1. China launches Sudan’s first ever satellite “SRSS-1” 

• Sudan’s first-ever satellite for conducting research in military, economic and space technology has been launched by China.
• Sudan’s remote-sensing satellite (SRSS-1), was developed by the Shenzhen Aerospace Oriental Red Sea Satellite Co.
• The satellite was launched aboard China’s Long March-4B rocket along with other Chinese satellites including Gaofen 7, Xiaoxiang-1 08, Whampoa 1 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in northern China.
• The Sudanese satellite has been mainly designed for civil and military remote sensing over Sudan.
• The remote-sensing satellite aims to advance research in space technology.
  Its main objective is to acquire the required data as well as discover natural resources for the country’s military needs.
• The satellite aims to generate a comprehensive, cost-effective and reliable database on the topographic, mapping and natural resources of Sudan.

2. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan re-elected as President of UAE

• The UAE’s Supreme Council of the Union has re-elected his Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as its President for a 4th five-year term, in accordance with the provisions of the UAE Constitution.
• He was first elected President on November 3, 2004, following the death of his father Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

1. MSDE, IBM jointly launch Skills Build platform 

• The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched the Skills Build platform in collaboration with IBM.
• As part of the programme, a two-year advanced diploma in IT, networking and cloud computing, co-created and designed by IBM, will be offered at the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) & National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs).
• The platform will be extended to train ITI & NSTI faculty on building skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• The digital platform will provide a personal assessment of the cognitive capabilities and personality via MyInnerGenius to the students.
• They will then learn foundational knowledge about digital technologies, as well as professional skills such as resume-writing, problem solving and communication.
• Students will also receive recommendations on role-based education for specific jobs that include technical and professional learning.
• IBM India Pvt Ltd MD: Karan Bajwa.
• Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

2. Agriculture Minister releases 5th edition of Wastelands Atlas 2019

• Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar released the 5th edition of Wastelands Atlas 2019.
• The Atlas, published jointly by Department of Land Resources and National Remote Sensing Centre, provides robust geospatial information on wasteland.
• It is helpful in rolling back the wastelands for productive use through various land development programmes and schemes.
• Wastelands Atlas-2019 also provides State and district wise distribution of different categories of wastelands area in the country and will be helpful in addressing land degradation.

3. PM Modi inaugurates 5th India International Science Festival

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates 5th India International Science Festival (IISF) at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Kolkata through video conferencing.
• The theme of the festival is “RISEN: Research, Innovation and Science Empowering the Nation” reflects the aspirations of 21st century India.
• The aims of IISF is to build a strategy for inclusive advancement of Science and Technology.
• The India International Science Festival (IISF) was launched in 2015 to promote Science and Technology.
• The goal of the Science festivity is to help youth, develop 21st-century skills, with a focus on scientific knowledge, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork.

4. HRD Minister and Harsimrat Kaur Badal to launch 3 books on Guru Nanak Dev Ji

• Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal will launch three books on Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College, the University of Delhi, on the occasion of 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
• The National Book Trust has published three titles: Guru Nanak Bani, Nanak Bani, and Sakhian Guru Nanak Dev to spread the message of Guru Nanak Dev’s writings among readers of Indian sub-continent.
• These books, published originally in Punjabi, shall be translated into 15 major Indian languages.

5. Indian Railways launches 3 online applications for all-India rollout

• Indian Railways has launched three applications for all-India roll out to strengthen its IT-enabled services which will help ensure proper monitoring of projects being undertaken by Railways.
• The applications, namely CRS Sanction Management System, Rail-road crossing GAD approval system and TMS for construction aim at beefing up IT-enabled services.
• The CRS Sanction Management System is an important aspect in construction, maintenance and up-gradation of railway assets, whereas Rail-road crossing GAD approval system will expedite preparation, processing and approval of general agreement drawings related to the construction of Road Over Bridges and Road Under Bridges.
• Application TMS for construction has been developed for new assets being constructed by the construction organization.

6. 5th edition of GES 2019 to be held in Bengaluru

• The 5th edition of Global Exhibition on Services, GES 2019 is being held from November 26 to 28 at Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The Global Exhibition on Services is an annual event which aims to engage industry and governments across the world and to promote greater exchange of trade in services between India and the rest of the world.
• India is looking to attract investments and partnerships in strategic areas like aviation and space programme, infrastructure, and telecom projects.

