1.Science and Technology
4 astronauts launched into space by SpaceX
SpaceX launched Four Astronauts (3 Americans, 1 Japanese) to the International Space Station.
The launch was on the first full-fledged taxi flight for NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) by a private company.
The astronauts were launched by Falcon Rocket from the Kennedy Space Center.
The crew was led by Commander Mike Hopkins, Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Japan’s Soichi Noguchi.
Quick Fact: Victor Glover is the First Black Astronaut on a long-term space station mission.
2.Person in News
Kris Gopalakrishnan appointed as the first Chairperson of Reserve Bank Innovation Hub
Kris Gopalakrishnan was appointed as the first Chairperson of Reserve Bank Innovation Hub.
Kris Gopalakrishnan is the former co-chairman and co-founder of Infosys.
The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub aims to promote innovation across the financial sector.
Kris Gopalakrishnan is to lead a Governing Council that will have nine other members.
3.National Affairs
Nitish Kumar swears-in as Chief Minister of Bihar for 7th term
Nitish Kumar took oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar and began his 7th term on 16th November 2020.
He is the Chief of Janata Dal (United) (JDU).
Phagu Chauhan, Governor of Bihar, administered the oath of office and secrecy to Nitish Kumar at Raj Bhavan in Patna.
Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi have been made the new Deputy Chief Ministers.
4.Miscellaneous
“A Promised Land” by Barack Obama published
The former President of the United States Barack Obama published a memoir called “A Promised Land”.
The book is first of the two volumes that Obama had written during his tenure as President of United States which is between 2009 and 2017.
The book is to be translated in several foreign languages such as Chinese, Polish, Vietnamese, French, German, Hungarian, Hebrew, etc.
The book concludes with the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011.
Quick Fact: Barack Obama was the first African-American President of United States.
5.India and the World
Asia’s first Solar Powered Textile mill to come up in Parbhani district, Maharashtra
Jai Bhawani Women cooperative textile mill has announced that the mill will soon operate on solar power.
With this step, the mill will become the first Solar Power enabled textile mill in Asia.
The mill is located in Parbhani district of Maharashtra.
Parbhani district of Maharashtra is the leading cotton producing district in the state.
6.National Affairs
Lilavati Awards 2020 inaugurated
The Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokriyal ‘Nishank’ has inaugurated the Lilavati Awards.
The award is an initiative of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
The aim of the Lilavati Award is to recognise the efforts of AICTE affiliated institutions in treating women.
The Lilavati Awards will be presented based on the theme of women empowerment.
Quick Fact: The award has been named after the 12th century book called “Lilavati”, written by the mathematician Bhaskara II.
7.Business and Finance
SBM Bank India to launch a neo banking platform
SBM Bank India has partnered with Fintech PayNearby to launch a neo banking platform.
Both the firms have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build an “open banking” network towards delivering basic banking solutions as well as advanced financial services, to their customers.
The partnership enables the Bank to offer a complete suite of digital and assisted banking solutions through PayNearby’s network.
Neo bank is a type of bank that operates exclusively online, i.e., it does not have any traditional physical branch networks.
Quick Fact: SBM Bank India is the wholly-owned subsidiary of State Bank of Mauritius
8.Science and Technology
L&T delivers Booster Segment, the first launch hardware for Gaganyan mission to ISRO
Larsen and Toubro delivered a Booster Segment, the first hardware for the Gaganyaan Mission to ISRO.
The company delivered the module ahead of schedule.
L&T provided two S200 solid rocket boosters.
S200 is a high thrust solid propellant strap on booster and will provide huge thrust that is required for the lift off.
Quick Fact: Gaganyaan is an Indian Human Spaceflight Programme that is to carry three astronauts to space.
