Daily Current Affairs November 18&19

Dear Champions, as you all know that a lot of competitive exams have been notified consequently. Candidates have to prepare themselves according to the level of competition and expectation of the Recruitment board. Regarding that one of the most important topic is Daily Current Affairs November 18&19. Current Affairs in the form of contemporary events of national & international play a crucial role in almost every competitive exams like Banking, Insurance, SSC, UPSC, TNPSC, Railway etc.

Current affairs are the most dynamic yet scoring among all sections and need to be prepared from the right source. Here, we cafunsta team, providing  Daily GK Updates, Current Affairs Questions, and Monthly  current affairs pdf.

TO PURCHASE OUR BANKING AWARENESS (2021 Edition) – CLICK HERE

November 18&19| Daily Current Affairs 2023

Important Days – Daily Current Affairs November 18&19

1. What color is commonly associated with World Prematurity Day as a symbol of support?
A) Pink
B) Blue
C) Purple
D) Green
E) Yellow
Answer: C) Purple

• Sometimes, babies born prematurely can be underdeveloped and also prone to severe infections.
• To raise awareness on the same, World Prematurity Day is observed every year on November 17
• Purple is observed as the colour for World Prematurity Day.
• In 2008, European Parent organisations came together to create a day focused on creating awareness about the concerns of preterm birth on November 17.
• Since 2011, the day has been celebrated as World Prematurity Day – the term was coined by March of Dimes.
• The global theme for this year’s World Prematurity Day is – Small actions, big impact: Immediate skin-to-skin care for every baby everywhere.

---

2. On which date is the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence observed annually?
A) October 11
B) November 18
C) December 10
D) January 15
E) March 8
Answer: B) November 18

• The United Nations passed a resolution on November 18, 2022, to observe the day as the “World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence”
• The primary aim behind this initiative was to shine a spotlight on the painful trauma of child sexual abuse, urging Governments worldwide to take decisive action against this issue
• In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the dignity of children and their right to live free from violence is placed as a priority of the international development agenda
• It is implemented through the goals and targets of the 2023 Agenda relevant to ending exploitation, abuse, trafficking, torture and all forms of violence against children, as well as eliminating all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation, which place children at risk of experiencing child sexual exploitation, abuse and violence.

Global Statistics on Violence:

• Worldwide, it is estimated that approximately 120 million females under the age of 20 have experienced various forms of forced sexual contact
• However, data from 24 predominantly high- and middle-income countries indicate a prevalence ranging from 8% to 31% among girls and 3% to 17% among boys under 18 years old.
• 1 in 4 children aged under 5 years live with a mother who is a victim of intimate partner violence.
• Adults who experienced 4 or more Adverse Childhood Experiences, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, are 7 times more likely to be involved in interpersonal violence as a victim or perpetrator and 30 times more likely to attempt suicide.
• 1 in 20 men admitted to online sexualised behaviour towards children who were known to be below the age of 12.

---

3. What is the theme for International Men’s Day in 2023?
A) Men’s Mental Health Matters
B) Breaking Stereotypes
C) Zero Male Suicide
D) Men’s Role in Family
E) Building Healthy Relationships
Answer: C) Zero Male Suicide

• International Men’s Day, celebrated on November 19 every year, is dedicated to men and their contributions to society
• The theme for International Men’s Day 2023 is ‘Zero Male Suicide’.
• The idea of International Men’s Day was first observed in 1999 by Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, a professor at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago.
• Prof Teelucksingh selected November 19 to observe Men’s Day as it marked his father’s birth anniversary.
• Since then, it has been celebrated every year; currently, nearly 80 countries celebrate the day.

---

Obituary – Daily Current Affairs November 18&19

4. What was Brijinder Nath Goswamy’s notable contribution to the field of arts?
A) Sculptor
B) Musician
C) Art Historian and Critic
D) Filmmaker
E) Performing Artist
Answer: C) Art Historian and Critic

• Renowned art historian and critic Brijinder Nath Goswamy passed away in Chandigarh
• He was born on August 15, 1933, at Sargodha in undivided Punjab
• He authored 27 acclaimed books on art. The last book of him is “The Indian Cat: Stories, Paintings, Poetry, and Proverbs”
• He got Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan in 1998, 2008 respectively.

