Current Affairs November 2022: General Awareness has long played a pivotal role in almost most of the banking exams. The section is a scoring one and unfortunately the most ignored one too. Aspirants often ignore this section owing to its not-so-important nature. Paying a bit of attention to this section can lead aspirants to scoring in the section as well as the overall paper.

Applicants are advised not to ignore this section. Go through the National as well as International affairs regularly to stay updated. Also, read newspapers and watch the news often. This will give boost your current affair knowledge. We also bring you the top current affairs for November. Go through this article regularly to sharpen your general knowledge skill.

Current Affairs: Defence

IMT TRILAT

• The first edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise (IMT TRILAT), a joint maritime exercise among the Indian, Mozambique and Tanzanian navies, commenced at Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on 27 Oct 22. 
• The Indian Navy was represented by the guided missile frigate, INS Tarkash, a Chetak helicopter and MARCOS (Special Forces).
• The exercise was scheduled over three days from 27 to 29 Oct 2022 and included harbour and sea phases.

The Exercise has Three Broad Objectives: 

1. Capability development to address common threats through training and sharing of best practices
2. Enhancing interoperability
3. Strengthening maritime cooperation

Details:

• As part of the harbour phase, capability-building activities such as Visit, Board, Search and Seizure; small arms training; joint diving operations; damage control and fire fighting exercises; and cross-deck visits were scheduled. 
• The sea phase included boat operations, fleet manoeuvres, Visit, Board, Search and Seizure operations, helicopter operations, small arms firing, formation anchoring and EEZ patrols.

Contribution to the Enhancement of Maritime Security:

• These exercises reflect India’s and the Indian Navy’s commitment to enhancing maritime security and cooperation with maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and promoting SAGAR, Safety and Growth for All in the Region.

Question: 

In the recently conducted first edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise, the Indian Navy was represented by which of the following frigates?

A. INS Tarkash

B. INS Trishul

C. INS Talwar

D. INS Trikand

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Defence

Indian Navy’s Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) 2022

• The fourth edition of the Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) is being conducted by the Naval War College (NWC) at Goa from 31 Oct to 01 Nov 2022. 
• The participants of the Symposium comprise Captains/ Commanders and equivalent-rank officers from Navies/ Maritime forces from friendly foreign countries, viz., Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, besides India.

Rationale: 

• Conceptualised and instituted by the Indian Navy in 2016, the GMS is a forum for fostering collaborative thinking, cooperation and mutual understanding between India and key maritime nations of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). 
• The NWC, Goa, conducts the symposium biennially, and three editions of the event have been organised thus far. 
• With the IOR becoming the focus of the 21st-century strategic landscape, the symposium plays a constructive role in bringing together stakeholders for evolving policies, strategies and implementation mechanisms for comprehensive security in the maritime domain.

Theme:

• The theme of GMS-2022 is “Maritime Security Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region: Converting Common Maritime Priorities into Collaborative Mitigation Frameworks”. 
• The theme is underpinned by the idea of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR) and five principles of Maritime Security, which imply that the prosperity of our region is interlinked with the maritime fate of all IOR littorals.

Question: 

The fourth edition of the Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) is being conducted by

A. Indian Naval Academy

B. Indian Coast Guard Academy

C. Indian Maritime University

D. Naval War College

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Defence

Exercise Garuda-VII

• Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force (FASF) are participating in a bilateral exercise named ‘Garuda VII’ from 26 October to 12 November 2022 at Air Force Station Jodhpur. 

Details about Exercise:

• In this exercise, FASF will participate with four Rafale fighter aircraft, one A-330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and a contingent of 220 personnel. 
• The IAF is participating with Su-30 MKI, Rafale, LCA Tejas and Jaguar fighter aircraft, as well as the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Mi-17 helicopters. 
• The IAF contingent will also include Combat Enabling Assets like Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C. 

Rationale:

• Participation of the IAF and FASF in this exercise will promote professional interaction, exchange of experiences and enhancement of operational knowledge, besides strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
• This joint exercise will provide a platform for both countries to enhance operational capability and interoperability while also sharing best practices.

About Previous Versions of Exercise:

• This is the seventh edition of the bilateral exercise. 
• The first, third and fifth editions were conducted in India in 2003, 2006 and 2014 at Air Force Stations Gwalior, Kalaikunda and Jodhpur, respectively. 
• The second, fourth and sixth editions were conducted in France in 2005, 2010 and 2019.

Question: 

The Indian Air Force is participating in Exercise Garuda-VII with the air force of which country?

A. Indonesia

B. France

C. USA

D. Israel

Answer: B 

Current Affairs: Defence

SIMBEX 2022

• The Indian Navy hosted the 29th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) from 26 to 30 October 2022 at Visakhapatnam.

Details of Exercise:

• SIMBEX-2022 was conducted in two phases – Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam from 26 to 27 October 2022, followed by the Sea Phase in the Bay of Bengal from 28 to 30 October 2022. 
• Two ships from the Republic of Singapore Navy, RSS Stalwart (a Formidable Class Frigate) and RSS Vigilance (a Victory Class Corvette) arrived in Visakhapatnam on 25 October 2022 for participation in the exercise.

About SIMBEX Series of Exercises:

• SIMBEX series of exercises began in 1994 and were initially known as Exercise Lion King. The scope and complexity of the exercise has risen substantially over the past two decades to include advanced naval drills covering a wide spectrum of maritime operations. 

Cooperation between India and Singapore:

• The exercise exemplifies the high level of cooperation between India and Singapore in the maritime domain. 
• It also highlights the commitment and contribution of the two nations towards enhancing maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.

Question: 

The 29th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise ‘SIMBEX’ was conducted in Visakhapatnam recently. By what name was this Exercise known initially?

A. Exercise Seal

B. Exercise Lion King

C. Exercise Elephant code

D. Exercise condor 

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Days and Events

National Unity Day 2022

• Personnel of the CRPF 151 battalion at Kaliveru in Charla mandal organised bike and cycle rallies in the mandal on Sunday in connection with the “Rashtriya Ekta Diwas” (National Unity Day) celebrations to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31.

About the Day: 

• Every year October 31 is dedicated to observing the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. 
• Sardar Vallabhbhai was the first Minister of our country who played a vital role in forming states by bringing the princely states together under the Union of India. 
• Therefore, he is denoted as the man of unity who brought the states together. 
• This year marks the 147^th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. 
• The reason behind the celebration of this day is to make people aware of the ideas of staying together and uplifting society.

History and Significance:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced this day in 2014 with the theme of Run for Unity. 
• Observing this day provides strength and resilience for the nation to hold on to unity, integrity, and security. 
• India, being the land of unity in diversity, has various cultural institutions that promote this day. 
• Even an award is dedicated to Rashtriya Ekta Diwas to inspire the nation with the contributions made by individuals for the country.

Question: 

Every year 31st October is celebrated as National Unity Day and is dedicated to observing the birth anniversary of which of the following leaders?

A. APJ Abdul Kalam

B. Lal Bahadur Shastri

C. Indira Gandhi

D. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Persons and Appointments

Lula da Silva: Becomes Brazil’s New President

• Lula da Silva emerged as Brazil’s new president on Sunday after he defeated incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro in fierce voting, which was a tight race between the two politicians.
• With more than 99 per cent of the votes tallied in the runoff vote, da Silva earned 50.9 per cent votes, and Bolsonaro got 49.1 per cent votes. 
• This was the country’s closest election in over three decades.

Who is Lula da Silva?

• As per AFP, Lula grew up in deep poverty. 
• He was the seventh of eight children born to a family of illiterate farmers in the arid northeastern state of Pernambuco. 
• When he was seven, his family joined a wave of migration to the industrial heartland of Sao Paulo.
• Lula worked as a shoeshine boy and peanut vendor before becoming a metalworker at the tender age of 14. 
• In the 1960s, he lost a finger in a workplace accident. He rose quickly to become head of his trade union and led major strikes in the 1970s that challenged the then-military dictatorship. 
• In 1980, he co-founded the Workers’ Party, standing as its candidate for president nine years later.
• Lula lost three presidential bids from 1989 to 1998, finally succeeding in 2002 and again four years later. This was his sixth presidential campaign. 

Facts:

• Lula’s victory means Brazil is trying to overcome years of turbulence since the reelection of President Dilma Rousseff in 2014.
• The huge challenge that Lula has will be to pacify the country.
• U.S. President Barack Obama called him “the most popular politician on Earth.

Question: 

Who has become the new president of Brazil in the recent elections-2022?

A. Jair Bolsonaro

B. Lula da Silva

C. Dilma Rousseff

D. Alexandre de Moraes

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

1st ASEAN-India Start-up Festival 2022

• The recent launch of the first-ever ASEAN-India Start-up Festival marked the 30th anniversary of ASEAN and India’s relationship. 
• Dr Srivari Chandrasekhar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, inaugurated the Festival in Bogor, Indonesia.
• It was hosted by the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI), in collaboration with the Indian Department of Science and Technology (DST), via the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (Indonesian: Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional, BRIN) and the IIT Kanpur Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC).

What is ASEAN-India Startup Festival?

• The ASEAN-India Startup Festival is a flagship initiative that aims to strengthen cooperation and collaboration in science, technology, and innovation between ASEAN Member States and India, as outlined in the ASEAN-India Partnership Plan of Action for Peace, Progress, and Shared Prosperity (2021-2025).

Rationale:

• This festival provides an opportunity for participating delegates from ASEAN and India to connect with businesses and investors from around the world, and further strengthen cross-border ties with ASEAN countries in the field of science and technology.
• The successful holding of the 1st ASEAN-India Start-up Festival saw opportunities to strengthen ASEAN-India cooperation further to accelerate the startup economy.

What is Pitch Battle?

• Participating startups will compete in a ‘Pitch Battle’ – a pitch deck competition – on the third day of the festival, with a total winning prize of US $7,500. 
• SIIC and BRIN have begun the application process to select 30 Indian and 30 ASEAN startups to participate in the festival.

Question: 

The first-ever ASEAN-India Start-up Festival-2022 was recently held in which of the following cities?

A. Delhi

B. Bogor 

C. Jakarta

D. Jaipur

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Agriculture and Technology

Kalanamak Rice

• Indian Agriculture Research Institute has successfully tested two new dwarf varieties—Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 and Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652—in Uttar Pradesh that give double the yield.

What is Kalanamak Rice?

• Kalanamak, a traditional variety of paddy with a black husk and a strong fragrance, considered a gift from Lord Buddha to the people of the Sravasti when he visited the region after enlightenment, is all set to get a new look and name. 
• Grown in 11 districts of the Terai region of northeastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal, the traditional variety has been prone to lodging, a reason for its low yield.

The Problem and the Solution with Kalanamak Rice:

• Lodging is a condition in which the top of the plant becomes heavy because of grain formation, the stem becomes weak, and the plant falls to the ground.
• Addressing the problem, the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) has successfully developed two dwarf varieties of Kalanamak rice. 
• They have been named Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 and Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652.

GI Tag:

• The traditional Kalanamak rice is protected under the Geographical Indication (GI) tag system. 
• It is recorded in the GI application that Lord Budhha gifted Kalanamak paddy to the people of Sravasti so that they remembered him by its fragrance.

Fact:

• In an effort to promote Uttar Pradesh’s ‘Kalanamak rice’, it has also been given the PM’s award.
• Kalanamak rice is an ODOP product of Siddharthnagar, an aspirational district located in the Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh.
• It is known for its unique aroma and nutritional qualities and is featured in the world’s speciality rice by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UN.

Question: 

Kalanamak rice which is considered a gift from Lord Buddha to the people of the Sravasti majorly grows in which of the following states?

A. Uttar Pradesh

B. Bihar

C. Madhya Pradesh

D. Gujarat

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

Red Mud

• CSIR- Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI) has converted red mud into X-ray shielding tiles in a green and economically viable manner through a ceramic route by adding a certain weight percentage of high Z material and binder with it.

How is this Useful?

• These tiles can be used to build radiation shielding structures in diagnostic X-rays, CT scanner rooms, Cath labs, bone mineral density, dental X-rays, etc., instead of the toxic lead sheet to protect the public from radiation hazards.

What is Red Mud?

• Red mud is the waste generated in the Bayer process of alumina production from bauxite. 
• It is also known as bauxite residue. 
• Red mud is defined as a “High Volume Low Effect Waste”. 
• Nearly 1 to 1.5 tonnes of RM is being generated while producing one tonne of alumina from the bauxite ore through the Bayer process. 
• It is considered to be toxic due to its extreme alkalinity and heavy element leaching. 
• Annually, about 175 million tonnes of red mud have been generated globally and stored in a specially designed clay-lined pond. 
• Among them, India produces nearly 9 million tonnes of red mud every year. 
• The clay-lined ponds often break out and pollute soil, groundwater, and air and become fatal for both humans and wildlife.

Other Usage:

• Noteworthy, only 3-4% of red mud has been utilised by the industries to produce cement, bricks, source of iron ore, etc.
• The beneficial utilisation of red mud is becoming a global issue. 
• Red mud contains 30–55% of Fe₂O₃, which is suitable for attenuating high-energy ionising radiations like X- and gamma rays.

Question:

Red mud is the waste generated in the Bayer process of alumina production from which of the following ores?

A. Cinnabar

B. Magnetite

C. Bauxite

D. Galena

Answer: C

Question: 

Recently CSIR- Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute has converted which of the following bi-product of the Bayer process into X-ray shielding tiles?

A. Feldspars

B. Red mud

C. Gob piles

D. Pyrite 

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Economy

RBI Launches Digital Rupee Pilot Programme

• India’s first Digital Rupee pilot project has been rolled out by the Reserve Bank of India. The Digital Rupee (e₹) will be used for issuing virtual currency for transactions in government securities.

Details:

• The money will be in virtual form, just like other cryptocurrencies, but the Digital Rupee will not be decentralised. It will be regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Digital Rupee will be completely legal and acceptable to the Indian Government.
• The launch is being carried out in two phases. 
• This is the first pilot phase where the Digital Rupee has been launched for wholesale transactions, i.e., for large transactions.

What is Digital Rupee?

• Digital Rupee, also known as Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), is a digital form of currency notes issued by a central bank. 
• It is substantially not different from banknotes, but being digital, it is likely to be easier, faster and cheaper. It also has all the transactional benefits of other forms of digital money.

Where will it be Applicable?

• Digital Rupee will be used for large payments and settlements. 
• According to the RBI, it will be used as the settlement amount on the purchase and sale of government securities, i.e., government bonds. It will also be used for retail transactions soon.

How does it work?

• Similar to checking the bank balance, one can check the balance in the wallet. CBDC will be based on blockchain technology. Individuals will be able to pay it to whomever they want to pay, and it will reach their account.

CBDC – Classified into Two Types:

1. Retail (CBDC-R): Retail CBDC would be potentially available for use by all.
2. Wholesale (CBDC-W): Is designed for restricted access to select financial institutions.

9 Banks Identified for Participation in Digital Rupee’s Wholesale Pilot:

• The nine banks are the State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, IDFC First Bank and HSBC.

Features of Digital Rupee:

1. CBDC will be the digital token of the country
2. It will make business transactions easy
3. Money transfers from smartphones will be quick and hassle-free
4. Digital Rupee will help get rid of the problem of fake currency
5. The cost of printing paper notes will be saved
6. Digital currency will always be there after it is issued
7. CBDC cannot be damaged

Question: 

Consider the following statements about the Central Bank Digital Currency, recently launched by the central bank

1. CBDCs cannot be used for retail transactions
2. It will be used as the settlement amount on the purchase and sale of government securities
3. 15 banks were identified for participation in Digital Rupee’s wholesale pilot

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. Only 1 and 3

B. Only 2

C. Only 1 and 2

D. Only 3

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Report and Indexes

World Energy Outlook Report 2022

• The International Energy Agency (IAE) has recently released its annual World Energy Outlook Report 2022 at a time of the first global energy crisis.
• According to the report, energy demand in India is expected to be the highest globally during the current decade, aided by rapid urbanisation and industrialisation.

Key highlights:

• According to the report, spot prices of natural gas have regularly exceeded USD250 per barrel of oil, and this, coupled with high coal prices, has accounted for 90% of the upward pressure on electricity costs around the world.  
• With electrification being pursued globally, any upward pressure on electricity costs diverts money away from activities which will ultimately reduce carbon emissions and makes electrification more expensive and difficult.
• The report highlights the question of whether the energy crisis will catalyse further action or just serve as a setback to the clean energy transition, with countries like Japan providing major funding for nuclear, low-emission hydrogen and ammonia.

Points Regarding India in the Report:

• India’s energy demand would increase by more than 3 per cent per year in the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS) from 2021 to 2030.
• India became the world’s second‐largest coal producer in 2021 (in energy terms), overtaking Australia and Indonesia,
• Oil demand meets a further quarter of the energy demand growth and rises to nearly 7 million barrels per day by 2030.
• Renewables will meet 30 per cent of demand growth by 2030, notably through a rapid increase in solar PV deployment.

What is the International Energy Agency?

• The International Energy Agency is an autonomous Intergovernmental Organisation established in 1974 in Paris, France.
• Its mission is to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its member countries and beyond. Its mission is guided by four main areas of focus: energy security, economic development, environmental awareness and engagement worldwide.
• India became an Associate member of IEA in March 2017, but it was in engagement with IEA long before its association with the organisation.
• The World Energy Outlook Report is released by the IEA annually.

Question: 

Which of the following reports is not published by the International Energy Agency?

A. Global Energy and CO₂ Status Report

B. World Energy Outlook

C. Energy Technology Perspectives

D. Global Coal Energy Emissions Report

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Geopolitics

Black Sea Grain initiative

• India has said the suspension of the Black Sea Grain initiative, an UN-brokered deal that allowed food exports from Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, is expected to exacerbate further food security, fuel and fertiliser supply challenges faced by the world, particularly in the global South.

What is Black Sea Grain initiative?

• The UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative was signed during a ceremony in Istanbul in July. Under the deal, ships transporting grain from three Ukrainian ports travel along an agreed corridor to markets worldwide.
• It was launched by Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Nations to reintroduce vital food and fertiliser exports from Ukraine to the rest of the world.

Aim of the Initiative:

• The aim is to contribute to the prevention of global hunger, to reduce and address global food insecurity, and to ensure the safety of merchant ships delivering grain and food material.

What is the Deal?

• This UNSC debate comes after Russia requested the meeting following its decision to suspend participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
• Following the Russia-Ukraine Conflict, huge stock of grains built up in silos, with ships unable to secure safe passage to and from Ukrainian ports. 
• The deal allowed exports from three key Ukrainian ports: Chornomorsk, Odesa, and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi. 

Fact: 

• According to UN News, Ukraine and Russia account for roughly 30 per cent of the world’s exported wheat and barley, one-fifth of its maize, and over half of its sunflower oil. 
• Russia is also the world’s largest exporter of fertilisers, accounting for 15 per cent of global exports.

Question: 

Which of the following is not a party of the Black Sea Grain initiative?

A. Türkiye

B. Ukraine 

C. United Nations

D. Poland

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Days and Events

India Water Week-2022

• President of India, Droupadi Murmu, inaugurated the 7th edition of India Water Week (IWW) at the India Expo Centre in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. 
• The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India, is organising the 7th edition of India Water Week (IWW) from 1st to 5th November with the motive to raise awareness, conserve and use water resources in an integrated manner.

Theme: 

• The theme of the 7th India Water Week is ‘Water Security for Sustainable Development and Equity’.

About the Event:

• The five-day-long programme is set to bring together experts, planners and stakeholders from across the globe. 
• The focus is to build dialogue and action plans and address issues for the sustainability of water resources development as well. 
• In addition, it also aims for a  management system in accordance with sustainable development goals.

IWW- 2022, a Multi-Disciplinary Conference:

• A multi-disciplinary dialogue in the form of a conference discussing the theme of “Water Security for Sustainable development and Equity” is one of the major components of the event. 
• A large group of international and national persons of eminence will be imparting their experiences in the field of water management. 
• The latest development and solutions are available for the areas of water management for sustainable development.
• Denmark, Singapore and Finland are the partner countries for India Water Week. 

Question: 

Which of the following is not a partner country for India Water Week-2022, organised recently in Greater Noida UP?

A. Denmark

B. Singapore

C. Finland 

D. Germany

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Dolphins Return to Ganga as Water Quality Improves

• Dolphins have started coming back to the Ganga river with improvement in the quality of its water through the Namami Gange Programme.
• The government recently claimed that with the completion of 23 projects under the ambitious programme started in 2014, the State has successfully stopped flowing more than 460 MLD of sewage into the Ganga in the State. 

Dolphin Population:

• Dolphins have also been seen breeding in Brijghat, Narora, Kanpur, Mirzapur and Varanasi, which is likely to increase their number further in the coming days.
• At present, the population of dolphins in Ganga in Uttar Pradesh is estimated to be around 600.

Improved Water Quality:

• There has been a lot of improvement in dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical demand (BOD) and faecal coliform (FC) parameters as well. The river water quality assessment carried out during 2014-2022 at 20 locations in Uttar Pradesh reveals. 

What is the Namami Gange Programme?

• The Namami Gange programme was launched in 2014 with the objective of rejuvenating Ganga by adopting an integrated approach which focused on the interception and diversion of sewage by tapping the drains flowing into the river Ganga.

Fact:

• The distribution range of the Ganges river dolphins in India covers seven states: Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• The Ganges River Dolphin, also called ‘Susu,’ is the National Aquatic Animal of India. 
• It is one of the National Symbols of India. 
• Gangetic Dolphins are found in the river systems of Ganga, Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Karnaphuli–Sangu in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.

Question: 

The Ganges River Dolphin is the National Aquatic Animal of India is also called as

A. Sangai

B. Susu

C. Gayal

D. Fishing Cat

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Ranipur Tiger Reserve

• Uttar Pradesh’s Ranipur Tiger Reserve has become the 53rd tiger reserve of India. 

Details: 

• The tiger reserve is spread across over 529.36 sq km, of which the core area is 230.32 sq km and the buffer area is 299.05 sq km. 
• Besides this, it is also the fourth tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh. 
• Apart from Ranipur, the state has three tiger reserves– Dudhwa, Pilibhit and Amangarh. 
• Amangarh is a buffer zone of the Jim Corbett National Park and is located in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor. 
• While Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is located in Lakhimpur, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is in Pilibhit. 
• The UP government also approved the notification of Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. 

About Ranipur Tiger Reserve:

• Currently, the Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary in the Chitrakoot district has no tigers of its own. However, officials have often spotted pugmarks in the area.
• As per a report by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), RWS is an important corridor for the movement of tigers.
• Ranipur tiger reserve is covered by northern tropical dry deciduous forests and is home to mammals like megafauna tiger, leopard, bear, spotted deer, sambhar, and chinkara, among others. 
• As per the state government, establishing this tiger reserve will lead to the opening of eco-tourism in the area and the creation of immense employment opportunities.

Question: 

Which of the following Tiger reserves is not located in Uttar Pradesh?

A. Ranipur

B. Dudhwa

C. Amangarh

D. Bandhavgarh

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Environment

HARIT Aaykar Initiative to Create Micro Forests

• The CBDT recently concluded the Special Campaign 2.0 on a high note by launching HARIT Aaykar (Hariyali Achievement Resolution by Income Tax department) initiative on 31st October 2022 by planting and inaugurating the Aaykar Aranya, a series of micro forests near Attari on the India-Pakistan border.

About the Initiative:

• Under this initiative, the Department resolves to increase the green cover by planting trees and creating micro-forests in and around Income Tax Department’s buildings and other public areas. 

What are Micro Forests?

• A micro-forest is a small, planted forest that maximises tree density and biodiversity.
• A micro-forest is an urban sanctuary, a dense pocket of vegetation in the city or the suburbs. 
• It contains trees, shrubs, climbers, and groundcovers densely planted to create a mini-ecosystem that has a cooling effect and dramatically improves the amenity of the area.
• The Miyawaki method, which Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki devised in the 1980s, is a technique to create micro forests over small plots of land.

Question: 

The HARIT Aaykar initiative recently launched by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is associated with which of the following

A. Black Money

B. Micro forests

C. Sustainable Agriculture

D. Money Laundering

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

International Open Access Week-2022

• CSIR-NIScPR recently celebrated International Open Access Week-2022.

What is International Open Access Week?

• International Open Access Week is celebrated worldwide to create awareness about the open access scholarly publishing among researchers and publishers. 
• It is celebrated globally during the last full week of October. 
• International Open Access Week is organised by the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) in partnership with the Open Access Week Advisory Committee.
• It was founded in 2008 by SPARC and partners in the student community.
• This year’s theme seeks to encourage connection and collaboration among the climate movement and the international open community.

What is Done in the Whole Week?

• Different outreach activities are organised, such as talks, seminars, symposia, or the announcement of open access mandates or other milestones in open access, in order to highlight the various aspects and opportunities of Open Access Publishing.
• In the year 2022, International Open Access Week entered its fifteenth year of celebration.

What is CSIR-NIScPR?

• CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) was formed following the merger of CSIR-NISCAIR and CSIR-NISTADS.
• CSIR-NIScPR is one of India’s largest Open Access publishers, which publishes 15 Diamond Open Access scholarly journals.
• CSIR-NIScPR neither charges any publication fee to authors nor any subscription fee to the readers. 

Question: 

International Open Access Week is celebrated in which of the following month of the year?

A. April

B. July

C. October

D. December

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Defence

Roadmap to Develop Mangarh Dham as Tribal Destination

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently called for preparing a roadmap to develop Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan’s Banswara district as a tribal destination with a prominent identity at the global level.
• Mangarh Dham, situated near the Rajasthan-Gujarat border, is known for the massacre of tribals by the British Indian Army in 1913.

What and Where is Mangarh Dham/Hillock?

