– Hosted by UNAIDS and UNFPA on behalf of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition (GPC), the conference this year holds significance in achieving the 2016 UNGA commitment to end AIDS by 2030.
– Member States of GPC had agreed to reduce new adult HIV infections by 75% at the end of 2020 from 2010 levels.
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3. 240th Corps of Engineers Day
– Indian Army celebrated the 240th Corps of Engineers Day on 18 Nov 2020.
– In a solemn ceremony organized at ‘National War Memorial’, Lt Gen SK Shrivastava, Engineer-in-Chief along with other serving officers, JCOs and other ranks laid wreaths and paid homage to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country.
– The Corps of Engineers provides combat engineering support, develops infrastructure for armed forces and other defence organisations and maintains connectivity along our vast borders besides providing succour to the populace during natural disasters.
– These tasks are executed through four pillars of the Corps – Combat Engineers, Military Engineer Service, Border Road Organisation and Military Survey.
– The Corps of Engineers has three groups, i.e. Madras Sappers, Bengal Sappers and Bombay Sappers which were amalgamated into the Corps on 18 Nov 1932. Since its inception, history is replete with colossal exemplary contributions of the Corps of Engineers both in war and peace.
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4. World Toilet Day
– Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti is celebrating ‘World Toilet Day’ on November 19, 2020 under ‘Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (SBMG)’ for promoting awareness on access to Safe Sanitation and felicitating districts/states for making a significant contribution towards Swachhata.
– Phase 2 of SBMG has been launched early this year for sustaining the gains made under Phase 1 (2014-19) with focus on ODF Sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM).
– Various campaigns focusing on construction and beautification of Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs) have been undertaken countrywide over past one year like Swachh Sunder Samudayik Sauchalay (SSSS) and Samudayik Sauchalay Abhiyan (SSA).
5. Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises scheme (PM-FME Scheme)
– Shri Narendra Singh inaugurates capacity building component of the PM-FME Scheme and also launched the GIS One District One Product (ODOP) digital map of India.
– Under the capacity building component of the PM-FME scheme, training of the Master Trainers would be delivered through online mode, classroom lecture and demonstration, and self-paced online learning material.
– NIFTEM and IIFPT are playing a key role by providing training and research support to selected enterprises/groups/clusters in partnership with State Level Technical Institutions.
– The Master Trainers will train the District Level Trainers, who will train the beneficiaries. The current training is based on Fruits and Vegetable processing & EDP.
About the PM-FME Scheme
– It was launched under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
– The Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PM-FME) Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme aims to enhance the competitiveness of existing individual micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment of the food processing industry and promote formalization of the sector and provide support to Farmer Producer Organizations, Self Help Groups, and Producers Cooperatives along their entire value chain.
– With an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25, the scheme envisions to directly assist the 2,00,000 micro food processing units for providing financial, technical, and business support for up-gradation of existing micro food processing enterprises.
Daily Gist of ‘The Hindu’, ‘PIB’, ‘Indian Express’ and Other Newspapers: 18 November, 2020
6. UNESCO Global Geoparks
– The efforts are made by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) to get recognition of a geopark for Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). It consists of Erra Matti Dibbalu (red sand dunes), natural rock formations, Borra Caves and volcanic ash deposits.
– There are 161 UNESCO Global geoparks spread across 44 countries, India is yet to have one of its own.
– Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.
Daily Gist of ‘The Hindu’, ‘PIB’, ‘Indian Express’ and Other Newspapers: 17 November, 2020
7. Step Up for TB 2020” report
– The “Step Up for TB 2020” is a report by the Stop TB Partnership and Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors without Borders (MSF).
– It has highlighted India’s conservative approach regarding the new medicines for Drug Resistant TB, putting lives of patients including children in danger.
– The current Pandemic has further aggravated the sufferings of TB patients in the country in terms of disease diagnosis, surveillance and treatment.
– In the report, the data is presented on 37 high-burden countries, including India and assessing the extent to which national policies align with international best practices based on World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and the latest scientific research.
– This is the 4th edition of this report. It focuses on countries’ policies and practices related to 4 key areas of national TB programmes (NTPs) namely;
Diagnosis,
Treatment (including models of care),
Prevention, and
Medicines procurement policies.
Daily Gist of ‘The Hindu’, ‘PIB’, ‘Indian Express’ and Other Newspapers: 12 November, 2020
8. 12th BRICS Summit
– In the 12th BRICS Summit, PM Narendra Modi touched issues including terrorism, VOVID-19 pandemic and the need for reforms in global bodies.
– This year 12th BRICS Summit was hosted and chaired by Russia.
9. India’s first convergence project
– To generate green energy for rural and agriculture consumption, India’s first convergence project is set to come up in Goa.
– Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Ministry of Power, and the Goa government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the same.
– The Convergence Project of EESL focuses on energy solutions that lie at the confluence of renewable energy, electric mobility and climate change.
– Its objective is to connect seemingly independent sectors including Solar Energy, Energy Storage and LED lights to provide solutions, which can enable in decarbonisation and affordable energy access.
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IAS Prelims Mock-Test 2020 – Set 57, 18 November