1. PM Modi inaugurates two-day Global investors’ meet in Dharamshala 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a two-day Himachal Pradesh Global investors’ meet ‘Rising Himachal’ in Dharamshala.
• The event is being organised by the Himachal Pradesh government to attract investment and create employment opportunities in the state.
• Ambassadors from 16 countries, 209 foreign delegates along with local entrepreneurs will participate in the mega event.

2. Lucknow railway station gets ‘Health ATM’

• The Indian Railways has installed two ‘Health ATMs’ at the Charbagh railway station in Lucknow. The kiosks, promoted by YOLO Health ATM, provide 16 health check-ups for Rs 50-100.
• There are two types of check-ups a 9-minute one that costs Rs 100, and a 6-minute one that costs Rs 50.
• The report is delivered instantly to the email or smartphone of the user.
• The check-ups include body mass index, blood pressure, body fat, haemoglobin, metabolic age, muscle mass, weight, height, temperature, muscle mass, basal metabolic rating, visceral fat, oxygen saturation, pulse rate, blood glucose, and bone mass.
• Health ATMs can be defined as private, walk-in medical kiosks with integrated medical devices for basic vitals, cardiology, neurology, pulmonary testing, gynaecology, basic laboratory testing and emergency facilities and staffed by a medical attendant.
• Uttar Pradesh CM: Yogi Adityanath; Governor: Anandiben Patel.

3. Odisha government signs pact with Tata Strive, Tech Mahindra for skill upgradation 

• The Odisha state government signed agreements with Tata Strive and Tech Mahindra to add new dimensions in skilling and employability of the youth.
• The agreement between Directorate of Technical Education and Training and Tata Strive is aimed at imparting life skills to the students of all 49 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the state.
• The pact between Tech Mahindra and the Biju Patnaik University of Technology will see setting up of a centre for excellence in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• It will work on the proof of concept for real-life business problems to keep up with the market demand and enhance employability of engineering students.

1. MSTC ties up with Allahabad Bank to develop e-auction platform 

• MSTC Ltd has signed an agreement with Allahabad Bank for the development of a dedicated e-Auction platform.
• This platform directly linked with the Indian Banking Association’s portal (https://ibapi.net) for sale of non-performing assets (NPAs) through the SARFAESI (Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest) Act.
• The e-Auction platform will be a one-of-a-kind solution, where a bidder once registered, will be able to participate in auctions for all banks.
• This move will help the banks monetise NPAs through a streamlined process, thereby, increasing revenue generation.
• MSTC is a Central Government of India company engaged in domestic and international trading.
• It specialises in the international trade of ferrous input materials and has imported millions of tonnes of ferrous melting scrap, old ships for breaking, sponge iron, hot briquetted iron, re-rollable scrap, etc.
• Chairman & MD of MSTC: Bam Bahadur Singh.
• Founded: 9 September 1964; Headquarters: Kolkata.
• MD & CEO of Allahabad Bank: S. S. Mallikarjuna Rao.
• Tagline: A tradition of trust.

2. Tech Mahindra acquires New York-based BORN Group for $95 million

• IT services firm Tech Mahindra Ltd (Tech M) has acquired BORN Group, a New York-based digital content and production agency, for $95 million.
• The acquisition will help to boost the electronic and mobile commerce segment globally, and equipped to deliver enhanced user experience to customers of Tech Mahindra globally.
• BORN’s services include consulting, content creation, maintenance and hosting services, digital and social marketing, among others. It has clients such as Google, Tata, Red Bull and TAG Heuer.
• Chairman of Mahindra: Anand Mahindra; MD & CEO: C.P. Gurnani.
• Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra.

3. GeM partners with Central Bank of India for payment related services

• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) signed MoU with Central Bank of India.
• Through this partnership, Central Bank of India will be able to offer an array of services including transfer of funds through GeM Pool Accounts (GPA), advising of electronic Performance Bank Guarantees (e-PBG) and Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) to the registered users on the portal.
• GeM has already signed MoU with 18 Public Sector and Private Banks to enable this.
• GeM is an initiative of the Government of India which offers a one-stop platform for facilitating online procurement of goods and services by Central and State government organizations.
• GeM provides tools for Direct Purchase, bidding and reverse auction for ensuring transparent and efficient procurement.