• Located amid picturesque Bhil villages on a hill at the far end of southern Rajasthan, Mangarh Dham is split between Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• It is a site of a tribal uprising where a massacre of over 1500 Bhil tribaldom fighters occurred in 1913. 

Who are the Bhils?

• The word Bhil is derived from “Veel”, which means “bow” in the Dravidian language.
• Bhils are commonly referred to as Rajasthan’s bowmen. They are India’s most widely dispersed tribal communities.
• They are South Asia’s largest tribe.
• Ghoomar is a traditional folk dance of the Bhil tribe.

About the National Monuments Authority:

• Established under the Ministry of Culture in accordance with the requirements of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains AMASR (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010.
• The NMA has been delegated specific tasks for conserving and preserving monuments and sites, including controlling the banned and restricted areas surrounding centrally designated monuments.

Question: 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently called for preparing a roadmap to develop Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan’s Banswara  is associated with which of the following Tribes?

A. Gonds

B. Bhils

C. Santhal

D. Munda

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

Smiling Sun

• Recently, the NASASun Twitter handle shared an image of the sun seemingly ‘smiling’. Captured by the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory, the image has dark patches on the sun’s surface resembling eyes and a smile. 
• NASA explained that the patches are called coronal holes, which can be seen in ultraviolet light but are typically invisible to our eyes.

What Are Coronal Holes?

• These are regions on the sun’s surface from where fast solar wind gushes out into space. 
• Because they contain little solar material, they have lower temperatures and thus appear much darker than their surroundings. 
• Coronal holes can last between a few weeks to months.
• The holes are not a unique phenomenon, appearing throughout the sun’s approximately 11-year solar cycle. 

Significance of Coronal Holes:

• While it is unclear what causes coronal holes, they correlate to areas on the sun where magnetic fields soar up and away without looping back down to the surface as they do elsewhere.
• Scientists study these fast solar wind streams because they sometimes interact with the earth’s magnetic field, creating what’s called a geomagnetic storm, which can expose satellites to radiation and interfere with communications signals.
• This phenomenon showed the sun spewing vast solar wind streams, capable of triggering a mild solar storm on earth.

What Happens During a Geomagnetic Storm?

• Geomagnetic storms relate to earth’s magnetosphere – the space around a planet that is influenced by its magnetic field. 
• When a high-speed solar stream arrives at the earth, in certain circumstances, it can allow energetic solar wind particles to hit the atmosphere over the poles. 
• Such geomagnetic storms cause a major disturbance of the magnetosphere as there is a very efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding earth.

Question:

Recently, NASA shared an image of the “smiling sun”, which is a phenomenon associated with 

A. Solar prominences

B. Solar flares

C. Radio wave flux

D. Coronal holes

Answer: D

Current Affairs: National

North India’s First Hyper-Scale Data Center

• Uttar Pradesh CM recently inaugurated north India’s first hyper-scale data centre Yotta. Yotta D1 has been built at the cost of ₹5,000 crores and spread over an area of 3,00,000 square feet at the upcoming Data Centre Park in Greater Noida.

What Is a Data Centre?

• Data Centre is a dedicated secure space within a centralised location where computing and networking equipment is concentrated for the purpose of collecting, storing, processing, distributing or allowing access to large amounts of data. 

What Is This Used for?

• It provides Network infrastructure (connects servers, etc., to end-user locations), Storage infrastructure (to store data), and Computing resources (to provide processing, memory, etc., that drive applications).

Rationale:

• These data centres are required to protect digital sovereignty in the connected world.
• The data centre will increase the data storage capacity of the country, which until now stood at 2%. 
• This is despite India having 650 million internet users in the world from India, using 20 per cent of data.

Question: 

North India’s first hyper-scale data centre was recently inaugurated in which of the following cities?

A. Delhi

B. Noida

C. Chandigarh

D. Shimla

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Technology

Lab Grown Diamonds

• Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal appreciated the Gujarat Government for spearheading several wide-ranging initiatives to promote the Lab Grown Diamonds Sector.

What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

• The only difference between lab-grown and natural diamonds is that instead of digging the earth, it is created in a lab under a machine. 
• Lab-made diamonds are developed from a carbon seed placed in a microwave chamber and superheated into a glowing plasma ball. 
• The process creates particles that crystallise into diamonds in weeks.

Types:

• There are two types of lab-grown diamonds–CVD and HPHT. 
• India particularly specialises and leads in the chemical vapour decomposition (CVD) technology certified as the purest type of diamond.

Facts:

• Nine out of 10 diamonds in the world are estimated to be polished in Surat. Currently, 25-30 per cent of diamond polishing units in Surat service lab-grown diamonds.
• India alone witnessed a sharp rise in lab-grown diamond exports worth $443 million, which rose 102 per cent year-on-year.

Question:

Which of the following in India is the largest producer of Lab Grown Diamonds?

A. Mumbai

B. Ahmedabad

C. Surat

D. Pune

Answer: C

Current Affairs: International

WHO Releases First-Ever List of Fungal Infections

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published a report highlighting the first-ever list of fungal “priority pathogens” – a catalogue of the 19 fungi that represent the greatest threat to public health.

What Is Fungal Priority Pathogens List?

• The FPPL is the first global effort to systematically prioritise fungal pathogens, considering the unmet research and development (R&D) needs and the perceived public health importance. 
• It includes 19 fungi that represent the greatest threat to human health. The UN body warned that some strains are increasingly drug-resistant and are growing at an alarming rate.
• Emerging from the shadows of the bacterial antimicrobial resistance pandemic, fungal infections are growing and are ever more resistant to treatments, becoming a public health concern worldwide.

Three Priority Categories:

• The WHO FPPL list is divided into three categories: critical, high and medium priority.

1. The critical group includes Candida auris, which is highly drug-resistant and has caused a number of outbreaks in hospitals worldwide, as well as Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Candida albicans.
2. The high group includes a number of other fungi from the Candida family as well as others such as Mucorales, a group containing the fungi that cause mucormycosis or “black fungus”, an infection which rose rapidly in seriously ill people–particularly in India–during COVID-19.
3. The medium group lists a number of other fungi, including Coccidioides spp and Cryptococcus gattii.

Who Is at Greater Risk?

• The invasive forms of these fungal infections often affect severely ill patients and those with significant underlying immune system-related conditions. 
• Populations at the greatest risk of invasive fungal infections include those with cancer, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, chronic respiratory disease, and post-primary tuberculosis infection.

Question: 

WHO releases the first-ever list of fungal infections divided into how many priority categories?

A. One

B. Two 

C. Three 

D. Four

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Agriculture

Glyphosate

• The Centre has officially restricted the use of the widely used herbicide, glyphosate, fearing risk to human and animal health. 
• From now, glyphosate will be applied only through pest control operators (PCOs).
• PCOs are licensed to use deadly chemicals for treating pests such as rodents. 

What is Glyphosate?

• Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide and crop desiccant. 
• It is an organophosphorus compound, specifically a phosphonate, which acts by inhibiting the plant enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase. 
• It is used to kill weeds, especially annual broadleaf weeds and grasses that compete with crops.
• Glyphosate has been majorly used in tea plantations in India, where it is applied to control herbicides. The chemical is also used on non-crop areas to control unwanted growth.
• These include areas alongside irrigation channels, railway sidings, fallow land, bunds, farm borders, parks, industrial and military premises, airports, power stations, etc.
• The use of glyphosate rose manifold once Ht BT cotton started getting cultivated illegally in India.

Fact:

• Glyphosate is already banned in some countries.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer published a study in 2015 that said glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans”.

Question: 

The Indian government has officially restricted the use of which of the following widely used herbicides, fearing risk to human and animal health?

A. 2, 4-D

B. Carfentrazone

C. Glyphosate 

D. Durango

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Amur Falcon Hunting Banned in Manipur

• The hunting, killing and sale of Amur falcons have been banned by the district magistrates of Tamenglong and Senapati districts in Manipur, with the orders issued on 29th October.

About Amur Falcons?

• The migratory birds, which summer in Siberia, Mongolia and East China between May and September, arrive in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh in October, with over two lakh coming to Manipur alone. 
• At the end of November, they leave for their winter home in South Africa, where they stay till April.
• Locally this bird is known as Akhuipuina.

Laws Related to The Hunting of Migratory Birds:

• The Manipur Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: “The Act has made it clear that these migratory birds cannot be hunted, sold or killed. Those who disobey it will be pulled up”.
• The migratory bird is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and included under Schedule IV.
• Hunting of the birds or possessing their meat is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to ₹5,000.
• IUCN – Least Concern

Question: 

Which of the following northeastern states recently banned hunting the migratory Amur falcons?

A. Arunachal Pradesh

B. Manipur

C. Assam

D. Tripura

Answer: B

Current Affairs: National

Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Asia Pacific Conference

• Goa hosts the three-day Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Conference from 1st to 3rd November 2022.  

Detail: 

• Across the three days, delegates and exhibitors from the Asia Pacific region and beyond will be discussing and collaborating on the key issues that will help shape the future of Asia’s aviation industry and turn the Complete Air Traffic System(CATS) Global Council’s vision for the skies of 2045 into a reality. 
• Conference also covers digitalisation and automation as key enablers in delivering CANSO’s vision for future skies. 
• Delegates will also be able to view first-hand some of the cutting-edge technology that will help modernise Air Traffic Management in the region.

Theme:

• “Think Global, Collaborate Regional, Accomplish Local”.

What Is CANSO?

• CANSO – the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation – is the global voice of the air traffic management (ATM) industry and is shaping our future skies. 
• Its members support over 90% of the world’s air traffic and include air navigation service providers, airspace users and operators, manufacturers and aviation industry suppliers.
• CANSO looks at global Air Traffic Management performance by connecting the industry to share knowledge, expertise and innovation.

About the Airports Authority of India:

• The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is responsible for the provision of Air Navigation Services over the Indian continental airspace and adjoining oceanic airspace, delegated to India by ICAO. 

Question: 

The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Conference for 2022 is being organised in which state/UT?

A. Delhi

B. Goa

C. Pondicherry

D. Rajasthan

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Defence

Ballistic Missile Defence Interceptor

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful maiden flight-test of Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) interceptor AD-1 missile with a large kill altitude bracket from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on November 02, 2022.
•  The flight-test was carried out with the participation of all BMD weapon system elements located at different geographical locations.

About The Missile:

• The AD-1 (Air Defence) is a long-range interceptor missile designed for both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception of long-range ballistic missiles as well as aircraft. 
• The missile is propelled by a two-stage solid motor and equipped with an indigenously developed advanced control system and a navigation and guidance algorithm to precisely guide the vehicle to the targets that move at very high speeds.

Facts:

• The development of anti-ballistic missiles is said to have started by the DRDO around the 2000s in view of the development of ballistic assets by Pakistan and China. 
• Phase-1 of the programme is said to have been completed towards the end of the 2010s and consisted of the advanced air defence systems and air defence systems based on the Prithvi missile.
• The second phase, according to sources, focuses on the development of anti-ballistic defence systems like the US’s Theatre High-Altitude Area Defence system, which can neutralise intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
• The AD-II, capable of neutralising missiles of even higher ranges, is also said to be under development.

Question: 

AD-1 (Air Defence) missile, developed and tested by DRDO, is a/an

A. Cruise missile

B. Ballistic missile

C. Anti Tank missile

D. Anti-ship missile

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Economy

Cabinet Approves Nutrient-Based Subsidy Rates

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of the “Department of Fertilizers” for per kilogram rates of Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) for various nutrients, that is, Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potash (K) and Sulphur (S) for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilisers for Rabi Season – 2022-23.

What is a nutrient based subsidy?

• All Non-Urea based fertilisers are regulated under NBS Scheme.
• The nutrient-based subsidy scheme has been implemented since April 2010.
• Under the NBS policy, a fixed rate of subsidy (in ₹ per kg basis) is announced on nutrients, namely Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P), Potash (K) and Sulphur (S) by the government on an annual basis.
• The per kilogram subsidy rates on the nutrients are converted into per tonne subsidy on the various P&K fertilisers covered under the policy.
• NBS policy intends to increase the consumption of P&K fertilisers so that the optimum balance (N:P:K=4:2:1) of NPK fertilisation is achieved.
• It is implemented by the “Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers”.

Benefits:

• This will enable the smooth availability of all P&K fertilisers to the farmers during Rabi 2022-23 at the subsidised / affordable prices of fertilisers and support the agriculture sector.  
• The volatility in the international prices of fertilisers and raw materials has been primarily absorbed by the Union Government.

Financial Outlay:

• The subsidy approved by the cabinet for the NBS Rabi-2022 (from 01.10.2022 to 31.03.2023) will be ₹51,875 crores, including support for indigenous fertiliser (SSP) through freight subsidy.

Question:

NBS policy intends to increase the consumption of P&K fertilisers so that the optimum balance of NPK is achieved in the ratio of

A. 3:2:1

B. 4:3:1

C. 4:3:2

D. 4:2:1

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Reports and Indexes

Performance Grading Index

• The Ministry of Education recently released the Performance Grading Index (PGI) for 2020-21, an evidence-based, comprehensive analysis of school education systems across States and Union Territories. 

About PGI:

• It is a unique index for evidence-based, comprehensive analysis of school education systems across States and UTs.
• The PGI structure comprises 1,000 points across 70 indicators grouped into two categories –Outcomes, and governance management. 
• These categories are further divided into five domains, viz., Learning Outcomes (LO), Access (A), Infrastructure & Facilities (IF), Equity (E) & Governance Process (GP).

Objective:

• The prime objective of PGI is to promote evidence-based policymaking and highlight course correction to ensure quality education for all.

Major Outcomes:

• As per the index, a total of seven States and Union Territories, namely  Kerala, Punjab, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh, have attained Level-2 grading in 2020-21. 
• Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh are the new entrants with the highest achieved level. 
• Union Territory Ladakh has made significant improvements in PGI from Level-8 to Level-4 in 2020-21. 
• PGI 2020-21 classified the States and UTs into ten grades, of which the highest achievable Grade is Level-1 for the states scoring more than 950 points out of a total of 1000 points.   
• The lowest grade is Level-10, which is for a score below 551.

Question:

Performance Grading Index (PGI) for States/UTs for 2020-21 is recently released by

A. Ministry of Personnel and Training

B. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

C. Ministry of Education

D. Ministry of Women and Child development

Answer: C

Current Affairs: National

India’s First Floating Financial Literacy Camp

• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), established under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication with 100% equity owned by the Government of India, recently conducted India’s First Floating Financial Literacy Camp with an initiative called “Niveshak Didi” to promote Financial Literacy “By the women, for the women”, in Srinagar, J&K.

What Is Niveshak Didi Initiative?

• Niveshak Didi, a female dakiya having a deep social connection to rural masses, will be able to collaborate and resolve their queries in a comfortable environment, at the same time enhancing financial awareness, especially for the women.
• It is based on the ideology of women for women, and as a rural area, women feel more comfortable sharing their queries with a female herself.
• It is launched by IPPB in collaboration with the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the aegis of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).

How This Will Lead to Financial Literacy

• The session covered topics ranging from banking and financial products, the importance of joining the mainstream financial services offered by regulated entities and protection against various types of risks involved with investments and measures of fraud prevention.
• Through Niveshak Didi, IPPB will attain the next milestone surpassing the challenges faced by rural masses in terms of language and their basic understanding of financial products and services.

Question: 

Which of the following states or UT recently conducted India’s first floating financial literacy camp

A. Andhra Pradesh

Assam

Jammu and Kashmir

Goa

Answer: C

Current Affairs: National

Indian Army, TATA Power Collaborate to Set Up EV Charging Points

• The Indian Army has collaborated with Tata Powers to set up 16 charging stations for Electric Vehicles (EVs) in line with their “Go Green Initiative”. 
• The charging stations have been set up at various locations in Delhi Cantonment.

About The Initiative:

• This is a unique initial step by the Indian Army and TATA Power towards the implementation of the Government of India’s National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) and the Indian Army’s ‘Go-Green’ Initiative.

How Will This Work?

• Through its EZ charge smartphone app, which is available across all platforms, TATA Power has made it simple and user-friendly for customers to access the charging stations. 
• It provides a number of features that give EV users a smooth EV charging experience, such as e-payment and the location of the closest EV charging station. T
• His collaboration between the Indian Army and TATA Power will help the country’s push for sustainable mobility even further.

Army to Go Electric:

• In October this year, the Indian Army disclosed its plan to induct Electric Vehicles in Ladakh. 
• According to Army officials, approximately 25% of light vehicles, 38% of buses and 48% of motorcycles of selected units were to be changed to EVs with adequate charging infrastructure. 
• Reportedly, the Army will also equip a few units in peace stations with EVs depending on the necessity and employability of the vehicles.

Question:

Indian Army and TATA Power recently collaborated and set up EV charging points in which of the following states/UT?

A. Jammu and Kashmir

B. Delhi

C. Sikkim

D. Rajasthan

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

World Heritage Glaciers to Disappear by 2050: UNESCO

• A third of global glaciers located at World Heritage sites will disappear by 2050, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) warned recently.

Major Findings:

• A UNESCO report found that glaciers in a third of UN World Heritage sites will melt within three decades.
• Mount Kilimanjaro’s last glaciers will vanish, as will glaciers in the Alps and Yosemite National Park in the US.
• The authors say they will melt regardless of the world’s actions to combat climate change.
• Vanishing glaciers threaten Europe’s water supply.
• Ice and sled-dogs disappear as Greenland warms up.
• The world’s glaciers are melting at a faster pace.

Some World Heritage Sites Listed As Having Glaciers That Will Disappear by 2050 Are:

• Hyrcanian Forests (Iran)
• Durmitor National Park (Montenegro)
• Yellowstone National Park (United States of America)
• Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest (Kenya)
• Kilimanjaro National Park (Tanzania)
• Yosemite National Park (United States of America)
• The Dolomites (Italy)
• Virgin Komi Forests (Russia)

Recommendations:

• The report stated that only rapid action to reduce emission levels would prevent the glaciers from completely melting and save the unique biodiversity that depends on them.
• It recommended that local governments make glaciers a priority area for policymaking. It also called for increased monitoring and research focusing on glaciers.

Question: 

Which global organisation recently warned that a third of global glaciers at World Heritage sites will disappear by 2050?

A. United Nations Environment Programme

B. World Meteorological Organization

C. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

D. Greenpeace

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Person in news

Ela Bhatt

• Ela Bhatt, prominent Gandhian and the founder of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), passed away at a hospital in Ahmedabad on 2nd November 2022. She was 89 years old.

About Ela Bhatt and Achievements:

• Born in Ahmedabad in 1933, she studied law and joined the legal cell of the Majur Mahajan Sangh or the Textile Labour Association (TLA).
• Bhatt founded SEWA in 1972, which has since worked to empower women in various ways.
• She was also a Member of the Rajya Sabha and the Planning Commission of India in the 1980s.
• She served as a World Bank advisor and addressed the UN General Assembly.

Awards: 

1. Padma Shri
2. Padma Bhushan
3. Ramon Magsaysay Award 
4. Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

What Is SEWA?

• Self-Employed Women’s Association, meaning “service” in several Indian languages, is a trade union based in Ahmedabad, India, that promotes the rights of low-income, independently employed female workers. 
• With over 1.6 million participating women, SEWA is the largest organisation of informal workers in the world. 
• Founded: 1972
• Headquarters: Ahmedabad
• Affiliation: International Trade Union Confederation

Question: 

Ela Bhatt, a prominent Gandhian who recently passed away, was the founder of which of the following organisations for women’s empowerment?

A. Helpage India

B. SEWA

C. Durga Vahini

D. Bharatiya Mahila Bank

Answer: B

Current Affairs: National

Project Arunank of Border Road Organisation

• Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh recently flagged off the dispatch of a 1,600-metric tonne processed steel slag railway rack from Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur plant to the Border Road Organisation’s (BRO) ‘Project Arunank’ in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.

About The Project:

• The project is being carried out by CSIR-CRRI along with Tata Steel and BRO, in which processed steel slag aggregate—a by-product of steel manufacturing—will be used in the construction of steel slag road stretches in strategic areas.

Facts:

• The first steel slag road in India was built in Surat under the ‘Waste to Wealth’ initiative.
• India is currently the world’s second-largest producer of crude steel, producing over 118 million tonnes of crude steel. 
• Of this, around 20% of steel slag is generated as solid waste, and its disposal is a big challenge to steel industries. 
• This solid waste will now be used in road construction. “This project is a perfect example of ‘waste to wealth’”.
• Project Arunank was set up in 2008.

Question: 

Under the ‘Project Arunank’, the processed steel slag is used to build a border road by Border Road Organisation recently made such road in which of the following States/UT?

A. Jammu and Kashmir

B. Rajasthan

C. Arunachal Pradesh

D. Uttarakhand

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Days and Events

The International Day for Biosphere Reserves

• The ‘International Day for Biosphere Reserves’, which started in 2022, was observed on 3rd November.  

What are Biosphere Reserves?

• Biosphere Reserves (BRs) are representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over a large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof and representative examples of bio-geographic zones/provinces. UNESCO has introduced the designation ‘Biosphere Reserve’ for natural areas to minimise conflict between development and conservation.
• A site that must contain an effectively protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation.
• The management authority to ensure the involvement/cooperation of local communities to bring a variety of knowledge and experiences to link biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development while managing and containing the conflicts.

Structure and Functions of Biosphere Reserves:

• Core Zone: The core zone must contain suitable habitats for numerous plant and animal species, including higher-order predators and may contain centres of endemism. 
• Buffer Zone: The buffer zone adjoins or surrounds the core zone, and uses and activities are managed in this area in ways that help in the protection of the core zone in its natural condition. 
• Transition Zone: The transition area is the outermost part of a biosphere reserve. This includes settlements, croplands, managed forests and areas for intensive recreation and other economic uses and characteristics of the region.

What is The World Network of Biosphere Reserves?

• The World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) was formed in 1971 as a backbone for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and living in harmony with nature. 
• There are now 738 properties in 134 countries, including 12 in India, four in Sri Lanka, and three in the Maldives.

Facts:

• The Hurulu Biosphere Reserve in Sri Lanka was South Asia’s first biosphere reserve.
• Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal are yet to have biospheres.
• Nilgiris stretching over Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, was the first biosphere reserve of India designated by UNESCO in 2000.
• Spain has a maximum of 53 biosphere reserves.
• Governments alone decide which areas to nominate. Before approval by UNESCO, the sites are externally examined.

Question: 

Consider the following statements:

1. The ‘International Day for Biosphere Reserves’, which started in 2022, was observed on 3rd November. 
2. Spain has a maximum of 53 biosphere reserves.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. Only 1

B. Only 2

C. Both 1 and 2

D. None of the above

Answer: C

Current Affairs: National

UIDAI Tops Grievance Redressal Index Third Month in a Row

• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has been again placed at the top amongst all ‘Group A Ministries, Departments and Autonomous Bodies’ for resolving public grievances in the rankings report published by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) for the month of October 2022. 
• This is the third month in a row that UIDAI has topped the rankings.

Chatbot Aadhar Mitra:

• In order to further enhance residents’ experience, UIDAI has also launched its new AI/ML-based Chatbot, Aadhaar Mitra. 
• The new chatbot comes with enhanced features like – checking Aadhaar enrollment/update status, tracking of Aadhaar PVC card status, information on enrollment centre location, etc. Residents can even register their grievances and track them using Aadhaar Mitra.
• A resident-centric coordinated approach is enabling UIDAI to resolve nearly 92% of CRM Grievances within a week.

What Is The Grievance Redressal Index?

• The Grievance Redressal Index has been published by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
• It has been developed based on Quality and Timely Disposal of grievances.
• The aim is to assist the Ministries/Departments in reviewing and streamlining the Grievance Redressal System and have a comparative assessment with other Ministries/Departments.
• It has two dimensions: Timely Disposal of Grievances and Quality Disposal of Grievances.

Question:

Consider the following statements about the Grievance Redressal Index-2022

1. Till the month of October 2022, UIDAI has topped the rankings for the third month in a row.
2. The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) publishes this Index.
3. It has been developed based on Quality and Timely Disposal of grievances.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. Only 1 and 2

B. Only 2 and 3

C. Only 1 and 2

D. All are correct.

Answer: D

Current Affairs: National

Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference-2022

• The 15th edition of the Urban Mobility India Conference and Expo, organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, was held in Kochi recently. 
• Senior officers from the central and state governments, policymakers, managing directors of metro rail companies and international experts were among those who participated in the three-day conference.

Aim: 

• The annual event is aimed at building capabilities at the city and state levels and addressing the problems associated with urban transport.

Theme: 

• It focuses on the theme, ”Azadi @75–Sustainable Atmanirbhar Urban Mobility”.

Fact:

• The event will lay down guidelines for developing equitable and sustainable urban transport systems for all sections of society.
• The present levels of urban mobility are generating a crisis situation characterised by high levels of congestion, environmental pollution and traffic fatalities.

Question:

The 15th edition of the Urban Mobility India Conference was recently organised in which of the following States/UT?

A. Haryana

B. Arunachal Pradesh

C. Kerala

D. Tamil Nadu

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

UNFCCC-COP 27

• Egypt is hosting the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Sharm El-Sheikh in November 2022. 
• The summit, popularly called COP, is a conference to discuss future roadmaps for sustainability and managing climate change.
• COP 27 was originally expected to take place from 8–20 November 2021.
• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, COP 26 was rescheduled from November 2020 to November 2021. 
• As a result, COP 27 is taking place from 6–18 November.

What Is The UN Climate Summit-UNFCCC?

