Common Capital of Punjab-Haryana:
- Chandigarh is the common capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana.
- Separated from the united Punjab, Haryana was formed as a separate state in 1966.
- The area was made a Union Territory, with both states claiming the capital city of Chandigarh.
- Chandigarh, the common capital of both the states, is currently under the administration of the Governor of Punjab.
- Both state legislatures and chief secretariats are functioning in the public building complex.
- The Haryana BJP government has taken steps to build a separate Legislative Assembly building in Chandigarh.
- The Governor of the State is Gulab Chand Kataria.
India-Nepal Defence Cooperation:
- Chief of Army Staff Upendra Dwivedi is scheduled to visit the country to further strengthen defence cooperation between India and Nepal.
- President Ramachandra Poudel is going to honour Dwivedi with the title of ‘Nepal Army General’ in continuation of the tradition that has been going on since 1950.
- The Bipin Bell at Muktinath Temple has been established in Nepal in honour of former Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat.
- Nepal is heavily dependent on India for imports.
- 300 Nepali soldiers have received training in special fields in India this year alone.
- Similarly, Indian soldiers also conduct training in Nepal.
- Joint military exercise ‘Surya Kiran’ which is the mainstay of military cooperation between the two countries is held every year.
- Focusing on counter-terrorism, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, the 18th edition of the exercise will be held in Nepal in December this year.
PM Modi’s visit to Nigeria:
- The Prime Minister will participate in the annual summit of the G20 which will be held on November 18 and 19 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- The G20 summit was held in Delhi in September last year under the leadership of India.
- The 55-nation African Union joined the G20 alliance on India’s initiative.
- Leaders of various countries including Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden will also participate in this conference.
- He will also participate in the India-Caribbean Federation summit.
- The ‘Caribbean Community’ has 15 member countries including Guyana, Jamaica and the Bahamas.
- Modi will have the honour of being the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Guyana since 1968.
Excavations at Chengannur:
- 10 excavation pits have been dug and 327 artefacts have been found so far in the archaeological excavations being carried out in Chengannur village of Uthangarai circle, Krishnagiri district.
- “327 artefacts such as fragments of glass and conch bangles, spindles, round chips, iron heads of air ploughs, arrow and spear heads, flint seals, bells and lamps have been found.
- Apart from these, the excavations have found artifacts such as stone axe, bone ripper, hand-made pots used by Neolithic people.
- Chronologically, Mesolithic, Neolithic, transition from Neolithic to Iron Age and early historical period can be identified in Chengannur excavations.
- Chengannur is a special archaeological site bearing traces of Neolithic culture of Tamil Nadu.
November 17: International Students’ Day
- Every year on November 17, International Students’ Day is observed to emphasize the value of education for all students.
November 17: National Seizure Day
- National Epilepsy Awareness Day is observed on November 17.
Important Facts:
- Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog – B.V.R. Subrahmanyam .
- US says it will return 1,440 antiquities to India
- Army Chief – Upendra Dwivedi.
- The 18th edition of the India-Nepal joint military exercise ‘Surya Kiran’ will be held in Nepal in December this year.
- Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
- Guyana President Mohammed Irfan Ali.
- Anurakumara Dissanayake won the presidential election and was sworn in as the new president of Sri Lanka.
- Donald Trump has appointed Carolyn Levitt as the new White House press secretary.
- Jack Paul defeated Mike Tyson for the Heavyweight Boxing Championship.
- In the Tata Steel Chess India Blitz tournament, former world champion Magnus Carlsen in the men’s category and Russia’s Kateryna Lechno in the women’s category have topped the list.