4. Indian Bank, Muthoot Microfin sign MoU

• Public sector Indian Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding with Muthoot Microfinance to serve Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
• Under the memorandum of understanding, the bank and the non-banking finance company will jointly lend to the MSME borrowers.
• The agreement was signed by Sudhakar Rao, Indian Bank general manager-MSME & Praveen T, Muthoot Microfin deputy CFO (Chief Financial Officer) in the presence of the bank’s managing director (MD) and
• CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Padmaja Chunduru.
• Indian Bank founded: 15 August 1907.
• Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Tagline: Your Own Bank.

1. Arvind Singh takes over as AAI chairman 

• Arvind Singh, a 1988-batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre, took charge as the chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
• The AAI, which comes under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, owns and manages more than 100 airports across the country.
• Prior to this appointment, Singh was the additional chief secretary (Energy) of Maharashtra government.
• He also worked as chairman and managing director of Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited and Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited.

2. Dr. Vinaya Shetty appointed as IODA’s 1st Indian and Asian General Vice President

• Dr Vinaya Shetty is the first Indian to be elected to the position of General Vice President (GVP), International Organisation Development Association (IODA) since its inception in 1986.
• She has helped in change and transformation of numerous organisations across industries in India and has been contributing to facilitating IODA’s efforts since 2009.
• In 2016, Vinaya became the first Indian woman entrepreneur finalist for the prestigious Empretech Women in Business Award by United Nations Conference Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
• President of IODA: Michelle de Bruyn; Formed: 1986.

3. Sanjay Gupta appoints country manager at Google India

• Google India has appointed Sanjay Gupta as its new country manager and vice-president of sales and operations for India. Gupta, the former Star and Disney India managing director, will contribute to Google’s efforts to expand the internet ecosystem in the country.
• He will take on the role early next year, working closely with the teams based in Gurugram, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
• He replaces Rajan Anandan, who left Google to join Sequoia Capital India.

4. Anjani Kumar appointed as next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Mali

• The Ministry of external affairs (MEA) announced Anjani Kumar was the next ambassador of India to the Republic of Mali.
• He is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer of batch 2003. He will replace Pradeep Kumar Gupta.

5. Justice Sanjay Karol sworn in as Chief Justice of Patna High Court

• Justice Sanjay Karol was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court.
• Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan administered the oath of office to Justice Karol at the Raj Bhavan.
• He was earlier posted as Chief Justice of Tripura before this appointment.

1. Serbia’s Sara Damnjanovic wins “Miss Asia Global title 2019” 

• The 5th Edition of ‘Miss Asia Global Title 2019’ was organized at Gokulam Convention centre in Kochi, Kerala. Sara Damnjanovic from Serbia has been crowned ‘Miss Asia Global 2019’.
• The title is given to the winner from the Asian region. Nguyen Thi Yen Trang from Vietnam was awarded the Miss Asia title given to the winner from the rest of the world.
• Samiksha Singh from India won the sub-title of ‘Miss Beautiful Face’ Title. The Next ‘Miss Asia Global Title 2020’ will be held in Malaysia.

2. Infosys Prize 2019 for science and research

• The Infosys Prize for 2019 was announced on November 7 at the Infosys campus in Bengaluru.
• The award is given annually to honour outstanding achievements of contemporary researchers and scientists across six categories are: Humanities: Manu V. Devadevan, Life Sciences: Manjula Reddy, Mathematical Sciences: Sidhartha Mishra, Physical Sciences: G. Mugesh, Social Sciences: Anand Pandian, Engineering and Computer Science: Sunita Sarawagi.
• The annual award includes a pure gold medal, a citation and a prize purse worth $100,000 or its equivalent in the Indian rupees.
• On the recommendations of the Election Commission, the Ministry of Law and Justice has amended the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, allowing senior citizens and person with disabilities in the absentee voter list

3. West Bengal based writer Abhisek Sarkar wins award at Dhaka Lit-fest 

• At the 9th edition of the Dhaka Literature festival, West Bengal-based writer Abhishek Sarkar and Bangladeshi poet Rofiquzzaman Rony were given the Gemcon Young Literature Award and Gemcon Young Poetry Award.
• Abhishek and Rofiquzzaman won the awards for their manuscripts, “Nishiddho” and “Dhoashar Tamate Rong,” respectively.
• The special focus of this year’s lit-fest is on Indigenous Languages as the UNESCO has marked 2019 as the year of Indigenous Language Protection.

4. Gulab Kothari to be awarded Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award 

• Rajasthan Patrika group chairman Gulab Kothari has been chosen for the prestigious Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award, presented by the Press Council of India, for his outstanding contribution towards journalism.
• Sanjay Saini, Correspondent, Dainik Bhaskar, Mandi, and Raj Chengappa, Group Editorial Director, India Today, have been jointly named as winners of the award in the category of ‘Rural Journalism’.
• Press Council of India Formation: 1966; Headquarters: New Delhi.

5. Kumar Mangalam Birla conferred ABLF Global Asian award 

• Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, was conferred the ABLF Global Asian Award, for “powerful individual whose business footprint and commitment to excellence have engaged international interest and attention”.
• The Asia Business Leadership Forum (ABLF) is backed by the UAE government and currently runs in three forms- talks, awards, and publications.
• The previous awardees include Dhirubhai Ambani, Lakshmi Mittal, Mohamed Ali Alaber, chairman of Emaar group, and Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Emirates.

6. Tata Literature Live! to honour Shanta Gokhale with Lifetime Achievement award 

• The Tata Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award for 2019 was conferred on writer, translator and film critic Shanta Gokhale.
• She was born in 1939 in Dahanu, Maharashtra, recently published her memoir One Foot on the Ground: A Life Told Through the Body.
• She received the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 2015.
  Poet K Satchidanandan was named the Tata Literature Live! Poet Laureate for 2019.

1. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank launches Instant Digital Savings and Instant FD Account 

• The finance service company, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB) has launched an instant digital savings account (SA) along with Fixed Deposit (FD) and Privilege Savings Account to offer distinctive banking and digital services to its customers.
• Instant Digital Savings account: This account has the restriction of Rs 1 lakh deposit & has unlimited free transactions on the bank’s own ATM (automated teller machine) and 6 free transactions for other bank ATMs per month.
• Instant Fixed Deposit (FD): With interest rate ranging from 5.5% (7days to 29 days) & up to 8.3% (799 days), the customers can invest in this account up to a maximum of Rs. 1 Lakh without a Savings Account.
• Privilege SA: This account comes with the eligibility for a monthly salary of Rs. 30,000 or above /on maintaining a Monthly Average Balance of Rs 25,000 / opening a Fixed Deposit of Rs. 10 Lakh. It provides a higher accidental insurance cover of Rs. 2 Lakh.
• Headquarters of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank: Bengaluru.
• Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer: Samit Kumar Ghosh.

2. Bajaj Allianz General Insurance launches ‘Farmitra’ mobile app for farmers

• Bajaj Allianz General Insurance has launched a new mobile app called ‘Farmitra’ for the ease of farmers.
• This app intends to help the farmers needs and address their worries.
• It also resolves with relevant information, which they can use in optimizing their farming practices.
• The app ‘Farmitra’ provides services for even those who are not customers of Bajaj Allianz.
• Besides crop insurance, the farmers can buy other covers from the private insurer and also obtain information like weather forecasts and market price of crops and locators for agriculture inputs.
• The application is currently implemented in 6 states, namely Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Haryana.
• Managing Director of Bajaj Allianz: Tapan Singhel; Headquartered: Pune, Maharashtra.

3. Exim Bank grants $30 million line of credit to Ghana

• The Export-Import (Exim) Bank has provided a USD 30 million (about Rs 210 crore) line of credit to Ghana for a potable water project in the country.
• Under the arrangement, financing of export of eligible goods, works and services from India would be allowed subject to their being eligible for export under the Foreign Trade Policy of India and whose purchase may be agreed to be financed by the Exim Bank.
• As per the agreement, the terminal utilisation time is 60 months period after the scheduled completion date of the project.

4. Moody’s revises India’s economic outlook to “negative” from “Stable”

• The American financial service company Moody’s has downgraded India’s economic outlook to “Negative” from “Stable”. This downgrade was due to slow growth in the economy.
• It also predicted that slow growth would be prolonged and would also have debt rises.
• Moody’s has also predicted a budget deficit of 3.7% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the year through March 2020, which is a breach in the govt’s target of 3.3%.
• This was due to corporate tax rate cuts, slow growth etc. The long term foreign currency bond and bank deposit ceilings were unchanged at Baa1 and Baa2 (both being 2nd lowest investment-grade score), respectively.
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Moody’s: Raymond W. McDaniel Jr.
• Headquarters: New York, United States; Founded:1909.

