GK Current Affairs Quiz 05th November 2019<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nUS announces increase in H-1B work visa application fee by 10 USD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- The\u00a0US<\/strong>\u00a0has announced the increase of\u00a0H-1B work visa<\/strong>\u00a0application fee<\/strong>\u00a0by\u00a010 US Dollars<\/strong>\u00a0as part of its revised selection process.<\/li>\n
- The non-refundable fee will support the new electronic registration system to make the\u00a0H-1B cap<\/strong>\u00a0selection process more efficient.<\/li>\n
- Petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, will first have to electronically register with the\u00a0USCIS<\/strong>\u00a0during a designated registration period.<\/li>\n
- The electronic registration system is part of an agency-wide initiative to modernise immigration system while deterring fraud.<\/li>\n
- The H-1B program allows US companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the application of a body of highly specialised knowledge with bachelor’s or a higher degree in the specific speciality, or it’s equivalent.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nRussia re-enacts historic wartime parade<\/strong><\/div>\n\n- Russian troops<\/strong>\u00a0wearing\u00a0World War II<\/strong>\u00a0uniforms marched across\u00a0Moscow’s Red Square<\/strong>, in memory of the historic\u00a01941<\/strong>\u00a0parade, when Soviet soldiers went directly to the battlefield to fight the Nazis.<\/li>\n
- The annual re-enactment featuring some\u00a04,000 troops<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0T-34 tanks<\/strong>\u00a0commemorated the legendary\u00a0November 7, 1941<\/strong>\u00a0parade whose participants marched from Red Square to the front line, becoming a symbol of courage and patriotism.<\/li>\n
- Nearly\u00a07,000<\/strong>\u00a0guests including World War II veterans watched the parade.<\/li>\n
- The Red Army’s triumph in the deadliest war in history is seen as a huge point of pride in\u00a0Russia<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- In recent years, the victory in the\u00a01941-1945<\/strong>\u00a0conflict known in\u00a0Russia<\/strong>\u00a0as the\u00a0Great Patriotic War<\/strong>\u00a0has acquired signs of cult status.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nIran resumes uranium enrichment, raising concern from signatories to 2015 nuclear deal<\/strong><\/div>\n\n- Iran<\/strong>\u00a0has resumed\u00a0uranium enrichment<\/strong>\u00a0at its underground\u00a0Fordow plant south of<\/strong>\u00a0Tehran<\/strong>\u00a0in a new departure from its commitments under a landmark\u00a02015 nuclear deal.<\/strong><\/li>\n
- The suspension of uranium enrichment at the long secret plant was one of the restrictions Iran had agreed to on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of UN sanctions.<\/li>\n
- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia<\/strong>\u00a0have been trying to salvage the hard-won deal since\u00a0Washington<\/strong>\u00a0abandoned it in\u00a0May 2018<\/strong>\u00a0and reimposed crippling unilateral sanctions.<\/li>\n
- The resumption of enrichment at Fordow is Iran’s fourth move away from the deal. Uranium enrichment is the sensitive process that produces fuel for nuclear power plants but also, in highly extended form, the fissile core for a warhead. Iran has always denied any military dimension to its nuclear programme.<\/li>\n
- Iran’s latest move comes after the passing of a deadline it set for the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement to come up with a mechanism that would allow foreign firms to continue doing business with Iran without incurring US penalties.<\/li>\n
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov<\/strong>\u00a0expressed concern about Tehran’s announcements but said European powers should do their part. The Kremlin had previously called sanctions against Iran as unprecedented and illegal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nBosnia outraged after Emmanuel Macron calls it a ‘ticking time bomb\u2019<\/strong><\/div>\n\n- Officials in\u00a0Bosnia<\/strong>\u00a0expressed outrage to remarks by\u00a0French President Emmanuel Macron<\/strong>\u00a0where he described the country as a ticking time-bomb. Also the greatest concern for\u00a0Europe<\/strong>\u00a0in the\u00a0Balkans<\/strong>\u00a0as there is a possibility of returning jihadists.<\/li>\n
- Referring to escaped or released Islamic State fighters who could return to Europe,if you’re concerned about this region, the first question should be Bosnia-Herzegovina.<\/li>\n
- According to Bosnian intelligence,\u00a0241<\/strong>\u00a0adults and\u00a080<\/strong>\u00a0children left Bosnia or the Bosnian diaspora in\u00a02012-2016<\/strong>\u00a0for\u00a0Syria<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Iraq<\/strong>, where\u00a0150<\/strong>\u00a0more children were born.<\/li>\n
