NATIONAL NEWS

Finance Minister launches news scheme to boost job creation

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has launched a new scheme – Atma Nirmar Bharat Rozgar Yojana to boost the economy.
• The scheme is aimed to incentivise the creation of new jobs in the country.
• This scheme is applicable to the firms established with EPFO and is effective from October 1, 2020.

E-Auction portal for Kashmir Saffron

• Jammu and Kashmir government has launched an e-Auction portal to promote trading of GI tagged ‘Kashmir Saffron’ across the country.
• The main moto of the launch of this portal is to have access to quality ‘Kashmir Saffron’.

Facts:

• Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir: Manoj Sinha

2^nd National Water Awards

• Union Minister for Jal Shakti delivered the prizes for the winners of 2^nd National Water Awards.
• Out of 1112 valid applications, a total of 98 winners were selected in 16 categories in which Awards include Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best Research/ Innovation/ New Technology, Best Education/ Mass Awareness effort, Best TV show, Best Newspaper, Best School, Best Institution/ RWA/ Religious Organisation, Best Industry, Best NGO, Best Water User Association and Best Industry for CSR Activity.
• The aim of the National Water Awards is to acknowledge individuals/organizations doing commendable work in the field of water conservation and management.

Facts:

• Union Minister for Jal Shakti: Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ASEAN – INDIA Summit 2020

• The 17^th ASEAN – India summit was held virtually on 12^th November 2020.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the summit mentioning India’s Act East Policy, Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), India's Indo-Pacific Vision.
• He also invited the ASEAN countries to cooperate on various pillars of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
• The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) welcomed the adoption of ASEAN-INDIA Action Plan for 2021-25.

Facts about ASEAN:

• Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Founded: 1967
• Members: Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Laos
• Dialogue Partners: Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, US and EU

Fifth Scorpene class submarine launched in Mumbai

• Navy's fifth Scorpene class submarine 'Vagir' launched at Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock by the Union Minister of State for Defence, Shripad Naik.
• Vagir is part of the six Kalvari-class submarines being built in India.
• INS Kalvari, the first of the six Scorpene-class submarines, was launched in 2017, followed by Khanderi, Karanj and Vela.
• These submarines can undertake missions like anti- surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and area surveillance.

BUSINESS NEWS

IREDA registers a growth of 17.32%

• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA), the PSU under Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, held the 33^rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the financial year 2019-20.
• The company mentioned the progress in performance of 2019-20 by increasing the gross income to ₹2732.38 crores i.e., a growth of 17.32% comparing the previous financial year.
• IREDA has sanctioned the loans of Rs. 12,696 crore and disbursed Rs. 8,785 Crore.

Fact:

• The Chairman of IREDA: Shri Pradip Kumar Das

IMPOPRTANT DAYS

World Pneumonia Day

• The World Pneumonia Day is celebrated every year on November 12^th to raise awareness about pneumonia, the world’s leading infectious killer of children under the age of 5.
• The theme of World Pneumonia Day 2020 is “Every Breath Counts”

World Ayurveda Day

• The World Ayurveda Day is celebrated every year on the day of Dhanwantri Jayanti.
• 5^th World Ayurveda Day is observed on November 13^th with the theme of “'Ayurveda for Covid-19”.