5. Karnataka Gramin Bank initiates ‘mobile ATMs’ in rural areas

• The Karnataka Gramin Bank (KGB) has launched ‘mobile ATMs’ in Kalaburagi, among several other districts in the Karnataka. The special vehicle includes an ATM and a screen to show videos of different banking schemes.
• The mobile ATMs will go to the doorsteps of the farmers and make them aware of the banking schemes and digital operating systems.
• A bank official would be present in the van, who will provide information regarding the digital operating systems and schemes.

6. Banks cannot charge on NEFT transactions from January 2020

• As per the report titled “Furthering Digital Payments” released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), With a view to promoting digital transactions on the 3rd anniversary of demonetisation, the Reserve Bank has moved a proposal in this regard.
• From January 2020, banks can no longer charge savings bank account holders for online transactions in the NEFT system.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has now mandated banks to do this. RBI stated that it is doing this to promote digital payments.
• RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das, Headquarters: Mumbai, Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

1. Vice President releases monograph of ‘Musical Excellence of Mridangam’ in Chennai 

• Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu released a monograph, ‘Musical Excellence of Mridangam’, a rare fusion of art and science of an ancient South Indian instrument on the CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) campus in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• The book, an outcome of research and development on standardisation of fabrication, tonal characterisation and new innovations in the design of the percussion instrument, was authored by mridangam maestro and Padma Vibhushan awardee Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman and former scientists T. Ramasami (former Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology) and M.D. Naresh.

2. CJI Ranjan Gogoi releases Assamese version of book ‘Courts of India: Past to Present’

• Chief Justice of India Justice Ranjan Gogoi released the Assamese version of the book ‘Courts of India: Past to Present’ in Guwahati, Assam.
• The book has been published by the Publication division. The various chapters of the book narrate the historical events of the court.

1. ADB to give $451 mn for Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor power links 

• The Asian Development Bank will provide a $451 million (about Rs 3,200 crore) loan to strengthen power connectivity between the southern and northern parts of the Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) in Tamil Nadu.

• The total cost of the project is $653.5 million, of which the government will provide $202.5 million.

• The estimated completion date is end of 2024.

• The project will help promote economic development by delivering a more reliable and competitive power supply for industry and services in the state, which will in turn spur jobs and improve livelihoods.

• Asian Development Bank Headquarters: Manila, Philippines, President: Takehiko Nakao.

1. Biggest US-Bangladesh Navy exercise starts in Chattogram, Bangladesh 

• The second phase of the biggest US- Bangladesh Navy exercise named ‘Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)- 2019’ started in Chattogram, Bangladesh.
• CARAT is one of the U.S. Navy’s longest continually running exercise in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
• The exercise provides an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the operational activities of the Navies of two countries and to get acquainted with advanced technology through various theoretical and practical training.

2. Shripad Naik inaugurates DRDO’s Igniter Complex at HEMRL, Pune

• Union Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik inaugurated the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) Igniter Complex at High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in Pune, Maharashtra.
• HEMRL, a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is primarily engaged in developing rocket and gun propellants, pyrotechnic devices, high-explosive systems and synthesis of high-energy molecules.
• The laboratory has developed several ignition systems to ensure reliable initiation of rocket motors of various tactical as well as strategic missiles.
• The ignition system for Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Nag, Pinaka, Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM), etc. have been designed and developed in HEMRL.
• Technology for AKASH, Nag missiles and Pinaka Mk-I Rocket has been transferred to Ordnance Factory, Dehu Road, Pune and private industries.
• DRDO Chairman: G Satheesh Reddy; Formed: 1958; Headquarters: New Delhi.

3. GRSE delivers fast patrol vessel, ‘Annie Besant’ to Indian Coast Guard

• Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) delivered Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) ICGS Annie Besant, the second in the series of five such ships, to the Indian Coast Guard.
• A medium-range vessel with a length of 50 metres, a width of 7.5 metres and displacement of around 308 tonnes, the FPV is capable of operations in the maritime zones of the country.
• These powerful, fuel-efficient platforms are designed to perform multipurpose operations like patrolling, anti-smuggling, anti-poaching and rescue operations.
• ICGS Annie Besant is designed for a maximum speed of 34 knots with an endurance of more than 1,500 nautical miles.
• GRSE Founded: 1884; Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal.