• The United Nations Climate Change Conferences are yearly conferences held in the framework of the UNFCCC. 
• The summits are held for governments to agree on steps to limit global temperature rises. They are referred to as COPs, which stands for “Conference of the Parties”.
• These formal meetings majorly assess progress in dealing with climate change. Ever since the conference’s first iteration in Berlin in 1995, the UN climate summit continues to rotate annually among the five UN classified regions: Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, central and eastern Europe, and western Europe.

History and Significance of COPS:

• In 1992, the UN organised the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the UNFCCC was adopted, and its coordinating agency—what we know now as the UN Climate Change secretariat—was put into place.
• During these meetings, nations have negotiated various extensions of the original treaty to establish legally binding limits on emissions, for example, the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015, in which all countries of the world agreed to step up efforts to try and limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures, and boost climate action financing.
• In this treaty, nations agreed to “stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent dangerous interference from human activity on the climate system”. So far, 197 different parties have signed it.

What Is The Agenda of COP27?

• COP27 will build on the outcomes of COP26 to deliver action on an array of issues critical to tackling the climate emergency – from urgently reducing greenhouse gas emissions, building resilience, and adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change to delivering on the commitments to finance climate action in developing countries.
• About 45,000 registered COP27 participants representing parties, UN and regional organisations, businesses, and the scientific community are expected to arrive for the summit.

India at COP 27:

• India has said that it will stress the action in climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building at the summit. 
• The Indian delegation to COP27 will be led by Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav.

Question: 

Which country is hosting the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)?

A. Brazil

B. Egypt

C. South Africa

D. India

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

World’s Longest Passenger Train

• In a feat, Switzerland has created a world record by operating the longest passenger train on the planet.
• The world’s longest electric passenger train is designed to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the country’s first train system. 
• The longest passenger train–it ran in the Swiss Alps with 100 coaches.
• The longest train ran through the UNESCO World Heritage Site for 24.9 km. 
• According to the International Rail Journal, the RhB took nearly eight months to prepare this gala spectacle. 

Highlights of The World’s Longest Train:

• The Swiss transport company, Rhaetian Railway (RhB), operated the train on the Bernina/Albula trail from Preda to Bergen.
• The length of the train is 1.9 km!
• There are 100 wagons and 25 four-car Capricorn EMUs (Electric Multiple Units).
• During its journey, the train crossed 22 tunnels and 48 bridges.
• Switzerland’s Albula Line is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The train weighed a massive 2990 tons.
• The train managed to maintain an average speed of 30-35 km per hour.

Question: 

Which country has recently created a world record by operating the longest passenger train on the planet?

A. USA

B. Australia

C. Switzerland

D. Germany

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Days and Events

National Cancer Awareness Day 2022

• The National Cancer Awareness Day in India is observed on 7 November to raise awareness about the deadly disease, Cancer.
• India reports around 1.1 million new cancer cases every year. Moreover, about two-thirds of these cases are diagnosed later when treatment becomes difficult.

Rationale:

• National Cancer Awareness Day focuses on creating awareness of early diagnosis, precautions and treatment of cancer. 
• India began the National Cancer Control Programme in 1975, focusing on establishing cancer treatment facilities in the nation. 
• In 1984-85, the vision changed to focus on the early detection and prevention of cancer.

National Cancer Awareness Day: History

• National Cancer Awareness Day was first announced by the then Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan, in September 2014. 
• This day coincides with the birth anniversary of the Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie, a scientist born in 1867.
• She discovered radium and polonium, which are known as the two most significant contributors to the fight against cancer. 
• Marie Curie’s work and discovery led to the development of nuclear energy radiotherapy that helps with cancer treatments.

National Cancer Awareness Day: Significance

• Cancer is one of the biggest causes of death all across the country, as stated by the World Health Organization report of 2020. 
• The primary cancer types are lung, colon, rectum, liver, breast, and stomach. According to an estimate, a woman dies every 8 minutes in India due to cervical cancer. 
• However, this damage can be curtailed through early detection and timely treatment.

Question: 

The National Cancer Awareness Day in India is observed on which of the following days? 

A. 28 February

B. 7 November

C. 12 June

D. 28 December

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Defence

26th Malabar Multilateral Exercise 2022

• The Navy chiefs of India, Australia, Japan and the US, the four countries which comprise the Quadrilateral (Quad) grouping, met in Japan on 5 November 2022 and exchanged views on “further enhancing interoperability” in future editions of the Malabar multilateral naval exercise. 

Details: 

• Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kamorta arrived at Yokosuka, Japan on 2nd November to participate in the International Fleet Review (IFR) scheduled to be held at Sagami Bay on 6th Nov 2022.
• The warships will also be deployed in the four-nation Malabar exercise scheduled to take place on 8th November. Naval ships from Australia, Japan and the US will participate in the 26th edition of the exercise.

What Is Malabar Exercise?

• Malabar Exercise is a multilateral war-gaming naval exercise that includes simulated war games and combat manoeuvres, demonstrating the synergy, coordination and interoperability among the participating navies.
• It started in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between the navies of India, and the US conducted every year.
• Break 1996 to 2002 in the aftermath of India’s nuclear tests.
• First time Japan, Australia (and Singapore)- participated in 2007.
• In 2008, the government in Australia changed, and it stopped participating [Singapore has participated only once]. Australia re-joined in 2020, making its second appearance.
• Since 2014, Japan has been a regular participant; it joined as a permanent member in 2015, making it a trilateral.
• Current Malabar will witness high-tempo exercises between participating platforms in multiple domains. Complex surface, sub-surface and air operations, including live firing drills, are scheduled during the exercise.

Vessels Participating:

• The participating Indian Naval Ships – Shivalik and Kamorta – are indigenously designed and form part of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam. 

Question: 

Which of the following Indian ships participated in the Exercise Malabar 2022 in November?

A. Shivalik and Kamorta

B. Ganga and Gomati

C. Kuthar and Kirpan

D. Nirghat and Vinash

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Environment

Nagaland to Host Tokhu Emong Bird Count

• Nagaland is hosting the first edition of the Tokhü Emong Bird Count (TEBC) between 4 to 7 November, a four-day documentation event to list birds in the state.
• The Event has been timed with the post-harvest Tokhü Emong festival of the Lothas, the Naga community that dominates the Wokha district, arguably the most preferred stopover of the Amur falcons while travelling from east Asia to southern Africa.
• The event is a collaboration among the Wokha Forest Division, the Divisional Management Unit of the Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) and Bird Count India.

Rationale:

• The first edition of the Tokhü Emong Bird Count aims to recognise the incredible bird diversity and draw attention to the threatened habitats of Nagaland.

What Is The Tokhu Emong Festival?

• Tokhu Emong is a post-harvest festival of the Lotha Tribe in Nagaland. 
• The festival is celebrated for nine days on 7th November every year with lots of enthusiasm and fun as this festival brings the time to rejoice in the fruit of hard work with the end of the labour period of harvesting.
• ‘Tokhu’ means moving from house to house, collecting tokens and gifts in the form of natural resources and food. However, the meaning of ‘Emong’ is to put a halt on the appointed time.
• The TEBC falls within the Salim Ali Bird Count, a nationwide event conducted by the Bombay Natural History Society.

Question: 

The first edition of Tokhu Emong Bird Count was recently held in which of the following states/UT?

A. Sikkim

B. Tripura

C. Mizoram

D. Nagaland

Answer: D

Current Affairs: National

Rising Sun Water Fest-2022 

• Rising Sun Water Fest-2022 culminated on 5th November with a grand closing ceremony at Umiam Lake, Meghalaya. 
• It was an initiative by the Indian Army’s Eastern Command with the governments of Assam and Meghalaya.
• Members of the Garo tribal community also performed the Wangala dance on this occasion on the banks of Umiam Lake in Meghalaya.

Objective of The Event:

• The three-day water sports and cultural extravaganza held from 03-05 November was the first of its kind in the Northeast and aimed at encouraging the sports-loving youth of the Northeast to take up water sports like Rowing and Sailing.
• It also aimed at promoting tourism in the Northeast.

About The Event:

• The three-day event was witnessed by a large number of viewers, locals as well as outstation visitors, who enjoyed keen contests in a number of races both in Rowing and Sailing, a novelty in the region. 
• 22 clubs from across the country took part in the event. 
• The Rowing Trophy was won by the DGAR team, securing one gold and one silver medal. 
• The Sailing Trophy was won by the Yachting Club of Hyderabad, securing three gold, two silver and one bronze medal.

Question: 

Rising Sun Water Fest-2022 was recently organised in which of the following states?

A. Nagaland

B. Arunachal Pradesh

C. Meghalaya

D. Tripura

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Economy

DEA Notified India Infrastructure Project Development Fund (IIPDF) Scheme

• The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) and the Finance Ministry have come out with the India Infrastructure Project Development Fund (IIPDF) scheme to provide support to project sponsoring authorities (PSAs), both in the central and state governments, for meeting the cost of transaction advisors and consultants engaged in the development of PPP projects.

About The Scheme:

• As a central sector scheme, the IIPDF programme will support the PSAs to create a shelf of bankable, viable PPP projects. 
• Funding under this scheme will be in addition to the already-operational Scheme for financial support to PPPs in infrastructure, essentially a viability gap funding (VGF) scheme, notified in December 2020. 
• Under the VGF scheme, support is granted for PPP infrastructure projects that are economically justified but commercially unviable.
• The corpus of the IIPDF shall comprise of initial budgetary outlay of ₹100 crores by the Ministry of Finance. This would be supplemented, should it become necessary, through budgetary support by the Ministry of Finance from time to time.

Empowered Institution Will Administer IIPDF Structure, which: 

• Selects projects for which project development costs will be funded.
• Sets the terms and conditions under which the funding will be provided and recovered.
• Sets milestones for disbursing and recovering (where appropriate) the funding.

Question: 

Viability Gap Funding means a grant to support projects that are

A. Economically justified but not financially viable

B. Financially viable but not economically justified

C. Made by foreign private companies with state support

D. None of the above

Answer: A

Current Affairs: National

First Cluster to be Completed under The Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission

• Aibawk cluster in the Aizawl district of Mizoram has become the first cluster to be completed under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM). 

What Is Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission?

• SPMRM was launched by the Prime Minister in February 2016 with a vision to provide amenities to rural areas which are perceived to be urban and have the potential to stimulate local economic development. 
• Such clusters were selected for well-planned and holistic development.

What Is Aibawk Cluster?

• Aibawk cluster in the Aizawl district of Mizoram has become the first cluster to be completed under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission.
• Agri-link roads, pedestrian footpaths, and inter-village road connectivity projects have been undertaken to improve market access.
• Infrastructure created includes roads, footpaths, drains, water supply, car parking and social infrastructures like a conference centre and sports infrastructure.
• The interventions undertaken to improve livelihood are making an impact on the economic well-being of the local populace.

Question: 

Aibawk cluster has become the first cluster to be completed under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission. It is developed in which state?

A. Gujarat

B. Mizoram

C. Assam 

D. Sikkim

Answer: B

Current Affairs: National

World’s first Vedic Clock to be installed in Ujjain

• The world’s first Vedic Clock will be installed in Ujjain – the city of Lord Malakal.
• Madhya Pradesh state higher education minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday laid the foundation stone at the 300-year-old Jiwaji Observatory in Ujjain for this mega project, being taken up by the state government at an estimated cost of Rs 1.62 crore.

About the clock:

• Special thing about this Vedic clock is that it will be based on Vedic calculation of the time, in which the 24 hours of the day are divided into Muhurats. 
• The Vedic clock will be synced with the position of the Sun and also with the sunrise and sunset timings at different places across the world.
• Vedic Clock is one of the efforts taken up by the government to bring the ancient glory of Ujjain.

Question: 

The world’s first Vedic Clock is to be installed in which of the following city?

A. Haridwar

B. Ujjain

C. Rameswaram

D. Varanasi

Answer: B

Current Affairs: National

Adani New Industries installed India’s largest wind turbine.

• Adani New Industries Ltd (ANIL) recently announced that it has installed wind turbine taller than the world’s tallest ‘Statue of Unity’ in Gujarat. 
• The wind turbine’s blades are wider than the wingspan of a jumbo jet in Gujarat’s Mundra.
• Installation of the wind turbine is part of ANIL’s renewable energy expansion plans.

Details: 

• The wind turbine has been set up by Mundra Windtech Ltd (MWL), a wholly-owned subsidiary incorporated by Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL).
• India’s tallest and largest wind turbine stands 200 metres tall and has a capacity to generate 5.2 MW of electricity and can power approximately 4,000 homes.

Question:

Adani New Industries installed India’s largest wind turbine in which of the following state/UT?

A. Himachal Pradesh

B. Assam

C. Maharashtra

D. Gujrat

Answer: D

Current Affairs: International

World Travel Market 2022.

• Ministry of Tourism will participate in World Travel Market (WTM) 2022, to be held 7-9 November in London, which is one of the largest international travel exhibitions.

Theme:

• The theme of this year’s exhibition is ‘The Future of Travel Starts Now’.

Objective:

• The objective is to showcase the diverse tourism products and services including Medical Value travel, luxury trains and the gamut of tourism products to the international business community.

Fact:

• The Indian delegation is being led by Arvind Singh, Secretary (Tourism), Government of India 
• According to the government of India in 2021, foreign exchange earnings from tourism were US $ 8.797 billion.

Question: 

one of the largest international travel exhibitions World Travel Market 2022 is recently held in which of the following cities?

A. New York

B. London

C. New Delhi

D. Paris

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Snow Leopard Population Assessment of India

• The first-ever recording of the snow leopard from the Baltal-Zojila region has renewed hope for the elusive predator in the higher altitudes of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
• The Snow Leopard Population Assessment of India (SPAI) has been concluded so far in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. 
• The estimated population of the great cat is 50 and 100 in these two States.

What Is a Snow Leopard?

• The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is a Felidae (a family of mammals in the order Carnivora) in the genus Panthera.
• The Snow Leopard (also known as the Ghost of the mountains) acts as an indicator of the health of the mountain ecosystem in which they live due to its position as the top predator in the food web.
• The Snow Leopard lives at high altitudes in the steep mountains of central and southern Asia, and in an extremely cold climate.
• They inhabit the higher Himalayan and trans-Himalayan landscape in the states/union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Snow Leopard capital of the world: Hemis, Ladakh.
• Hemis National Park is the biggest, high-altitude national park in India, with a good presence of Snow Leopard.

What Are the Threats to Snow Leopards? 

• Factors contributing to the decline in the snow leopard populations include a reduction in prey populations, illegal poaching and increased human population infiltration into the species’ habitat and illegal trade of wildlife parts and products, among others.

Protection Measures of Snow Leopards:

• IUCN Red List- Vulnerable
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)- Appendix I
• Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)- Appendix I
• Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction
• Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972- Schedule I
• Schedule I provides absolute protection and offences under this have the highest penalties

Question: 

Recently the Snow Leopard Population Assessment of India (SPAI) has been concluded in which of the following states/UT?

A. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand

B. Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh

C. Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand

D. Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Report and Index

UNEP Adaptation Gap Report 2022

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently launched the 2022 edition of the Adaptation Gap Report in a virtual press conference leading up to the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).
• The title of the report is “Too Little, Too Slow – Climate adaptation failure puts the world at risk”.
• The report provides an update on the global status and progress of the adaptation process across three elements: planning, financing, and implementation. 
• This edition also focuses on the effectiveness of adaptation and considers adaptation-mitigation co-benefits.

What Is the Adaptation Gap Report (AGR)? 

• The Adaptation Gap Report (AGR) is an annual UNEP flagship publication. 
• The report’s primary objective is to inform the negotiators of the UNFCCC Member States and the broader UNFCCC constituency about the status and trends within climate adaptation at global and regional levels. 
• The AGR also provides a set of science-based options to policymakers and decision-makers to increase ambition in adapting to climate change across key climate-sensitive sectors.

What Are the Key Findings of the AGR 2022?

• The current global efforts in adaptation planning, financing and implementation are insufficient to address the growing climate-related risks.
• The world is currently on track for a 2.8°C increase in average global temperature over the average temperature obtained in the pre-industrialization era of 1850 to 1900. According to researchers, if global warming exceeds 2.0°C, it could cause a catastrophic climate crisis.

Question: 

Consider the following statements

1. Adaptation Gap Report (AGR) is an annual UNEP flagship publication
2. The title of the report for 2022 is “Too Little, Too Slow – Climate adaptation failure puts the world at risk”

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. Only 1

B. Only 2

C. Both 1 and 2 

D. None of the above

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Days and Events

World Radiography Day-2022

• World Radiography Day is commemorated on 8th November every year to mark the anniversary of the discovery of X-rays. 
• A procedure that is used so widely is often taken for granted, but this medical marvel has helped the healthcare system discover a myriad of health issues. 
• The day also celebrates the efforts of radiographers and radiologists around the world.

Theme:

• The theme for World Radiography Day 2022 is “Radiographers at the Forefront of Patient Safety”.

History:

• The day is commemorated to mark the anniversary of the discovery of X-rays by Professor Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen of the Wuerzburg University, Germany, in 1895. 
• This was an accidental discovery by Professor Röntgen when he was working with a cathode-ray tube in his laboratory. 
• This scientific breakthrough was extremely well-received.
• In fact, just a month later, medical personnel began using radiographs in Europe and the U.S. Six months later, radiographs were also employed to help wounded soldiers on the battlefield.
• A year later, in 1896, John Hall-Edwards used X-rays in a surgical operation for the first time.

Significance of This Day:

• The discovery of X-ray has been one of the most important breakthroughs in science. It is able to help people identify several ailments and issues. 
• This is especially important since X-rays are not an invasive procedure and are quite quick when compared to other diagnostic scans like MRI or CT scans. 
• World Radiography Day marks the anniversary of his medical marvel. 
• It also aims to help raise awareness about getting regular medical check-ups done without it giving you a scare. 
• These medical check-ups can be easy, quick, and non-invasive as X-rays.

Question: 

World Radiography day is observed on which of the following dates?

A. 3rd February

B. 10th June

C. 8th November 

D. 12th December

Answer: C

Current Affairs: National

K Radhakrishnan Committee

• The Ministry of Education has set up a high-level panel to strengthen the assessment and accreditation of higher educational institutions, officials said on November 4, 2022.
• The panel will be headed by Dr K Radhakrishnan, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIT Kanpur. He is also the chairperson of the Standing Committee of the IIT Council.

Rationale:

• The mandate of the committee includes strengthening the assessment and accreditation processes and preparing a road map for the National Accreditation Council envisioned in the National Education Policy, 2020. 
• India has one of the largest and most diverse education systems in the world.
• Accreditation plays a vital role in making quality assurance an integral part of the functioning of higher educational institutions. 
• Accreditation assists the institutions in understanding their strengths and weaknesses through an informed review process, thus facilitating the identification of internal areas of planning and resource allocation.

Other Members:

• Other members of the committee include Mridul Hazarika, Vice-Chancellor, Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva Viswavidyalaya, Assam; Bharat Bhasker, Professor, IIM, Lucknow and Joint Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.

Question:

K Radhakrishnan committee has recently been set up by the Ministry of Education for

A. Assessment and accreditation of higher educational institutions

B. Improvement Of Gross Enrolment Ratio

C. Checking Dropout Rate

D. Assessment of vocational education

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

Falcon Heavy Launch

• Recently, Elon Musk-owned SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy rocket into a geosynchronous earth orbit from the Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, U.S. 
• This is considered a National Security Space Launch for the U.S. military. 
• The company hails this as the most powerful operational rocket in the world. 
• This is the fourth launch of the giant rocket system and the first one in nearly three years since its last launch in 2019.

What Is Its Current Mission?

• The rocket is carrying satellites to space for the U.S. military in a mission named U.S. Space Force (USSF)-44. 
• The mission deployed two spacecraft payloads, one of which is the TETRA 1 microsatellite created for various prototype missions in and around the geosynchronous earth orbit. 
• The other payload is for national defence purposes. 
• It will place the satellites for the Space Systems Command’s Innovation and Prototyping.
• Space Systems Command (SSC) is the oldest military space organisation in the United States Armed Forces. 
• It is responsible for developing, acquiring, equipping, fielding and sustaining lethal and resilient space capabilities.

What Is a Falcon Heavy Rocket?

• SpaceX claims Falcon Heavy to be the most powerful rocket in the world today by a factor of two. 
• With a lifting capacity of around 64 metric tonnes into orbit, Falcon Heavy can lift more than twice the payload of the next closest operational vehicle, the Delta IV Heavy.
• The rocket has a height of 70 m, a width of 12.2 m and a mass of 1,420,788 kg. 
• Falcon Heavy has 27 Merlin engines that generate more than five million pounds of thrust at lift-off, equalling around eighteen 747 aircraft at full power. 
• This makes it the most capable rocket flying. The rocket can lift the equivalent of a fully loaded 737 jetliner, complete with passengers, luggage and fuel, to orbit.

What Is SpaceX?

• Space Exploration Technologies Corp. is an American spacecraft manufacturer, space launch provider, and satellite communications corporation headquartered in Hawthorne, California. 
• It was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonisation of Mars.

Question:

From which of the following Launching stations was the Falcon Heavy rocket launched recently into a geosynchronous earth orbit?

A. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

B. Vandenberg Space Force Base

C. Kennedy Space Center

D. Huntsville International Air and Space Port

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Defence

DRDO Launched the Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization and Evaluation (SPACE) Facility

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) launched the Hull module of the Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization and Evaluation (SPACE) facility at Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) in Kochi recently.

Significance:

• It is a state-of-the-art testing and evaluation facility for sonar systems developed for use by the Indian Navy onboard various platforms, including ships, submarines and helicopters.
• This will be mainly utilised for evaluating sonar systems, allowing for quick deployment and easy recovery of scientific packages such as sensors and transducers.

What Is SPACE?

• SPACE is a one-of-a-kind facility in the world. 
• The uniqueness of this facility lies in the specially designed submersible platform, which can be lowered up to depths of 100 metres using a series of synchronously operated winches. 
• The design and construction of the platform meet all the statutory needs of the Indian Register of Shipping and the vessel classifying authority and strictly adhere to the inspection and registration criteria as per Kerala Inland Vessel Rules.

Question: 

Where did the DRDO recently launch the Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization and Evaluation (SPACE) facility at the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL)?

A. Kochi

B. Thiruvananthapuram

C. Bhubaneswar 

D. Madurai

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Ecology

New Honey Bee Species Identified in Western Ghats, After 200 Years

• A new species of endemic honeybee has been discovered in the Western Ghats. The new species has been named Apis karinjodian and given the common name Indian black honeybee.
• The finding was published in the September issue of the journal Entomon, a peer-reviewed journal brought out by the Association for Advancement of Entomology.

Details:

• A new species of the honeybee has been spotted in the Western Ghats after a gap of more than 200 years. 
• The last honeybee described from India was Apis indica in 1798 by Fabricius. Although Fabricius named the Indian bee Apis indica, it was not considered a valid species till now. 
• The research team restored the status of Apis indica based on a new measure for species discrimination in honeybees termed ‘Radio-Medial Index (RMI)’.

Facts:

• Indian black honeybee has the ability to produce higher quantities of honey, which is thicker in consistency. 
• Distribution: Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu. 
• Status: The species has been classified as near threatened (NT) in the state based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. The new find has increased the species of honeybees in the world to 11. 

Question: 

A new honey bee species named Apis karinjodian has been recently identified after 200 years in which of the following geographical regions of India?

A. Himalayas

B. Western Ghats

C. Coastal Plains

D. Peninsular Plateau

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Defence

Exercise Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022

• A Maritime Partnership Exercise involving Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Anzac and Indian Navy ships Jalashwa and Kavaratti, along with their embarked helicopters, was held in the Bay of Bengal from 2nd to 3rd November 2022. 
• The exercises included tactical manoeuvres, helicopter landings and amphibious operations, which signified the high degree of interoperability between IN and RAN.

What Is Indo-Pacific Endeavour?

• IPE began in 2017 as an annual activity coordinated by the Australian Defence Force to deliver on the promise of the 2016 Defence White Paper to strengthen Australia’s engagement and partnerships with regional security forces. 
• IPE aims to promote security and stability in Australia’s near region through bilateral and multilateral engagement, training and capacity building. 
• IPE 2022 will see engagements with the Maldives, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia.

Details:

• RAN ships HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Anzac visited Visakhapatnam from 30th October to 1st November 2022. 
• This was part of Australia’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022 (IPE 22). The Australian Defence Forces were hosted by the Eastern Naval Command. 
• Ships of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet and personnel from the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force participated in various joint activities.

Question:

Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022 exercise was recently held in the Bay of Bengal with which of the following countries?

A. USA

B. Australia

C. Russia

D. Japan

Answer: B

Current Affairs: National

Ganga Utsav-2022

• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) initiative of the Union Jal Shakti Ministry recently held the Ganga Utsav- The River Festival 2022 to celebrate rivers and spread awareness of the significance of river rejuvenation across basins in India.

What Is Ganga Utsav?

• Ganga Utsav was first organised in 2017 with a different name – Ek Shaam Ganga Ke Naam. It was then renamed Bal Ganga Mela in 2018. 
• The third edition was a three-day virtual event because of the Covid-19 pandemic and returned to a physical event in 2021.

Objectives of Ganga Utsav 2022?

• One of the main objectives of Ganga Utsav 2022 is to celebrate our rivers and spread awareness of the significance of river rejuvenation across river basins in India. 
• Dedicating the grand event to the 75 years of Indian Independence (Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav), the aim is to hold similar events at more than 75 locations in states to celebrate the rivers of India.

About the Event 2022:

• The main event was held in New Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, with dance and musical performances by several renowned personalities. 
• Activities such as puppet shows, film screenings, painting, pottery and nest-making workshops were also organised. 
• The ministry also felicitated big contributors to the Clean Ganga Fund.