- About\u00a0100<\/strong>\u00a0adults, around a half of them women, remain there, while at least\u00a088<\/strong>\u00a0have been killed or died.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Daily Current Affairs – National<\/h2>\n
PM Modi to visit Brazil for BRICS summit<\/strong><\/p>\nPrime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Brazil from the 13th of this month to attend the 11th BRICS Summit in Brasilia.<\/p>\n
\n- The theme of the Summit this year is “Economic Growth for an Innovative Future\u201d.<\/li>\n
- This will be the sixth time that Mr Modi participates in the BRICS Summit. His first BRICS Summit was at Fortaleza in Brazil in 2014.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Points to Remember<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- BRICS is the acronym coined for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.<\/li>\n
- Originally the first four were grouped as “BRIC”, before the induction of South Africa in 2010.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Venkaiah Naidu inaugurates 10th Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine<\/strong><\/p>\nVice President M Venkaiah Naidu has inaugurated the 10th Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine in New Delhi.<\/p>\n
\n- He stressed the urgent need to attach high priority to emergency medicine and services in the country.<\/li>\n
- Shri Naidu asked Medical colleges to incorporate courses relating to emergency medicine and train the undergraduates to deal with the whole gamut of emergencies such as accidents, heart attacks, natural calamities, and others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
India ranks 133 on Women, Peace and Security Index<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Georgetown University\u2019s Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) has released its second report on Women, Peace, and Security Index.<\/p>\n
\n- The new 2019 report ranks 167 countries for women based on three indicators – inclusion, justice and security.<\/li>\n
- India, on the whole, is ranked at 133 out of 167 countries with an index score of 0.625.<\/li>\n
- Norway, the best country according to the index has a score of 0.904.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indian Navy – Indonesian Navy Bilateral Maritime Exercise \u2018Samudra Shakti\u2019 took place in\u00a0the Bay of Bengal<\/strong><\/p>\nIndian Navy- Indonesian Navy Bilateral Exercise \u2018Samudra Shakti\u2019 is taking place from 06 Nov to 07 Nov 19.<\/p>\n
\n- INS Kamorta, an Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette is jointly exercising with Indonesian Warship KRI Usman Harun in the Bay of Bengal.<\/li>\n
- The joint exercises include manoeuvres, Surface Warfare exercises, Air Defence exercises, Weapon firing drills, Helicopter Operations and Boarding Operations.<\/li>\n
- The Harbour Phase which was conducted on 04 and 05 November included professional interactions in the form of Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE), cross deck visits, simulator drills, planning conferences, sports fixtures and social interactions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance launches \u2018Farmitra\u2019 mobile app for farmers<\/strong><\/p>\nBajaj Allianz General Insurance, the private general insurer launched the industry\u2019s first mobile app \u2018Farmitra\u2019 catering to the specific needs of farmers.<\/p>\n
\n- Through this app, farmers will not only get insurance solutions but also a range of other information and advisories which will cater to their day to day farming needs.<\/li>\n
- The Company, through this app, intends to help farmers address their worries and provide the relevant information which they can use in optimizing their farming practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Home Minister Amit Shah to preside over concluding session of Global Investors’ Meet in Dharmshala<\/strong><\/div>\n\n- Union Home Minister Amit Shah<\/strong>\u00a0will preside over the concluding session of\u00a0Global Investors’ Meet<\/strong>, in\u00a0Dharmshala<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi<\/strong>\u00a0inaugurated the meet, organised by the\u00a0Himachal Pradesh government<\/strong>\u00a0to attract investment and create employment opportunities in the state.<\/li>\n
- India improved\u00a079<\/strong>\u00a0places in the global\u00a0Ease of During Business Rankings<\/strong>\u00a0between\u00a02014 and 2019<\/strong>. He said improvement in these rankings means that the government is making decisions after a thorough understanding of the needs at the grass-roots level for the industry.<\/li>\n
- A healthy competition among States would enhance competitiveness of Indian industry on the global platform.<\/li>\n