4. Indian Navy, Indonesian Navy bilateral maritime exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’

• India is jointly exercising its anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kamorta along with Indonesian warship KRI Usman Harun, a multi-role corvette, in the Bay of Bengal as part of an ongoing bilateral exercise “Samudra Shakti”.
• The aim of the exercise is to strengthen bilateral relations, expand maritime co-operation, enhance interoperability and exchange best practices.
• The joint exercises include manoeuvres, surface warfare exercises, air defence exercises, weapon firing drills, helicopter operations and boarding operations.

5. Indian Coast Guard conducted Exercise ReSAREX-2019

• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) tested its efficiency and preparedness during the Regional Level Search and Rescue Workshop and Exercise 2019 (ReSAREX- 19) conducted off the Goa coast.
• ICG participation: 5 ships of ICG, 2 Chetak helicopters were used for the workshop while resources from State Marine Police, Indian Mission Control Centre (IMCC) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Captain of Ports, state administration of Goa, Goa medical college and Goa’s Mormugao Port Trust were used in the service.
• Indian Coast Guard founded: 18 August 1978.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Motto(s): Vayam RaksÌ£ āmahÌ£ (We protect).

6. Defence innovations conference to showcase accomplishments of iDEX

• The defence ministry is organising Def-Connect in New Delhi to showcase the accomplishments of the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative.
• The conference aims to bring together all stakeholders of the iDEX ecosystem, Ministry of defence, iDEX selected startups, Partner Incubators, Defence Innovation Organisation, Nodal agencies (Indian Army, Navy, Airforce), Defence Research and Development Organisation and Defence Public Sector Undertakings and Indian Ordnance Factories.
• The launch of iDEX Portal and launch of Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC)-III are some of the major activities planned during this day-long event.

1. India Justice Report 2019: Maharashtra holds top, UP ranks bottom 

• My Name is Ronak-Shah. Ronak’s Education  “BE”
• The people over 80 years of age and Persons with Disability can now cast their votes through postal ballotAccording to ‘India Justice Report 2019’, Maharashtra is the top state in delivering justice to its citizens followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Haryana in the first-ever ranking of states on their capacity to deliver justice to citizens.
• The list of seven small states (population less than one crore each) was topped by Goa, followed by Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.
• In this classification, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are at the bottom.
  The ranking is part of the India Justice Report (IJR) 2019, an initiative of Tata Trusts in collaboration with Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, DAKSH, TISS- Prayas and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.
• The India Justice Report brings together, in the first such exercise, otherwise soiled statistics, from authoritative government sources, on the four pillars of justice delivery police, judiciary, prisons and legal aid.

1. Harsh Vardhan inaugurates global Mega Science Exhibition ‘Vigyan Samagam’ 

• Union Minister of Science & Technology and Minister of Earth Science has inaugurated India’s 1-ever multi-venue Mega science exhibition, ‘Vigyan Samagam 2019’, in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• The exhibition organized by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the National Council of Science Museums(NCSM), Ministry of Culture, the exhibition will be open till December 31, 2019 for public display and will showcase the world from micro to macro, unveiling the efforts of the international community in understanding the Universe.

2. IIT-Madras launches affordable standing wheelchair

• Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, in collaboration with Phoenix Medical Systems, launched the country’s first indigenously-designed standing wheelchair.
• Wheelchair named “Arise”, was designed and developed by the TTK Centre for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2), headed by Sujatha Srinivasan, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT-Madras.
• The wheelchair is priced at Rs 15,000. The assistive device helps the wheelchair-bound move from a sitting to standing position, and vice-versa, independently.
• IIT Madras Established: 1959, in Chennai, TamilNadu.
• Motto: Success is born out of action.

1. Manu Bhaker bags gold medal in Asian Shooting Championships 2019 

• Manu Bhaker won gold medal in women’s 10m air pistol event. She put up a dominant showing, shooting 584 in qualification and 244.3 in the final to take gold.
• While Vivaan Kapoor and Manisha Keer also won the yellow metal in junior trap mixed event at the Asian Shooting Championships 2019.

2. Women’s boxing icon Nicola Adams announced retirement

• Two-time Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams (37 years) announced her retirement from the sport on medical advice due to the vulnerability of losing eyesight.
• She became the first-ever women’s Olympic boxing champion at London 2012 in the United Kingdom (UK), and also the first female boxer to become a double Olympic champion after winning a second gold medal at the Rio Olympics 2016, in Brazil.