Question:

The National Mission for Clean Ganga, an initiative of the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, has recently organised the Ganga Utsav- The River Festival 2022 in which of the following States/UT?

A. Delhi

B. Madhya Pradesh

C. Uttarakhand

D. West Bengal

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Defence

Indian Army Approves Five Make-2 Projects

• Indian Army has approved project sanction orders for five Make-II projects providing Impetus to Atma Nirbhaarta.

What is the Make-II Project?

• Make II projects are essentially industry-funded projects involving design, development and innovative solutions by Indian vendors for the development of prototypes.
• 22 out of 43 projects are now in the prototype development stage, which is 66% of projects by cost, ₹18,000 crores out of ₹27,000 crores.

The Rationale of the Project:

• Make II procurement scheme has given an impetus to increase the Design and Development in the defence industry to achieve the indigenisation of high-end technology systems in various types of weapon systems, ammunition and modern training systems, which are currently not available in the country

Products Developed under This Project:

1. High-Frequency Man Packed Software Designed Radio
2. Drone Kill System
3. Infantry Training Weapon Simulator
4. 155mm Terminally Guided Munitions
5. Medium Range Precision Kill System

Question: 

Which of the following is not a product developed under the Make-II Project?

A. High-Frequency Man Packed Software Designed Radio

B. Drone Kill System

C. Infantry Training Weapon Simulator

D. Biosensor killing system

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Awards and Honours

National Florence Nightingale Award-2021

• Harinder Kaur, a nursing officer at the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital Chandigarh, was recently felicitated with the National Florence Nightingale Award 2021 by President Droupadi Murmu.
• The award was conferred on as many as 51 nurses from across the country at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
• Kaur joined GMSH-16 in Chandigarh in 2001, before which she had worked under the Punjab government since 1991. After joining GMSH-16, Kaur focused primarily on the welfare of pregnant women and newborns in the hospital.

About the award:

• The awards are given to recognise the meritorious services rendered by nurses and nursing professionals to the society.  
• It was instituted in 1973 by the Union  Health and Family Welfare Ministry. 

Who Is Florence Nightingale?

• Florence Nightingale, known as “the Lady with the Lamp” (born 12th May 1820, in Florence, Italy—died 13th August 1910, in London, England), was a British nurse, statistician, and social reformer, who was the foundational philosopher of modern nursing. 
• Nightingale was put in charge of nursing British and allied soldiers in Turkey during the Crimean War. 
• She spent many hours in the wards, and her night rounds giving personal care to the wounded established her image as the “Lady with the Lamp”.

Question: 

Which field is associated with the recent National Florence Nightingale Award-2021 that the president conferred?

A. Sports

B. Literature

C. Nursing

D. Music

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Environment

Middle-East Green Initiative Summit 2022

• Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav spoke at the Middle East Green Initiative Summit 2022 on the sidelines of COP 27, going on in Sharm El-Sheikh and highlighted India’s efforts towards fighting climate change. 
• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Republic of Egypt hosted the Middle-East Green Initiative Summit. 
• COP 27 has brought nations from around the world together under one roof, seeking to create the infrastructure needed to reduce emissions and protect the environment.

Highlights:

• Saudi Arabia led an initiative to plant 50 billion trees across the Middle East, applauded
• The Green fuel production of Egypt in the pursuit of net-zero shipping appreciated
• National Hydrogen Mission signifies India’s commitment to clean and green energy
• International Solar Alliance, a testimony to India’s vision to bring clean and affordable energy
• Countries across the globe invited to join Lead IT and CDRI

Theme:

• The theme of this initiative was “Succeeding the Transition to Green Economies: The Role of Sustainable Finance”. 

What Is the Middle East Green Initiative?

• The Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) summit is a Saudi Arabia-led initiative to drive unified climate action. 

Broader Objectives: 

• Under it, Saudi Arabia will work with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and regional partners to plant an additional 40 billion trees in the West Asian region to reduce 2.5 per cent of global carbon levels.
• Saudi Arabia has been sharing its expertise and know-how with its neighbouring countries to reduce carbon emissions resulting from hydrocarbon production in the region by 60 per cent and globally by 10 per cent.
• Under it, the annual summit will host leaders from the government, scientists and environmentalists to discuss the details of implementation.
• Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince hosted the inaugural MGI Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2021.

Question:

Where was the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) summit 2022 recently held?

A. Egypt

B. Saudi Arab

C. Iran

D. Syria

Answer: A

Current Affairs: International

PM Unveils Logo, Theme and Website of India’s G20 Presidency

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently unveiled the logo, theme and website of India’s G20 Presidency. India will assume the G20 Presidency on December 1, 2022. 
• India will assume the presidency of the grouping of the world’s 20 largest economies for one year starting 1 December this year, following the G20 Summit hosted by Indonesia in Bali this year during 15-16 November.

Logo Explanation:

• The G20 logo draws inspiration from the vibrant colours of India’s national flag – saffron, white and green, and blue. 
• It juxtaposes planet Earth with the lotus, India’s national flower that reflects growth amid challenges. 
• The Earth reflects India’s pro-planet approach to life, one in perfect harmony with nature. Below the G20 logo is “Bharat”, written in the Devanagari script.

Theme Explanation:

• The theme of India’s G20 Presidency – “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth, One Family, One Future” – is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. 
• Essentially, the theme affirms the value of all life – human, animal, plant, and microorganisms – and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe.

G20 Website:

• The Prime Minister also launched the website of India’s G20 Presidency, www.g20.in
• The website will seamlessly migrate to the G20 Presidency website www.g20.org on 1 December 2022, the day India takes over the G20 Presidency. 

G20 App:

• In addition to the website, a mobile app, “G20 India”, has been released on both Android and iOS platforms.

Question: 

Recently the PM unveiled the Logo, Theme and Website of India’s G20 Presidency. The logo juxtaposes planet Earth with which of the following flowers?

A. White lily

B. Lotus

C. Tulip

D. Marigold

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

India’s First Private Sector Rocket Vikram-S

• India’s first privately developed rocket – Vikram-S – is set for a launch between November 12 and 16, Hyderabad-based space startup Skyroot Aerospace announced recently. 
• The maiden mission of Skyroot Aerospace, named ‘Prarambh’ (the beginning), will carry three customer payloads and is set for launch from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s launchpad at Sriharikota.

What Is the Vikram-S Rocket?

• The Vikram-S rocket is a single-stage sub-orbital launch vehicle that would carry three customer payloads and help test and validate most of the technologies in the Vikram series of space launch vehicles.
• Skyroot has been developing three variants of the Vikram rocket. 
• While the Vikram-I can carry 480 kilograms of payload to Low Earth Orbit, the Vikram-II is equipped to lift off with 595 kilograms of cargo. 
• Meanwhile, Vikram-III can launch with an 815 kg to 500 km Low Inclination Orbit.
• Skyroot’s launch vehicles are named ‘Vikram’ as a tribute to the founder of the Indian space programme and renowned scientist Vikram Sarabhai.

What Is Skyroot Aerospace?

• Skyroot builds state-of-the-art space launch vehicles for launching commercial satellites into space.
• It aims to disrupt entry barriers to cost-efficient satellite launch services and spaceflight by advancing its mission to make spaceflights affordable, reliable and regular for all.

Question: 

What is the name of India’s first privately developed rocket made by Skyroot Aerospace recently?

A. Satish-M

B. Vikram-S

C. Kalaam-A

D. Chandrashekhar-Y

Answer: B

Current Affairs: National

Mother Tongue Survey of India

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has completed the Mother Tongue Survey of India (MTSI) with field videography of the country’s 576 languages.
• According to the annual report of the home ministry for 2021-22, it has been planned to set up a web archive at the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to preserve and analyse the original flavour of each indigenous mother tongue.

What Is the MTSI?

• According to the report, the Mother Tongue Survey of India is a project that “surveys the mother tongues, which are returned consistently across two and more Census decades”. It also documents the linguistic features of the selected languages.

Where Does the Mother Tongue Feature in the Education of Children?

• The new National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for the foundational stages of education, launched by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan last month, has recommended that the mother tongue should be the primary medium of instruction in schools for children up to eight years of age.

Facts:

• As per an analysis of 2011 linguistic census data in 2018, more than 19,500 languages or dialects are spoken in India as mother tongues.
• According to the 2011 linguistic census, Hindi is the most widely spoken mother tongue, with 52.8 crore people or 43.6 per cent of the population, declaring it as the mother tongue. 
• The next highest is Bengali, the mother tongue of 9.7 crore individuals, accounting for 8 per cent of the population.

Question: 

How many languages are there in India as per the recently completed Mother Tongue Survey of India with field videography by the Ministry of Home Affairs?

A. 430

B. 576

C. 812

D. 987

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Appointments and Resignations

Ex-CJ Awasthi Appointed as Law Commission Chief

• The Central Government recently appointed Justice Rituraj Awasthi, Retired High Court Chief Justice of Karnataka as chairperson along with five other members for the 22nd Law Commission.
• The appointment comes more than two years after the Law Commission was notified on 24 February 2020.  The Law Commission is constituted for three years.

About Justice Rituraj Awasthi:

• Justice Rituraj Awasthi served as Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court from 11 October 2021 to 2 July 2022. 
• From 13 April 2009, he worked as Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court until 10 October 2021. 
• Prior to that, Justice Awasthi served on the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench, where he practised Civil, Service and Educational Affairs. 
• Justice Rituraj Awasthi also served as an Assistant Solicitor General of India at Lucknow before his elevation.

About the 22nd Law Commission?

• The Central Government is likely aiming at reviving the Indian Law Commission, by appointing a new chairman and five-panel members. 
• The last chairman of the committee retired in August 2018 and has yet to be reconstituted since.

Major Functions of the Law Commission:

• The primary function of the Commission is to research and advise the Government of India on legislative matters and its reforms. 
• It consists of legal experts and is headed by a retired judge. 
• The Commission is constituted for a fixed tenure and serves as an advisory body to the Ministry of Law and Justice. 
• The Law Commission has played the key role of both advisory and a critic of the Government’s policies.

Question: 

Who has been recently appointed as the chairperson of the Law Commission of India?

A. Justice Rituraj Awasthi

B. Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka

C. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari

D. Justice D.H. Waghela

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Environment and Economy

MNRE Notifies National Bio Energy Programme

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, has recently notified the National Bioenergy Programme. 
• MNRE has continued the National Bioenergy Programme for the period from FY 2021-22 to 2025-26. 
• The programme has been recommended for implementation in two phases. 
• The Phase-I of the programme has been approved with a budget outlay of ₹858 crores.

The National Bioenergy Programme Will comprise the Following Sub-schemes:

1. Waste to Energy Programme (Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Wastes/Residues) to support the setting up of large Biogas, BioCNG and Power plants (excluding MSW to Power projects).
2. Biomass Programme (Scheme to support the manufacturing of Briquettes and Pellets and promotion of Biomass (non-bagasse) based cogeneration in industries) to support setting up of pellets and briquettes for use in power generation and non-bagasse based power generation projects.
3. Biogas Programme to support setting up of family and medium size Biogas in rural areas.

About National Bio Energy Programme:

• The National Bioenergy Programme will include the three Sub-schemes: Waste to Energy Programme, Biomass Programme and Biogas Programme.
• The Waste to Energy Programme (Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Wastes/Residues) will support the setting up of large Biogas, BioCNG and Power plants (excluding MSW (municipal solid waste) to power projects).

Question: 

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy recently notified the National Bioenergy Programme for the period from FY 2021-22 with a budget outlay of

A. ₹858 crores

B. ₹900 crores

C. ₹980 crores

D. ₹1,020 crores

Answer: A

Current Affairs: National

Rajasthan’s First Handicraft Policy

• The first handicraft policy released by the government in Rajasthan has laid emphasis on attracting investments for the promotion of cultural heritage and revival of traditional arts and crafts. 
• The export of handicraft items from the State, which touched ₹6,205 crores in 2020-21, is constantly on the rise.

About the Handicraft Policy 2022:

• The Handicraft Policy 2022 is expected to boost the creation of essential infrastructure for the sector and generate new employment opportunities. 
• It will make the State’s products exportable and help them gain an international reputation while making better marketing arrangements to revive traditional and extinct arts.

Rationale:

• The policy would empower the artisans with provisions for holding a national-level handicrafts week every year, giving State-level awards in various categories, e-marketing, social security, loan facility, and providing assistance for participation in fairs and exhibitions.

Status of Rajasthan’s Handcraft Industry:

• The state of Rajasthan is home to over 6 lakh craftsmen and artisans. In 2020 and 2021, the handcraft export value touched ₹6205.32 crores. 
• Gem and jewellery products worth ₹4067.36 crores, textiles worth ₹5729.29 crores, readymade garments worth ₹1764.40 crores and carpet/dari worth ₹464.70 crores reached the global market.
• In recognition of the growing value of Rajasthan’s handcraft industry, the World Crafts Council (WCC) declared Jaipur as the “World Craft City” in 2016.

Questions: 

Which of the following states/UT recently released its first handicraft policy?

A. Gujarat

B. Delhi

C. Arunachal Pradesh

D. Rajasthan

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

Broadcast Air-Time Scheduler (BATS)

• In view to streamline and automate the commercial operations of Prasar Bharati (PB), Shri Mayank Agarwal, CEO, PB and Shri D.P.S. Negi, Member (Finance), PB inaugurated a fully integrated Traffic and Billing application software, “Broadcast Air-Time Scheduler (BATS)”, for all Commercial Operations of All India Radio”.
• This will ensure that revenue leakages are avoided and provide 100% revenue assurance for the services rendered. It can be said that it’s a great milestone in the history of All India Radio to roll out BATS.

What Is a Broadcast Air-Time Scheduler (BATS)?

• BATS is a fully integrated Traffic and Billing application software.
• It allows monitoring of booking, billing and payment receipts at various stages, and the system can provide various reports, which are very essential in taking many management decisions.

How Can It Be Useful?

• It will make the Receivable Management more effective and transparent. This will ensure that revenue leakages are avoided and provide 100% revenue assurance for the services rendered. Increases operational efficiency and reduces cost.
• Contracts are handled seamlessly from Release Order entry to single or multi-invoice billing.
• Ensures accurate billing by effectively managing account hierarchy, different Packages and Products.

Question: 

What is the name of the recently launched fully integrated Traffic and Billing application software which will be used for the Commercial Operations of All India Radio?

A. CATS

B. BATS

C. GATES

D. RATS

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Carbon Billionaires

• An Oxfam report titled, “Carbon Billionaires: The investment emissions of the world’s richest people”, has said the world’s richest people emit “unsustainable amounts of carbon” as compared with an ordinary person. 
• This report is based on the fact that every human on Earth has a carbon footprint, which can be divided into “personal consumption emissions, emissions through government spending and emissions linked to investments”.

Key Highlights of the Report:

• This report is based on the fact that every human on Earth has a carbon footprint, which can be divided into –  

1. Personal consumption emissions  
2. Emissions through government spending 
3. Emissions linked to investments

• It demonstrated that on average, billionaires are responsible for emitting “3 million tonnes” of carbon a year.

Why is this report important?

• It critically examines the relationship between economic inequality and the climate crisis.
• The report comes at a time when discussions to meet the globally agreed target of limiting the world’s temperature to below 1.5℃ is underway at COP 27 in Egypt.
• It has significant implications for climate policymaking.

What is Oxfam?

• Oxfam is an international non-governmental organisation. 
• It was founded in 1995.  
• The name “Oxfam” comes from the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, founded in Britain in 1942. 
• The Oxfam International Secretariat is based in Nairobi, Kenya. 
• It works with others to challenge inequality, overcome poverty and work with people to thrive, not just survive. 
• There are 21 member organisations of the Oxfam International confederation.

Question: 

A report titled, “Carbon Billionaires: The investment emissions of the world’s richest people” was recently published by which of the following organisations?

A. Green Peace

B. Oxfam

C. WWF

D. UNFCCC

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Economy

Kerala Becomes the First State to Introduce Uniform Gold Price Based on Bank Rate

• Kerala becomes the first state in India to launch uniform gold prices based on the bank rate. 
• The decision to introduce a uniform price on 916 purity 22-carat gold has been taken at a meeting between officials of Malabar Gold and Diamonds, one of the largest gold and diamond retail chains in the country and key members of All Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants Association which sets the board rate for gold.

What Does It Mean?

• There should be a system to determine the price of gold based on the bank rate on a specific day in the country.
• For example, on 4 November 2022, the bank spot rate of 916 (22 carats) of gold was ₹1,640 per ounce, the bank premium was ₹3.50, the import duty was ₹6,67,467 per kg, and the bank cost per gram of gold was ₹5,008. Adding all these, the bank rate of 4 November 2022 amounts to ₹4610 per gram of 916 gold.

One India One Gold Rate:

• The gold rate should be uniform across the country based on the bank rate.
• However, in most states, gold is priced at ₹150-300 per gram extra over the bank rate. 
• In Kerala, gold used to be sold at different prices on a particular day. 
• Uniform gold price based on bank rate offers an opportunity to the consumers to purchase gold at a reasonable and transparent price. 

Question: 

Recently which state became the first state to introduce uniform gold prices based on the bank rate?

A. Karnataka

B. Tamil Nadu

C. Kerala

D. Maharashtra

Answer: C

Current Affairs: International

UN Resident Coordinator

• An Indian military officer who fought for the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka and battled insurgencies in Nagaland now finds himself helming a different kind of mission: leading the United Nations and its 26 agencies in China.
• Siddharth Chatterjee’s rise to becoming the U.N. Resident Coordinator for China—one of the agency’s key global positions given Beijing’s rising importance in the U.N. system—leaves a former Indian soldier in an unlikely position—the equivalent of a former PLA soldier guiding the U.N.’s agencies in India.

What Is His Job Now?

• In his job, Mr Chatterjee engages every day with senior Chinese Communist Party officials and assists China in achieving its development targets.
• Mr. Chatterjee said his role is to help China achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In his two years in the country, he has marvelled at its socio-economic progress.

What Is the UN Resident Coordinator?

• The UN Resident Coordinator (RC) is the highest-ranking representative of the UN Development System at the country level. RCs lead UN Country Teams and coordinate UN support to countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda.
• The Resident Coordinator is the designated representative of – and reports to – the UN Secretary-General.

What Do Resident Coordinators Do?

• Representing the United Nations
• Coordinating operational activities
• Promoting and advocating for the fundamental values, standards and principles of the UN Charter
• Leading the UN country team (UNCT) in consultations with the host Government
• Facilitating the integration of the UNCT’s work with UN peacekeeping or political missions
• Managing and providing strategic guidance

Question: 

Who has recently become the UN Resident Coordinator for China?

A. Siddharth Chatterjee

B. Justine Coulson

C. Shombi Sharp

D. Ruchira Kamboj

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Days and Events

World Science Day for Peace and Development 2022

• World Science Day for Peace and Development was proclaimed by the UN Educational, Scientific and UNESCO in 2001 under the UNESCO 31 C/Resolution 20. 
• It is celebrated every year on November 10, around the globe, marking the significance of science in society.
• It also highlights the need for people around the world to engage in gaining knowledge about science and its relevance in their daily lives.

Theme:

• This year’s theme for World Science Day for Peace and Development is – “Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development”.

History:

• In 1999, UNESCO and the International Council for Science organised the first-ever World Scientific Conference in Budapest. 
• At the event, several delegations agreed that there is a need to educate society about science. 
• Here, by unanimous decision, a special day or week was to be dedicated to science. 
• A year later, the UNESCO Executive Body adopted World Science Day for Peace and Development. 
• It was to be commemorated on 10 November worldwide.
• In 2001, World Science Day for Peace and Development generated many projects, programmes and funding for science around the world. 
• It has also aimed to develop cooperation between scientists living in regions affected by conflict, such as the UNESCO-supported creation of the Israeli-Palestinian Science Organization (IPSO).

Significance: 

• World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated to raise awareness and make scientific literacy accessible to all. 
• It is a day when scientists, researchers, and teachers alike can come together and help people understand the benefit of science and how it plays a key role in improving their lives.
• The day is also commemorated to raise awareness about how we can make our planet more sustainable.
• It is a means of maintaining sustainable development and promoting world peace. A day where people from all walks of life can come together and be educated about the latest discoveries in the field.

Question: 

On which day is World Science Day celebrated around the world?

A. 18 January

B. 27 April

C. 19 September

D. 10 November

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Mangrove Alliance for Climate

• Dubbing mangrove forests the “most productive ecosystems” of the world, India recently joined the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) at the 27th Summit of the Conference of Parties (COP27) at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. UAE, Indonesia, Australia, Japan, Spain and Sri Lanka are the other MAC supporters.

What Are Mangrove Forests?

• A mangrove is a shrub or a small tree that grows along the coastlines and has roots in salty sediments, often underwater. 
• They also grow in swamps. Mangrove forests can survive extreme weather conditions and require low oxygen levels to survive.
• The mangroves cannot survivezing temperatures and thus are found mainly in tropical and subtropical latitudes. Sundarbans in West Bengal in India is the largest mangrove forest in the world.
• UNESCO celebrates 26 July as the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem to raise awareness about mangrove ecosystems and to promote their conservation.

What Is the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC)?

• Spearheaded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in partnership with Indonesia, MAC was launched at the COP27 summit in Egypt to scale up and accelerate the conservation and restoration of the mangrove forests.
• The alliance will raise awareness about the role of mangroves as a “nature-based solution to climate change”.
• The alliance will be amplified at the G20 Summit that will be held between November 15 and 16 in Bali under the presidency of Indonesia.
• “The MAC seeks to scale up, accelerate conservation, restoration and growing plantation efforts of mangrove ecosystems for the benefit of communities globally, and recognise the importance of these ecosystems for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

How Are the Mangroves Beneficial?

• According to MAC, Mangrove forests can store ten times more carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests. Also, they can store carbon up to 400 per cent faster than land-based tropical rainforests.
• According to Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA), when the mangroves are cut, the carbon stored in these plants gets released into the air. So, preserving them to keep the carbon emissions levels low is necessary.
• Once the plants die, they take the stored carbon into the soil. This is called “Blue Carbon”.
• Moreover, Mangrove forests act as natural barriers against rising tides and storms. Each year, they prevent property damages of over $65 billion.
• “They also provide breeding grounds for marine biodiversity, and 80% of global fish populations depend on healthy mangrove ecosystems”, says MAC.

What Is the Relationship between India and Mangroves?

• India contributes to nearly half of the total mangrove cover in South Asia. According to the Forest Survey report 2021 released in January, mangroves cover in the country is 4,992 square km, which is 0.15 per cent of the country’s total geographical area. Since 2019, the cover has risen by only 17 sq km.
• West Bengal has the highest percentage of mangrove cover in India, mainly because it has Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world. It is followed by Gujarat and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Other states that have mangrove cover are Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Kerala.

Question:

India recently joined the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) at which of the following summits of the Conference of Parties?

A. COP20

B. COP23

C. COP25

D. COP27

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Awards and Honours

Dr Subhash Babu, First Indian Scientist to Be Awarded Bailey K. Ashford Medal

• For his outstanding research and contributions to tropical medicine, prominent Indian physician and scientist Dr Subhash Babu was awarded the prestigious Bailey K. Ashford Medal for 2022 and the Fellow of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (FASTMH) award for 2022.
• In its 82-year history, the award has never been given to an Indian scientist or an Indian institution for work.

About the Award:

• The medal is presented annually to one or more mid-career researchers for distinguished work in tropical medicine by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), the largest scientific organisation in tropical medicine in the world.

What Is the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene?

• The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), the largest scientific organisation in tropical medicine in the world, presents the medal annually to one or more mid-career researchers for distinguished work in tropical medicine.

About Dr Subhash Babu:

• He is the Scientific Director of the ICER (International Centre for Excellence in Research)-India Programme. 
• He is a pioneer in research on helminth infections and tuberculosis.

Question: 

Recently, who was the first Indian scientist to be awarded the Bailey K. Ashford Medal?

A. Prafulla Chandra Ray

B. Subhash Babu

C. Meghnad Saha

D. Kiruthakshana. V.B

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

International Drought Resilience Alliance

• Spain and Senegal led 30 countries and 20 organisations recently launched the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) at the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at Sharm El-Sheikh.

About the Alliance:

• The alliance will help each other to be better prepared for future droughts. 
• The group also pledged to drive change in how the world tackles the growing drought risks: Moving from emergency response to building long-term resilience.

Draught:

• Drought represents the most serious hazard to livestock and crops in nearly every part of the world. 
• It ranks among the greatest threats to sustainable development, especially in developing countries, but increasingly so in developed nations too.

Facts:

• Drought-prone districts in India comprise nearly 1/6th of this country in terms of area. These areas receive an annual rainfall of around 60 cm or less.
• The 2022 droughts in Europe, the United States, Australia, Chile, the Horn and southern Africa showed that no country or region is immune to their impacts.

Question:

Which two countries recently led 30 countries and 20 organisations and launched the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA)?

A. Egypt and Australia

B. Spain and Senegal

C. Australia and Chile

D. Spain and Chile

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Nicobar Project

• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted an in-principle (Stage 1) clearance for the diversion of 130.75 sq km of forest in Great Nicobar Island for the mega ₹72,000-crore project that includes a transhipment port, an airport, a power plant and a greenfield township. 
• The project implementation agency is the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).

What Are the Concerns:

• 8.5 lakh trees will have to be cut in Great Nicobar for this project. 
• The area is nearly 15% of the thickly forested Great Nicobar Island, spread over 900 sq km.
• Endemic species such as the Nicobar shrew, the Nicobar long-tailed macaque, the Great Nicobar crested serpent eagle, the Nicobar paradise flycatcher and the Nicobar megapode may be impacted.