- Over\u00a01,700<\/strong>\u00a0business delegates, including\u00a0200<\/strong>\u00a0International delegates are participating in the\u00a0Global Investors’ Meet<\/strong>\u00a0with\u00a0UAE<\/strong>\u00a0as the partner Country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nGuinness World Record of most students assembling radio kits simultaneously created at IISF, Kolkata<\/strong><\/div>\n\n- A\u00a0Guinness World Record<\/strong>\u00a0of most students assembling radio kits simultaneously was created on the third day of\u00a0India International Science Festival\u00a0<\/strong>at\u00a0Kolkata<\/strong>\u00a0on\u00a007 November, 2019.<\/strong><\/li>\n
- While\u00a0490<\/strong>\u00a0students participated in the event, a record\u00a0268<\/strong>\u00a0succeeded in completing the assembling process in the stipulated hours.<\/li>\n
- A representative of the Guinness World Records presented a certificate and memento to\u00a0Union Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan\u00a0<\/strong>who took it on behalf of the students.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nLucknow railway station got \u2018Health ATM\u2019<\/strong><\/div>\n\n- The\u00a0Indian Railways<\/strong>\u00a0has installed two\u00a0\u2018Health ATMs\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0at the\u00a0Charbagh railway station<\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a0Lucknow<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- The kiosks, promoted by\u00a0YOLO Health ATM<\/strong>, provide\u00a016 health check-ups<\/strong>\u00a0for\u00a0Rs 50-100.<\/strong><\/li>\n
- There are two types of check-ups- a\u00a09-minute one<\/strong>\u00a0that costs\u00a0Rs 100,<\/strong>\u00a0and a\u00a06-minute<\/strong>\u00a0one<\/strong>\u00a0that costs\u00a0Rs 50.<\/strong><\/li>\n
- The report is delivered instantly to the email or smartphone of the user.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nBIMSTEC Conclave to be held in Visakhapatnam<\/strong><\/div>\n\n- The 2-day\u00a0BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal initiative multi- sector technical and economic cooperation)<\/strong>\u00a0Conclave will be held on\u00a07-8th November 2019<\/strong>\u00a0at\u00a0Visakhapatnam<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Vizag port<\/strong>\u00a0trust is hosting the conclave first time ever since the formation of BIMSTECH in\u00a01997<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Seven-member countries that includes\u00a0Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Srilanka, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan\u00a0<\/strong>are participating in the conference.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Daily Current Affairs – Business<\/h2>\n
RBI imposes Rs 5 lakh fine on Oxigen Services<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Reserve Bank has imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on prepaid payment instrument Oxigen Services.<\/p>\n
\n- The move was taken in exercise of powers vested under Section 30 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, for non-compliance of regulatory guidelines.<\/li>\n
- Oxigen Services facilitates payment processing and money transfer services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Points to remember<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Oxigen Services India Pvt. Ltd.is a FinTech company is one of the major payment solutions providers in India.<\/li>\n
- Headquarters location: Gurugram<\/li>\n
- Executive director: Sunil Kulkarni<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Daily Current Affairs – Appointments<\/h2>\n
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan re-elected as President of UAE<\/strong><\/p>\nThe UAE’s Supreme Council of the Union has re-elected his Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as its President for a fourth five-year term.<\/p>\n
\n- President Sheikh Khalifa was first elected President of the UAE by the Supreme Council of the Union on 3rd November 2004.<\/li>\n
- President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa accompanied the builder of the UAE renaissance, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in the founding stage in the 70s and 80s of the last century.<\/li>\n
- After the death of the Founding Father, he led the country and contributed to the prosperity of the UAE, and its prominence locally and globally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Daily Current Affairs – Economy<\/h2>\nDocumentation Identification Number (DIN) System of CBIC comes into existence from today (08th November)<\/strong><\/div>\n\n- The\u00a0Documentation Identification Number (DIN)<\/strong>\u00a0system of\u00a0Central Board of Indirect Taxes (CBIC)<\/strong>\u00a0will come into existence from today (08 November, 2019<\/strong>).<\/li>\n
