Monthly Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2017

Notes:
The 39th session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) was held in Paris, France. In it, India has been re-elected as the member of the UNESCO’s executive board, its top decision-making body. The General Conference consists of the representatives of the States Members of the organisation. It meets every two years, and is attended by Member States and Associate Members, together with observers for non-Member States, intergovernmental organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Each country has one vote, irrespective of its size or the extent of its contribution to the budget. The General Conference determines the policies and the main lines of work of the organisation.

Notes:
Kirti Nidhi Bista (90), the former Prime Minister and veteran politician of Nepal, has passed away on November 11, 2017 in Gyaneshwor, Kathmandu. He served as Prime Minister of Nepal from 1969 to 1970, 1971 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979 and was also the Vice-chair in the government led by then King Gyanendra Shaha.

Notes:
Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani clinched his 17th world title after thrashing his arch-rival Mike Russell of England in the 2017 IBSF World Billiards Championship at Doha on November 12, 2017. In the best-of-11 summit clash, Advani beat Russell 6-2 to defend the 150-up format title he had won in Bengaluru last year. Advani will be eyeing a ‘Grand Double’ as the lengthier format (long-up) of the IBSF World Billiards Championship 2017, which will begin on November 13, 2017 at Doha.

Notes:
The 4th India-Canada Annual Ministerial Dialogue has started in New Delhi on November 13, 2017. The Indian delegation is led by the Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu and the Canadian International Trade Minister, François-Philippe Champagne is leading the Canadian delegation. As per official release, India and Canada will focus on some of the key commercial drivers to enhance the India-Canada partnership in the current round of the Ministerial Dialogue. The efforts would be made to work towards the expeditious conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement for a progressive, balanced, and mutually beneficial agreement covering both goods and services. The trade ministers of both countries are likely to discuss issues to explore ways of expediting the early conclusion of the CEPA and the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.

Notes:
Slovenia’s internet-savvy President Borut Pahor has been re-elected for a second term after winning the 2017 Slovenian presidential election on November 12, 2017. Centre-left ex-premier Pahor won the run-off with roughly 53% of the vote, but the voter turnout was the lowest in any presidential election since independence in 1991.

Notes:
The 10th South Asia Economic Summit (SAES-2017) has started in Kathmandu, Nepal on November 14, 2017 with theme “Deepening Economic Integration for Inclusive and Sustainable Development in South Asia”. The 3-day summit is organised by National Planning Commission and Ministry of Commerce of Nepal and South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment, Nepal. Approx 200 participants including ministers, members of parliament, former MPs, ambassadors, government officials, researchers, eminent experts and thinkers will attend the summit. The summit is a regional platform for discussing and analyzing economic and development issues and challenges faced by South Asian countries and advancing the cause of regional integration and cooperation.

Notes:
Ganga Kumari, the resident of Raniwara in Jalore district of Rajasthan, has become the first transgender to be appointed in Rajasthan Police. On 13th November 2017, the Rajasthan High Court had directed the police department to appoint Ganga Kumari as a constable within six weeks, after officials denied her a post due to her gender and reported lack of clarity of rules in 2015. She was selected in the police recruitment examination for constables in 2013. However, her appointment was held up following the medical examination, which brought to the recruiters’ notice that she was a eunuch.

Notes:
Kunwar Narayan (90), the renowned poet in Indian literature, has passed away in New Delhi on November 15, 2017. He was honoured with many awards such as Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi (1995), Jnanpith Award (2005) and Padma Bhushan (2009).

Notes:
The National Press Day (NPD) is celebrated every year on November 16 as a symbolic of a free and responsible press in India. This was the day on which the Press Council of India (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.

Notes:
Pandit Jagdish Mohan (87), the renowned Hindustani vocalist of Kirana Gharana, has passed away in New Delhi on November 14, 2017. He hailed from Uttarakhand’s Haridwar and was born on March 4, 1930. Pt Mohan was honoured with the Sangeet Sartaj award by Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh for his vast contribution to Indian classical music. He was a regular performer at the All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan.