Daily Current Affairs and GK | 21 November 2020

Topic: Biotechnology/ Disease

1. United States researchers claimed that Chapare virus could spread between humans.

• The researchers of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have discovered that the ‘Chapare virus’ can spread among humans.
• The first instance of this virus was found in the rural region of Chapare in 2003. It’s biggest outbreak was reported in Bolivia in 2019.
• Chapare virus:
  • It generally spread from rats and can transmit through direct contact with an infected rodent or through contact with an infected person.
  • It can also transmit from the urine or any fluid of infected rodents.
  • It generally spread in the tropical regions of the world and in particular, it spread in the regions of South America.  
  • Chapare virus is from arenavirus family and its symptoms are hemorrhagic fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding gums.
  • Hemorrhagic fevers can damage multiple organs and blood vessels of the human body.
  • Arenavirus family virus is also responsible for the Ebola virus disease.
  • There is no specific treatment for this virus. Patients have to depend only on intravenous fluids (IV fluids). IV fluids are liquids given directly into the veins through a drip to replace water, sugar and salt when a person is ill and can’t drink or eat normally.

Topic: Defense

2. 30^th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol concluded.

• Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy conducted the 30^th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol from 18 – 20 November 2020.
• INS Karmuk and HTMS Kraburi, along with Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft, have participated in the CORPAT.
• To strengthen the maritime links, both countries’ navies have been carrying out CORPAT twice a year since 2005.
• It will help in preventing and suppressing illegal fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.
• Under the Vision of SAGAR, the Indian Navy has assisted Indian Ocean Region countries with EEZ Surveillance and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
• Exercise Maitree is an annual bilateral exercise between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army.

• Indian Navy:
  • The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces.
  • Admiral Karambir Singh is the 24^th Indian Navy Chief.
  • The Chief of the Naval Staff is the commander, the highest-ranking officer in the Indian Navy.

Topic: Important Days

3. World Children’s Day: 20 November

• It is observed every year on 20 November to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.
• It was first started on 20 November 1954 as Universal Children’s Day. On this date, the UN General Assembly had adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.
• The UN General assembly had adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 November 1989.
• From 1990, it is also celebrated as the anniversary of Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• ‘Investing in our future means investing in our children’ is the theme of World Children’s Day 2020.
• In India, Children’s day is celebrated on 14 November on the birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru.

4. World Television Day is being observed on 21 November.

• World Television Day is celebrated every year on 21 November since 1996.
• It is celebrated to highlight the value of television in globalization and communication.
• The first World Television Forum took place on November 21 in 1996 and to mark its anniversary; the United Nations General Assembly had adopted World Television Day on this date.
• Philo Taylor Farnsworth invented the first electronic television in 1927.
• In 1954, the first Colour TV was introduced in the market.
• In India, the first TV channel was introduced in 1959 by Doordarshan.

(Source: NDTV)

5. World Fisheries Day: 21 November

• This day is observed worldwide every year on 21 November by the fisherfolk communities from 1997.
• It is celebrated to bring awareness about sustainable fishing among the peoples and to highlight the importance of healthy ocean ecosystems.
• In India, the Department of Fisheries is celebrating this day at NASC Complex in New Delhi. The government of India will also give awards to the best performing states in the Fisheries Sector for 2019-20.
• Blue Revolution is related to an increase in fish production and productivity from aquaculture.
• SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development
• Fisheries Sector in India:
  • India ranks 4^th in global exports of fish products.
  • This sector provide employment to about 28 million in India.
  • Government of India has also launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) on 10 September 2020 for the Fisheries Sector.

6. World Philosophy Day observed on 19 and 20 November.

• It was introduced in 2002 by UNESCO.
• In 2005, UNESCO General Conference announced that World Philosophy Day will be observed every third Thursday in November.
• In 2020, it has been celebrated on November 19 and November 20.
• This year’s World Philosophy day has focused on the importance of philosophical thinking in helping us cope with the multiple challenges the world faces.
• The theme of World Philosophy Day 2020 is the importance of philosophy in times of crisis.
• Philosophy is the study of the nature of existence, knowledge, truth, and ethics.

