17th November Daily Current Affairs – English

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:

1. Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog – B.V.R. Subrahmanyam .
2. US says it will return 1,440 antiquities to India
3. Army Chief – Upendra Dwivedi.
4. The 18th edition of the India-Nepal joint military exercise ‘Surya Kiran’ will be held in Nepal in December this year.
5. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
6. Guyana President Mohammed Irfan Ali.
7. Anurakumara Dissanayake won the presidential election and was sworn in as the new president of Sri Lanka.
8. Donald Trump has appointed Carolyn Levitt as the new White House press secretary.
9. Jack Paul defeated Mike Tyson for the Heavyweight Boxing Championship.
10. 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.