---

5. What is the title of A.S. Byatt’s notable collection of fairy tales for children, he passed away recently?
A) “The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye”
B) “Little Black Book of Stories”
C) “The Matisse Stories”
D) “Sugar and Other Stories”
E) “The Biographer’s Tale”
Answer: A) “The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye”

• Booker-prize winning British novelist Antonia Susan Byatt, known as A.S. Byatt, has died at 87
• Byatt was born on August 24, 1936, in the northern English city of Sheffield and was educated at a Quaker school in nearby York.
• She studied at Cambridge and Oxford after that she teaches English and American Literature in London from 1972.
• Her first novel “Shadow of a Sun” was published in 1964, and told the story of a young girl growing up in the shadow of a dominant father
• She got the Man Booker Prize for her novel “Possession: A Romance” in 1990.
• Her short story collection The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye (1994) received the 1995 Aga Khan Prize for Fiction.
• Her novel The Children’s Book was shortlisted for the 2009 Booker Prize and won the 2010 James Tait Black Memorial Prize.
• Byatt was awarded the Shakespeare Prize in 2002, the Erasmus Prize in 2016, the Park Kyong-ni Prize in 2017 and the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award in 2018
• Her works are “Shadow of a Sun” and “Angels and Insects” both of which were adapted into films.

---

Ranking – Daily Current Affairs November 18&19

6. What is the total valuation of India’s 72 unicorn companies?
A) $150.25 billion
B) $175.50 billion
C) $195.75 billion
D) $210.80 billion
E) $230.90 billion
Correct Answer: C) $195.75 billion

• India ranked third with 72 unicorn companies, with a total valuation of $195.75 billion.
• Despite a lower average valuation per unicorn at $2.72 billion compared to some counterparts, India’s unicorns make a substantial 5 per cent contribution to the total global unicorn valuation, according to research by Journalistic Org.
• The first Indian company in global rankings is BYJU’s – 36th place with a valuation of $11.50 billion.
• The US has the highest number of unicorn companies with 668 – over three times more than China in second place (172) – valuation of over $2 trillion ( accounting for over half (54 per cent) of the total valuation of unicorn companies)
• China has the second-highest number of unicorn companies, with a combined valuation of $641.67 billion, accounting for 17 per cent of the total valuation of all unicorn companies in China.
• ByteDance – the parent company of TikTok – is the highest-valued company in China, and is valued at over $225 billion.
• In Sectors, the rank is as follows
  • Enterprise tech – 377 companies – over $1 trillon
  • Financial Services Sector – 216 companies – $706 billion
  • Consumer and Retail Industry – 216 companies – $631 billion

---

Banking and Finance – Daily Current Affairs November 18&19

7. What type of loan scheme did Punjab National Bank (PNB) introduce on November 8, 2023?
A) Home Loan Scheme
B) Personal Loan Scheme
C) Agricultural Loan Scheme
D) Digital Gold Loan Scheme
E) Education Loan Scheme
Answer: D) Digital Gold Loan Scheme

• The two schemes have been named PNB Gold Loan for the retail segment and PNB Swarnim for the agriculture segment
• PNB Digital Gold Loan scheme: It allows individuals to borrow amounts ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 25 lakh for personal needs. Additionally, the loan is available for supporting agriculture or allied activities
• Borrowers seeking short-term production and/or investment credit for agriculture activities, such as crop production, land-based activity other than crop cultivation, irrigation, and allied agriculture activities are eligible for loans of minimum Rs 10,000 to maximum Rs 2 lakh
• The digital lending solution launched during the bank’s Digital Mahotsav event aims to provide a hassle-free credit to customers to quickly meet their personal as well as agriculture credit requirements.
• A range of digital offerings such as Pre-Approved Personal Loan (PAPL), Pre-Approved Business Loan (PABL), E-GST Express, Krishi Tatkal Rin, Digi Home Loan, and several other digital offerings were also on display at the event.
• Loan’s margin – determining the percentage of the loan amount that is kept with the bank against the value of the pledged gold jewellery and/or ornaments
• The loan margin is 30% if the borrower chooses a demand loan with a bullet payback schedule and 25% for demand loans with equivalent monthly instalment (EMI) payments and 25% for overdraft facilities.
• Bullet payment repayment permits principal and interest payments at maturity with a maximum 12-month repayment duration.

