Current Affairs - 2019-20

Notes:
The government has introduced the Independent Director’s Databank. It was launched by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It has commanded that all the existing independent directors should register themselves in the databank within three months from 1 December 2019.The databank portal was developed and maintained by the Indian Institute for Corporate Affairs (IICA). The portal aimed to provide a platform for the registration of existing independent directors and the individuals aspiring to become independent directors.

Notes:
The Chief of Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria is set to participate in Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2019 (PACS 2019) being held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii (a state of USA). Theme for 2019’s symposium is: ‘A Collaborative Approach to Regional Security’.
The objective is to further strengthen existing cooperation between Air Forces of participating countries and also to pave way for enhanced interaction in future.United States of America is the host country for symposium. Air Chiefs from across the Indo-Pacific region are participating in the conference. In addition to USA, Air Chiefs from 20 countries are present at Symposium.

Notes:
On December 13, 2019, Poland left 2050 Climate Neutrality Agreement of European Union as the Union demanded for more funds to support nuclear power and for economic transition.Poland, whose 80% of energy needs are relied on coal opted out of Climate Neutrality 2050 plan. The country requested to extend the plan execution deadline to 2070 availing longer period to cut emissions according to the plan. But net players like Netherlands refused to agree to the terms that led Poland to leave the plan.

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World Youth chess meet 2019 was organized in Mumbai. India won 7 medals (1 gold and 3 silver and 3 bronze medals). R Praggnanandhaa of India bagged gold in the Under-18 Open category.

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Indian Navy, Mumbai won the 54th All India Bombay Gold Cup hockey championship 2020 by defeating South Central Railway (SCR), Secunderabad. The venue of the final game was Mahindra Hockey Stadium, Churchgate, Mumbai.

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Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai (2018), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (2004) and Elephanta Caves (1987) are all located in Maharashtra.

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As on August 2019, the moving annual turnover (MAT) for biosimilar molecules sold in the domestic market stood at Rs 1,498 crore (US$ 214.31 million).

Notes:
Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri won the Jnanpith Award in 2019 for his contribution in Malayalam literature. His well-known works include Irupatham Noottandinte Ithihasam, Balidarshanam and Idinju Polinja Lokam.

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India’s paper and paper board products export is total 2017.16 million USD.The highest exported product is Paper and paper board products which is 2037.16 million USD

Notes:
Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Telescope was built in 1963. It is the second-largest single-dish radio telescope in the world. It was in news recently because of its collapse. It is owned by the US National Science Foundation. The telescope has discovered the first exoplanets, prebiotic molecules in distant galaxies and first millisecond Pulsar.