Compensatory Afforestation:

• A key condition for the clearance is the submission of a detailed scheme for compensatory afforestation, which is to be done on “non-notified forest land” in Haryana.
• It also states that an amount of ₹3,672 crores needs to be earmarked for the environment management plan (EMP) for the construction and operation phase of the project.

About Great Nicobar Island:

• Great Nicobar is the southernmost island of the Nicobar Islands Archipelago. It has the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve. 
• The Mongoloid Shompen Tribe, about 200 in number, lives in the forests of the biosphere reserve, particularly along the rivers and streams.

Question:

Recently Nicobar project got assent for the diversion of 130 sq km of forest to get compensatory afforestation in which of the following states/UT?

A. Punjab

B. Kerala

C. Madhya Pradesh

D. Haryana

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Greenwashing

• There will be zero tolerance for net zero greenwashing, or falsification of carbon emissions reports, by companies, financial institutions, cities, regions, and other non-state actors, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned all the corporates recently.

What Is Greenwashing?

• Greenwashing presents a false picture of the progress being made on the climate change front, thereby pushing the world towards disaster while at the same time rewarding entities for irresponsible behaviour.

What Are the Problems With Greenwashing? 

• There is a growing tendency among firms and governments to mark all kinds of activities as climate-friendly, as something that would lead to emissions reduction or avoidance of emissions. 
• Many of these claims are unverifiable, misleading, or dubious. 
• Developed countries, for example, are often accused of greenwashing their normal business investments in developing countries, or their bilateral aid, by highlighting climate co-benefits of the financial flows, sometimes with very little justification.

How Can It Be Resolved?

• Last year, an expert group formed by the UN Secretary-General to suggest remedial actions on this front submitted its report.
• It recommended that corporations pursuing net zero targets must not be allowed to make fresh investments in fossil fuels, must be asked to present short-term emission reduction goals on the path to achieving net zero, and must bring an end to all activities that lead to deforestation. 
• In addition, corporations have been advised not to use offset mechanisms at the start of their journey to net-zero status.
• The expert group has also recommended the creation of regulatory structures and standards as soon as possible.

Writers Madhu Kankariya, Madhav Hada Awarded the Bihari Puraskar

Awards and Recognitions

• Noted writers Madhu Kankariya and Dr Madhav Hada were recently awarded the 31st and 32nd Bihari Puraskar, respectively.

What Is Bihari Puraskar?

• The Bihari Puraskar is one of the three literary awards instituted by the KK Birla Foundation in 1991. Named after the famous poet Bihari, the award for Rajasthani authors carries a cash prize of ₹2.5 lakh, a plaque and a citation.
• The Bihari Puraskar is given every year for an outstanding work published in the last 10 years by a Rajasthani author in Hindi or Rajasthani. The recipient is chosen by a selection committee headed by chairman Hemant Shesh.
• In 1991, the awards were started, and in the last 32 years, many prominent people have been awarded. The awards are recognised in and outside the state.

About the Authors:

• Kankariya was awarded the Puraskar for her 2018 novel ‘Hum Yahan The’ while Hada was awarded for his 2015 literary criticism book ‘Pachrang Chola Pahar Sakhi Ri’.

Question: 

The authors of which of the following states recently received the 31st and 32nd Bihari Puraskar awards?

A. Bihar

B. Rajasthan

C. Uttar Pradesh

D. Gujarat

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund 

• The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) recently announced the Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund (IRAF), a CDRI Multi-Partner Trust Fund, at the India Pavilion, COP27, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. 
• Around $50 million in financial commitments have already been announced for IRAF over an initial duration of five years.

What Is Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund?

• IRAF, a multi-donor trust fund established with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), will support global action on disaster resilience of infrastructure systems, especially in developing countries and small island developing states (SIDS).

Significance:

• Supported by India, the UK, Australia and the European Union, IRAF’s multi-pronged programme focus will offer customised technical assistance, capacity building, research, knowledge management, and advocacy across the infrastructure life cycle for countries at all stages of development.
• IRAF will play a crucial role in equipping the coalition to deliver improved infrastructure governance, inclusive infrastructure services, diversified knowledge, and financing for resilient infrastructure globally. 
• One of the first initiatives to be supported by the IRAF is the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS).

Fund:

• The IRAF will be managed by the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office, New York. It will be supported by the governments of India, the United Kingdom, Australia and the European Union. 

Question:

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) recently announced Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund (IRAF) at COP27 will not be supported by which of the following?

A. India

B. United Kingdom

C. Australia 

D. China

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Index and Rankings

QS Asia Universities Ranking 2023

• In a big achievement, around 19 Indian universities featured in the top 200 list of QS Asia Universities Ranking 2023, released recently. 
• Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, has maintained its position as the country’s top university by ranking 40th in the QS Asia Universities Ranking.

About the Rankings:

• The QS Asia University Rankings highlight the top universities in Asia each year. 
• The rankings are based on 11 indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, and international research network.

Who Releases These Rankings?

• The Q2 Asia Universities Ranking 2023 was released recently by Quacquarelli Symonds, the International Ranking agency.

List of Featured Universities:

• In the top 10, five universities are from China. Peking University has secured the first position, followed by the National University of Singapore (NUS) Singapore in second place and Tsinghua University, China, in the third position.
• This year the universities which have made it to rank in the top 200 QS Asia Universities Ranking include IIT Bombay (40th), IIT Delhi (46th), IISc Bangalore (52), IIT Madras (53), IIT Kharagpur (61), IIT Kanpur (66) University of Delhi (85), IIT Roorkee (114), JNU (119), IIT Guwahati (124), VIT Vellore (173), University of Calcutta (181), Jadavpur University (182), Anna University (185), Chandigarh University (185), IIT Indore (185), BITS Pilani (188), Jamia Millia Islamia (188), and Amity University Noida (200).
• Chandigarh University Gharuan has secured 185th rank in Asia, 14th in India and 2nd amongst the private universities of India.

Fact: 

• This is the highest number of Indian universities ever, making it to the top 200 list in the QS Asia Universities Ranking. Moreover, eight Indian Universities in the top 200 of the QS Asia Ranking have improved their rankings compared to last year.

Question: 

How many Indian universities featured in the top 200 list of recently released QS Asia Universities Ranking 2023?

A.10

B. 19

C. 28

D. 47

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Person in News

Aruna Miller

• Aruna Miller recently wrote history when she became the first Indian-American politician to win the campaign for lieutenant governor in Maryland, a state that borders the US capital. 
• Former Maryland House delegate Miller, 58, ran for lieutenant governor alongside Wes Moore, the incoming Democratic governor.

Who Is Aruna Miller?

• The 58-year-old Democrat is said to have her roots in Hyderabad and immigrated to the United States from India when she was 7.
• She graduated from the Missouri University of Science and Technology with a degree in civil engineering in 1989 and worked for 25 years at the local Department of Transportation in Montgomery County.
• From 2010 to 2018, she represented District 15 in the Maryland House of Delegates.
• She ran for Congress in 2018 in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, finishing second in a crowded field of eight candidates.

What Does This Mean?

• The Lieutenant Governor is one of the state’s senior-most officials, second only to the Governor. The L-G assumes the role of Governor if the latter is out of state or incapacitated. 
• The LG automatically assumes the top post if the Governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office.

Question:

Who is the first Indian American to recently win the Maryland Lieutenant Governor race?

A. Kamala Prasad Bisesar

B. Kamala Harris

C. Aruna Miller

D. Nancy Williams

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Days and Events

Kochi to Host the 18th International Telemedicine Conference

• The 18th edition of the international telemedicine conference organised by the Telemedicine Society of India in association with its Kerala chapter will be held at Amrita Hospital in Kochi from November 10 to 12.

Theme: 

• The core theme of the conference titled ‘Telemedicon 2022’ is ‘Strengthening health systems through sustainable telemedicine and digital health’.

What Is a Telemedicine Conference?

• Telemedicine 2022 is an annual global conference for healthcare professionals, providers, health insurance providers, online pharmacy chains, industrialists, academic scientists, research scholars and scientists, medical and engineering stakeholders from various fields of telemedicine, telehealth, e-health, m-health, and digital health across the world meet.

About the Conference-2022:

• The conference is held in collaboration with government agencies, private organisations, and national and international professional societies. 

Question:

The 18th edition of the international telemedicine conference was organised recently in which of the following cities?

A. Mumbai

B. Haridwar

C. Ahmedabad

D. Kochi

Answer: D

Current Affairs: International Event

India Hosted the 2nd BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministers Meeting

• India recently hosted the Second Agriculture Ministerial-level meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar. 
• Agriculture ministers of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand participated in the meeting.

About the 2nd BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministerial Meeting:

• The 2nd BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministerial Meeting adopted the ‘action plan’ for strengthening BIMSTEC Agricultural Cooperation (2023-2027). 
• An MoU between the BIMSTEC Secretariat and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has been signed, and approval has been given to bring Fisheries and Livestock sub-sectors under the Agricultural Working Group. 
• BIMSTEC member countries appreciated India’s efforts to strengthen cooperation in agricultural research and development and for awarding six scholarships each for postgraduate and PhD programmes in agriculture.

About BIMSTEC:

• BIMSTEC was established in 1997. 
• It includes five south Asian countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka and two southeast Asian countries – Myanmar and Thailand.

Question:

Which country’s agriculture minister did not participate in the 2nd BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministers’ meeting hosted by India recently?

A. Myanmar

B. Sri Lanka

C. Thailand

D. Philippines

 Answer: D

Current Affairs: Defence and Social Welfare

Indian Army Launches Single-Window Facility for Welfare, Grievance Redressal of ‘Veer Naris’

• The Indian Army has launched a single-window facility for welfare and grievance redressal of ‘Veer Naris’. 
• The widow of a member of the armed forces, who has laid down his life for the nation, whether in war or a military operation, is called a ‘Veer Nari’.
• The project was inaugurated by the president of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) recently on the premises of the Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV) in Delhi Cantonment.

Rationale:

• The VSK is an exceptional initiative by the Indian Army towards extending genuine care and support to its widows or ‘Veer Naris’ and the next of kin.

Veerangana Sewa Kendra:

• Veerangana Sewa Kendra (VSK) will be available as a service to the Indian Army Veterans Portal: www.indianarmyveterans.gov.in. 
• The system caters for registering grievances with tracking, monitoring and regular feedback to the applicant.

How Will This System Work?

• “Veer naris / Next of Kin will have multiple means for approaching the VSK through telephone, SMS, WhatsApp, Post, e-mail and walk-ins to seek assistance. 
• Stakeholders can monitor the status of grievances through Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, and the applicant will receive regular status updates through SMS and e-mail.

Current Affairs: National

MoHUA Launches the Transport4All Challenge Stage-2 and Citizen Perception Survey-2022

• Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Mr Hardeep S Puri, inaugurated the Transport4All Challenge Stage-2 and Citizen Perception Survey 2022.

What Is Transport4All Challenge?

• The Transport4All Challenge is a project of the Government of India’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs that aims to improve people’s mobility. 
• The Challenge focuses on digital innovation and asks cities, residents, and innovators to collaborate to build contextual digital solutions to improve formal and informal public transportation to serve all citizens’ mobility requirements better.
• More than 130 cities signed up for Stage 1 of the Challenge, which launched on 15th April 2021. 
• A Transport4All Task Force (TTF) was founded by 100 cities, along with important government players and governments operating in the transportation sector, academic institutes, non-profit organisations, and IPT unions.

Stages of Transport4All Challenge Stage-2:

1. Stage I – Problem Identification: Cities, with the support of NGOs, identify key recurring problems that citizens and public transport operators face.
2. Stage II – Solution Generation: Startups develop prototypes of solutions to improve public transport with inputs from cities and NGOs.
3. Stage III Pilot Testing: Cities engage Startups for large-scale pilots and refine the solutions based on citizen feedback.

Urban Outcomes Framework 2022

• In April 2022, the MoHUA introduced the Urban Outcomes Framework 2022 as an endeavour to conduct a transparent and comprehensive assessment of cities based on cross-city outcomes across various sectors. 
• In addition, the Framework includes the third round of the Ease of Living Index. 
• As a 360-degree evaluation, the Ease of Living Index seeks to rank cities in India based on their Quality of Life, Economic Ability, and Sustainability.

What Is a Citizen Perception Survey?

• A Citizen Perception Survey is being undertaken as part of the Ease of Living Index (which carries 30% of the Ease of Living Index marks). 
• This is a critical component of the evaluation process since it will directly capture resident comments on the liveability of their community.

Question:

Citizen Perception Survey-2022 was conducted recently by which of the following ministries?

A. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

B. Ministry of Rural Development

C. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India

D. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Awards and Honours

India Agribusiness Awards 2022

• National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad, a vibrant organisation under the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, has been awarded the “India Agribusiness Awards 2022” for the best agribusiness award recently.

About the Award:

• The award was given for supporting and playing a significant role in technology upgradation, species diversification in aquaculture, propagation of new and improved fish species, seaweed cultivation, ornamental fishes, training and capacity building on need-based projects.
• It is being organised by the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA), an Indian Government body on technical collaborations with numerous national or international industrial associations and related organisations.

India International Agro Trade and Technology Fair:

• “AgroWorld 2022” – India International Agro Trade and Technology Fair – 2022 is being held from 9–11 November 2022 at Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi.
• The India International Agro Trade and Technology Fair – 2022 was organised to commemorate the services and support extended to the fisheries sector by playing a crucial and exemplary role dedicated to the stakeholders. 
• The fair showcased the development and modernisations achieved by key stakeholders in major sectors like food, agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, and fisheries and its extended support in various need-based projects related to:
  • Technology upgradation
  • Species diversification in aquaculture
  • Dissemination of new and improved fish varieties
  • Promoting seaweed cultivation, ornamental fisheries, training and capacity building, etc.
  • Bringing significant increase in fish production and productivity
  • Improving the livelihoods of fishers
  • Promoting entrepreneurship opportunities in fisheries

Question: 

India Agribusiness Awards 2022 was recently awarded to which of the following organisations/departments?

A. Department of Agricultural Research and Education

B. Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare

C. National Fisheries Development Board

D. Food Processing and Marketing Cooperation 

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Economy and Environment

Sovereign Green Bonds

• According to sources, the Finance Ministry has finalised the framework for issuing sovereign green bonds in line with global standards.
• The government intends to mobilise ₹16,000 crores from the issuance of green bonds during the second half of the current financial year. It is a part of the borrowing programme for the second half of this fiscal.

What Are Green Bonds?

• Green bonds are an instrument to raise money—at a lower cost than regular bonds—for environment-friendly projects. 
• The concept goes back only 15 years when a group of Swedish pension funds wanted to invest in green projects as climate worries grew. 
• As more countries and institutions hopped on, India was not left behind. 
• Holders of sovereign green bonds may also enjoy tax benefits.
• Aside from sovereign green bonds, green bonds were first introduced in 2007.

About the Sovereign Green Bond Framework:

• The Ministry of Finance has constituted a Green Finance Working Committee (GFWC), including members from relevant line ministries and chaired by the Chief Economic Advisor, to support the Ministry with the selection and evaluation of projects.
• To support these projects, the government will issue bonds, whose proceeds will be deposited to the Consolidated Fund of India, from where it will be made available for eligible green projects.
• Following the passage of the Finance Bill, the Ministry of Finance would notify the Reserve Bank of India of the amount of eligible green expenditures for which proceeds from green bonds can be used.

Questions:

Aside from sovereign green bonds, when were green bonds first introduced in India?

A. 2001

B. 2005

C. 2007

D. 2014

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Days and Events

World Usability Day 2022

• Every year on the second Thursday of November, the world observes World Usability Day. 
• The date is also mentioned on the UN calendar. 
• The goal of this day is to bring together various communities that can work together to make the world a better place to live. 
• This day also focuses on the responsibility of every user to demand better quality products. 
• World Usability Day, which will fall on November 10 this year, is also known as ‘Make Things Easier’ day.

What is Usability?

• “Usability” is a quality that evaluates how efficiently and effectively a person can use a product, as well as how satisfied he or she is with the process. It is defined by five quality components:

1. Learnability
2. Efficiency
3. Memorability
4. Errors
5. Customer satisfaction

World Usability Day 2022: Significance

• The day aims to bring together communities of professional, industrial, educational, citizen, and government groups to work towards a common goal– making essential services and products easier to access and use. 
• The purpose of the day is to both celebrate and educate.
• The objective is to celebrate the creation of usable products and educate the public about how usability affects our daily lives.
• Its purpose is to improve the way our world works.

World Usability Day 2022: Theme

• The theme of World Usability Day 2022 is “Our Health”. 
• The theme for this year is to evaluate systems that provide healthcare in all of its various forms, such as virtual/telehealth, electronic health records, healthcare products, and all digital health-related solutions. 
• This theme will assist us in exploring timely and critical issues such as continuity of care, access to treatment, telemedicine, mental health systems, exercise, nutrition, and many others.

Question: 

What is the Theme of World Usability Day 2022?

A. Our Planet

B. Our Health

C. Our Environment

D. Our People

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Economy

US Currency Monitoring List

• The US Department of Treasury recently removed India, along with Italy, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam from its Currency Monitoring List of major trading partners that merit close attention to their currency practices and macroeconomic policies.
• India had been on the list for the last two years.
• In this report, the US treasury department reviewed and assessed the policies of major US trading partners, comprising roughly 80 per cent of US foreign trade in goods and services, during the four quarters through June 2022.

What Is a Currency Monitoring List?

• Putting a country under the ‘Currency Monitoring List’ would mean that the country is artificially lowering the value of its currency to gain an unfair advantage over others.
• This is because the lower value of the currency will lead to a reduction of the export costs from that country.
• The US Department of Treasury releases a semi-annual report in which it tracks global economic developments and reviews foreign exchange rates. 
• It also reviews the currency practices of the US’ 20 biggest trading partners.

Three Criteria of Currency Monitoring List:

• There are three criteria based on which a country is put under the currency watch list. A country that meets two of the three criteria in the US Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 is put under the Currency Monitoring List.

1. A “significant” bilateral trade surplus with the US — at least $20 billion in 12 months.
2. A material current account surplus equivalent to at least 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) over 12 months.
3. “Persistent”, one-sided intervention — when net purchases of foreign currency totalling at least 2 per cent of the country’s GDP over 12 months are conducted repeatedly, in at least six out of 12 months.

• Once a country meets all three criteria, it is labelled as a ‘currency manipulator’ by the US Department of Treasury. 
• Once on the Monitoring List, an economy will remain there for at least two consecutive reports “to help ensure that any improvement in performance versus the criteria is durable and is not due to temporary factors”.

What Does It Mean For India?

• When on the US Currency Monitoring List, a country is considered a ‘currency manipulator’. A currency manipulator is a designation applied by US government authorities to countries that engage in “unfair currency practices” for a trade advantage.
• This (the removal from US Currency Monitoring List) means that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) can now take robust measures to manage the exchange rates effectively without being tagged as a currency manipulator. 
• This is a big win from a market standpoint and also signifies the growing role of India in global growth.
• To manage exchange rates amid the rupee fall, the RBI recently took actions like buying dollars at the time of excess inflows and selling dollars at the time of outflows.

Question:

Which of the following nations was recently removed from the US Department of Treasury’s Currency Monitoring List, along with India?

A. Italy

B. Thailand 

C. Vietnam

D. All of the above

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

CRISPR Technology: Personalised Cell ‘Editing’ Used to Treat Cancer Patients

• For the first time, scientists have used CRISPR technology to insert genes that allow immune cells to attack cancer cells, potentially leaving normal cells unharmed and increasing the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

What Is CRISPR Technology?

• CRISPR is short for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, which is a reference to the clustered and repetitive sequences of DNA found in bacteria, whose natural mechanism to fight some viral diseases is replicated in this gene-editing tool.
• Its mechanism is often compared to the ‘cut-copy-paste’ or ‘find-replace’ functionalities in common computer programmes.
• The CRISPR gene editing technique has been previously used in humans to remove specific genes to allow the immune system to be more activated against cancer.

How Does it Work?

• CRISPR not only takes out specific genes but also inserts new ones in immune cells, efficiently redirecting them to recognise mutations in the patient’s own cancer cells.
• When infused back into patients, these CRISPR-engineered immune cells preferentially traffic to cancer and become the most represented immune cells there.
• These are different for every patient, so finding an efficient way to isolate them and insert them back into immune cells to generate a personalised cell therapy to treat cancer is key to making the approach feasible on a large scale.

Benefits:

• This is a leap forward in developing a personalised treatment for cancer, where the isolation of immune receptors that specifically recognise mutations in the patient’s own cancer is used to treat cancer.
• The generation of a personalised cell treatment for cancer would not have been possible without the newly developed ability to use the CRISPR technique to replace the immune receptors in clinical-grade cell preparations in a single step.

Question:

Scientists recently used CRISPR technology to insert genes that enable immune cells to combat which of the following diseases?

A. Cancer

B. Tuberculosis

C. AIDS

D. COVID

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

CE20 Cryogenic Engine

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully tested the indigenously developed cryogenic engine that will power its heaviest rocket, the LVM-3. 
• The Launch Vehicle Mark-III went through the hot test at an uprated thrust level of 21.8 tonnes for the first time.

About the Test:

• The recently tested CE20 cryogenic engine has undergone major modifications compared to previous engines, with Thrust Control Valve (TCV) for thrust control being introduced in the system. 
• ISRO said that in addition to it, 3D-printed LOX and LH2 turbine exhaust casings were inducted into the engine for the first time.

Objective Behind Hot Fire:

• ISRO said that the objective behind the hot fire was to test that the engine could support a payload capability of up to 450 kg with additional propellant loading. 
• This will enhance the LVM3 payload capability up to 450 kg with additional propellant loading.

What Is a ‘Cryogenic Engine’?

• A cryogenic engine/cryogenic stage is the last stage of space launch vehicles using Cryogenics. 
• Cryogenics is the study of the production and behaviour of materials at extremely low temperatures (below -150 degrees Centigrade) to lift and place heavier objects in space.

Details: 

• The cryogenic stage is technically a much more complex system with respect to solid or liquid propellant (stored on earth) stages due to the usage of propellants at extremely low temperatures. 
• A cryogenic engine provides more force with each kilogram of cryogenic propellant it uses compared to other propellants, such as solid and liquid propellant rocket engines and is more efficient.

Functioning of Cryogenic Engine:

• Cryogenic engines make use of Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) as propellants which liquefy at -183 deg C and -253 deg C respectively. LOX and LH2 are stored in their respective tanks. 
• From there, they are pumped into turbo pumps by individual booster pumps to ensure a high flow rate of propellants inside the combustion/thrust chamber. 
• The major components of a cryogenic rocket engine are a combustion/thrust chamber, igniter, fuel injector, fuel cryo pumps, oxidizer cryo pumps, gas turbine, cryo valves, regulators, fuel tanks and a rocket engine nozzle.

Question:

A cryogenic engine/cryogenic stage usually works on the fuel principle of

A. High Temperature, Low Pressure

B. Low Temperature, High Pressure

C. High Temperature, High Pressure

D. Low Temperature, Low Pressure

Answer: B

Current Affairs: National

Eat Right Station Certification

• Indian Railways’ Bhopal Railway Station has been awarded a 4-star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification for providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers. 
• This certification is granted by FSSAI to railway stations adhering to standard food storage and hygiene practices.
• Prayagraj Junction has become the first railway station in Uttar Pradesh to be certified as an ‘Eat Right Station’ by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

What Is an Eat Right Station?

• FSSAI awards the ‘Eat Right Station’ certification to railway stations that set benchmarks in providing safe and wholesome food to passengers.
• The station is awarded a certificate upon a conclusion of an FSSAI-empanelled third-party audit agency with ratings from 1 to 5.
• The 4-star rating indicates full compliance by the station to ensure safe and hygienic food is available to passengers.

About Certification:

• The certification is part of the ‘Eat Right India’ movement- a large-scale effort by FSSAI to transform the country’s food system to ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food for all Indians. 
• Eat Right India adopts a judicious mix of regulatory, capacity-building, collaborative, and empowerment approaches to ensure that our food is suitable both for the people and the planet.

Additional Stations Included:

• The other railway stations with this certification include Anand Vihar Terminal Railway Station; (Delhi), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus; (Mumbai), Mumbai Central Railway Station; (Mumbai), Vadodara Railway Station, and Chandigarh Railway Station.

Question: 

Which Indian Railway Station has recently been awarded a 4-star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification from the FSSAI for providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers?

A. Bhopal Railway Station

B. Jammu Railway Station

C. Guwahati Railway Station

D. Kolkata Railway Station

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Sports

England Won T20 World Cup-2022, Important Facts

• England won ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. The final match of the T20 World Cup 2022 was played on Sunday between the two best teams of the tournament Pakistan and England. 
• England won the T20 final 2022 final match by 5 wickets. Pakistan scored 137 runs (137/8) in 20 overs, and England chased the score in 19 overs by 5 wickets (138/5). 
• The final match played was on 13th November 2022 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia.

Facts: 

• Sam Curran was the Player of the Match for his brilliant spell of 3/12. 
• Sam Curran was also named the Player of the Tournament. He has picked up 13 wickets from 6 matches at a strike rate of 11.3 and an economy rate of 6.53. 
• World cup Indian batsman Virat Kohli was the top run scorer with 296 runs in 6 matches.
• Sri Lankan bowler Wanindu Hasaranga was the most wicket-taker. 
• He took 15 wickets in 8 matches with 6.41 economy. 
• England are the first team to hold both ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup titles together since the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup. 

