Central Crime Branch Police of Bengaluru, arrested 26-year-old Srikrishna Ramesh alias Sriki, on November 4, 2020.
Sri Krishna Ramesh is a resident of Jayanagar in Bengaluru. He developed an interest in computers and its languages from his school days. He also hacked his school website. He had hacked Bitfinex exchange twice, during his stay in Netherlands.
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency, which is not controlled by any central bank or single administrator. It can be sent from user to user on through peer-to-peer bitcoin network any intermediaries. Transactions are verified using the network nodes by cryptography. The coin is recorded in a public distributed ledger called blockchain.
Cryptocurrency is the collection of binary data, designed to work as a medium of exchange. It stores individual coin ownership records in a ledger. It is a computerized database that uses strong cryptography to secure transaction records. Cryptocurrencies are usually fiat currencies and are not backed by or convertible into a commodity.
Cryptocurrency was invented in 2008 by an unknown person or group of people. It was invented using the name Satoshi Nakamoto. The currency started use in 2009.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry released its data on Wholesale Price Index (WPI) on November 15, 2021.
The benchmark inflation print for October 2020 was 1.31%. The high rate of inflation in October 2021 is due to an increase in prices of mineral oils, basic metals, crude petroleum & natural gas, food products, chemicals and chemical products etc as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.
The consumer price inflation index-based inflation in India, increased to 4.48% in October 2021 as compared to October 2020. It was higher than 4.35% recorded in September 2021.
Sharpe increase was witnessed in Fuel & Power component of the index. It increased 37.18% on a yearly basis in October 2021 as compared to 24.8% increase in the September 2021. Prices of manufactured products in October 2021 increased by 12.04% as compared to same period in 2020.
Food inflation decreased by 1.7% October as compared to 7.05% in 2020. LPG prices increased by 54.3% in October 2021 as compared to 2020.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is set to address the event of first Audit Diwas on November 16, 2021.
First edition of the Audit Diwas will be celebrated to mark the historic origins of the institution of CAG and the contribution made by it to the governance, transparency and accountability.
CAG is the Constitutional Authority in India. It was established in accordance with Article 148 of the Constitution of India. CAG is empowered to Audit all receipts and expenditure of the central as well as state governments. The CAG is the statutory auditor of Government-owned corporations. It conducts supplementary audit of government companies, where Government is having an equity share of 51 per cent.
Reports of the CAG are laid before Parliament or Legislatures. They are being taken up for discussion by Public Accounts Committees (PACs) and Committees on Public Undertakings (COPUs). PACs and COPUs are special committees in the Parliament and state legislatures.
The CAG has been ranked at 9th place in the order of precedence. It enjoys same status as the sitting judge of Supreme Court.
Currently, former Lt. Governor of UT of Jammu Kashmir G. C. Murmu is serving as CAG of India. He is the 14th CAG of India. His tenure started in August 2020.
State Cabinet of Arunachal Pradesh, headed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, approved “Kaiser-i-Hind” as state butterfly on November 13, 2021.
Kaiser-i-Hind is scientifically known as Teinopalpus imperialis. In literal terms, it means Emperor of India. The butterfly is having a wingspan of 90-120 mm.
It is found across six States along Eastern Himalayas at the elevations from 6,000-10,000 feet in a well-wooded terrain. They also flutter in Bhutan, Nepal, Laos, Myanmar, southern China and Vietnam.
In January 2020, State Wildlife Board accepted the proposal from Koj Rinya, which is the divisional forest officer of Hapoli Forest Division in Lower Subansiri district. The proposal was made in a bid to boost butterfly tourism and to save the species from extinction in the State.
Protected areas under the Hapoli Forest Division are popular among butterfly enthusiasts. The Kaiser-i-Hind is protected under Schedule II of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Despite that, they are hunted for the supply to butterfly collectors.
International Union for Conservation of Nature has red-listed the Kaiser-i-Hind.
Government of India has brought two ordinances to extend tenure of directors of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for up to five years.
As per this ordinance, period for which the Director of Enforcement holds the office, can be extended up to one year at a time on recommendation of the Committee under clause(a) of the ordinance. The reason for the same needs to be recorded in writing. No extension will be granted after a period of five years in total, adding the period mentioned in initial appointment.
This ordinance also provides similar amendment with respect to the director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
ICRI-Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) recently published its data on stubble burning incidents.
IARI is commonly known as the Pusa Institute. It is the national Institute for agricultural research, education & extension in India. The institute is originally called as Pusa Institute because it was located in Pusa Bihar in 1911 with the name “Imperial Institute of Agricultural Research”. In the year 1919, it was renamed as Imperial Agricultural Research Institute. The institute was located to Delhi in 1936, after a major earthquake in Pusa. The IARI was responsible for research leading to “Green Revolution in India” in 1970s. IARI is financed and administered by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has planned to promote “Vegetarian Trains” in collaboration with the Sattvik Council of India.
This scheme will be launched along with IRCTC on November 15, 2021. Sattvik council will also release a handbook on vegetarian-friendly diet in collaboration with IRCTC. This diet will be that will be followed in the kitchens. Under this scheme, IRCTC base kitchens, budget hotels, executive lounges, travel & tour packages, food plazas, Rail Neer plants will be ‘sattvik’ certified in order to ensure “vegetarian-friendly travel”.
Sattvik Council of India is First Vegetarian food safety and regulatory compliance of the world for vegetarian and allied adherents. It was set up with an ideology to take initiative and create Food Safety Environment for vegetarian’s consumers of India.
