Daily Current Affairs and GK | 20 November 2019

1. Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019

• The Parliament has passed the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
• The bill seeks to amend the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951.
• In the existing act, there is a provision for representation of a single national political party for the post of the Trustee.
• The amendment will now ensure representation of the leader of the single largest Opposition party on the post of the Trustee, even when there is no clear leader of the Opposition that exists in the Lok Sabha.
• The amendment will also allow the Union Government to terminate a nominated trustee before the expiry of his term without assigning any reason.
• Jallianwala Bagh is a public garden in Amritsar, Punjab, which also has a memorial. It was established in 1951 by the then Government to pay homage to the people killed in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by the British Government that happened on 13 April 1919.

2. 2^nd edition of South Asia Safety Summit held in New Delhi

• The Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani addressed the 2nd edition of South Asia Safety Summit, which was recently held in New Delhi.
• She emphasized on the importance of women and child safety within as well as outside the homes.
• The Women and Child Development Ministry has announced to open a one-stop centre in every district across the country by the end of this year.
• The one-stop centre for women will ensure that every woman can reach the centre in case she faces any kind of violence.

3. Government declares no change in Special provisions under Article 371(2) and Article 371(A) to Article 371(I)

• The Union Government clarified that there is no proposal to bring any changes in the special provisions to states of Maharashtra and Gujarat under Article 371(2) and the states that come under Article 371(A) to 371(I) of Constitution of India.
  • Article 371 (A) – special provisions for Nagaland
  • Article 371 (B) – special provisions for Assam
  • Article 371 (C) – special provisions for Manipur
  • Article 371 (D) – special provisions for Andhra Pradesh or Telangana
  • Article 371 (E) – Establishment of Special Central University in Andhra Pradesh
  • Article 371 (F) – special provisions for Sikkim
  • Article 371 (G) – special provisions for Mizoram
  • Article 371 (H) – special provisions for Arunachal Pradesh
  • Article 371 (I) – special provisions for Goa

4. Inauguration of the SARAS at India International Trade Fair 2019 in New Delhi

• Union Minister for Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the SARAS at IITF, Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi.
• Ministry of Rural Development organise exhibitions under the brand name SARAS to empower the rural women artisans by providing them access to markets.
• In the SARAS fairs, Self Help groups from different states participate and sell their products.

5. Luxury train Golden Chariot is going to operational from March 2020

• An agreement was signed between IRCTC and KSTDC (Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation) according to which IRCTC is going to operate as well as manage the luxury train Golden Chariot from March 2020.
• The Luxury train – Golden Chariot was started in 2008. It has 18 coaches with 44 guest rooms that can accommodate 84 guests. It connects famous tourist destinations of Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It also travels to one of the famous UNESCO’s World Heritage site in Hampi.

6. ADB to provide a loan of 91 million dollars to Vijayanagara Channel Irrigation system in Karnataka

• Asian Development Bank (ADB) is going to extend 91 million dollars loan to India to modernize the Vijayanagara Channel irrigation system and to strengthen water management in the Krishna river basin.
• This project will help to improve the efficiency of total water usage of the state by 84%.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB): It is a regional developmental bank in Asia. It was established in 1966. It is headquartered in Manila, Philippines.

7. 2^nd edition of ISA– Steel Conclave 2019 in New Delhi

• The Indian Steel Association (ISA) supported by the Ministry of Steel under the Government of India is going to organize the ‘ISA – Steel Conclave 2019’ in New Delhi from 21-22 November.
• A report on the ‘Status of Indian Steel Industry’ is also going to be released at the event.
• Facts about the current status of the Steel Industry in India:
  • India is the largest producer of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) or Sponge Iron in the world.
  • India is 2^nd largest producer of crude steel in the world.
  • India is 3^rd largest consumer of finished steel in the world.
  • India is 4^th largest Iron ore producer in the world.
  • India is 2^nd largest coal producer and importer in the world after China.
  • The steel sector contributes around 2% of the GDP of the country.

8. Introduction of Surrogacy Regulation Bill 2019 in Rajya Sabha

• The aim of the Surrogacy Regulation Bill 2019 is to ban commercial surrogacy.
• Under the regulation, only the childless Indian couples married for 5 or more years can opt for altruistic surrogacy.
• The bill also provides for the establishment of the National Surrogacy Board at the centre.
• Surrogacy is an assistive method of reproduction where an intended parent can have a baby from a gestational woman who will carry their baby until birth.
• Altruistic surrogacy involves no monetary compensation apart from medical expenses and insurance for the surrogate mother during her pregnancy.
• According to the bill, the surrogate mother should be in close relation to the intended parents.

9. DRDO is going to double the range of ASTRA missile

• DRDO has recently announced to double the range of ASTRA missile to make it a long-range ballistic missile.
• ASTRA is an all-weather air-to-air missile, and it is completely developed by DRDO.
• ASTRA missiles are incorporated with Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft.
• India is one of the few countries to have a Ballistic Missile Defence programme.

10. Central Government banned Meghalaya based insurgent group

• Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), a Meghalaya-based insurgent group has been banned by Central Government, which is charged for increasing violence and other insurgent activities in the region.
• Using the powers conferred to the Government in section 3 (1) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, HNLC, along with all its agencies, wings, fronts, etc. are now banned.
• The government has also notified that HNLC’s activities are disastrous to the unity and integrity of the Nation.
• Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC): It is an insurgent group that is mainly active in Meghalaya. The group bullies and intimidate civilians to extort funds with the help of other insurgent groups of Northeast.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following article of the Indian Constitution gives special provisions to Sikkim?

1. Article 371 (D)
2. Article 371 (E)
3. Article 371 (F)
4. Article 371 (G)

Correct Answer: c

2. Which of the following states is not covered in the route of the luxury train Golden Chariot?

1. Tamil Nadu
2. Goa
3. Kerala
4. Maharashtra

Correct Answer: d

 3. The Vijayanagara Channel irrigation system belongs to which of the following states?

1. Karnataka
2. Andhra Pradesh
3. Kerala
4. Telangana

Correct Answer: a

4. India is _______largest producer of crude steel in the world.

1. 1^st
2. 2^nd
3. 3^rd
4. 4^th

Correct Answer: b

5. What is ASTRA?

1. Short-range surface-to-air missile
2. Long-range surface to surface missile
3. Air-to-air ballistic missile
4. Anti-tank ballistic missile

Correct Answer: c