DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 5 November 2021
PM Modi Celebrates Diwali with Soldiers
- PM Modi celebrates Diwali with soldiers of Indian Armed Forces in Nowshera district in J&K
- Pays rich tribute to heroes of Nowshera, Brig. Usman, Naik Jadunath Singh, Lt R R Rane and others
- “I have brought the wishes of the 130 crore Indian for you”
- “Today’s India, in the ‘Amrit Kaal’ of the freedom is alert about its capabilities and resources”
- “Connectivity in border areas from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, from Jaisalmer to Andaman Nicobar has been established with modern infrastructure, leading to unprecedent improvement in the infrastructure and convenience for soldiers”
- “Participation of women in the country’s defence is touching new heights”
- “Indian Armed forces are as professional as the top armed forces of the world, but its human values make it distinct and extraordinary”
- “We don’t perceive the nation as government, power or empire, for us, it is living, present soul, defending this is not limited to defending just the geographical boundaries. For us national defence means defending national vibrancy, national unity, and national integration.”
Over 107 crore 66 lakh doses of COVID vaccine administered in country
- Over 107 crore 66 lakh doses of COVID vaccine has been administered in the country so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive.
- Union Health Ministry said, more than 30 lakh 90 thousand vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said, 15 thousand 54 COVID patients recovered during the last 24 hours and the national recovery rate stands at 98.23 per cent. Till now, more than three crore 37 lakh people have recovered from COVID-19.
Railways to push investment in infrastructure projects
- Finance Ministry held review meetings with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Ministry of Railways to push investment in infrastructure projects and accelerate capital spending. During the meeting held in New Delhi yesterday, they reviewed the progress of capital expenditure, implementation of infrastructure projects and asset monetization plans.
- Secretary in Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Durga Shanker Mishra expressed confidence of achieving the National Infrastructure Pipeline, NIP Capital expenditures target of over three lakh crore rupees in 2022.
- Chairman Railway Board Suneet Sharma highlighted that freight loading has increased by more than 21 percent compared to last year, and it has achieved 92 percent of NIP Capital expenditures targets set for this financial year. He also expressed hope of meeting the NIP capital expenditure targets of over two lakh crore rupees during the current fiscal.
Govt reduces excise duty on Diesel by Rs 10, Petrol by Rs 5
- Government has taken a significant decision of reducing Central Excise Duty on Petrol by five rupees and Diesel by ten rupees from tomorrow. Finance Ministry said, the prices of petrol and diesel will come down accordingly. The reduction in excise duty on diesel will be double that of petrol. The Ministry said, the farmers have kept the economic growth momentum going even during the lockdown phase through their hard work. It said, the massive reduction in excise on diesel will come as a boost to the farmers during the upcoming Rabi season.
- In recent months, crude oil prices have witnessed a global upsurge. Consequently, domestic prices of petrol and diesel had increased in recent weeks exerting inflationary pressure. Finance Ministry said, the world has also seen shortages and increased prices of all forms of energy. It said, the Government has made efforts to ensure that there is no energy shortage in the country.
- The Ministry said, the reduction in excise duty on Petrol and Diesel will also boost consumption and keep inflation low, thus helping the poor and middle classes. It said, today’s decision is expected to further spur the overall economic cycle. The Ministry has also urged States to commensurately reduce VAT on Petrol and diesel to give relief to consumers.
Iran to resume Nuclear Deal talks with US
- Talks aimed at reviving the landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six other nations are to resume this month. Iran’s chief negotiator Ali Baqeri Kani in Twitter yesterday said Iran had agreed to start the negotiations aiming at removal of unlawful and inhumane sanctions on 29th November in Vienna.
- The discussions have been on hold since the election of Iran’s new hard-liner president in June.
- The US pulled out of the deal under President Donald Trump, but Washington has since said it could consider rejoining. The Biden administration said it will attend the Vienna meet, along with the remaining signatories, the UK, China, France, Germany, and Russia.
South African author Damon Galgut bags Booker Prize 2021 for his novel ‘The Promise’
- South African author Damon Galgut has won the 2021 Booker Prize for Fiction for his novel The Promise. 57-year-old Galgut, has won the award in his third appearance on the shortlist after making the cut in 2003 and 2010. He follows in the footsteps of other South African winners Nadine Gordimer and JM Coetzee and is the first winner from the country since 1999.
- The Promise is set in Pretoria, where the author grew up, and takes place against the backdrop of South Africa’s transition out of apartheid. It tells the story of the declining Swart family, who are white farmers, through four funerals.
First-ever 3-day ‘All American Diwali’ celebrations starts in New York
- In the United States, the first-ever 3-day ‘All American Diwali’ Celebrations started with a fireworks display over the Hudson River in New York City yesterday. The fireworks display was organised to encourage Indian Americans to engage their neighbours, coworkers, and friends from all walks of life in meaningful conversations about the festival. The US Embassy in India is also lit up with lights and Diyas on the occasion of Diwali.
- Meanwhile, an Act named, “The Deepavali Day Act” was introduced in the House of Representatives by the New York Congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney to make Diwali a national holiday in the United States. Maloney said that festivals like Diwali will help the US accomplish its goal of becoming a beacon of happiness. The festival of lights in 2021, will symbolised the country’s fight against COVID-19 and its journey out of the pandemic’s darkness, she said. A number of congressmen, including Indian-American Representative Raja Krishnamoorthy, support the historic measure. Krishnamoorthy also introduced a resolution in the US Congress to recognise the festival of lights’ religious and historical significance.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
- Brigadier Mohammad Usman was awarded with
- Param Vir Chakra
- Ashoka Chakra
- Maha Vir Chakra
- Kirti Chakra
ANSWER: C
- Brigadier Mohammad Usman was killed in action during the ______
- Indo-Pak War 1947
- Indo-Pak War 1965
- Bangla Liberation War
- Sino-Indian War 1962
ANSWER: A
- Brigadier Mohammad Usman belonged to _____ Regiment
- Gorkha
- Sikh
- Dogra
- Madras
ANSWER: C
- Jadunath Singh Rathore was awarded with
- Param Vir Chakra
- Ashoka Chakra
- Maha Vir Chakra
- Kirti Chakra
ANSWER: A
- He was the first living recipient of the Param Vir Chakra
- Major Rama Raghoba Rane
- Subedar Major Bana Singh
- Subedar Sanjay Kumar
- Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav,
ANSWER: A
- This is a duty on manufactured goods, which is levied at the time of manufacture
- Sales Tax
- VAT
- Exercise Duty
- Import Duty
ANSWER: C
- ______ is responsible for collecting excise duty
- Union Finance Ministry
- Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC)
- Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
- State Finance Departments
ANSWER: B
- Exercise Duty is _____ Tax
- Direct
- Indirect
- Regressive
- Progressive
ANSWER: B
- Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) sometimes seen in news is
- Peace Treaty between North and South Korea
- Ceasefire Line Between Israel and Palestine
- Iran Nuclear Deal
- American Policy to Tackle China
ANSWER: C
- Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed in
- 2001
- 2010
- 2015
- 2019
ANSWER: C
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