3. India to host 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup

• India will host the 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup from 13th to 29th of January.
• The International Hockey Federation (FIH) India will play host to the men’s tournament while Spain and the Netherlands have been named as the co-hosts of the 2022 Women’s World Cup scheduled to be held from 1st to 22nd of July.
• The decisions were made during FIH’s Executive Board Meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.

4. Hat-trick man Deepak Chahar records best-ever figures in T20

• India pacer Deepak Chahar recorded the best-ever figures in the Twenty20 Internationals when he returned figures 6 for 7 runs in 3.2 overs against Bangladesh at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.
• The previous record of 6 for 8 by Sri Lankan mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis against Zimbabwe in 2012.
• Chahar also became the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in the shortest format of the game as he wrapped up the Bangladesh innings with the wickets of Shafiul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Aminul Islam in three consecutive deliveries.

1. Union Home Minister inaugurates SCO joint exercise on urban earthquake search, rescue 

• Union Home Minister inaugurated the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) joint exercise on urban earthquake search and rescue 2019 at the Ambedkar International Center in New Delhi.
• The 4-day exercise is being hosted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to rehearse disaster response mechanisms and share knowledge, experience, and technology.
• The main focus of the joint exercise will be to test the region’s preparedness to activate intergovernmental interaction for an immediate response.

2. Lok Sabha Speaker addresses 6th Speakers’ Summit of G 20 Countries

• Lok sabha speaker Om Birla composed the Indian Parliament delegation for 6th parliamentary summit of G20 countries, held in Tokyo, Japan 2019. G20 presiding officer of parliament attended the summit.
• The summit had three sessions on separate themes related to trade, technology and sustainable development.
• The gathering of this summit was about the terrorism which destroying the system of economy.

3. 15th Governing Council of SACEP 2019 held in Dhaka, Bangladesh

• The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and climate change & Information and Broadcasting (I&B), Prakash Javadekar, has participated in the 15th governing council meeting (GCM) of the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme 2019 (SACEP) in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• The meet with the SACEP members countries witnessed the issues of plastic waste management, biodiversity and other issues related to the environment were discussed among South Asian Member countries.

4. SACEP is an inter-governmental organization which was established in 1982

• Its member countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka aim to promote and support protection, management and enhancement of the environment in the region.
• The 14th meeting of the SACEP Governing Council was held in March last year in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

5. 2nd ‘No money for terror conference 2019’ held in Australia

• The 2nd ‘No Money for Terror’ 2019 conference going on in Melbourne, Australia.
• Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, G. Kishan Reddy is leading a five-member delegation to the ‘No Money For Terror’ Ministerial Conference taking place in Melbourne, Australia.
• This conference is Organised by Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) of over 100 countries.
• This conference jointly called The Egmont Group, which was created to provide FIUs around the world a forum to exchange information confidentially to combat money-laundering, the financing of terrorism and other predicate offences.
• The first “No Money for Terror” conference was held in France in 2018. India would host the next ‘No Money For Terror’ Conference in 2020.

6. Vice President inaugurates 10th Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine

• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurating 10th Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine in New Delhi.
• The aim of the conference is to develop programs and manuals to train citizens in emergency first aid procedures such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation as it will help in saving a life while waiting for emergency services.
• The Government of India has made it mandatory for all medical college hospitals to have full-fledged Emergency Departments by 2022 with an aim to improve trauma care.

7. PM Modi to visit Brazil for BRICS summit

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a 2-day visit to Brazil from the 13th of this month to attend the 11th BRICS Summit in Brasilia, Brazil.
• The theme of the Summit this year is “Economic Growth for an Innovative Future”.
• This will be the sixth time that Mr Modi participates in the BRICS Summit.
• BRICS is the acronym coined for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• Originally the first four were grouped as “BRIC”, before the induction of South Africa in 2010.

8. Sanskrit Bharati Vishwa Sammelan begins in New Delhi

• Sanskrit Bharati Vishwa Sammelan, a mega event for discussing ideas, theories and research findings in the ancient Sanskrit language, begins in New Delhi.
• Thousands of Sanskrit lovers from 17 countries are attending Sanskrit Bharati Vishwa Sammelan.
• An exhibition ‘Sanskriti Pradarshini’ has also been put up displaying manus, models and charts that establish different phases of the development of Sanskrit as a popular language, not only in India but also across the globe.

