[CA] DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018

 Four Indian authors and two authors of Pakistani origin have made it to the shortlist of the $25, 000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018.

Books shortlisted for DSC Prize 2018
#	Book	Author
01	No Presents Please (translated from Kannada)	Jayant Kaikini
02	Home Fire	Kamila Shamsie
03	Miss Laila Armed and Dangerous	Manu Joseph
04	Exit West	Mohsin Hamid
05	A State of Freedom	Neel Mukherjee
06	Harilal & Sons	Sujit Saraf

Founded in 2010 by Surina Narula and Manhad Narula, the DSC Prize has helped raise the profile of South Asian writing. Works are selected on the basis of how poignantly they bring alive a spectrum of themes and emotions relevant to contemporary life in the region

[QandA] November 2018 One Liners - Part 1

(01) Theme of World Diabetes Day 2018 is

(02) Which country coned the cyclone name “Gaja”?

(03) In the Agricultural Marketing and farm Friendly reforms Index, which State topped the list?

(04) “Avni” which was in news, is a

(05) QUAD Summit 2018 was held in

(06) Flipkart was started in the year of

(07) Cyclone Madi crossed Tamil Nadu coast in

(08) The weight of GSAT – 29 that was launched on Nov 14, 2018 is

(09) UIM World Championship 2018 wa sheld in the Indian City of

(10) Viswanathan Anand won the 2018 Tata Steel Chess Championship 2018 held in the City of

(11) Hikaru Nakamura is associated with the sport of

(12) The Indian city that is called as “City of Joy” is

(13) World Women’s Boxing Championships 2018 was held id

(14) India’s National Flag bearer in the 2018 World Women’s Boxing Championships was

(15) “India has granted MFN (Most Favoured Nations) status to all WTO countries including Pakistan” – True or False

(16) Full form of RCEP is

(17) Oxford Dictionary declared ____ as the Word of the Year 2018

(18) World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) was held in

(19) India’s Dr. Kanaka is claimed to be Asia’s first woman _____

(20) Author of the book “Miss Laila Armed and Dangerous” is

(21) USA’s “Operation Enduring Freedom” in eradicating Talibans from Afghanistan was formally ended in

(22) Chief Guest for India’s Republic Day Function 2019 is

(23) India joined EAS (East Asia Summit) in

(24) Total number of countries in EAS is

(25) G20 Summit 2018 will be held in

(26) Section 7 of RBI Act

(27) The top three most popular credit rating agencies are

(28) Author of the book “281 and Beyond” is

(29) World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse is observed on

(30) India’s first hospital dedicated for elephants was inaugurated in the state of

(31) The new President of Maldives

(32) ____ is India’s top exporter of crude oil

(33) Author of the book “No Spin”

(34) Winner of Bengaluru Open 2018 (Men’s Singles)

(35) 2019 Asian Athletics Championships will be held in

(36) Which country in the world has 13 months in a year?

(37) Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary is located in the state of

(38) Winner of UIM F1H₂0 Grand Prix of India is

(39) “National Cyclone risk Mitigation Project” comes under the department of

(40) 2018 APEC Summit was held in

(41) APEC was established in

(42) Permanent Secretariat of APEC is located in

(43) Indian Naval Station INS Parandu is located in the State of

(44) Chairman of NGT (National Green tribunal) is

(45) Winner of 2018 Indira Gandhi Prize of Peace is

(46) India to buy Igla – S missile from the country of

(47) ____ defeated Novak Djokovic to win the ATP title

(48) 18th International Balloon Festival was held in the country of

(49) Author of the book “The Untold Mamata Banerjee”

(50) Theme of opening ceremony of IFFI 2018 is

[CA] Centre's response to TN Disaster

[CA] India reaches to Maldives

Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi congratulating Maldives President-elect Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in Male, Maldives. From left are Sri Lanka’s former President Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga and Maldivian ex-Presidents Mr. Mohamed Nasheed and Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.  

[CA] Sentinelese

The Sentinelese, a negrito tribe who live on the North Sentinel Island of the Andamans, have not faced incursions and remain hostile to outsiders. The inhabitants are connected to the Jarawa on the basis of physical, as well as linguistic similarities, researchers say. Based on carbon dating of kitchen middens by the Anthropological Survey of India, Sentinelese presence was confirmed in the islands to 2,000 years ago. Genome studies indicate that the Andaman tribes could have been on the islands even 30,000 years ago.

How are they protected?

The Govt. of India issued the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956 to declare the traditional areas occupied by the tribes as reserves, and prohibited entry of all persons except those with authorisation. Photographing or filming the tribe members is also an offence. The rules were amended later to enhance penalties. But restricted area permits were relaxed for some islands recently.

Have they made contact?

The Sentinelese have been fiercely hostile to outside contact. But in 1991 they accepted some coconuts from a team of Indian anthropologists and administrators.

Some researchers argue that the Sentinelese have been mostly left alone even from colonial times, unlike other tribes such as the Onges, Jarawas and Great Andamanese, because the land they occupy has little commercial attraction.

How many are there?

From 1901 to 1921 they were estimated to be 117 people. In 1931, the number dropped to 50, a figure used for the 1961 Census too. In 1991 their head count was put at 23. Census 2001 counted 39 inhabitants.

[CA] Asia Environment Enforcement Awards, 2018

United Nation Environment has awarded Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India with Asia Environment Enforcement Awards, 2018 for excellent work done by the Bureau in combating transboundary environmental crime.

The Asia Environment Enforcement Awards publicly recognize and celebrate excellence in enforcement by government officials and institutions/teams combating transboundary environmental crime in Asia. The awards are given to outstanding individuals and/or government organizations/teams that demonstrate excellence and leadership in enforcement of national laws to combat transboundary environmental crime in one of the following eligibility criteria areas: collaboration; impact; innovation; integrity and gender leadership.

WCCB has been conferred this award in Innovation category. WCCB has adopted innovative enforcement techniques that have dramatically increased enforcement of transboundary environmental crimes in India. Notably it has developed an online Wildlife Crime Database Management System to get real time data in order to help analyze trends in crime and devise effective measures to prevent and detect wildlife crimes across India.

[CA] Kartarpur corridor

Union Cabinet approved the building and development of the Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the international border, in order to facilitate pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur on the banks of the Ravi river, in Pakistan, where Shri Guru Nanak Devji spent eighteen years. Pilgrims would then be able to visit the holy shrine throughout the year.

The Kartarpur corridor will be implemented as an integrated development project with Government of India funding, to provide smooth and easy passage, with all the modern amenities. Government of India will put in place suitable facilities for smooth passage of pilgrims. Government of Pakistan will be urged to recognize the sentiments of the Sikh community and to develop a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory as well.

[CA] 550th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Devji

  

Union Cabinet has passed a Resolution to celebrate the 550th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Devji, which falls next year, throughout the country and across the globe, in a grand and befitting manner along with State Governments and the Indian Missions abroad. Guru Nanak Devji's teachings of love, peace, equality and brotherhood have eternal value.

Ministry of Railways will run a train passing through the various holy places associated with Shri Guru Nanak Devji, for pilgrims and tourists. Commemorative coin and postage stamps will be released by the Government of India to mark this momentous occasion.

Centre for inter faith studies and Chairs in foreign Universities:

A centre for inter faith studies will be set up at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Chairs on Shri Guru Nanak Devji will be set up in one University each in UK and Canada. An International seminar on the life and teachings of Shri Guru Nanak Devji will be organised in New Delhi.

[CA] 100 years of Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre

 Government of India has decided to mark the remembrance of 100 years of the historical Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre next year.

In a statement, the Ministry of Culture said, “ As we prepare for remembrance of the “100 years of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre” in 2019, Jallianwala Bagh shall undergo necessary redevelopment and upgradation. Jallianwala Bagh shall continue to remind the young generation about the sacrifices made in freedom struggle.” The Government is  planning to renovate the historical site by creating suitable infrastructure for providing basic amenities for the tourists, the Culture Minister said.

A number of commemorative as well as constructive activities will be taken up during the remembrance period.

Ø The commemorative coin and postage stamps will be released on April 13, 2019 (the day the incident took place 100 years ago).Ministry of Culture will organise cultural activities such as kavi sammelan, plays, exhibition, seminars, etc. across the country.

The Ministry of Tourism has already earmarked an amount of Rs. 8 crore under Swadesh Darshan Scheme for development of Virtual Reality  Theme Based show at the Memorial which will be spent under supervision of the Committee and  Ministry of Culture will provide additional funds, if  required.

