# Pollution in Delhi  # COVID-19

• The air quality of Delhi improved to “poor” category from “severe” a day earlier due to stronger surface winds and less effect of stubble burning in neighbouring states.

• The health minister of Delhi Satyendar jain claimed that the peak of “third wave” of covid-19 is over in Delhi and the positivity rate is decreasing .

• The death rate in Delhi due to covid-19 is 1.29% which is much below of national average of 1.47%.

# Moderna covid-19 vaccine

• Drugmaker moderna on monday announced that its vaccine is 94.5% effective, based on an early look at the results from its large, continuing study.

• Earlier, another vaccine maker Pfizer in collabaration with BioNtech, was the first to announce that its vaccine is more than 90% effective.

• The vaccine by an Indian company Bharat Biotech namely “COVAXIN” is currently undergoing third phase of human trials which is expected to be completed by march 2021.

# winter session of parliament

• The winter session of parliament that usually commences by last week of november is unlikely to be held due to the high number of covid-19 cases in Delhi.

• The cabinet committee on political affairs(CCPA) meets to decide the dates for the session and the annoncement has to be made giving members of parliament atleast two weeks notice.

• The constitution mandates there should not be a gap of six months or more between two session. With the monsoon session of parliament held in september, the government has no constitutional compulsion to hold a winter session. So, winter session is likely to be combined with the budget session which usually begins on February 1.

• As per parliamentary records , there have only been three instances in the past of the winter session not being held- in 1975, 1979 and 1984.

# Rabi season  # wheat sowing

• Overnight rain in Punjab and Haryana will accelerate the wheat sowing process.

• The temperature is likely to drop 4-5 degree celsius which is a good wheat sowing condition.

• According to government data, 39% wheat sowing is already completed in Punjab.

# Made in China

• China’s factory output rose faster than expected (6.5%) in october. Industrial production increased 6.9% in october from a year earlier, data from national statistics bureau showed.

• According to a survey by “Localcircles” which registered 14,000 responses, 71% respondents said that they consciously did not buy “Made in China” items. While 29% said that they had bought Made in China products this festive season.

# Economic recovery

• As per government data, India’s power consumption grew 7.8% to 50.15 billion unit(BU) in the first half of november this year, signalling a rise in economic activity.

• Diesel sales in the country fell 5% in the first half of november from a year earlier but it increased 8% when compared with last month(october).

• According to an estimate, the airlines will start operating at pre covid levels from mid january. It is currently operating at 70% capacity.

 # Bharat petroleum corporation limited

• The government on monday received 3-4 bids for selling out it’s stake in India’s second biggest fuel retailer BPCL.

• However, most of the big bidders like Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance industries, Saudi Aramco, Bharat petroleum (BP), and Total did not make a bid.

# Today in India’s history

• 17 november 1525 – Babur came to India, and conqured it through sindh in his fifth attempt.

• 17 november 1928 – Lala Lajpat Rai died in Lahore after being seriously wounded in the barbarous lathi charge of 30th october. He is referred as the “Lion of Punjab” or “Punjab kesari” and is remembered as freedom fighter, nationalist, educationalist, lawyer, thinker, writer, social reformer, orator and a passionate fighter for the revival of the ancient indian culture and values.

• 17 november 1947 – Rajendra prasad elected as the president of  Indian national congress.