Current Affairs - November 21, 2017 Current Affairs

Trisha Krishnan is the first actor from the South Indian film industry to receive the UNICEF celebrity advocate status. This was previously awarded to Bollywood actors Nandita Das, Madhuri Dixit, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Raveena Tandon. Trisha Krishnan will support efforts to address issues such as anaemia, child marriage, child labour and child abuse, especially in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

American singer Beyonce has been named the highest-paid woman in music in 2017 by the Forbes. Her earnings, mainly from album 'Lemonade' and Formation World Tour, have been estimated to be $105 million (Rs682 crore). Adele, with earnings of $69 million came second while Taylor Swift, with earnings of $44 million, was ranked third on the list.

The World Fisheries day is celebrated every year on November 21 throughout the world by fisherfolk communities to highlight the critical importance to human beings. The Fish forms an important part of diets of people around the world, particularly those living near rivers, coasts and other water bodies. In India, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is celebrating the day.

On 21st November 1997, the working fishermen and women representing World Forum of Fish Harvesters & Fish Workers from 18 countries met at New Delhi and established the World Fisheries Forum (WFF) advocating for a global mandate of sustainable fishing practices and policies. To commemorate this occasion, every year 21st November is celebrated all over the world as World Fisheries Day. Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare inaugurated the World Fisheries Day Celebrations.

President Ram Nath Kovind reached Imphal to inaugurate the Manipur Sangai Festival, 2017 this afternoon. He was accorded a warm welcome at the Imphal Airport by State Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh and his cabinet colleagues. The 10-day state festival will be opened today at the Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre at Palace Compound in Imphal. He will open a two-day North-East Development Summit at the City Convention Centre in Imphal.

India and the World Bank signed a $98 million loan pact and a $2 million grant agreement to help the country increase power generation capacity through cleaner, renewable energy sources. The Shared Infrastructure for Solar Parks Project will finance Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited(IREDA), to provide sub-loans to states to invest in various solar parks.

The world's biggest toilet pot model was unveiled at Marora, popularly known as the "Trump village", in Haryana. On the World Toilet Day (November 19), a mega toilet pot made up of iron, fiber, wood, and plaster of Paris, measuring 20x10 feet was unveiled at Marora, in an aim to create awareness towards sanitation and use of toilets. Apart from inaugurating individual toilets, two books on the use of toilets and sanitation were also released. The main Purpose is to promote human rights, environmental sanitation, non-conventional sources of energy, waste management and social reforms through education.

Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ranked as third most trusted government in the world as per Government at a Glance 2017 published by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This list is topped by Switzerland wherein 84% have expressed confidence in national government. Indonesia has ranked 2nd on this list. As per the report, nearly 74 percent of Indians have expressed confidence in their national government.

Afghanistan U-19 cricket team has clinched the 2017 Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under-19 Asia Cup tournament by defeating Pakistan in the final by 185-run at the Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November 19, 2017. It is their first Asia Cup title.

As per data which forms part of the latest World Economic Outlook report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India ranks 126th out of 200 countries in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. GDP Per Capita of a country is computed by dividing its gross domestic product(GDP) by the number of people in the country. In theoretical terms, higher GDP per capita results in to a higher standard of living. India's rank has improved by one spot as compared to previous year's rank. This improvement is on account of increase in GDP to USD 7170 in 2017, from USD 6690 in the previous year.

Popular Bengali writer Nabaneeta Dev Sen declared as winner in 'Author in the Bengali language' category at the second edition of Big Little Book Award. The Big Little Book Award honors authors and illustrators who have contributed to children's literature that are global in appeal and contextual in nature. The award has been instituted under Parag initiative of Tata Trusts to promote children's literature. The chief of Parag Initiative is Swaha Sahoo.

The World Toilet Day (WTD) is an official United Nations international observance day to raise awareness and inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. It is observed every year on November 19 and the 2017 theme is "Wastewater".

On the 2nd Anniversary of Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY), the Government of India signed four MoUs under the Scheme with the State of Nagaland and with Union Territories (UTs) of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu for operational improvements. An overall net benefit of approximately Rs. 551 crores, Rs. 18 crores, Rs. 13 crores and Rs. 10 crores respectively would accrue to the State of Nagaland & UT of Andaman & Nicobar, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced a new scheme offering Domestic Power Connections in rural areas On Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI). Currently it costs between Rs. 3000/- to Rs. 4000/- to get a domestic power connection. Under this new scheme, households in rural areas can pay just Rs. 200 and get a domestic power connection. The remaining amount can be paid in easy instalments of Rs. 100 to Rs. 200.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched a new initiative against childhood obesity in Pune. Under this initiative, schools will be given Body Mass Index (BMI) dialler, through which children will be able to know their BMI. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India is projected to be the second-largest country with childhood obesity by 2025. Around 6000 children in Pune will benefit from this campaign by gaining information about BMI. It is to be noted that Pune is among the top five Indian cities having high prevalence of obesity.