[CA] International Men's Day 2018

Nov 19: International Men’s Day; theme: “Positive Male Role Models”

[CA] World Toilet Day 2018

Nov 19: World Toilet Day; theme: “When Nature Calls”

[CA] QUAD

Countries of Quad (Quadrilateral) met in Singapore. Countries in Quad are Australia, India, Japan and the US. The Quad is billed as four democracies with a shared objective to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo – Pacific region.

In 2007, when the grouping was first formed following cooperation after the 2004 tsunami, the idea was better coordinate maritime capabilities for disaster situations.  When revived in 2018,t he grouping seemed to have become a counter to China’s growing inroads to the region, despite denials that any particular country had been targeted.

History of QUAD

Regional coalition known as the ‘Quad’, the quadrilateral formation includes Japan, India, United States and Australia. All four nations find a common ground of being the democratic nations and common interests of unhindered maritime trade and security. The idea was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe in 2007. However, the idea couldn’t move ahead with Australia pulling out of it.

[CA} Modi's Diwali Celebrations

Modi’s Diwali celebrations
Year	Venue
2014	Siachen
2015	Punjab (India – Pakistan border)
2016	Sumdo, Himachal Pradesh (India – China border)
2017	Gurez Valley, LoC, Jammu & Kashmir
2018	Harsil, Uttarakhand

[CA] Rs 75 commemorative coin to mark anniversary of Tricolour hoisting by Bose

The Union Ministry of Finance has decided to release a Rs 75 commemorative coin on the occasion of 75th anniversary of the hoisting of Tricolour for the first time by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at Port Blair.

[CA] How the cities are renamed in India?

How the cities are renamed in India?

Once the State Government passed a resolution in Assembly for the new names, the Bill will be sent to the Centre

Union Home Ministry gives consent after no – objections from Ministry of Railways, Departments of Posts and the Survey of India

These organsiations have to confirm that there is no such town or village in their records with a name similar to the proposed one

The renaming of State requires an Amendment of the constitution with a simple majority in Parliament. For changing the name of a village or town, an executive order is needed.

[CA] 13th EAS

Held at Singapore                  

Date: Nov 14 – 15, 2018

EAS is a regional forum held annually by leaders of 18 countries (initially 16 countries) which includes 10 ASEAN countries. EAS meetings are held after the annual ASEAN leaders’ meetings, and plays an important role in the regional architecture of Asia – Pacific.

The concept of EAS was first mooted by the Prime Minister of Malaysia Mr. Mahathir Mohamad in 1991. The first EAS was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Dec 14, 2005. India joined EAS in 2005.

EAS has evolved as a forum for strategic dialogue and cooperation on political, security and economic issues of common regional concern and plays an important role in the regional architecture.

There are six priority areas of regional cooperation within the framework of the EAS. These are – Environment and Energy, Education, Finance, Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases, Natural Disaster Management, and ASEAN Connectivity. India endorses regional collaboration in all six priority areas.

Countries in EAS
Total: 18 (Includes 10 ASEAN Countries)
ASEAN Countries
(01) Brunei (02) Cambodia (03) Indonesia (04) Laos (05) Malaysia (06) Myanmar (07) Philippines (08) Singapore (09) Thailand (10) Vietnam	(11) Australia (12) China (13) India (14) Japan (15) New Zealand (16) South Korea (17) Russia and (18) USA

 

[CA] Indra 2018

INDRA 2018
Joint Military Exercise between	India and Russia
Held on	Nov 18 – 28, 2018
Venue	Jhansi (Babina Field Firing Ranges) in Uttar Pradesh
The tenth exercise in the series of Exercise INDRA is aimed at sending a strong message to the world with an intent of appreciation of interoperability between Indian and Russian Armies for joint tactical level operations in the peace keeping / enforcement environment under the aegis of UN.

Exercise INDRA is being conducted since last nine years as a single service exercise alternately between the two countries. Since its inception in 2003, the INDRA military exercise between the two countries has alternatively involved ground and naval forces from both sides.

[CA] Ex. Samudra Shakti 2018

Samudra Shakti
Joint Naval Exercise between	India and Indonesia
Held on	Nov 12 – 18, 2018
Venue	Port of Surabaya, Indonesia
INS Rana of the Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam participated