Daily Current Affairs and GK | 17 November 2021

Topic: National News

1. PM Modi addressed first Audit Diwas on 16 November.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the first Audit Diwas at the CAG office in New Delhi. On this occasion, he also unveiled the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• Audit Diwas is being celebrated to mark the formation of CAG and its contribution to governance, transparency, and accountability.
• During the address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had played an important role in productivity and efficiency.
• Under the Government of India Act 1858, after the merging of audit departments of Bengal, Madras & Bombay presidencies, on November 16, 1860, the first Auditor-General took charge.
• Now Audit Diwas will be celebrated on 16th November every year. CAG office was founded in 1858.

Topic: Important Days

2. World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day: 17 November

• World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day is celebrated every year on 17 November.
• World COPD Day is organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in collaboration with health care professionals.
• It is observed to raise awareness about the ways to reduce the burden of COPD worldwide.
• World COPD Day was first celebrated in 2002. The theme of World COPD Day will be “Healthy Lungs – Never More Important”.

Topic: State News/ Arunachal Pradesh

3. Kaiser-i-Hind become State butterfly of Arunachal Pradesh.

• Arunachal Pradesh government has announced Kaiser-i-Hind as the State butterfly of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The state cabinet of Arunachal Pradesh also adopted the Pakke Tiger Reserve 2047 declaration for lowering emissions and promoting sustainable development.
• Kaiser-i-Hind butterfly is found in six States at elevations from 6,000-10,000 feet. It is also found in Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and southern China.
• In 2020, the State Wildlife Board had accepted the proposal from Koj Rinya, the divisional forest officer of the Hapoli Forest Division, to accept the Kaiser-i-Hind as the State butterfly.
• It will help in saving the species from extinction in the State. Hapoli Forest Division is popular for butterfly enthusiasts.
• Kaiser-i-Hind (Teinopalpus imperialis) means Emperor of India. Kaiser-i-Hind butterfly has been protected under Schedule II of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

Topic: Important Days

4. National Epilepsy Day: 17 November

• National Epilepsy Day is observed every year on 17 November. It is observed to raise awareness among people about epilepsy.
• It is a chronic non-communicable brain disorder. The Epilepsy Foundation of India started a nationwide campaign to spread awareness about the disease.
• Around 80% of people living with epilepsy live in low and middle-income countries. According to World Health Organization (WHO), about 50 million people have epilepsy across the world.
• Epilepsy is a medical condition of the brain, which results in untimely seizures or fits.
• The World Health Organisation has described epilepsy as a “chronic non-communicable disease of the brain”.
• Brain Infections, Stroke and Brain Tumors, and Prolonged high fever during childhood are common symptoms of Epilepsy.

Topic: Miscellaneous

5. Border Roads Organization received Guinness World Records certificate for constructing the world’s highest motorable road.

• Director-General of Border Roads Organisation received Guinness World Records certificate for constructing the world’s highest motorable road.
• Border Roads Organisation has constructed road at 19,024 feet at Umlingla Pass in Ladakh.
• The 52-kilometer long Chisumle to Demchok tarmac road passes through the 19,024 feet high Umlingla pass.
• It will improve socio-economic conditions and promote tourism in Ladakh. This road has been tested at Minus 40 degrees and below oxygen levels 50 percent than normal.
• Official adjudicator of the Guinness World Records Rishi Nath announce this remarkable achievement in a virtual ceremony.
• Previously, a road in Bolivia was the highest road, which was at 18,953 feet.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

6. Kailash Satyarthi presented the International Children’s Peace Prize 2021.

• Two Indian teenage brothers, Vihaan (17) and Nav Agarwal (14) won the International Children’s Peace Prize 2021.
• Vihaan and Nav Agarwal have developed the "One Step Greener" initiative to segregate recyclables, which will help in organizing the trash from homes.
• Indian Nobel Peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi presented the awards at a ceremony in The Hague.
• Nav and Vihaan were selected as winners among 169 applicants from 39 countries. They had started the initiative from 15 homes now they are collecting rubbish from more than 1000 households.

Topic: Appointments

7. VVS Laxman to assume charge as head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

• Former Indian batter VVS Laxman will assume charge as head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
• This has been recently confirmed by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President, Sourav Ganguly. 
• The post of head of NCA has been vacated by Rahul Dravid who is about to start his tenure as head coach of the national men’s team.
• VVS Laxman have played 100 Test matches. Presently, he is mentor of Sunrisers Hyderabad. He is popular as ‘God of 4th Innings’.

Topic: State News/West Bengal

8. West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee launched Duare Ration scheme.

• West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee has launched Duare Ration scheme.
• The scheme has been launched to provide food grains under public distribution system at the doorstep for the entire population of West Bengal.
• Mamta Banerjee said that the Duare Ration scheme will help 10 crore people of state.
• Under the scheme, employees of ration dealers will provide the food grains to the people near their residence.
• State government would provide financial assistance of ₹1 lakh each to around 21,000 ration dealers to purchase vehicles for delivering ration to people.
• Government would allow each dealer to appoint at least two persons to help them in delivering ration. 
• Additional staff would get a salary of ₹ 10,000 per month. Government will pay ₹ 5,000 and the rest will be paid by the dealer.

