VINTAGE

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 26^th , 2018

              IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 26^th, 2018

1.     The 1st-ever India Russia Strategic Economic Dialogue was held at St. Petersburg in Russia. 

a.      Aim of this Dialogue : To bring together key business figures from both countries.  

b.      India was represented by by Rajiv Kumar (NITI Aayog Vice Chairman)

c.      Russia was represented by Maxim Oreshkin (Economic Development Minister).

d.      The 2-day forum provided participants platform to discuss development of bilateral ties in trade, investment, technology and industry.

e.      Transport, agriculture and agro-processing, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), digital transformation and frontier technologies and industrial cooperation were some of the key areas of focus of the forum.

2.     India observes its 'Constitution Day' today.

a.      Aim : To spread the importance of the Indian Constitution and to remember the architect of constitution Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

b.      It was on this day in 1949 that the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution. 

c.      The Constitution, however, came into force on January 26, 1950, which is celebrated as the country's Republic Day. 

3.     Today is National Milk Day.

a.      We observe this day to mark 96th birth anniversary of Dr.Verghese Kurien.

b.      Kurien is fondly known as the Father of White Revolution in India.

c.      He is the founder of dairy firm Amul.

d.      Important Note : India is the world's largest milk producing country, with 16 percent of total global production, followed by America, China, Pakistan and Brazil.

4.     10th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks observed today.

a.      On this day in 2008, ten Pakistani terrorists had arrived by sea route and opened fire indiscriminately at people killing 166, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, besides damaging property worth crores of rupees. 

b.      The attack had begun on 26 November and lasted until 29 November.

c.      The then Maharashtra ATS Chief Hemant Karkare, army Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Mumbai's Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamteand Senior Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar were among those killed.

d.      Ajmal Kasab was the only terrorist who was captured alive, he was hanged four years later on November 21, 2012.

5.     Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today unveiled a 70-foot-tall statue of Lord Buddhain Bihar's Rajgir. 

a.      The statue has been installed above a 16-metre radius pedestal in the middle of the lake Ghora Katora.

b.      It has been made from 45,000 cubic foot pink sand stone. 

c.      Ghora Katora is natural lake surrounded by five hills.

d.      The area around lake and statue has been developed into beautiful park from eco-tourism point of view, so no petrol and diesel vehicles will be allowed to ply in this area and only electronic vehicles will be allowed.

6.     The HRD Ministry instructed all states and Union Territories the maximum weight of school bags for Class 1 and 2 students can't exceed 1.5 kg. 

a.      For Classes 3 to 5, the limit is 2-3 kg and it's 4 kg for Classes 6 and 7. 

b.      For Classes 8 and 9, the limit is 4.5 kg, and 5 kg for Class 10. 

7.     State-run Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has won the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-Exim Bank Business Excellence Award. 

a.      BEL Chairman and Managing Director M.V. Gowtama received the award at the Quality Summit, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here on Friday.

8.     Senior artis A. N. Patil will be honored with the Kuncha Kala Tapasvi Award 2018, in the category of Lifetime Achievement.

9.     The Chairman of InterGlobe Aviation, which operates the country's largest airline IndiGo, Devadas Mallya Mangalore passed away today. 

a.      Mallya had previously served as Chairman and Managing Director of Bank of Baroda and Bank of Maharashtra.

10.Ohio will become the 1st US state to accept payment of taxes by businesses in Bitcoin, beginning this week. 

a.      Businesses can pay 23 different taxes with Bitcoin, from employee withholding tax to fuel and sales tax, through an online cryptocurrency portal. Businesses that operate and pay taxes in the state will be eligible to register on the portal.

11.Tyre maker, Apollo Tyres has appointed cricketer Sachin Tendulkar as its new brand ambassador. 

a.      He was the former brand ambassador of MRF Tyres.

b.      Note : Apart from Apollo Tyres, he is also the brand Ambassador for BMW in India.

12.Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton has won the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix today.

13.India’s Sameer Verma has won Syed Modi India Grand Prix Gold badminton title 2018 in men’s singles category.

a.      Women’s singles title was won by Han Yue (China) after defeating India’s Saina Nehwal.