Summation of all Mens T-20 cricket World Cups from 2007-2022:

Year	Winners	Runners Up	Player of the Series	Top Run Scorer	Highest Wicket Taker	Venue
2022	England	Pakistan	Sam Curran	Virat Kohli	Wanindu Hasaranga	Australia
2021	Australia	New Zealand	—	Babar Azam	Wanindu Hasaranga	Oman & UAE
2016	West Indies	England	Virat Kohli	Tamim Iqbal	Mohammad Nabi	India
2014	Sri Lanka	India	Virat Kohli	Virat Kohli	Ahsan Malik and Imran Tahir	Bangladesh
2012	West Indies	Sri Lanka	Shane Watson	Shane Watson	Ajantha Mendis	Sri Lanka
2010	England	Australia	Kevin Pietersen	Mahela Jayawardene	Dirk Nannes	West Indies
2009	Pakistan	Sri Lanka	Tillakaratne Dilshan	Tillakaratne Dilshan	Umar Gul	England
2007	India	Pakistan	Shahid Afridi	Matthew Hayden	Umar Gul	South Africa

Question:

Which player became the man of the tournament in the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022?

A. Virat Kohli

B. Babar Azam

C. Wanindu Hasaranga

D. Sam Curran

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

India’s First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel

• The Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) will build the country’s first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell catamaran vessel for the spiritual city of Varanasi. 
• Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal made the announcement in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister for Heavy Industries Mahendra Nath Pandey during the inauguration of seven boat jetties in Varanasi recently.

Memorandum of Understanding:

• A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was inked between the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) to build the country’s first hydrogen fuel cell catamaran vessel for operation in Varanasi and electric hybrid vessels for Uttar Pradesh and Assam.

About the Vessels:

• CSL also inked an MoU for the construction of six electric catamaran vessels for UP and another two for Assam. The introduction of the 100-passenger capacity air-conditioned hydrogen cell vessel in Varanasi will pave the way for the reduction in the usage of fossil fuels in the country’s national waterways.

Environmental Friendly:

• The vessel will be deployed at Varanasi after several trial runs and tests in Kochi. It will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 250 MT annually.
• Based on the project’s success, the technology can be adopted for greening cargo vessels and small country crafts, reducing pollution levels significantly in the national waterways.

Question:

The country’s first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell catamaran vessel will be built by the Cochin Shipyard Ltd. and will primarily be used in which of the following states?

A. Assam

B. Bihar

C. Uttar Pradesh

D. Arunachal Pradesh

Answer: C

Current Affairs: International Relations

Year 2022 Is Declared as ASEAN-India Friendship Year

• The year 2022 has been declared the ASEAN-India Friendship year as ASEAN and India commemorate 30 years of partnership. 
• A series of events have been planned to celebrate the occasion throughout the year. As a part of this programme, an Indian media delegation is visiting Singapore and Cambodia under the ASEAN-INDIA Media exchange programme from 8th November to 13th November.

About ASEAN: 

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was established on 8th August 1968, with the aim to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region. 
• The five founding members included Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia later joined.
• Jakarta, Indonesia, is home to the ASEAN headquarters.

India and ASEAN:

• ASEAN and India began holding annual summits in 2002 to elevate political, security, economic and socio-cultural ties. 
• In 2012, it was elevated to the Strategic partnership level.
• In 2015, ASEAN leaders welcomed India’s “Act East Policy.” 
• The volume of two-way trade between ASEAN countries and India was recorded at $60.05 billion in 2016. 
• Meanwhile, Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) from India to ASEAN increased by 9.4 per cent from $0.96 billion in 2015 to $1.05 billion in 2016.
• In 2022 the relationship was further upgraded to the Summit level.
• In a joint statement, they acknowledged the deep civilisational linkages, maritime connectivity, and cross-cultural exchanges between Southeast Asia and India, which have grown stronger over the last 30 years, providing a strong foundation for ASEAN-India relations.

Question: 

Recently which regional geopolitical block commemorated 30 years of partnership with India and declared 2022 as Friendship Year with India?

A. SCO

B. ASEAN

C. BRICS

D. SAARC

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Days and Events

World Diabetes Day 2022: Theme, History and Significance

• World Diabetes Day is observed on 14 November every year to bring the attention of the people to health threats posed by diabetes and how to avoid that. 
• On this day, the enormous achievement of insulin discovery by two outstanding scientists- Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best, is celebrated. 
• However, World Diabetes Day is not really an occasion for remembering the past but, in fact, to raise awareness around the risks of diabetes, how to address the prevalent challenges and achieve sustainable advanced access to its care.

History:

• World Diabetes Day was first observed in 1991 by the declaration of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
• 14 November was picked as World Diabetes Day because it was the birth anniversary of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, discovered insulin.
• And in 1991, the day marked his 100th birthday anniversary, and therefore, it was announced as World Diabetes Day to raise awareness towards diabetes all across the world.

Significance:

• This day is celebrated mainly to raise awareness of diabetes through campaigns reaching more than 1 billion people globally. Moreover, it promotes IDF advocacy efforts throughout the year. It helps acknowledge the importance of taking concerted actions to fight against diabetes.
• World Diabetes Day is represented by a blue circle logo, adopted in 2007 by the UN Resolution. This logo symbolises diabetes awareness, signifying the unity of the global diabetes community.

Theme

• The theme of World Diabetes Day between the years 2021 and 2023 is a really important topic – “Access to Diabetes Care”.

Question:

World Diabetes Day was first observed in which of the following years?

A. 1961

B. 1991

C. 2001

D. 2011

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Economy

Reliance to Develop a Multi-Modal Logistics Park in Tamil Nadu

• Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has been awarded the work to develop the first multi-modal logistics park (MMLP) at Mappedu in the Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu.
• National Master Plan and embarking on the same MMLP Chennai at Mappedu being developed in 184.27 acres is 1st MMLP awarded to Reliance Industries Limited.

Details:

• The estimated project cost is ₹1424 crores. 
• The total concession period is 45 years. 
• The SPV will provide 4-lane NH connectivity of 5.4 km with an estimated cost of ₹104 crores and new rail siding to the MMLP site of length ~10.5 km with an estimated cost of ₹217 crores.

Rationale behind Developing MMLPs:

• MMLPs, if executed as planned, will be a much-awaited solution for India’s logistics woes. 
• These will act as freight aggregation and distribution centres, storage and warehousing, providing added incentives to logistics companies such as customs clearances. 
• These parks will also facilitate intermodal transportation – roads, railways, and inland waterways- to strengthen and diversify the logistics system.
• The Centre plans to build 15 of these within the next two years. Under the National Logistics Policy (NLP) and PM-GatiShakti, it wants to bring down logistics costs to under 10 per cent of the GDP in a bid to make exports competitive and supply chains more efficient.

Question:

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has recently been awarded the work to develop the first multi-modal logistics park in which of the following states?

A. Uttar Pradesh

B. Assam

C. Tamil Nadu

D. Andhra Pradesh

Answer: C

Current Affairs: National

PV Sindhu Launches Fit India School Week Mascots Toofan and Toofani

• Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu recently launched the mascots “Toofan and Toofani” for Fit India Movement’s Fit India School Week initiative for 2022.
• The 4th edition of Fit India School Week will kick off on 15 November 2022, wherein, for a month, various schools across India will celebrate fitness and sports in various forms for 4 to 6 days and reaffirm their importance amongst the school fraternity.

What Is the Fit India Movement?

• Fit India Movement, which Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched in 2019, kicked off with its annual ‘Fit India School Week’ programme in December of that same year and is dedicated to encouraging schools to inculcate fitness habits and increasing awareness about fitness and sports among students.
• While all three previous editions of the programme have been a huge success among the students, to make the initiative more popular among the younger generation, this edition has added two mascots called “Toofan and Toofani” to its flagship, with the duo representing India’s fittest superhero and superwoman.

About the Mascots:

• To make the mascots more connected to sports, they have been given superpowers like running fast as wind (Athletics), lifting cars (weightlifting), and superb focus skills (Chess). They also engage with people by telling them various stories about sports and fitness and inspire, educate and encourage them in the process.

What Is Done during the Fit India School Week Initiative?

• Various activities that the schools are encouraged to celebrate during the Fit India School Week include – Annual Sports Day, where they are required to identify exceptional sporting talent among their students and provide their details on the Fit India portal under talent identification; Essay writing, Debate, Quiz, Poster making competition on the topic – Importance of Fitness; various activities involving Indigenous Games; Khelo India Physical Fitness Assessment of students; Yoga and Meditation among other activities.

Question:

Which of the following sports persons recently launched the mascots “Toofan and Toofani” for Fit India Movement’s Fit India School Week initiative for 2022?

A. PV Sindhu

B. MS Dhoni

C. Sachin Tendulkar

D. Neeraj Chopra

Answer: A

Current Affairs: International

Neeraj Chopra Becomes ‘Friendship Ambassador’ of Switzerland

• Switzerland Tourism has appointed Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra as its ‘Friendship Ambassador’ to showcase and promote locations in the country to Indian travellers. 

What Does Neeraj Chopra Do in This Role?

• In this development, the athlete will promote the sporty, stunning and adventurous outdoors of Switzerland to Indian travellers. 
• Chopra will share his experiences in the country to showcase it as the ideal destination for outdoors and the best destination for hiking, biking, soft and extreme adventure and, of course, snow sports.

Friendship Ambassador:

• As the ‘Friendship Ambassador’ of the country, Chopra will propagate his experiences in Switzerland to display the European nation as one of the worthy destinations for biking, hiking, soft and extreme adventures and, of course, snow sports for enthusiasts at varied levels.

Fact:

• Tourism in Switzerland occupies 4th rank in terms of export revenues, following the chemical and metal industries and luxury watch-making industry.

Question: 

Which country recently appointed Neeraj Chopra as its Friendship Ambassador?

A. Australia

B. UAE

C. Switzerland

D. France

Answer: C

Current Affairs: International

India to Host No Money for Terror Conference

• Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, is organising the 3rd Ministerial ‘No Money for Terror’ Conference in New Delhi on the 18th and 19th of November.
• The hosting of this conference shows the importance being given by the Modi Government to the issue of international terrorism as well as its zero-tolerance policy against this menace and having discussions on this issue in the international community.

Previous Conferences:

• The conference, which was first held In Paris in 2018, followed by Melbourne in 2019, will be held in Delhi on 18-19 November after a gap of two years due to the travel restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim of the conference:

• This Conference aims to progress the discussions on combating terrorist financing held by the international community in the previous two Conferences in Paris (2018) and Melbourne (2019). It also intends to include discussions on technical, legal, regulatory and cooperation aspects of all facets of terrorism financing. 
• It attempts to also set the pace for other high-level official and political deliberations focused on countering terrorist financing.
• The Conference intends to bring together representatives of 75 countries and international bodies for extended deliberations over two days.

Question: 

India will host the ‘No Money for Terror’ Conference on the 18th and 19th of November in which of the following cities?

A. Ahmedabad

B. New Delhi

C. Jaipur

D. Gangtok 

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Arts and Entertainment

53^rd International Film Festival of India

• The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is all set for it’s 53^rd edition in 2022, and the aim to encourage creative minds remains as solid as ever. 
• The same has translated into the announcement of names which have been chosen for 75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow. This is taking place for the second time.

What is the International Film Festival of India?

• The International Film Festival of India (IFFI), founded in 1952, is among Asia’s most prominent film festivals. 
• The idea of the International Film Festival of India is to celebrate films, the stories they tell, and the people behind them. 
• By doing so, we seek to nurture, promote, and spread the enlightened appreciation and ardent love for films—far, wide, and deep; to build bridges of love, understanding, and fraternity among peoples; and to inspire them to scale new peaks of individual and collective excellence.
• The festival is conducted every year by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India in collaboration with the Entertainment Society of Goa, the Government of Goa, which is the host state. 

‘Alma & Oskar’ to Open the International Film Festival:

• The 53^rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will open with the Austrian film “Alma & Oskar,” directed by Dieter Berner.
• IFFI has also revealed the 15 films that will be competing for its top prize, the Golden Peacock Award. These include 12 international titles and three Indian ones.
• The international titles include “Perfect Number”, “Red Shoes”, “A Minor”, “No End”, “Mediterranean Fever”, “When the Waves Are Gone”, “I Have Electric Dreams”, “Cold as Marble”, “Seven Dogs”, “Maarya: The Ocean Angel”, “Nezouh”, and “The Line”.

Question 

Which one of the following is an opening film for the 53^rd International Film Festival of India, 2022?

A. Cold as Marble

B. Seven Dogs

C. Maarya: The Ocean Angel

D. Alma & Oskar

Answer: D

Current Affairs: National

National Workshop on the Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals

• A three-day national workshop on the Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals in Gram Panchayats through the Adoption of Thematic Approaches
• Theme 1: Poverty and Enhanced Livelihood Gram Panchayats is being organised during 14^th – 16^th November, 2022 at the CIAL Convention Centre, Kochi, Kerala. 

Details: 

• The workshop is being organised by the Ministry of Panchayat Raj, Government of India, in close collaboration with the Local Self Government Department (LSGD), Government of Kerala, and Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), Thrissur, Kerala.

The National Workshop endeavours to achieve the following objectives:

• Creating a space for peer-learning for Gram Panchayats through exchange of ideas and experience sharing with other states
• Facilitating dialogue between the elected representatives of Panchayats and policy makers, Civil Society Organisations, NGOs, Domain Experts
• Strengthening the implementation strategy on Theme 1: Poverty and Enhanced Livelihood Gram Panchayats
• Releasing Kerala State Roadmap on SDG localisation in Panchayats
• Disseminating and deliberating innovative ideas around Theme 1 (Poverty and Enhanced Livelihood Gram Panchayats).

Question

Which state has recently organised a three-day National Workshop on Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals in Gram Panchayats through the Adoption of Thematic Approaches?

A. Odisha

B. Kerala

C. Maharashtra

D. Rajasthan

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

India International Trade Fair

• The 41^st India International Trade Fair (IITF) will begin today, 14^th November, at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
• Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will inaugurate the fair, which will continue till the 27^th of November. 
• The 14-day mega event assumes a special significance as it coincides with celebrations of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. 7093818320

Theme: 

• This year the theme of the trade fair is  ‘Vocal For Local, Local to Global’. 

 Details:

• Twenty-nine States and Union Territories are participating in the event.  Bihar, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra are ‘Partner States’ while Uttar Pradesh and Kerala are participating as  ‘Focus States’ in the fair.
• Various central ministries, departments, commodity boards, and PSUs are participating in this event to showcase their achievements. 
• 12 foreign countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belarus, Iran, Nepal, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, and UK are also participating in the fair.

Question

The 41^st India International Trade Fair, 2022, has been organised in which of the following States/UT?

A. Goa

B. Delhi

C. Rajasthan

D. Bhuvneshwar

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

Nobel Laureate Venki Ramakrishnan Awarded the UK’s Royal Order of Merit

• India-born Nobel laureate Professor Venkatraman (Venki) Ramakrishnan has been awarded the prestigious Order of Merit by Britain’s King Charles III in recognition of his distinguished service to science.
• The 70-year-old UK-based molecular biologist is among the six appointments made to the historic order by the late Queen Elizabeth II before her death in September and the first to be appointed by Charles.

About the Order of Merit:

• The Order of Merit is an exclusive mark of honour conferred by the British sovereign.
• The Order of Merit, founded in 1902 by King Edward VII, is conferred on individuals of exceptional distinction in the armed forces, science, arts, and literature, or for the promotion of culture based on the personal choice of the monarch.

About Venki Ramakrishnan:

• Professor Venki was born in Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu and studied biology in the US before moving to the UK where he is the Group Leader of the leading research hub MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Cambridge University.
• He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009 for his work on ribosomal structure and was knighted by the Queen in 2012. 
• He was the President of the UK’s Royal Society from November 2015 until November 2020.

Question

Which India-born Nobel laureate has recently been awarded the prestigious Order of Merit by Britain’s King Charles III?

A. Amartya Sen

B. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan

C. Kailash Satyarthi

D. Abhijit Banerjee

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

Kabaddi World Cup: 2025 

• The Kabaddi World Cup will move out of Asia for the first time with the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom hosting the 2025 edition of the competition, the World Kabaddi Federation (WKF) announced recently.
• The 2025 Kabaddi World Cup will be the first edition after the 2020 edition, which could not be held because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The previous three editions were all held in India with the hosts emerging champions in all three editions.

Details:

• The UK region will host the sport’s most prestigious global tournament which will feature the world’s best kabaddi players from leading men’s and women’s teams, including India, Iran, and Pakistan. 
• The tournament will take place across the West Midlands during the first quarter of 2025.

About Kabaddi World Cup:

• The Kabaddi World Cup is an indoor international Kabaddi competition conducted by the International Kabaddi Federation in a standard style, contested by men’s and women’s national teams. The competition had been previously contested in 2004, 2007, and 2016. All three tournaments have been won by India.

Question

The 2025 Kabaddi World Cup is going to be held in which of the following countries?

A. UK

B. USA

C. UAE

D. India

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Days and Events

Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

• President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, 15th November 2022, greeted citizens on the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas and said the tribal communities had enriched the life of the nation with their arts, crafts and hard work.

What Is Janjatiya Gaurav Divas?

• 15th November is celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas or Tribal Pride Day to honour tribaldom fighter, Birsa Munda. 
• Born in 1875, Birsa Munda led a rebellious movement against British colonial rule and conversion activities in the areas of the Bengal Presidency, which today are part of Jharkhand. 
• His rebellion in the Munda belt of Khunti, Tamar, Sarwada and Bandgaon helped in the revival of traditional tribal culture.

About Birsa Munda:

• Birsa Munda gave the slogan of ‘Abua Raj Ete Jana, Maharani Raj Tundu Jana’, which translates as “Let the queen’s kingdom end and our kingdom be established.”
• Birsa Munda died at the young age of 25 in British custody at the Ranchi jail. However, in his limited years, Birsa Munda’s contribution to tribal causes earned him the title of ‘Bhagwan’ or Lord.

Question: 

Which day is celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas or Tribal Pride Day to honour tribaldom fighter, Birsa Munda?

A. 12th January

B. 18th April

C. 22th September

D. 15th November

Answer: D

Current Affairs: International

Drug-Childhood Global Meet

• The international forum on drug-childhood to be held in Thiruvananthapuram from 16th to 18th November will formulate a strategy for effectively advocating with governments for necessary policy and legislative interventions based on Article 33 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which obligates States Parties to protect children and youth from involvement with illicit drugs and drug trade.

Details:

• The meeting is organised by the Fourth Wave Foundation (FWF) in partnership with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD).

Theme:

• ‘Children Matter-Right to a Drug-Childhood’ is the central theme of the convention.

Rationale:

• The conclave will chalk out an action plan advocating urgent measures to save children from falling prey to drugs. 
• It would emphasise the need to increase awareness about Article 33 among all sections of people and ask governments to frame policies and strategic approaches to strengthen its implementation further and check substance abuse.

Question: 

Drug-Childhood global meet will be organised in which of the following cities?

A. Mumbai

B. Bhopal

C. Cuttack

D. Thiruvananthapuram 

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions and Sports

National Sports Awards 2022

• The Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry has announced the National Sports Awards 2022. The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the 30th of this month.

What are National Sports Awards?

• National Sports Awards are given every year to recognise and reward excellence in sports.
• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award- is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over the period of the previous four years.
• Arjuna Award- for outstanding performance in Sports and Games is given for good performance over a period of the previous four years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.
• Dronacharya Award- for outstanding coaches in Sports and Games is given to coaches for consistently doing outstanding and meritorious work and enabling sportspersons to excel in International events.

• Dhyan Chand Award- for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games is given to honour sportspersons who have contributed to sports through their performance and who continue to contribute to the promotion of sports events after their retirement.
• Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar- is given to corporate entities (both in the private and public sector), Sports Control Boards, NGOs, including sports bodies at the State and National level, who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development.
• The overall top-performing university in inter-university tournaments is given the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy.

Key Highlights

• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2022 will be given to Sharath Kamal Achanta
• 25 Sports persons will receive Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in Sports and Games in 2022

Details of all Awards: 

1. ​Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2022

S. No.	Name of the sportsperson	Discipline
1.	Shri Sharath Kamal Achanta	Table Tennis

2. ​Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2022

	Name of the sportsperson	Discipline
1.	Ms Seema Punia	Athletics
2.	Shri Eldhose Paul	Athletics
3.	Shri Avinash Mukund Sable	Athletics
4.	Shri Lakshya Sen	Badminton
5.	Shri Prannoy HS	Badminton
6.	Shri Amit	Boxing
7.	Ms Nikhat Zareen	Boxing
8.	Ms Bhakti Pradip Kulkarni	Chess
9.	Shri R Praggnanandhaa	Chess
10.	Ms Deep Grace Ekka	Hockey
11.	Ms Shushila Devi	Judo
12.	Ms Sakshi Kumari	Kabaddi
13.	Ms Nayan Moni Saikia	Lawn Bowl
14.	Shri Sagar Kailas Ovhalkar	Mallakhamb
15.	Ms ElavenilValarivan	Shooting
16.	Shri Omprakash Mitharval	Shooting
17.	Ms Sreeja Akula	Table Tennis
18.	Shri Vikas Thakur	Weightlifting
19.	Ms Anshu	Wrestling
20.	Ms Sarita	Wrestling
21.	Shri Parveen	Wushu
22.	Ms Manasi Girishchandra Joshi	Para Badminton
23.	Shri Tarun Dhillon	Para Badminton
24.	Shri Swapnil Sanjay Patil	Para Swimming
25.	Ms Jerlin Anika J	Deaf Badminton

3. Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaches in Sports and Games 2022

A. Regular Category:

	Name of the Coach	Discipline
1.	Shri Jiwanjot Singh Teja	Archery
2.	Shri Mohammad Ali Qamar	Boxing
3.	Ms Suma Siddharth Shirur	Para Shooting
4.	Shri Sujeet Maan	Wrestling

B. Lifetime Category:

S.No.	Name of the Coach	Discipline
1.	Shri Dinesh Jawahar Lad	Cricket
2.	Shri Bimal Prafulla Ghosh	Football
3.	Shri Raj Singh	Wrestling

4. ​Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime achievement in Sports and Games 2022

	Name of the sportsperson	Discipline
1.	Ms Ashwini Akkunji C.	Athletics
2.	Shri Dharamvir Singh	Hockey
3.	Shri B.C Suresh	Kabaddi
4.	Shri Nir Bahadur Gurung	Para Athletics

5. Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2022

	Category	Entity recommended for Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2022
1.	Identification and Nurturing of Budding and Young Talent	TransStadia Enterprises Private Limited
2.	Encouragement to sports through Corporate Social Responsibility	Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology
3.	Sports for Development	Ladakh Ski and Snowboard Association

6. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2022:

•  Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

Question: 

Which sportsperson ​recently got the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2022?

A. Sharath Kamal Achanta

B. Jiwanjot Singh Teja

C. Bimal Prafulla Ghosh

D. Seema Punia

Answer: A

Current Affairs: National

Naan Mudhalvan Scheme

• Corporates, industrial bodies and chambers of commerce are pitching in to play a crucial role in the Tamil Nadu government’s ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ scheme aimed at equipping college students with industry-relevant skills.

What Is Naan Mudhalvan Scheme?

• The Tamil Nadu government has launched a website for Naan Mudhalvan Scheme 2022 at naanmudhalvan.tn.gov.in. 
• Chief Minister M K Stalin has launched this ambitious skill development scheme for students across the state. 

What Is Naan Mudhalvan Portal?

• Naan Mudhalvan portal aims to provide dynamic information on Higher Education courses and consequent careers that Class 9-12 students can evaluate and choose to pursue. 
• It includes live up-to-date information on entrance examinations for colleges across the country, along with Scholarships or Education loans that students can avail of.
• Naan Mudhalvan showcases 2000+ institutes and consequent 300+ career pathways. 
• The portal also contains information on 150+ scholarships for higher education in India.

Aim of the Scheme:

• This scheme aims at honing the educational skills, knowledge, talent, and efficiency of 10 lakh youth annually. Naan Mudhalvan Scheme Website functional at naanmudhalvan.tn.gov.in. 
• The Naan Mudhalvan Scheme was to make all students and youth stand out in the spheres of education, research, thought, action and talent. 
• Moreover, it will also bridge the talent gap in the employment market. 
• The initiative will come under CM’s direct supervision, and efforts will be made to hone the skills of a particular individual in a select sector. And will also include training students on their choice of subjects/areas, languages, technical know-how and so on.

Question: 

Naan Mudhalvan Scheme is launched by which of the following states/UT?

A. Tamil Nadu

B. Kerala

C. Haryana

D. Delhi

Answer: A

Current Affairs: National

First Indian Biological Data Center

• Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, dedicated India’s first national repository for life science data ‘Indian Biological Data Center’ (IBDC) to the nation recently at Faridabad. 
• Indian researchers now store biological data from publicly funded research, reducing their dependency on American and European data banks.

What Is Indian Biological Data Center?

• Supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), IBDC was established at the Regional Centre of Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, with a data ‘Disaster Recovery’ site at National Informatics Centre (NIC), Bhubaneshwar. 
• “It has a data storage capacity of about 4 petabytes and houses the ‘Brahm’ High-Performance Computing (HPC) facility. 
• The computational infrastructure at IBDC is also made available for researchers interested in performing computational-intensive analysis.

Features:

• IBDC is committed to the spirit of data sharing as per FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles. 
• It is being developed in a modular fashion wherein different sections would typically deal with particular type/s of life science data. 
• IBDC also hosts an online ‘Dashboard’ for the genomic surveillance data generated by the INSACOG labs. 
• The dashboard provides customised data submission, access, data analysis services, and real-time SARS-CoV-2 variant monitoring across India. 

Question:

Which of the following cities recently established the First Indian Biological Data Center

A. Panipat

B. Faridabad

C. Kanpur

D. Chennai

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

India and Finland Agreement on Digital Partnership

• India and Finland have agreed to enhance partnership in areas such as a digital partnership in Future ICT, Future Mobile Technologies and digital education.
• The two countries also emphasised having institutionalised joint working groups on areas of mutual interest.