Topic: National News

7. Aarogya Setu App backend code has been released by Government for transparency.

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has released the backend code of Aarogya Setu App in the Public domain. It will help in bringing transparency about the functioning of this App.
• This App has helped a lot the government authorities in identifying the COVID-19 affected people.
• Aarogya Setu App:
  • Government of India has launched the Aarogya Setu App on 2 April 2020 to track COVID-19 infection. It was developed in a public-private partnership mode.
  • ‘Aarogya Setu’ App has been brought under Digital India for the health and well-being of the people.
  • This App enables people to identify coronavirus infection and assess risk based on their interactions with others using Bluetooth technology, algorithms, and artificial intelligence.
  • It is being maintained and supported by NIC.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

8. Bangladesh received USD 256 million from the Green Climate Fund.

• The Green Climate Fund has approved a USD 256 million funds to Bangladesh to meet its Green House Gas (GHG) emission targets under the Paris agreement.
• The funding will help the textile and Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sectors of Bangladesh in controlling the carbon emission. These two sectors contribute around 27% of the industrial carbon emission.
• The funding will help in capacity building, creating awareness, policy development for reducing carbon emission.
• It is part of the fund approved by the Green Climate Fund for financing low-emission, climate-resilient development in the developing countries. It will provide financial assistance to 16 projects in different developing countries.
• Green Climate Fund:
  • It is a funding unit formed under the framework of UNFCCC to raise funds and help developing countries counter climate-driven problems.
  • It was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Incheon, South Korea.

Topic: MoUs/ Agreements

9. Eight MoUs signed in Bengaluru Tech Summit 2020.

• In the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2020, the government of Karnataka has signed eight MoUs with Finland, UK, Sweden, USA and Netherlands.
• Karnataka and Finland will work together in the field of Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture, transport, health, etc.
• Karnataka and Sweden signed an agreement for the development of innovative applications in sectors like smart cities, health, manufacturing, etc.
• For incubation of start-ups and to generate employment in the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing sector Karnataka and USA will cooperate.
• Karnataka and the United Kingdom has signed an agreement for Artificial Intelligence solutions in different sectors.
• Karnataka and the Netherlands will work together to create India’s first sector agnostic international market and in the field of cybersecurity.
• Bengaluru Tech Summit 2020:
  • It is scheduled to take place from November 19-21.
  • The theme of the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2020 is “Next is Now”.
  • The summit will hold deliberations on the impact of prominent innovations and technologies in Information Technology and Electronics and Biotechnology.

10. MoUs signed with energy companies to set up 900 Compressed biogas (CBG) plants

• MoUs have been signed with energy companies to set up 900 compressed biogas (CBG) plants.
• The purpose of signing MoUs is to boost the availability of affordable and clean transport fuels.
• Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that Rs 2 lakh crore worth investment would be made for setting up 5,000 CBG projects in India.
• BM Group, Adani Gas, Torrent Gas and Petronet LNG are the names of companies, who are part of signed agreements.
• IndianOil, Praj Industries, CEID Consultants & Bharat Biogas Energy will provide technology for CBG projects.
• The agreement was signed under the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative.
• SATAT initiative:
  • Under the SATAT initiative, 5,000 CBG plants would be set up by 2023-24 with a production target of 15 million metric tonnes.
  • SATAT is an initiative of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. It was launched in October 2018.
  • It aims to promote Compressed Biogas (CBG) as an alternative, green transport fuel.
  • The promotion of CBG as an alternative, green transport fuel under the SATAT initiative is for efficient management of biomass and organic waste.

Topic: Indian Economy

11. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister launched Seismic Survey Campaign by OIL.

• Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, has launched the Seismic Survey Campaign by Oil India Limited (OIL).
• The survey will be conducted in 5 blocks of 8 districts of Odisha in the Mahanadi basin and nearby regions.
• The survey will be conducted under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP).
• The survey is part of the National Seismic Programme (NSP) for appraising unappraised areas of Indian sedimentary basins.
• Seismic Survey is a method of studying underground structure. The survey helps in identifying areas where gas deposits may be present.
• Oil India Limited:
  • Oil India Private Limited is a Navratana company that was incorporated on 18 February 1959.
  • It became a wholly-owned enterprise of Government of India in 1981.
  • Operational Headquarters: Duliajan, Assam
  • Chairman & MD: Sushil Chandra Mishra