KERALA

· In a year, all of Kerala will have internet access

ð There are 12,500 schools in Kerala — which has a literacy rate of 93.9% — and all of them are reported to have internet connection and computer labs.While Kerala achieved this digital revolution in classrooms in the past decade, the state now has its eyes set on another ambitious target — bringing high speed internet to every household, including 20 lakh below poverty line (BPL) families who would get the service for free.

ð The Rs 1,548 crore-project is being funded by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) which powers large infrastructure projects. Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and Kerala State IT Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL) have also been roped in. A consortium led by Bharat Electronics Ltd has won the tender to develop the fibre cable network. Cables are being imported from the US; quality testing is on in Chennai.

ð World Bank estimates also suggest so. Only about 35% of the population in developing countries has access to the internet (versus about 80% in advanced economies). Raising internet penetration to 75% of the population in all developing countries would add as much as $2 trillion to their collective GDP and create more than 140 million jobs around the world.

INTERNATIONAL

Brazil hosting BRICS summit from 13th to 14th November

Brazil is hosting 2019 BRICS summit, this time in capital Brasilia from 13th to 14th November.

BRICS brings together five major economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa having 23 per cent of the global GDP and around 17 per cent of the share in world trade.

The 2019 edition of BRICS will be its 11th summit, happening every year since its inception.

The theme of the Summit this year is “Economic Growth for an Innovative Future”.

· ADB approves $300 million for power transmission expansion in Bangladesh

ð The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a 300 million dollar loan for a project to expand power transmission lines in Greater Dhaka and the western zone of Bangladesh. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has 200 million dollars in co-financing to fund transmission lines, substations, and an enterprise resource planning system. The assistance also comprises a 750,000 dollar grant from China’s Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation Fund.

NATIONAL

National Education Day: 11 November

National Education Day is observed on 11th November every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

He was a freedom fighter, scholar and the first Education Minister of independent India.

The day is also seen as an occasion to remember Azad’s contribution in laying the foundations of the education system in the country.

Human Resources Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank will launch SWAYAM 2.0, Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds in New Delhi.

The SWAYAM programme is initiated by the government to achieve the three cardinal principles of Education Policy – access, equity and quality.

SC paves way for construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya

Settling the centuries-old dispute with regards to 2.77 acres of land in Ayodhya, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram, the Supreme Court by a unanimous decision gave the possession of the contested property to a trust that will oversee the construction and management of the Ram temple.

A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also directed the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government to allot five acres of land at an alternate site in Ayodhya to the Sunni Central Waqf Board to construct a mosque.

The bench, comprising Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer, also came to the conclusion that the three-way bifurcation of the disputed property by the Allahabad High Court was “legally unsustainable.”

The disputed site has been given to the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and the centre has been asked to build trust for the construction of the temple.

SC directs allotment of alternative land to Muslims to build a new mosque.

Suitable land of 5 acres to be handed over to Sunni Waqf board at a prominent place for building the mosque.

Centre to frame scheme within 3 months and set up a trust for construction of a temple.

SC dismisses plea of Nirmohi Akhara seeking control of entire disputed land.

1528: Babri Mosque built by Mughal emperor Babur’s commander Mir Baqi

1949: Idol of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita found inside the mosque by unknown persons.

1992: Babri Mosque structure demolished by karsewaks

2010: The Allahabad High Court rules trifurcation of the 2.77-acre disputed land between UP Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla Virajman.

Integrated Check Post of Kartarpur Corridor inaugurated by the Prime Minister at Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kartarpur Corridor and Integrated Check Post.

Now it will be easy to pay obeisance at Darbar Sahib Gurudwara after the opening of Kartarpur Corridor.

The first Jatha of Sikh pilgrims also entered Pakistan through Kartarpur Corridor.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first batch of over 500 Indian pilgrims led by Akal Takhat Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib through the corridor.

MMR of India declines by eight points in one year

Maternal Mortality Ratio, MMR, of India has declined by eight points in one year as per the latest special bulletin on MMR released by the Registrar General of India.

He added that the MMR has declined from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 122 per lakh live births in 2015-17 which is a decline of 6.2 per cent.

This decline is important as it translates to over 2,000 more pregnant women saved annually.

India is on track to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) set for reducing the MMR by 2025 which is five years ahead of the fixed time-line of 2030.

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