Areas of Interest:

• Both sides are working out a detailed plan for establishing the Indo-Finnish Virtual Network Centre on Quantum Computing and targeting to develop 20 qubits superconducting based Quantum Computer in 1st phase and further scale it up to 54 qubits in the second phase.
• Sustainable Energy Technologies (generation, conversion, storage and conservation)
• Environment and Clean Technologies
• Bio-based Economy
• Bio Banks and Bio-based materials for different applications of water and Marine Technologies
• Food and Agri Technologies
• Affordable Healthcare (including Pharmaceuticals and Biomedical Instrumentation) and Technologies for Advanced Manufacturing Integration of AI and Machine Learning in all domains.

Previous Corporation:

• India and Finland have strong bonding in Science, Technology and Innovation. 
• Within the framework of the S&T agreement, the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Biotechnology.
• The government of India and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, together with Business Finland and the Academy of Finland, have been successfully collaborating for over a decade.

Latest Development:

• The Indian side has already identified four premier institutes IISER (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research) Pune, IIT Madras, TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) Mumbai and C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) Pune, to work with Finnish institutions on joint development of Quantum Computers. 

Question:

Which European nation and India recently signed an agreement regarding a digital partnership in Future ICT, Future Mobile technologies and digital education?

A. Iceland

B. Finland

C. UK

D. Germany

Answer: B

Current Affairs: National

Rythu Bharosa Kendras

• An Ethiopian delegation led by the country’s Agricultural Minister, Dr Meles Mekonen Yimer, is in Andhra Pradesh (AP) to study the first-of-its-kind Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs), which have been set up by the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government.
• The Ethiopian delegation will also meet officials from the agriculture and horticulture departments to understand how they work.
• The Centre has recently nominated the RBK concept for the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s “Champion’’ award.  

What are Rythu Bharosa Kendras?

• Set up for the first time in the country, the RBKs are unique seeds-to-sales, single-window service centres for farmers that have been set up across the state.
• They are a one-stop solution to all farmers’ needs and grievances. RBKs sell pre-tested quality seeds, certified fertilisers and animal feed. Farmers can purchase or hire farm equipment and even sell their produce at the prevailing MSP in the RBKs.
• Touted as role models for the country, agriculture and horticulture officials manning the RBKs also provide services like soil testing and make recommendations on which crops to sow and quantity and type of fertiliser to be used. 
• The state government also pays crop insurance, procures grains and makes payments to farmers through the RBKs.

Have the RBKs Proved to Be Helpful to Farmers?

• RBKs facilitate interaction between farmers, agriculture scientists, and agriculture extension officers right at the village level. 
• Apart from providing services and items for sale, RBK officials demonstrate new farm equipment and provide training to farmers.
• According to the state Agriculture Department, many farmers have changed their cropping patterns and benefited immensely based on inputs provided by officials after soil testing and weather conditions. 
• The RBKs have been responsible for eliminating spurious seeds and uncertified and dangerous fertilisers, which can cause crop damage and failures.

What Will the Ethiopian Delegation Do?

• The Ethiopian delegation will visit several RBKs and understand how they function. 
• They will likely sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government and Centre to transfer the know-how. At the same time, AP officials will provide training to Ethiopian officials on the operation of RBKs, and share knowledge about the farming systems in the state.

Question:

An Ethiopian delegation led by the country’s Agricultural Minister, Dr Meles Mekonen Yim, recently visited Rythu Bharosa Kendras in which of the following states?

A. Karnataka

B. Telangana

C. Odisha

D. Andhra Pradesh

Answer: D

Current Affairs: International

17th East Asia Summit

• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar recently addressed the 17th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, during which he highlighted global concerns on food and energy security and emphasised the role of the EAS mechanism in promoting, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific withdom of navigation and overflight. 
• The US, India, and several other world powers have been discussing the need to ensure a, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military manoeuvring in the region.

What Is the East Asia Summit (EAS)?

• The East Asia Summit (EAS) is the Indo-Pacific’s premier forum for strategic dialogue. 
• It is the only leader-led forum at which all key Indo-Pacific partners meet to discuss political, security and economic challenges facing the region, and it has an important role to play in advancing closer regional cooperation.
• The concept of East Asia Grouping was first promoted in 1991 by the then-Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir bin Mohamad. 

Who Are the Members of EAS?

• The EAS has 18 members – the ten ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) along with Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States. 
• India is one of the founding members of the East Asia Summit.

Major Points Discussed in the Meet:

• China’s aggression
• Opposition by other groupings and nations
• Increase tensions in the Indo-Pacific
• Growing global concerns in the food and energy sector 

Question: 

Which of the following nations recently hosted the 17th East Asia Summit?

A. Philippines

B. Thailand

C. Vietnam

D. Cambodia

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Defence

Third Edition of Coastal Defence Exercise ‘Sea Vigil -2022’

• The third edition of the ‘Pan-India’ Coastal Defence Exercise ‘Sea Vigil-22’ will be conducted on 15-16 November 2022.
• This National Level Coastal Defence Exercise was conceptualised in 2018 to validate various measures that have been instituted towards enhancing maritime security since ‘26/11.
• Exercise Sea Vigil-22 will provide a realistic assessment of our strengths and weaknesses and thus will help in further strengthening Maritime and National Security

What Is Done During This Exercise?

• The exercise will be undertaken along the entire 7516 km coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone of India and will involve all the Coastal States and Union territories along with other maritime stakeholders, including the fishing and coastal communities.
• Coastal Security being a major sub-set of Coastal Defence construct, the concept of ‘Sea Vigil’ is to activate the Coastal Security apparatus across India and assess the overarching Coastal Defence mechanism.

Who Conducts This Exercise?

• The Indian Navy is conducting the exercise in coordination with the Coast Guard and other ministries entrusted with the task of maritime activities.
• This exercise is a build-up towards the major Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX), which is conducted by the Indian Navy every two years.

About Sea Vigil 2022?

• Sea Vigil and TROPEX together will cover the entire spectrum of maritime security challenges. 
• Assets of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Customs and other maritime agencies will participate in the exercise.
• Sea Vigil provides the opportunity at the apex level to assess preparedness in the domain of maritime security and coastal defence. 
• The Sea Vigil-22 will provide a realistic assessment of strengths and weaknesses to further strengthen maritime and national security.

Question: 

In which year did the first edition of the Pan-India Coastal Defence Exercise ‘Sea Vigil-22’ start?

A. 2012

B. 2016

C. 2018

D. 2022

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Miscellaneous 

Permacrisis

• The Collins Dictionary’s word of the year for 2022 is “permacrisis”

What is Permacrisis?

• ‘Permacrisis’ is a word that describes living in an age of continued upheaval.
• Collins defines the noun as ‘an extended period of instability and insecurity’.
• It perfectly embodies the dizzying sense of lurching from one unprecedented event to another, as we wonder bleakly what new horrors might be around the corner.” 
• It is the top word in the annual compilation of the 10 new or noteworthy words from the 18-billion word database monitored by Collins and from other sources like social media. 

What is Collins Dictionary?

• With a history spanning almost 200 years, The Collins English Dictionary is a printed and online dictionary of the English Language. 
• It is published by HarperCollins in Glasgow.
• The edition of the dictionary in 1979 with Patrick Hanks as editor and Laurence Urdang as editorial director, was the first British English dictionary to be typeset from the output of a computer database in a specified format.

Question: 

Which of the following has recently been declared as Collins Dictionary’s word of the year for 2022?

A. NFT

B. Lockdown

C. Permacrisis

D. Climate strike

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

Shlok Mukherjee wins Doodle for Google contest 2022

• Google declared Shlok Mukherjee from Kolkata as the winner for India for his inspiring Doodle titled ‘India on the centre stage’ on 14^th November, 2022.

Theme: 

• The theme of the contest was “In the next 25 years, my India will…”.

Details: 

• According to Google, this year’s contest received over 115,000 entries from children in classes 1 to 10 from over 1 to 10 from over 100 cities across India.
• The 20 finalists were picked from across the nation, evaluating entries on the criteria of artistic merit, creativity, alignment with the contest theme, and uniqueness and novelty of the approach.

About the Doodle:

• The Google Doodle shows an illustration of a human being hand in hand with a robot, on the Google homepage. 
• It is important to note that there are pictures of the environment and earth in the background of the Doodle.
• The winning illustration by Shlok Mukherjee is titled “India on the centre stage,” and has a profound impact. 
• The Google Doodle is crucial because of its inner meaning.

Winner Prize: 

• The National Winner will also receive ₹5,00,000 college scholarship, ₹2,00,000 technology package for their school or non-profit organisation, a certificate or trophy of achievement, Google hardware devices or allied products (subject to availability), and fun Google collectables.

Question:

Which of the following Indians recently won the ‘Doodle for Google’ contest 2022?

A. Rohan Bajpayi

B. Shlok Mukherjee

C. Chitra Anand

D. Sanmugam Shetty 

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

World Population Hit 8 Billion People

• The world’s population reached 8 billion people on Tuesday, 15^th November 2022, according to UN estimates. The UN considers this a milestone in human development.
• The latest projections by the United Nations suggest that the global population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 10.4 billion in 2100.

 Annual World Population Prospect Report:

• The annual World Population Prospect report, released on Monday to coincide with World Population Day, also notes that the global population is growing at its slowest rate since 1950, having fallen to less than one percent in 2020.

Key Takeaways from the UN Analysis:

Population growth slowdown—

• The UN Population Division estimates that the number of humans on Earth will grow to eight billion on 15^th November, more than three times higher than the 2.5 billion global headcounts in 1950. 

When will we peak?

• Given the increase in life expectancy as well as the number of people of childbearing age, the UN projects the population to continue growing to about 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and a peak of about 10.4 billion in the 2080s.

Fertility rate drop—

• In 2021, the average fertility rate was 2.3 children per woman over her lifetime, down from about five in 1950, according to the UN, which projects that number to fall to 2.1 by 2050.

Graying globally—

• A key factor driving global population growth is that the average life expectancy continues to increase: 72.8 years in 2019, nine years more than in 1990. 
• The UN predicts an average life expectancy of 77.2 years by 2050. The result, combined with the decline in fertility, is that the proportion of people over 65 is expected to rise from 10 percent in 2022 to 16 percent in 2050.

Unprecedented diversity—

• Beneath the global averages are some major regional disparities. For example, the UN projects that more than half of the population growth by 2050 will come from just eight countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Tanzania.

India to surpass China—

• In another illustration of changing trends, the two most populous countries, China and India, will trade places on the podium as early as 2023, according to the UN. China’s 1.4 billion population will eventually begin to decline, falling to 1.3 billion by 2050, the UN projects.

Question:

The World population recently reached 8 billion on which of the following dates according to the Annual World Population Prospect report by the UN?

A. 20^th August

B. 15^th September

C. 19^th October

D. 15^th November

Answer: D 

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award

• Spanish film director and writer Carlos Saura will be conferred the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award 2022 at the upcoming 53^rd edition of the International Film Festival of India at Goa. 
• The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L Murugan, in New Delhi recently.

What is the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award? 

• Spanish filmmaker Carlos Saura, who received the Golden Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival for Deprisa Deprisa, along with two Silver Bears for La Caza and Peppermint Frappé, a BAFTA for Carmen, and three awards at Cannes among several others, will be honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award and an eight-film retrospective at IFFI.

Dadasaheb Phalke winner retrospective

• Three films of the 52^nd Dadasaheb Phalke awardee (declared in the 68^th National Film Awards) Asha Parekh for Teesri Manzil, Do Badan, and Kati Patang will be screened as a part of the Asha Parekh retrospective. 

Opening Film and Closing Film

• The Austrian film ‘Alma & Oskar’, directed by Dieter Berner, will open the annual festival while Krzysztof Zanussi’s ‘Perfect Number’ is the closing film.

Question: 

Which of the following foreign film directors has recently been selected for Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award 2022 at the upcoming 53^rd edition of the International Film Festival of India at Goa?

A. Carlos Saura

B. Dieter Berner

C. Krzysztof Zanussi

D. Richard Attenborough

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

“In our LiFEtime” Campaign Launched by India at COP 27

• National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), under the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), jointly launched “In Our LiFEtime” campaign to encourage youth between the ages of 18 to 23 years to become the message bearers of sustainable lifestyle. 
• This campaign envisions to recognise youth from around the world taking climate action initiatives that resonate with the concept of LiFE. 
• This was launched in a side event at the India Pavilion at COP 27, Sharm El-Sheikh.

About the concept of LiFE:

• The concept of LiFE was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP 26 in Glasgow on 1^st November 2021. 
• Later, on the occasion of World Environment Day, on 5^th June, 2022, India furthered the vision of LiFE by launching the LiFE Global Movement. Recently, its logo and tagline was launched in Gujarat in the presence of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
• LiFe envisions a circular economy, which is cultivated by mindful choices. It aims to develop a global network of individuals by nurturing “Pro Planet People” (P3). India has included LiFE in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to take climate-oriented actions.

Question:

“In our LiFEtime” campaign was recently launched by which of the following countries at COP 27, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt?

A. Brazil

B. USA

C. India

D. Germany

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

Kerala Bags Responsible Tourism Global Award at London World Travel Mart

• The Kerala Tourism has bagged the prestigious Responsible Tourism Global award at the World Travel Mart held in London.
• State Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas received the award on behalf of the department at London and said it was an encouragement for the Kerala tourism sector.
• The award was given for the STREET project implemented by the Responsible Tourism Mission under the Kerala Government.

What is STREET?

• STREET is an acronym for Sustainable, Tangible, Responsible, Experiential, Ethnic, and Tourism hubs, which was implemented by the Responsible Tourism Mission under the Government of Kerala on March 31, 2022. 
• The STREET Project is an initiative that promotes water conservation and protection with public participation. 
• Under the project, the deepening and cleaning of canals and other water bodies take place to promote tourism. It also preserves the water bodies, such as the backwaters, which Kerala is famous for, and maintains to keep them in good condition.

Question: 

Which state recently won the  Responsible Tourism Global award-2022 at the London World Travel Mart?

A. Rajasthan

B. Gujarat

C. Madhya Pradesh

D. Kerala

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Days and Events

National Press Day 2022

• National Press Day is observed on 16th November every year to acknowledge and honour the Press Council of India (PCI). 
• The day marks the presence of an independent and responsible press in the country.
• The Press Council of India also examines the quality of reportage of the Indian press and keeps a check on journalistic activities.

History: 

• In 1956, the First Press Commission decided to form a body with statutory authority which has the responsibility of maintaining the ethics of journalism. 
• The Commission felt that a managing body was required in order to connect with the people of the press and also to arbitrate on any issues that arose. 
• In 1966 on 16th November, the PCI was formed. The National Press Day of India is since then celebrated on 16th November every year to commemorate the establishment of the council. 

Significance: 

• The council is extremely important to India as it was inherently constructed to protect the fourth pillar of a democracy, that is, the press. 
• Hence, it works consistently to ensure that the credibility of journalism is not compromised.

Question:

National Press Day is observed every year on

A. 10th January

B. 22nd April

C. 19th September

D. 16th November

Answer: D

Current Affairs: National

Grid Controller of India Limited

• The Ministry of Power has renamed India’s national grid operator ‘Power System Operation Corporation Ltd (POSOCO)’.
•  POSOCO will now be known as ‘Grid Controller of India Ltd’. 
• The ministry said in a statement that the name change had been done to reflect the critical role of Grid Operators in ensuring integrity, reliability, economy, resilience and sustainable operation of the Indian Electricity Grid.

About Grid Controller of India Limited:

• “Grid Controller of India Limited (Grid-India)” operates the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) and five (5) Regional Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs).
• Grid-India is also designated as the nodal agency for major reforms in the power sector, such as the implementation and operation of the Green Energy Open Access Portal, Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Mechanism, transmission pricing, short-term open access in transmission, Deviation Settlement Mechanism, Power System Development Fund (PSDF), etc.

Question:

Recently, the Ministry of Power has renamed India’s national grid operator ‘Power System Operations Corporation Limited (POSOCO)’ to which new name?

A. Grid Controller of India Limited

B. Energy Controller of India Limited

C. Power Controller of India Limited

D. Transmission Controller of India Limited

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Environment and Defence

Green Mobility Initiative by IAF

• In order to achieve a reduction in carbon footprint and in keeping with the GoI’s initiative on the introduction of Green Mobility, IAF has inducted a fleet of Tata Nexon Electric Vehicles.  
• A flag-off ceremony was held at Air Force headquarters, Vayu Bhawan, on 15th November 2022. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff, flagged off the first batch of 12 electric vehicles.

Details:

• Indian Air Force is planning to enhance the usage of electric vehicles in a progressive manner by procuring e-vehicles against downgraded conventional vehicles. Augmentation of the e-vehicles ecosystem, including installation of charging infrastructure at various Air Force bases, is also planned.

Other Initiatives:

• To create a standardised inventory of vehicles, IAF has already joined hands with the Indian Army in the ongoing procurement of Electric Buses and Electric Cars. 
• These proactive measures reaffirm IAF’s commitment to the National objective of transformation towards environment-friendly mobility.

Question: 

Under the Green Mobility initiative, the electric cars of which company has been purchased by IAF to make a fleet?

A. Maruti Suzuki

B. TATA

C. Honda

D. Renault

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

East Timor Will Be the 11th Member of ASEAN

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed in principle to admit East Timor as the group’s 11th member.
• The half-island nation, officially called Timor Leste, will also be granted observer status at high-level ASEAN meetings, the bloc said after regional leaders met in Phnom Penh for a summit.

Details:

• The country would be the first new member of the regional grouping in more than two decades since Cambodia was admitted in 1999.
• The East Timorese voted for independence from a brutal occupation by neighbouring Indonesia in a 1999 U.N.-supervised referendum. The country was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2002, making it Asia’s youngest democracy.
• The resource-rich country of 1.3 million people immediately started the process of accession to ASEAN but only formally applied for membership in 2011.

About East Timor:

• Timor-Leste, or East Timor, a Southeast Asian nation occupying half the island of Timor, is ringed by coral reefs teeming with marine life. 
• Landmarks in the capital, Dili, speak to the country’s struggles for independence from Portugal in 1975 and then Indonesia in 2002. 
• The iconic 27m-tall Cristo Rei de Dili statue sits on a hilltop high over the city, with sweeping views of the surrounding bay. 

About ASEAN:

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN: 
• Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. 
• Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN on 7 January 1984, followed by Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.

Question:

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed in principle to admit which of the following countries as the group’s 11th member?

A. China

B. Macao

C. Hong Kong

D. East Timor

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

Google’s 1,000 Language AI Model

• Google is developing a model that can support the 1,000 most spoken languages of the world. The company revealed this at its AI event this month. 
• To investigate the potential of such a vast project, Google is also working on an AI language model which can support around 400 languages. 
• The company claimed this model had the “largest language coverage” among existing speech models.

What Is the Purpose of the New Language Model?

• Google doesn’t have a specific use case for the language model. 
• However, according to a report by The Verge, a tech outlet, the end goal is to enable Google users to experience better searches, more accurate auto-generated captions, natural online translation, and faster calculations.
• The project is under development, and researchers are now collecting linguistic data to train the model.

How Is This Initiative Different from Google’s Other Models?

• While many other existing AI language models are deployed for business or research, Google’s 1,000 languages initiative aims to improve AI language models as a whole for diverse use cases.
• Google plans to build one gigantic model for the 1,000 languages so that both widely used and rarer languages can co-exist, interact, and grow together.

What are AI Language Models Used for?

• Through AI language models, companies aim to automate manual processes, generate new insights based on existing data, and reduce reliance on human labour in fields like translation, customer service, or computation.
• Today, website chatbots help us 24×7, services like Google Translate instantly decode foreign languages, and AI-based art generators help non-artists create prize-winning digital paintings while the same technology also powers price predictors for investors.

Question:

Which company is developing an Artificial Intelligence model that can support the 1,000 most spoken languages of the world?

A. FaceBook

B. Google

C. Oracle

D. Yahoo

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

Britain, France Deal to Stop Illegal Migrants

• Britain and France recently signed an agreement worth $74.5 million (72.2 million euros) to step up their efforts to stop illegal migrants from channel crossings.
• The multi-year agreement calls for a 40% increase in the number of French officers patrolling French beaches with British funding over the following five months.

Key Features of the Agreement:

• The agreement, worth $74.5 million (72.2 million euros), aims to stop migrants from crossing the channel to England in small boats.
• It calls for a 40 per cent increase in the number of French officers patrolling the French beaches in 2022-23 with British funding over the next 5 months.
• This comes after more than 40,000 people crossed the British Channel in 2022. In 2021, the number of immigrants via the channel was just 28,526. Most of these migrants are from Albania, Iran and Afghanistan.
• Both countries have committed to using technological and human resources on the French coast to improve the detection, monitoring and interception of migrant boats.
• These resources will be used to collect information from the intercepted migrants. The collected information will then be used to dismantle smuggling networks and curb illegal crossings.
• For the first time, teams of observers will be stationed on both sides of the Channel to improve the common understanding of migration and exchanges of information.

Question:

Which two European countries recently signed an agreement worth $74.5 million to stop illegal migrants from channel crossings?

A. Germany-Britain

B. France-Britain

C. Spain- Italy

D. Italy-Britain

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Global Methane Detection System

• The United Nations recently announced a high-tech, satellite-based global methane detection system to alert the government and private agencies against emissions. 
• Launched during the ongoing COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Italy, the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) can be a vital tool to help precisely locate major methane leaks.

What Is MARS and How Will It Help to Curb Global Warming?

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says, “MARS is a data-to-action platform set up as part of the UNEP International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) strategy to get policy-relevant data into the right hands for emissions mitigation”.
• MARS will be the first publicly available global satellite system to identify major emission events, alert stakeholders, and support and track mitigation progress. 
• The new system will provide technical or advisory services to help assess mitigation options.
• It will help in the early detection of methane leaks, making it possible to respond faster.

Why Target Only Methane-Related Emissions?

• Methane, a by-product of decomposing organic matter and the main component of natural gas used in power plants, contributes just a small portion of all greenhouse gas emissions brought on by humans, but it has an 80 times greater heat-trapping capacity per unit of mass than carbon dioxide.
• According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we need to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 to keep the target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C within reach.

Question:

The UN recently announced a high-tech, satellite-based global detection system to alert the government and private agencies against the emissions of which Gas?

A. Carbon dioxide

B. Aerosoles

C. Methane

D. Nitrous oxide

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

NASA’s Successful Launch of Artemis 1

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched its Artemis 1 mission from Launch Complex 39B of the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 12:17 PM IST, today (16th Nov).
• Earlier in the past, three attempts were called off, two due to engine issues while the third one was abandoned because of a hurricane.

What Is Artemis’ Mission?

• NASA’s Artemis Mission aims to send the first woman and first person of colour to the Moon as early as 2025. 
• Of the three missions planned currently, Artemis 1 will be an uncrewed flight test of the Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft circling the Moon.

What Will Artemis 1 Do?

• Artemis 1 will now travel about 1.3 million miles over the course of 42 days. 
• The Orion capsule will separate from the SLS rocket and leave Earth’s orbit en route to the moon. NASA plans to fly Orion as close as 60 miles above the moon’s surface before moving into a wide orbit around the lunar body.

Question: 

NASA just launched the Artemis 1. This mission is associated with which celestial body?

A. Moon

B. Sun

C. Halley’s comet

D. Jupiter

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

PRCI Excellence Awards 2022

• NMDC bagged the Champion of Champions Award, sweeping the 16^th PRCI Global Communication Conclave 2022, to bring home fourteen Corporate Communication Excellence Awards. 
• The awards were presented at the Global Communication Conclave organised by Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) in Kolkata on 12^th November, 2022.

Details

• NMDC won the Gold awards for the Most Resilient Company of the Year; Internal Communication Campaign, Corporate Brochure; Best PSE Implementing CSR. 
• It won Silver Awards in the categories of Best Use of CSR for Childcare; Corporate Community Impact; Best Corporate Event; Unique HR Initiatives; Annual Report; Arts, Culture and Sports Campaign and Bronze Awards for Visionary Leadership; Website of the Year; Innovative Environmental Program and Consolation Award for Best Use of Social Media.

What is Public Relations Council Of India (PRCI)?

• Public Relations Council Of India (PRCI) is a pan-India communication exchange forum with its presence in 38 Indian cities and towns. 
• This premier network connects PR, Media, Commercial and Public Service Advertising, Marcom, Academia in Communication, and Students. 

What is NDMC?

• National Mineral Development Corporation was incorporated in 1958 as a Government of India’s public enterprise. NMDC is India’s largest producer of iron ore. 
• Since inception, the corporation under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel, has been involved in the exploration of a wide range of minerals including copper, rock phosphate, limestone, magnesite, diamond, tungsten, and beach sands amongst others in some of the most remote corners of the country.

Question: 

Which of the following India public enterprises recently won the PRCI Excellence Awards 2022?

A. NDMC

B. GAIL

C. IOCL

D. RINL

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Appointments

Gaurav Dwivedi appointed CEO of Prasar Bharati

• On Monday, senior IAS officer Gaurav Dwivedi was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati.

Details

• A 1995-batch officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, Mr. Dwivedi will have a five-year tenure from the date he assumes charge.
• Earlier, Mr. Dwivedi was the Chief Executive Officer of MyGovIndia, the citizen engagement platform of the government.
• Shashi Shekhar Vempati was the CEO of Prasar Bharati from 2017 to 2022.
• After Mr. Vempati completed his five-year tenure, Director General of Doordarshan Mayank Agrawal was given the additional charge of CEO Prasar Bharati in June this year.