---

8. Which regulatory body is responsible for granting payment aggregator licenses in India?
A) Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
B) Ministry of Finance
C) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
D) Competition Commission of India (CCI)
E) Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
Answer: C) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reportedly returned Instamojo’s application for a payment aggregator (PA) licence.
• It was due to the eligibility criteria related to the net worth of the company. There was a difference in the way RBI calculated and how the company arrived at the net worth (of the PG business) in 2021.
• Instamojo claims to have a total of 2.5 million merchants registered on its platform, with almost 25,000 active in September, before the RBI returned its application.
• In the meantime, in order to protect the business interests of 2 million plus customers, it began transitioning their payment accounts to their licensed PA partners
• Payment Aggregators: Companies that operate as middlemen between the consumer and the merchant to enable online payments are known as online payment aggregators. example: Google Pay, PayTM, Amazon Pay

---

Appointments – Daily Current Affairs November 18&19

9. Who has been appointed as the MD and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank?
A) Rakesh Sharma
B) Uday Kotak
C) Ashok Vaswani
D) Chanda Kochhar
E) Aditya Puri
Answer: C) Ashok Vaswani

• The board of Kotak Mahindra Bank approved the appointment of Ashok Vaswani as a director, managing director, and CEO of the bank.
• Following Uday Kotak’s resignation as the bank’s MD on September 1, Vaswani, a new hire from Barclays, will take over as the MD
• At present, Vaswani is the President of Pagaya Technologies Ltd., a US-Israeli AI fintech player.
• He is also on the board of the London Stock Exchange Group, the SP Jain Institute of Global Management, UK, and supports various philanthropic organisations, including Pratham, and Lend a Hand.

---

10. What is the primary responsibility of the Special Protection Group (SPG)?
A) Counter-terrorism operations
B) Border security
C) Prime Minister’s security
D) Cybercrime prevention
E) Diplomatic protection
Answer: C) Prime Minister’s security

• Alok Sharma, a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, was appointed as the director of the Special Protection Group (SPG), the security unit responsible for the Prime Minister’s security
• Former Director of SPG is Arun Kumar Sinha.
• Arun Kumar Sinha held the position of SPG chief from 2016 to 2023, making him the longest-serving director

---

Awards – Daily Current Affairs November 18&19

11. In which field are Bina Agarwal and David Barkin recognized for their contributions?
A) Astrophysics
B) Environmental Law
C) Ecological Economics
D) Political Science
E) Information Technology
Answer: C) Ecological Economics

• Bina Agarwal, a professor at the University of Manchester, received the Kenneth Boulding Award in Ecological Economics along with David Barkin in Colombia
• The International Society for Ecological Economics presented the award for their significant contributions to ecological economics, focusing on environmental governance, agrarian change, and social equity in developing countries.

---

12. Which city hosted the Asian Oil and Gas Awards event where GAIL received recognition?
A) Mumbai, India
B) Singapore City, Singapore
C) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
D) Beijing, China
E) Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Answer: C) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• GAIL, India’s leading Natural Gas Company and a public sector undertaking, clinched two prestigious awards at the Asian Oil and Gas Awards event held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• GAIL received the coveted “Innovation Award-India” for its commendable efforts in reducing LNG shipping costs and emissions. It got this recognition because of the implementation of Ship-to-Ship (STS) transfer of LNG with backhauling.
• GAIL was also honored with the “Midstream Project of the Year-India” for its pioneering project – the installation of the first floating Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station in Varanasi

Details of Achievement

• GAIL’s charter hired the LNG vessel AI Gharrafa from QatarGas in Gibraltar, marking the world’s first STS between a large conventional LNG vessel and a Q-Flex LNG Vessel.
• This unique transfer involved cargo movement from Castillo De Santisteban to AI Gharrafa, resulting in substantial savings.
• The innovation led to:
  • Saving approximately 8736 nautical miles, equivalent to around 7000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
  • Shortening the voyage of GAIL’s chartered vessel from 54 days to approximately 27 days