IRCTC is an Indian public sector undertaking to provide ticketing, tourism and catering services for the Indian Railways. It was earlier wholly owned by the government and operated under parent head of the Ministry of Railways. However, it has been listed on National Stock Exchange since 2019 and Government holds majority ownership.
Padma Vibhushan Babasaheb Purandare took his last breath on November 15, 2021 at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune.
He was 99 years old and on life support. His last rites were performed Vaikunth crematorium in Pune.
Babasaheb Purandare was a celebrated historian, author, and theatre personality. His full name was Balwant Moreshwar Purandare. He was famous for his work on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The author wrote several books on Shivaji Maharaj, his administration as well the forts from Shivaji’s era. He also directed ‘Jaanta Raja’, which is a popular play on Chhatrapati’s life. His works are mostly related to Shivaji, as a result he was often called as Shiv-Shahir.
The historian was awarded with India’s second-highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, on in January 2019. He was also awarded with Maharashtra Bhushan Award in 2015, which happens to be Maharashtra’s highest civilian award. Madhya Pradesh government had awarded him the Kalidas Samman in 2007–08, for his works in the field of drama.
Purandare had started writing stories on Shivaji’s reign at a young age. These stories were later compiled and published in a book called “Thinagya” (“Sparks”). His other works include-
Janata Raja Drama is a widely popular play on Shivaji. It was first staged in 1985. The drama has been staged for more than 1000 times across 16 districts of Maharashtra, Delhi, Agra, Bhopal, and the United States, since then. It was originally written in Marathi and later translated into Hindi. Performance of the drama usually starts around Diwali, each year. It is performed by 200 artists, elephants, horses and camels.
India is observing the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on November 15, 2021.
November 15 is significant as it marks the birth anniversary date of Birsa Munda.
He is considered as God by tribal communities in India. Birsa Munda had played a significant role in India’s independence. He fought against exploitative British colonial system. He belonged to the Munda tribe. He headed an Indian tribal religious Millenarian movement in 19th century in the tribal belt of present-day Bihar and Jharkhand.
The Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is being observed to commemorate tribal freedom fighters. The day seeks to make the coming generations aware of sacrifices made by tribal freedom fighters in independence movement of India. this day will be celebrated every year for recognizing the efforts made by tribals in preserving their cultural heritage and promoting Indian values like national pride & hospitality.
The Janjatiya Gaurav Divas will acknowledge the glorious history of tribal communities of India and their cultural heritage.
As a part of celebration Indian government launched a week-long celebration to commemorate 75 years of history of tribal people. Celebration will be held between November 15 to November 22, 2021. Government will be organising several activities to celebrate the day. Each activity will be held under specific theme, showcasing achievements of tribals in Indian Freedom Struggle.
Bhadla Solar Park, located in Rajasthan, is the World’s largest solar power park.
As of 2020, Bhadla solar park is largest solar park worldwide. It is spread over an area of 5,700 hectares in Bhadla, Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. Park has a total capacity of 2245 MW. It had witnessed the lowest bid for solar power in India at Rs 2.44 per kilowatt-hour.
Bhadla region of the jodhpur district is officially recognized as sandy, dry, and arid region with an area of around 45 km2. It is located around 200 km north of Jodhpur and 320 km west of Jaipur. Because of its climate, this region is described as “almost unlivable”. Normal temperatures of the region are between 46-48 °C while, hot winds & sand storms occur frequently.
NTPC had announced the commissioning of the 115 MW of capacity at this solar park on February 22, 2017. Currently, its full capacity is of 2,245 MW, making it world’s largest solar park, with its investment rising to Rs 100 billion.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a set of clarifications on November 12, 2021 regarding its existing asset classification guidelines. Under the guidelines, banks have been asked to specify the exact due dates of repayment in loan agreements.
These instructions shall be complied by December 31, 2021, with respect to fresh loans. But for existing loans, banks have to comply with guidelines as and when these loans become due for review or renewal.
According to RBI, currently some lending institutions upgrade NPA accounts to standard asset category after payment of interest overdues and partial overdues. But now, loan accounts classified as NPAs will be upgraded as standard asset only if entire interest and principal are paid by borrower.
Union Law & Justice Minister, Kiren Rijiju and Minister of State for Law & Justice, SP Baghel launched “Citizens’ Tele-Law smartphone app” on November 13, 2021.
The Citizens’ Tele-Law mobile app was launched with the aim of broadening access to increased legal information. The app seeks to empower masses to identify their problem and select appropriate forum of dispute redress for claiming their entitlements. It will also help the citizens to identify their rights by connecting the beneficiary directly with the Panel Lawyer or assistance of Para Legal Volunteers and Village Level Entrepreneurs, in case the beneficiary cannot read or write.
Through this app, free consultation will be provided for individuals qualifying for free legal aid under Section 12 of the Legal Service Authority. Others will require to pay Rs 30 as consultation fee each time.
Law Minister also announced the expansion of Tele-Law across 75,000 Gram Panchayats, as part of the celebration of 75 years of India’s independence. He urged lawyers to join ‘Tele-Law movement’ to provide legal advice & consultation.
Citizens’ Tele-Law Mobile App is a first of its kind. With the help of this app, every citizen will have access to a lawyer on single click. App was launched in accordance with the constitutional obligation of providing an equal opportunity before law. Capabilities of the Mobile App will be provided in the form of ‘e-tutorial’ in all scheduled languages.