- This path breaking system in indirect tax administration has been created as per the direction of\u00a0Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Now, any CBIC communication will have to have a Documentation Identification Number.<\/li>\n
- The step is aimed at bringing transparency and accountability in the indirect tax administration through widespread use of information technology.<\/li>\n
- The Government has already executed the DIN system in the direct tax administration.<\/li>\n
- The DIN would be used for search authorisation, summons, arrest memo, inspection notices and letters issued in the course of any enquiry.<\/li>\n
- Any communication from\u00a0GST<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0Custom or Central Excise<\/strong>\u00a0department without a computer-generated DIN, would be treated as invalid and shall be non-est in law or deemed to be as if it has never been issued.<\/li>\n
- It will provide the taxpayer a digital facility to verify any communications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nFundamentals of economy quite robust, says government after Moody\u2019s lowers outlook<\/strong><\/div>\n\n- The\u00a0fundamentals of the economy<\/strong>\u00a0remain quite robust with inflation under check and bond yields low. It said, India continues to offer strong prospects of growth in near and medium term.<\/li>\n
- The\u00a0Government of India<\/strong>\u00a0has noted that the\u00a0Moody\u2019s Investors Service<\/strong>\u00a0has changed the outlook on India\u2019s ratings to negative from stable while keeping the foreign-currency and local-currency long-term issuers rating unchanged.<\/li>\n
- India continues to be among the fastest growing major economies in the world and its relative standing remains unaffected.<\/li>\n
- IMF<\/strong>\u00a0in their latest\u00a0World Economic Outlook<\/strong>\u00a0has stated that Indian Economy is set to grow at\u00a06.1% in 2019<\/strong>, picking up to\u00a07 % in 2020.<\/strong><\/li>\n
- As India\u2019s potential growth rate remains unchanged, assessment by IMF and other multilateral organizations continue to underline a positive outlook on India.<\/li>\n
- The Government has undertaken series of financial sector and other reforms to strengthen the economy as a whole. Government of India has also proactively taken policy decisions in response to the global slowdown. These measures would lead to a positive outlook on India and would attract capital flows and stimulate investments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Daily Current Affairs – Bilateral<\/h2>\nPM Narendra Modi to visit Brazil for BRICS summit<\/strong><\/div>\n\n- Prime Minister Narendra Modi<\/strong>\u00a0will be on a two-day visit to\u00a0Brazil<\/strong>\u00a0from the\u00a013th November, 2019<\/strong>\u00a0to attend the\u00a011th BRICS Summit in Brasilia<\/strong>. The theme of the Summit this year is\u00a0“Economic Growth for an Innovative Future\u201d.<\/strong><\/li>\n
- This will be the sixth time that Mr Modi participates in the BRICS Summit. His first BRICS Summit was\u00a0at Fortaleza in Brazil<\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a02014<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- A large business delegation is also expected to be present during the visit, especially to attend the\u00a0BRICS Business Forum<\/strong>\u00a0where the business community of all five countries are represented.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Daily Current Affairs – Awards<\/h2>\nWest Bengal based writer Abhisek Sarkar wins award at Dhaka Lit-fest<\/strong><\/div>\n\n- The ninth edition of the\u00a0Dhaka Lit-fest<\/strong>\u00a0started on\u00a007th November, 2019<\/strong>\u00a0with a galaxy of writers and book lovers thronging the venue ground at the\u00a0Bangla Academy<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Over the three day of the festival\u00a0200 speakers<\/strong>, performers and thinkers, will take part in discussions on diverse topics.<\/li>\n
- The special focus of this year’s lit-fest is on Indigenous Languages as the\u00a0UNESCO<\/strong>\u00a0has marked\u00a02019<\/strong>\u00a0as the year of Indigenous Language Protection.<\/li>\n
- Renowned literary personalities and authors from\u00a0Bangladesh<\/strong>\u00a0and abroad like\u00a0William Dalrymple, Monica Ali, H M Naqvi, Prayaag Akbar, Shashi Tharoor<\/strong>\u00a0are participating in the festival.<\/li>\n
- Iconic Bangla author\u00a0Shankar<\/strong>\u00a0is the festival highlight of Bangla literature this year.<\/li>\n
- On the first day of the event, West Bengal-based writer\u00a0Abhisek Sarkar<\/strong>\u00a0and Bangladeshi poet\u00a0Rofiquzzaman Rony<\/strong>\u00a0were given the\u00a0Gemcon Young Literature Award\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Gemcon Young Poetry Award.<\/strong><\/li>\n