Topic: Reports and Indices

9. Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai are among the world's top 10 polluted cities.

• According to statistics from the IQAir air quality and pollution city tracking service, three of the world's top ten cities with the poorest air quality are in India: Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
• Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) of 556 is at the top of the list, while Kolkata has an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 177 at a fourth position on the list, and Mumbai has AQI of 169 ranked the sixth position on the list.
• Lahore of Pakistan, and Chengdu of China, are among the cities with the poorest AQI indexes.
• A platform for real-time air quality data — IQAir is also a technology partner of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP).
• According to IQAir, these are the ten cities with the poorest air quality indices and pollutant rankings:

• The Ministry of Earth Sciences initiative System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) has indicated that the air quality in Delhi is in the very poor' category.
• An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', then 401 and between 500 is considered 'severe'.

Topic: Miscellaneous

10. Seventh edition of the India International Science Festival, IISF, will be launched by Dr. Jitendra Singh in Panaji, Goa.

• Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology will inaugurate the seventh edition of the India International Science Festival (IISF) in Panaji, Goa, which will be held from December 10 to 13, 2021.
• The theme of IISF 2021 is ‘AzadiKaAmritMahotsav’ – celebrating Creativity, Science, Technology, and Innovation for a prosperous India.
• According to Mr. Singh, twelve programs will be conducted in this mega-event based on this theme.
• The India International Science Festival (IISF) series is an integral part of India's long-term vision in developing and broadening the spectrum of scientific approaches to sustainable development and new technological innovations in India.
• The Minister stated that the IISF will provide a platform for young students, scientists, and technocrats from across India to exchange knowledge and ideas.
• The IISF will also support flagship programs, such as ‘Swach Bharat Abhiyan’, Swasth Bharat Abhiyan ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’, ‘Smart Villages’, ‘Smart Cities’ ‘ NamamiGange’, ‘Unnath Bharat Abhiyan’.
• The India International Science Festival (IISF) is a collaboration of the Ministries of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA).
• The first event of IISF was held in the year 2015. The IISF's major goal is to bring people in India and around the world together to appreciate science.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: State News/ Telangana

11. Pochampally village in Telangana selected as one of the best Tourism Villages.

• United Nations World Tourism Organisation has selected Pochampally village in Telangana as one of the best Tourism Villages.
• The award will be presented on the occasion of the 24th session of the UNWTO General Assembly on 2nd December 2021 in Madrid, Spain.
• This initiative will also support villages to enhance their rural tourism potential through training.
• The main objective of the Best Tourism Villages initiative by UNWTO is to award those villages which are outstanding examples of rural destinations.
• The Ministry of Tourism has recommended three villages for the UNWTO Best Tourism Village from India.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

12. Vice President inaugurated Bengaluru Tech Summit.

• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated Bengaluru Tech Summit on 17 November 2021.
• Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett and Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison were virtually present during the inaugural event.
• Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) is three days annual flagship programme in Bengaluru. Its 24th edition is being conducted in a hybrid format. It will see participation from 30 countries.
• The theme for Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021 is ‘Driving The Next’. South Africa, Vietnam, and UAE are participating in the event for the first time.
• On November 18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually address the session.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Art and Culture

13. TRIFED Aadi Mahotsav inaugurated by Shri Sukhram Munda in New Delhi.

• TRIFED Aadi Mahotsav has been inaugurated by Shri Sukhram Munda, The Grandson of Bhagwan Birsa Munda in New Delhi.
• “Aadi Mahotsav” is a mega National Tribal Festival in Dilli Haat, New Delhi from November 16 to 30, 2021.
• Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda presided over the inaugural function.
• Minister of State for Education, Dr. Subhash Sarkar, M.C. Mary Kom and Chairman TRIFED, Shri Ramsinh Rathwa were the guests of honour for the inaugural function.
• On the occasion, MC Marry Kom was declared as brand ambassador of the TRIFED Aadi Mahotsav.
• Aadi Mahotsav will showcase the rich and diverse heritage of tribes across the country. Aadi Mahotsav was started in the year 2017.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: National News

14. Health Pavilion at India International Trade Fair inaugurated by Union Health Minister.

• Health Pavilion at India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi has been inaugurated by Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.
• The theme of this year’s Health Pavilion at the 40th IITF at Pragati Maidan is to create awareness about lifestyle diseases and importance of total health.
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are also called lifestyle diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes, Preventable cancers are some types of NCDs.
• Union Health Minister also announced a month long campaign as part of "Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav" to create awareness about preventive health.
• He said that during the campaign, a target of conducting 7.5 lakh Wellness Sessions and 75 lakh NCD screenings across the country through the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres has been set up.

(Source: News on AIR)