---

13. Which country does Sheynnis Palacios represent, having been crowned Miss Universe 2023?
A) Venezuela
B) Nicaragua
C) Colombia
D) Mexico
E) Brazil
Answer: B) Nicaragua

• The 72nd edition of the Miss Universe pageant was held at the Jose Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador.
• Nicaragua’s Sheynnis Palacios has been crowned Miss Universe for the year 2023, marking her country’s first win at the international beauty pageant.
• Palacios was crowned by USA’s R’Bonney Gabriel, who held the title of Miss Universe for the year 2022.
• Palacios is a 23-year-old mental health activist and audiovisual producer from Managua, Nicaragua Miss Thailand Anntonia Porsild emerged the first runner-up and Miss Australia Moraya Wilson was named the second runner-up at the event

---

International Affairs – Daily Current Affairs November 18&19

14. Where did the ninth edition of Joint Military exercise “Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2023” take place?
A) Jaipur
B) Aundh (Pune)
C) Visakhapatnam
D) Ladakh
E) Ahmedabad
Answer: B) Aundh (Pune)

• The ninth edition of Joint Military exercise “Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2023” commenced in Aundh (Pune) conducted from 16th to 29th November 2023.
• The Indian contingent, of 120 personnel, is being represented mainly by troops from the MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY Regiment.
• The Sri Lankan side is being represented by personnel from 53 Infantry Division.
  15 personnel from Indian Air Force and five personnel from Sri Lankan Air Force are also participating in the exercise.
• The aim of the exercise is to jointly rehearse conduct of Sub Conventional operations under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter

---

15. What did the World Health Organization (WHO) declares loneliness as?
A) Personal Well-being Issue
B) Social Trend
C) Global Public Health Concern
D) Lifestyle Choice
E) Cultural Phenomenon
Answer: C) Global Public Health Concern

• The World Health Organisation has declared loneliness a global health concern and has set up a Commission on Social Connection, in order to address and work on preventing loneliness in individuals which can in turn lead to pressing health concerns.
• The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day” as per the reports tittled ‘Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation’ written by Dr Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General
• The WHO Commission on Social Connection (2024–2026) aims to see the issue (of loneliness) recognised and resourced as a global public health priority.
• It was co-chaired by Dr. Vivek Murthy and Chido Mpemba.
• The commission aims to see how personal connection and relationships can improve well being, of both individuals and communities.

---

National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs November 18&19

16. What is the estimated cost of the approved multi-tracking projects for Indian Railways?
A) Rs 20,000 crore
B) Rs 25,000 crore
C) Rs 30,000 crore
D) Rs 32,500 crore
E) Rs 40,000 crore
Answer: D) Rs 32,500 crore

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved seven multi-tracking projects of Indian Railways at an estimated cost of around Rs 32,500 crore,announced by Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
• This project will be fully funded by the Centre.
• These projects will help increase the existing line capacity, smoothen train operations, reduce congestion and facilitate ease of travelling and transportation.
• The projects covering 35 districts in nine states — Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal — will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by 2,339 km and provide employment of an estimated 7.06 crore man-days to the people of the states.
• The project includes doubling of the existing line between
  • Gorakhpur-Cantt-Valmiki Nagar.
  • The Son Nagar-Andal Multi tracking Project.
  • Third line between Nergundi-Barang and Khurda Road-Vizianagaram.
  • Mudkhed-Medchal and Mahbubnagar-Dhone.
  • Guntur-Bibinagar
  • Chopan-Chunar .
  • quadrupling between Samakhiali-Gandhidham.
  • The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 200 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum).

---

17. Which treaty has Russia formally withdrawn from regarding Conventional Armed Forces in Europe?
A) NATO Treaty
B) Warsaw Pact
C) Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
D) Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE)
E) Helsinki Accords
Answer: D) Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE)

• Russia has formally withdrawn from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) because of NATO’s expansion.
• Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE)
• It was signed in 1990, just a year after the fall of the BerlinWall, the CFE set constraints on conventional arms and equipment.
• Its purpose was to stop Cold War rivals from building up forces that could be used in a swift assault
• Russia suspended its participation in CFE in 2007 and halting active participation in 2015
• After the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia denounced the CFE in 2023

---

---

Over All Review

DOWNLOAD TODAY’S CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF – CLICK HERE

You Must Also Read Daily Current Affairs November 17