National News :
1. Maharashtra CM Uddav Thackeray launched “Maha Awas Yojana”. The project aims to build 8.82 lakhs of rural houses in 100 days. The project includes construction of toilets as well. The cost of the project has been estimated as Rs 4,000 crores.
2. The President of Janata Dal Nitish Kumar was appointed as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the fourth consecutive term.
3. the Election commission of India announced election results for the state of Bihar. The NDA has won absolute majority winning 125 seats. According to the Election commission of India, BJP won 72 seats, the JDU won 42 and the RJD had won 75 seats.
4. Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the country’s first solar-based Integrated Multi-Village Water Supply Project (IMVWSP) in Arunachal Pradesh.The project is said to provide drinking water to 17,480 people and is being seen as project that will combine elements of green energy and tourism along with the drinking water.
5. The State Govt of Tamil Nadu recently notified that it will grant 100% motor vehicle tax exemption for Electric Vehicles. Earlier, the State Govt had issued orders for 50% concessional rate to EV taxes. It has now been made to 100%.
6.The Uttar Pradesh Govt launched “Mission Shakti” for women empowerment in the state. It aims to reduce crime against women in the state.
International News :
1. After six years of negotiations Japan and Australia signed the “Reciprocal Access Agreement” to counter the growing influence of China in the South China sea and in the Pacific Island Nations.
2. India and China agreed to implement a three step disengagement in Pangong Tso. Under the new plan, the military forces of the countries are to move back to their respective positions before April-May 2021.
3. The Ethiopian National Defense Force conducted airstrikes against the forces of Tigray region as a result of the conflict between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
4. Joe Biden has won the US elections by defeating Donald Trump.
5. The US recently approved 600 million USD armed drones sale to Taiwan. By the end of October 2020, the US approved the sale of Harpoon missile systems to Taiwan.
6. The Financial Action Task Force voted for Pakistan to remain under “grey list” of the organization.
7. The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement of 177 million USD to upgrade 450 km of district roads and state highways in the state of Maharashtra.
8. The Directorate Control General of India renewed the approval of clinical trials of Sputnik V vaccine in India. The regulator has instructed the Russian Manufacturer of the vaccine to conduct all the phases of the clinical trials of the vaccines in India.
Defence News :
1. The trilateral Naval exercise, SITMEX-20 between India, Singapore and Thailand was held in the Andaman sea. This exercise was scheduled in a “non-contact at sea only format” due to covid-19 restrictions. The main objective of the exercise is to increase the interoperability between the three navies.
2. India successfully test fired the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) for the second time from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha. The missile is capable of striking aerial target at a height of 15 km.
3. The Indian Navy launched the fifth Scorpene submarine “Vagir” at Mazagon Dock of south Mumbai. The submarine is capable of taking missions such as anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, mine laying, intelligence gathering and area surveillance.
4. the Defence Research Development Organization test fired the advanced version of Pinaka rocket successfully. The rocket was test fired in Chandipur, Odisha. The enhanced version is to achieve longer range as compared to the earlier version. The operational range has increased from 38 km to 60 km.
5. The Indian Air Force test fired the Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile from a Sukhoi fighter aircraft in Bay of Bengal. The missile hit a sinking ship with high accuracy.
6. The Defence Research Development Organisation tested Rustom 2 drone successfully. The Drone is capable of carrying payloads depending on the mission objectives. This includes aperture radar, situational awareness systems and electronic intelligent systems.
7. Russia test-fired TSIRKON (Zircon) Hypersonic Cruise missile successfully.
Sports News :
1. Mumbai Indians won the IPL 2020 Trophy for the fifth time.
2. Rafarl Nadal won the French Open, 2020 beating Novak Djokovic. This is Nadal’s 20th Grand Slam and 13th French Open title.
3. Daniil Medvedev defeated Dominic Thiem to win the ATP tournament. It is the second highest tier of men’s Tennis Tournament after the Grand Slam.