GK & Current Affairs Quiz: November 17, 2018

Notes:
The World Pneumonia Day (WPD) is observed every year on 12th of November to promote interventions to protect against, prevent, and treat pneumonia and to highlight proven approaches and solutions in need of additional resources and attention. Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of deaths in children under five years old despite being easily preventable and treatable. Although vaccines and other preventative efforts are decreasing the burden of the disease, much more work is still required. Those living in poor communities are at highest risk of pneumonia. Every child, regardless of where they are born, deserves access to lifesaving vaccines and medicines. The 2018 theme is ‘Stop Pneumonia: Invest in Child Health’.

Notes:
The South Asian Regional Conference on “Urban Infrastructure: New Approaches to Public & Private Partnerships and Municipal Finance Innovations” was held at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi from November 15-16, 2018. It was organised by NITI Aayog in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The conference discussed the key issues, perspectives and the way forward in the Urban Infrastructure. The South Asian regional conference is a first of its kind, with participation from across the South Asian region including leaders from the government, industry, research organizations, academia, think tanks and civil society. The Conference aims to review overall issues and assess the sustainability of PPPs and urban finance in South Asia, specifically India, while broadening the knowledge base and engaging on international best practices.

Notes:
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously agreed to lift sanctions against Eritrea after nine years. An arms embargo, asset freeze, and travel ban were imposed in 2009 amid claims that Eritrea supported al-Shabab militants in Somalia. However, Eritrea has always denied the accusations. The resolution, drafted by the UK, was backed by the US and its allies. The UN vote comes amid a thaw in relations between Eritrea and its neighbours following years of conflict. Eritrea agreed on a peace deal with Ethiopia in June 2018 following two decades of animosity, while the leader of Eritrea and the UN-backed government in Somalia recently signed a joint cooperation agreement. The leaders of Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia met recently in northern Ethiopia to push for regional economic development. Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, and war broke out later that decade over a border dispute. It is an African nation which is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast.

Notes:
The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) is a statutory Corporation set up to promote and provide financial assistance to cooperatives. Its headquarters is located at New Delhi. Recently, NCDC’s new youth-friendly scheme ‘Yuva Sahakar-Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme’ has been launched to attract youth to cooperative business ventures. It was launched by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh. The scheme will be linked to Rs 1000 crore ‘Cooperative Start-up and Innovation Fund (CSIF)’ created by the NCDC. It would have more incentives for cooperatives of North Eastern region, Aspirational Districts and cooperatives with women or SC or ST or PwD members. The funding for the project will be up to 80% of the project cost for these special categories as against 70% for others. The scheme envisages 2% less than the applicable rate of interest on term loan for the project cost up to Rs 3 crore including 2 years moratorium on payment of principal. All types of cooperatives in operation for at least one year are eligible.

Notes:
The National Press Day (NPD) is celebrated every year on 16th of November to commemorate the establishment of Press Council of India (PCI) in 1966. This was the day on which the PCI started functioning as a moral watchdog to ensure that not only did the press maintain the high standards expected from this powerful medium but also that it was not fettered by the influence or threats of any extraneous factors. The day is also celebrated as a symbol of a free and responsible press in India.

Notes:
Prof. Thirukodikaval Nilakanta Srinivasan (85), a distinguished Indian economist and a scholar, has passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on November 11, 2018. He was known for being one of the key advocates of the 1991 economic reforms. Srinivasan, who was a Professor of Economics and International Area Studies Emeritus at Yale University, had been a mentor of macroeconomics to current RBI governor, Urjit Patel. He held editorial positions in prominent business periodicals such as Economic Review, Journal of Asian Economics and World Journal of Quantitative Economics. Srinivasan also founded the Journal of Development Economics, a field journal with macroeconomist Lance Jerome Taylor in 1972. His famous books include India’s Economic Reforms with renowned economist Jagdish Bhagwati and Reintegrating India with World Economy with economist Suresh Tendulkar.

Notes:
In a bid to ensure sustainable development of the Himalayan region, NITI Aayog has recently constituted the Himalayan State Regional Council (HSRC). The council, which will be chaired by Dr. V K Saraswat, Member of NITI Aayog, and will consist of the Chief Secretaries of the Himalayan States as well as the Secretaries of key Central Ministries, senior officers of NITI Aayog special invitees. It will review and implement identified action points based on the reports of five working groups. The Council will also act as the nodal agency for sustainable development in the Himalayan region which has 12 States, including Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Notes:
The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for Tolerance is observed every year on 16th of November to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance. The day also recognises the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms. Tolerance is a struggle for peace. This calls for new policies that respect diversity and pluralism on the basis of human rights. Most of all, this calls on each of us, women and men across the world, to act for tolerance in our own lives, in seeking to understand others, in rejecting all racism and hatred, including anti-Semitism.

Notes:
On November 14, the fourth edition of Intex South Asia was inaugurated in Colombo by Mr. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian high commissioner to Sri Lanka. It is the largest international textile sourcing show in South Asia. The event has been organized by Worldex India Exhibition and Promotion Pvt. Ltd in partnership with Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), Retailers Association of India, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India, Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) etc. It has participation of over 200 suppliers from around 15 countries showcasing a wide variety of innovative textiles products such as yarns, apparels, denim clothing, accessories etc.

Notes:
The book titled ‘A Great Association-Glimpses into the Life of Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha’ has been authored by Swami Nirviseshananda Tirtha. It was recently released by Prasar Bharati’s CEO Shashi Shekar Vempati and Sreedharan. A book written on the life of Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha, the renowned saint of Narayanashrama Tapovanam of Kerala, is an outcome of the fundamental principle of ‘guru-shishya parampara’ and the spiritual ‘saadhana’ of the author.