1. Official emblem unveiled for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020 

• The official emblem of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the year 2020 which is to be conducted in India was unveiled.
• The emblem was unveiled by Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and Local Organising Committee (LOC) at the launch event in the gateway of India, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The design of the emblem is bright blue waves rise from the base and reach up along the form of the trophy towards a crown forming the shape of Paisley or Boteh motif commonly used in Kashmiri Pashmina shawl and carpets.
• The droplet of the design framing a ball made from a marigold flower depicts a symbol of growth and development. The colour and style are inspired by Bandhani textiles, an Indian tie-dye technique dating back thousands of years.
• The stem of the marigold’s symbol is derived from traditional Warli paintings with Bandhani patterns.

2. China approves drug to cure Alzheimer’s disease

• China’s National Medical Products Administration has officially approved an indigenously developed Alzheimer’s drug called GV-971 (sodium oligo-mannurarate).
• The Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which has developed the drug jointly with the Ocean University of China and Green Valley Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, after 22 years of research.
• Extracted from brown algae, the oral drug is the world’s first multi-targeting and carbohydrate-based drug, which will now be available to patients from December,29,2019.
• Alzheimer disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking ability, and the capability to carry out simple tasks.

3. BBC’s announced 100 ‘Novels That Shaped Our World’ list

• The British Broadcasting Corporation announced a list of ‘100 Novels That Shaped Our World’. A panel of leading writers, curators and critics compiled the list for the network.
• The list contains ten categories including identity, love, sex and romance, politics, power and protest, and class and society. The BBC’s novel list is to mark the 300th anniversary of the publication of Daniel Defoe’s novel ‘Robinson Crusoe’.
• Renowned Indian authors like R K Narayan ( Swami and Friends), Arundhati Roy (The God of small things), Salman Rushdie (The Moor’s Last Sigh), Vikram Seth (A Suitable Boy) and S. Naipaul (A House for Mr Biswas) are among 100 writers who have featured on a list of the most inspiring novels chosen by a panel of experts and revealed by the BBC.

4. IFFI 2019 to screen 3 films for differently-abled

• This year, at the Golden Jubilee of International Film Festival of India (IFFI), will have the screening of Accessible India Films.
• This is a collaboration between IFFI, Saksham Bharat and UNESCO with the aim to promote the creation of inclusive spaces for the differently-abled to access the joy of cinema through Audio Deion.
• Audio Deion is an additional narration that translates images, visual information or non-dialogue portions of film into spoken words so that visually-impaired people can access, enjoy and learn from works of popular films.
• This unique film section will witness the screening of three films, two in Hindi Lage Raho Munna Bhai and M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story and one in Konkani- Questao De Confusao in Konkani.

5. Indian Oil to set up 2G ethanol plant in Panipat

• The Ministry of Environment has granted clearance to the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) to set up a Rs.766-crore 2G ethanol plant in Haryana’s Panipat district.
• The Ethanol produced in the plant will be exclusively used to blend transportation fuels. The project also aims at doubling farmers income.

1. Former Maharashtra minister Babasaheb Dhabekar passes away 

• Former Maharashtra minister and senior Congress party leader Babasaheb Dhabekar passed away.
• He served as water resource minister in the 1990s during the Shiv Sena-BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party) alliance government.

2. Sahitya Akademi awardee writer Nabaneeta Dev Sen passes away

• A poet, novelist and short-story writer, Dev Sen won the Sahitya Akademi award in 1999 for her book ‘Naba-Nita’. She was also the recipient of the Padma Shri in 2000.
• She is the founder and president of the West Bengal Women Writers’ Association. Nabaneeta Dev Sen’s 1978 book on ‘Naxal movement in Bengal’ was published in English.

3. Padma Shri Dhrupad vocalist Ramakant Gundecha passes away

• Padma Shri-awardee Dhrupad vocalist Ramakant Gundecha passed away.
• He was awarded the Padma Shri for 2012 in the field of Art Indian Classical Music Vocal along with his brother Umakant Gundecha.
• Dhrupad is a genre in Hindustani classical music from the Indian subcontinent and is related to the South Indian Carnatic tradition.

4. Former chief election commissioner TN Seshan passes away

• Former chief election commissioner TN Seshan passed away. A 1955 batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, Seshan had led the Election Commission from 1990 to 1996.
• He held various key posts in the government including that of Defence Secretary and Cabinet Secretary.