Question:

Who has recently been appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati?

A. Shashi Shekhar Vempati 

B. Mayank Agrawal

C. Gaurav Dwivedi

D. Rajiv Ranjan

Answer: C

Current Affairs: National

First Greenfield Farm Machinery Plant Inaugurated in Madhya Pradesh

• Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar recently inaugurated the first Greenfield Farm Machinery Plant of Mahindra & Mahindra at Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh. 

Details

• The plant will help Indian farmers towards mechanising the farming process and will also help farmers realise their dreams. 
• It will also manufacture products for export to global markets in Asia, Africa, Europe, and America. 
• Through its well-planned lay-out, the new plant is capable of rolling out a series of new products designed at Mahindra’s global technology Centres of Excellence in Finland, Japan, and Turkey. 
• The population of the country and the world is rising continuously, and the challenge of climate change is also in front of us. 

Question:

Recently, the first Greenfield Farm Machinery Plant of Mahindra & Mahindra was inaugurated in which of the following states?

A. Punjab

B. Haryana

C. Madhya Pradesh

D. Gujarat

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Sports

After Argentina, Amul Becomes the First Indian Regional Sponsor of Portugal Football Team

• India’s leading dairy company, Amul has announced a new sponsorship agreement with Portugal national football team. 
• In this agreement, the Indian brand is set to serve as the official regional sponsor of the Cristiano Ronaldo-led team for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Details

• For the very first time, an Indian regional manufacturer has teamed up with the Portuguese national team.
• In the past, Amul also became a sponsor of Lionel Messi‘s Argentina football team. 
• Amul also expanded its global footprint by sponsoring the Ireland cricket team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.
• This collaboration reflects the trajectory and worldwide context of the Portugal Football Federation, as well as the significance and acknowledgement of a legendary brand, Amul, with over 75 years in the market. Amul will thus serve as the Indian community’s ambassador firm with the Portugal national team.

Question

Which company recently becomes the first Indian regional sponsor of Portugal football team in the FIFA football world cup-2022?

A. Mahindra

B. Amul

C. TATA

D. Godrej

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Sports

Mary Kom, PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, and Gagan Narang elected in IOA Athletes Commission

• Olympic medallists MC Mary Kom, PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu and Gagan Narang were among 10 eminent sportspersons elected as members of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Athletes Commission yesterday.
• All the 10 elected members of the apex body, five men and five women, won unopposed in the polls.

Details

• Winter Olympian Shiva Keshavan, table tennis player Sharath Kamal, women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal, fencer Bhavani Devi, rower Bajrang Lal and former shot putter Om Prakash Singh Karhana are the other six members of the elected panel. All of them are Olympians.
• The next task of the Commission will be to select eight Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM), who have retired from active sports for at least one year prior to the date of application and should have at least a medal in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, or Asian Games. 
• The SOMs will have one vote each in the election to IOA Executive Council.

Question: 

Which of the following sports persons was not recently elected as a member of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Athletes Commission?

A. MC Mary Kom

B. PV Sindhu

C. Mirabai Chanu

D. Neeraj Chopra

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Days and Events

World Philosophy Day 2022

• World Philosophy Day is commemorated on the third Thursday of November every year. 
• This year it will fall on 17th November. 
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed it an International day in 2005. 
• However, that was not always the case. World Philosophy Day was first celebrated on 21st November 2002.
• On this day, UNESCO aimed to raise public awareness about philosophy and how vital it is, not only to connect the world today but to the past and present, as well as for a better understanding of the future.

Theme:

• The 2022 World Philosophy Day theme is ‘The Human of the Future’. UNESCO and Le Fresnoy – National Studio of Contemporary Arts has organised a symposium and exhibition.

History:

• The first celebration of World Philosophy Day took place in 2002. After it, UNESCO deemed it necessary to institutionalise the celebration of philosophical reflection around the world in 2005.
• Two years later, in 2007, UNESCO published a 726-page multilingual program and meeting document on the Records of the General Conference, 33rd session, Paris, 2005. 
• It was to commemorate World Philosophy Day and emphasise its importance among young people and as a discipline. 
• The UNESCO General Conference in 2005 aimed to popularise philosophy, especially in the teaching world by celebrating World Philosophy Day.

Significance:

• World Philosophy Day is commemorated to encourage people to learn about philosophy and how to speak out their philosophical thoughts. 
• Philosophy as a discipline is vital in understanding the world better. It is also a stepping stone towards peaceful coexistence among people from around the world. 
• There seems hardly any coincidence that World Philosophy Day falls close to International Tolerance Day.
• The day also helps us understand the importance of analysis, research, and study of the events of the past as well as the present. 
• This can help us gain access to the future world and how to take on the challenges in our lives better.

Question:

World Philosophy Day is commemorated every year on the third Thursday of which of the following months?

A. July

B. September

C. October

D. November

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Climate Change Performance Index

• India rose two spots to rank eighth out of 63 countries in the Climate Change Performance Index 2023 (CCPI). 
• In the ‘Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Use’ categories, the country was rated “high”. In the ‘Climate Policy and Renewable Energy’ categories, it earned a “medium” rating.

What Is Net Zero?

• Net zero means achieving a balance between the greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere and those taken out.

About CCPI:

• The rankings by Germanwatch, New Climate Institute and the Climate Action Network are based on how well the countries are doing to halve their emissions by 2030 — an essential aspect to keep the 1.5-degree Celsius goal within reach and prevent dangerous climate change.
• The CCPI evaluates 59 countries and the European Union that contribute to the generation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 
• Rankings for the CCPI are decided as per a standardised criterion, with 14 indicators across four primary categories: Renewable Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Climate Policy, and Energy Use.

India’s Performance Assessment: 

• In 2020, India was ranked ninth on the CCPI list and stood at the tenth position in 2021 and 2022. 
• However, with evident efforts towards the 2030 targets under the Paris Agreement – reducing emissions by 45 per cent to keep global warming to 1.5-degree celsius – the country has now bagged the eighth position. 
• India was ranked ninth in the GHG emissions category, ninth in the Energy Use category, eighth in the Climate Policy category and 24th in the Renewable Energy category, as per a report by Business Standard. The country has scored 67.35 points on the index. 

No Winners for the First Three Places: 

• Though 63 countries were evaluated for the CCPI index, no country won any of the first three places. 
• The CCPI report states that “no country performed well enough in all index categories to achieve an overall very high rating”. 
• Denmark was ranked fourth, while Sweden and Chile were ranked fifth and sixth, respectively. 
• Regarding the world’s current biggest polluter, China, the report said that the country’s massive plans for new coal-fired power plants pushed China 13 positions below. 
• The country is ranked at the 51st position, whereas it was at the 38th position in 2022.

Question: 

What is India’s ranking in the recently published Climate Change Performance Index 2023 by Germanwatch?

A. 6th 

B. 8th 

C. 10th 

D. 12th

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Report and Indexes

World Bank Report on India’s Urban Infrastructure

• A new World Bank report estimates that India will need to invest $840 billion over the next 15 years—or an average of $55 billion per annum—into urban infrastructure if it is to meet the needs of its fast-growing urban population effectively. 

Title of the Report:

• The report, titled “Financing India’s Urban Infrastructure Needs: Constraints to Commercial Financing and Prospects for Policy Action”, underlines the urgent need to leverage more private and commercial investments to meet emerging financial gaps.

Highlights of the Report:

• By 2036, 600 million people will be living in urban cities in India, representing 40 per cent of the population. 
• This is likely to put additional pressure on the already stretched urban infrastructure and services of Indian cities – with more demand for clean drinking water, reliable power supply, and efficient and safe road transport, amongst others. 
• The central and state governments currently finance over 75 per cent of city infrastructure, while urban local bodies (ULB) finance 15 per cent through their own surplus revenues.

Recommendations:

• Over the medium term, the report suggests a series of structural reforms, including those in the taxation policy and fiscal transfer system – which can allow cities to leverage more private financing. 
• In the short term, it identifies a set of large high-potential cities that have the ability to raise higher volumes of private financing.

Question: 

According to the recent world bank report, how much does India need to invest in Infrastructure over the next 15 years to meet the needs of its fast-growing urban population effectively?

A. $840 billion

B. $900 billion

C. $1000 billion

D. $1020 billion

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Polity and Governance

Madhya Pradesh Govt Implements Panchayat Extensions to Scheduled Areas Act

• Madhya Pradesh government has implemented the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in the state, which aims to preserve the tribal population from exploitation with the active involvement of the Gram Sabhas.
• The PESA Act also gives special powers to the Gram Sabhas in Scheduled Areas, especially for the management of natural resources.

Details:

• President Droupadi Murmu made the formal announcement at a function organised by the state government on the occasion of ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’, which marks the birth anniversary of tribaldom fighter Birsa Munda — in Shahdol district.
• The announcement was made in the presence of around one lakh tribal people, including women and youth, who had arrived from different parts of the state to celebrate the occasion.

Know All About PESA Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996:

• To promote local self-governance in rural India, the 73rd constitutional amendment was made in 1992.
• Through this amendment, a three-tier Panchayati Raj Institution was made into a law.
• However, its application to the scheduled and tribal areas under Article 243(M) was restricted.
• After the Bhuria Committee recommendations in 1995, Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act 1996 came into existence to ensure tribal self-rule for people living in scheduled areas of India.
• The PESA conferred the absolute powers to Gram Sabha, whereas the state legislature has given an advisory role to ensure the proper functioning of Panchayats and Gram Sabhas.
• The power delegated to Gram Sabha cannot be curtailed by a higher level, and there shall be independence throughout.

• The PESA is considered to be the backbone of tribal legislation in India.
• PESA recognises the traditional system of the decision-making process and stands for the people’s self-governance.

Powers and Functions Provided to the Gram Sabhas under PESA:

• Right to mandatory consultation in land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced persons
• Protection of traditional beliefs, the culture of the tribal communities
• Ownership of minor forest products
• Resolution of the local disputes
• Prevention of land alienation
• Management of village markets
• Right to control production, distillation, and prohibition of liquor
• Exercise of control over money-lending
• Any other rights involving the Scheduled Tribes

Question: 

Which state government recently implemented the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act?

A. Andhra Pradesh

B. Arunachal Pradesh

C. Madhya Pradesh

D. Rajasthan

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Defence

Operation Barkhane

• French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced the end of the decade-long Operation Barkhane in Africa. 

What Is Operation Barkhane?

• France began its military operations in the Sahel in January 2013. 
• Titled Operation Serval, it was limited to targeting Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaeda who took control of northern Mali. 
• However, in 2014, the mission was scaled up, renamed Operation Barkhane and was aimed at counter-terrorism. 

What Was the Objective of This Operation?

• The objective was to assist local armed forces in preventing the resurgence of non-state armed groups across the Sahel region. 
• Around 4,500 French personnel were deployed with the local joint counter-terrorism force.

Why Did France Pull Out?

• First, France’s relations with the military rulers grew hostile after a series of coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea. 
• Relations between France and Mali soured after the latter expelled the French ambassador when he disagreed with the junta’s decision to remain in power until 2025. 
• In addition, France was contemptuous of Malian authorities negotiating a peace deal with insurgent groups. 
• Secondly, since Operation Barkhane was widely perceived as a failure, anti-French sentiments and questions over France’s intentions flared up, with a further demand for France’s withdrawal from the region.

Question: 

Which military operations did France stop in the Sahel region of Africa recently after ten years of occupation?

A. Operation Barkhane

B. Operation Enduring

C. Operation Desert Storm

D. Operation Wrath of God

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Economy

Vostro Accounts

• Russia becomes the first country to facilitate rupee-based export-import transactions, says Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal. The Ministry is working with Department of Financial Services, RBI; traders to expedite adoption.
• Three months after the Reserve Bank of India allowed trade settlement in Indian rupees, the Union government has given approval to nine banks to open special Vostro accounts. 
• Out of the nine, three have opened accounts, which are Gazprombank with UCO Bank (Kolkata), and VTB and Sberbank with their own branch offices.

What is a Nostro account?

• A Nostro account is an account held by a bank in another bank. It allows the customers to deposit money in the bank’s account in another bank. It is often used if a bank has no branches in a foreign country.

Understanding Nostro account:

• Let’s presume bank “A” does not have any branches in the US, but bank “B” does. Now, to receive the deposits in the US, “A” will open a Nostro account with “B”.
• Now, if any customers in the US want to send money to “A”, they can deposit it into A’s account in “B”. “B” will transfer the money to “A”.
• The main difference between a deposit account and a Nostro account is that the former is held by individual depositors while the latter is held by foreign institutions.

What is a Vostro account?

• A Vostro account is just another name for a Nostro account. It is an account held by a bank that allows the customers to deposit money on behalf of another bank.
• A Nostro account is a Vostro account for the bank that opens the account.

Understanding Vostro account:

• In the above example, the account will be called a Vostro account for bank “B”. The Vostro account accepts the payments on behalf of the account holder’s bank.
• If a person deposits money in the Vostro account, it will be transferred to the account holder’s bank.
• Nostro and Vostro accounts are held in a foreign denomination.
• In the case of Sberbank and JSC VTB, these two banks will now be allowed to open Vostro accounts that will accept payments on behalf of the Indian banks, in Indian rupees, by the traders in Russia.
• The traders will no longer be required to send the payments to India in US dollars. They can now simply deposit the money, in ‘₹’, in the Vostro accounts in the two banks.
• These two banks will then transfer the money to the account holder banks in India.

Question: 

Russia becomes the first country to facilitate rupee-based export-import transactions. Through which of the following type of account will it be done?

A. Nostro Account

B. Vostro Account

C. Loro Account

D. Exchange Earners’ Foreign Currency Accounts

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

First Global Media Congress

• The first edition of Global Media Congress kicked off in Abu Dhabi recently, with calls for media to share their experience and contribute ideas to find solutions to global challenges.

Theme:

• The three-day event, taking place under the theme “Shaping the Future of the Media Industry”, sees participation from more than 1,200 media sector pioneers, specialists, and influencers from six continents in the globe, with more than 30 debates and workshops featuring more than 162 globally renowned speakers.

Details:

• The conference and workshops for young media persons will offer a platform for journalists, tech firms, content creators, digital marketing professionals, streaming giants, entertainment executives, regulators and key media stakeholders to share ideas and exchange experiences.
• In addition, the exhibition hosts more than 170 prominent media establishments and companies from 29 countries worldwide, showcasing the latest international technologies specialised in these vital sectors.

Question:

The first edition of Global Media Congress was recently held in

A. Abu Dhabi

B. Dubai

C. Jakarta

D. Colombo

Answer: A

Current Affairs: National

NCW Launches the Fourth Phase of Digital Shakti Campaign

• The National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched the fourth phase of the Digital Shakti Campaign for empowering women and girls with necessary digital skills.

About Digital Shakti 4.0:

• The Digital Shakti 4.0 is focused on making women digitally skilled and aware to stand-up against any illegal/inappropriate activity online. NCW launched the campaign in collaboration with CyberPeace Foundation and Meta.

What is Digital Shakti?

• Digital Shakti started in June 2018 to help women across the nation to raise the awareness level on the digital front, to build resilience, and to fight cyber-crime in the most effective ways. 
• Through this project, over 3 Lakh women across India have been made aware of cyber safety tips and tricks, reporting and redressal mechanisms, data privacy, and usage of technology for their benefits.

Facts:

• Digital Shakti started in June 2018 to help women across the nation to raise the awareness level on the digital front.
• Through this project, over 3 Lakh women across India have been made aware of cyber safety tips and tricks.
• It is helping women in reporting and redressal mechanisms, data privacy, and usage of technology for their benefits.

Question: 

The fourth phase of the Digital Shakti campaign launched recently is associated with

A. children

B. women

C. handicapped people

D. transgenders

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar Invited as an International Observer for the Forthcoming Elections in Nepal

• The Chief Election Commissioner of India Shri Rajiv Kumar has been invited by the Election Commission of Nepal as an International Observer for the forthcoming elections to Nepal’s House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly. 
• Elections are scheduled in Nepal on 20th November, 2022, for the Federal and Provincial elections to elect 275 members of the Federal Parliament and 550 seats of the seven Provincial Assemblies.
• Shri Rajiv Kumar will be leading a delegation of ECI officials as the State guest in Nepal from 18th November to 22nd November, 2022. During his visit, Shri Kumar would be visiting Polling stations at Kathmandu and the areas around.

What will ECI do in this regard?

• The Election Commission of India has always been in the forefront with fellow Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and relevant international organisations/associations in promoting the cause of democracy worldwide, through bilateral as well as multilateral interactions and has always endeavoured to promote contacts, facilitate exchange of knowledge and sharing of best practices with a view to strengthen democratic institutions and processes. 
• ECI’s India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) has by far trained more than 2200 officers from 109 countries of whom 70 officers from Nepal have also been trained as a part of capacity building initiatives. 
• A capacity building program for 25 officials from the Election Commission of Nepal is also scheduled to be held from 13th to 24th March, 2023, at IIIDEM.

Facts:

• ECI would be hosting two more International conferences on the theme of “Inclusive and Accessible Elections” and “Technology in Elections” as parts of Cohort activities under the “Summit for Democracy—Year of Action”.
• ECI had been chairing the Association of World Election Bodies, which is the world’s largest international organisation in the field of election management, since September 2019 to October 2022. A-WEB currently comprises 119 Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from 109 countries. 

Question: 

Which of the following neighbour countries has recently invited the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Shri Rajiv Kumar, as an International Observer for the forthcoming elections?

A. Bangladesh

B. Sri Lanka

C. Nepal

D. Myanmar

Answer: C

Current Affairs: National

Millet Mission Launched by Assam Government

• The Assam government recently launched a special programme aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and doubling farmers’ income.
• A special initiative, Assam Millet Mission, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for this purpose.

About the Mission:

• The day which marks the launching of the Assam Millet Mission is targeted to raise the nutrition quotient and to double farmers’ income. The mission will also increase crop productivity and contribute to crop diversification.
• With the launch of the millet mission, the farmers of Assam can diversify their cropping practices and other than conventional crops, they can extend their farming to grow millets.

Fact:

• While the state government will observe 2023 as the ‘year of millets’, the plan is to expedite a full-fledged millet mission in the state for seven years starting 2022-23. Millets have a low carbon footprint and have the ability to survive and grow in a warm climate with very little water.

Question: 

Which northeastern state recently launched the millet mission?

A. Arunachal Pradesh

B. Mizoram

C. Nagaland

D. Assam

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Days and Events

National Epilepsy Day 2022

• Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder that causes frequent seizures. 
• Epilepsy affects the functions of the brain, resulting in losing a sense of balance and surroundings. 
• People of any age can suffer from this; however, issues can vary from person to person. 
• Every year, 17th November is observed as National Epilepsy Day in India to generate awareness about this chronic disorder characterised by recurrent fits.
• Although the root cause of the condition remains unclear, experts have identified several causes that can put a person at a higher risk of developing epilepsy.

Epilepsy Symptoms

• The main symptom that a person with epilepsy faces is seizures. However, the symptoms of an episode will depend on the type of seizure experienced by an individual.
• The most recurring symptoms include temporary loss of awareness and consciousness, muscle jerks, uncontrolled muscle movements, blank stare looks, confusion, and problems with thinking, talking, and understanding.
• In addition to this, lack of vision, taste, smell, feelings, numbness, upset stomach, and goosebumps, are some of the other symptoms.
• The psychic symptoms of the condition include experiencing deja vu, anxiety, dreading, and feeling fear.

Question:

When is the National Epilepsy Day observed in India every year?

A. 15th June

B. 19th September

C. 12th August

D. 17th November

Answer: D

Current Affairs: National

The Wangala – 100 Drums Festival of Meghalaya

• The 46th edition of Wangala Festival, also known as the 100 Drums Festival and one of Meghalaya’s most famous post-harvest carnivals, began recently at Wangala Dam Chibragre near Tura in West Garo Hills district. 
• During this festival, the girls in the village perform different kinds of dances. Drums and bamboo flutes are played to the tunes of the folk songs of the region.

What Is the Wangala Festival?

• The Wangala Festival of Meghalaya is a popular festival among the Garos of Meghalaya, India. 
• Wangala Festival is a harvest festival held in honour of Saljong, the Sun-god of fertility. 
• The celebration of the Wangala Festival marks the end of a period of toil, which brings good output from the fields. 
• It also signifies the onset of winter.

Details:

• The Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Committee is organising the three-day post-harvest festival. 
• Over ten dancing contingents from across the Garo Hills take part in the festival. 
• The festival is also held in the neighbouring tribal-dominated areas of Bangladesh.

Question: 

Wangala Festival, also known as the 100 Drums Festival, is celebrated in which of the following northeastern states of India?

A. Arunachal Pradesh

B. Mizoram

C. Nagaland

D. Meghalaya 

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Appointments and Retirements

Govt Nominates Vivek Joshi as Director in RBI’s Central Board

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently announced that the government had nominated Vivek Joshi to its central board. 
• Joshi, who is the secretary of the Department of Financial Services, will hold the position of Director at RBI. 
• The nomination has come into effect from November 15, 2022, until further orders.
• He is also currently posted as Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs since January 2019.

About Joshi:

• Joshi holds a PhD. and Masters in International Studies (International Economics) from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva (Switzerland). 
• He completed his PhD. under the guidance of Prof Richard Baldwin in Trade Economics in 2010. 
• He is also an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) and the University of Roorkee (now, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee), where he finished his Executive Master’s in International Business in 2006 and B.E. in Mechanical Engineering in 1987, respectively.

Question:

Who among the following has recently been nominated as Director in RBI’s central board?

A. Adar Poonawala

B. Vivek Joshi

C. Ratnesh Shulka

D. Mohan Singh Tripathi

Answer: B

Current Affairs: National

UP Government to Build Ramayana and Mahabharata Circuits Under New Tourism Policy

• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently approved the state’s new tourism policy aimed at establishing Uttar Pradesh as the hub of religious and spiritual tourism in the country.

Details:

• Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Bithoor and other such “places of significance” will be included in the Ramayana circuit.
• Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Govardhan, Barsana, Nandgaon, and Baldev will be included in the Krishna circuit.
• The Buddhist circuit will include Kapilvastu, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Kaushambi, Shravasti, Ramgram and other places.
• The Jain circuit will also be extended from Deogarh, Hastinapur, to Parshwanath Digambar Jain temple, Ramnagar.
• The Mahabharata circuit has also been envisaged and places like Hastinapur, Kampilya, Echhatra, Barnawa, Mathura, Kaushambi, Gonda and Lakshagriha have been selected.
• The Shaktipeeth circuit will also be developed. It will extend from Vindhyavasini Devi, Ashtabhuja to Devipatan, Naimisharanya, Maa Lalita Devi, Maa Jwala Devi, Shakumbhari Devi from Saharanpur to Shivani Devi, Chitrakoot, and Sheetla Mata in Mau district.
• A Sufi Kabir circuit will also be developed along the same lines. It is proposed to be extended from Amethi, Maghar, Sant Kabir Nagar to Kabirdas’ Karmabhoomi—Lahartara in Varanasi.

Question: 

Which of the following cities will not be a part of the Jain Circuit recently announced by the UP Government in the new tourism policy?

A. Deogarh

B. Hastinapur

C. Ramnagar

D. Mathura

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Art and Culture, Diplomacy

Patan Patola Scarf

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Bali for the G20 Summit, presented world leaders with unique gifts, displaying the rich art and culture of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

Details: 

• PM Modi presented US President Joe Biden with Kangra miniature paintings.
• He presented UK PM Rishi Sunak with ‘Mata Ni Pachedi’, a handmade Gujarat textile offered in temples.
• Australian leader Anthony Albanese was presented with ‘Pithora’, a tribal folk art from Chhota Udaipur.
• He presented Agate bowls from Kutch to the leaders of France, Germany, and Singapore.
• His Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni received a ‘Patan Patola’ scarf.

What is Patan Patola?

• The ancient art of double ikat or patola woven in pure silk dates back to the 11th century. The patola fabrics bear an equal intensity of colours and design on both sides. 
• This peculiar quality has its origins in an intricate and difficult technique of dyeing or knot dyeing, known as ‘bandhani’, on the warp and weft separately before weaving.
• One of the major practitioners of the dwindling art form is the Salvi family from North Gujarat.

Question:

Recently PM Modi gifted a ‘Patan Patola’ scarf to his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni at the G20 Summit. This scarf is ancient weaving art form majorly associated with which state?

A. Rajasthan

B. Gujrat

C. Uttar Pradesh

D. Tamil Nadu

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

First Global Media Congress

• The first edition of Global Media Congress kicked off in Abu Dhabi recently, with calls for media to share their experience and contribute ideas to find solutions to global challenges.

Theme:

• The three-day event, taking place under the theme “Shaping the Future of the Media Industry”, sees participation from more than 1,200 media sector pioneers, specialists, and influencers from six continents in the globe, with more than 30 debates and workshops featuring more than 162 globally renowned speakers.

Details:

• The conference and workshops for young media persons will offer a platform for journalists, tech firms, content creators, digital marketing professionals, streaming giants, entertainment executives, regulators and key media stakeholders to share ideas and exchange experiences.
• In addition, the exhibition hosts more than 170 prominent media establishments and companies from 29 countries worldwide, showcasing the latest international technologies specialised in these vital sectors.

Question:

The first edition of Global Media Congress was recently held in

A. Abu Dhabi

B. Dubai

C. Jakarta

D. Colombo

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Defence

Army to Construct Next-Gen 3D-Printed Bunkers at LAC

• The Indian Army will construct modular, 3D-printed, next-generation bunkers to provide better protection to front-line soldiers guarding the country’s border with China in the Ladakh sector.
• Create underground facilities for the storage of ammunition at forward locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)
• Build a raft of new roads, bridges and tunnels as part of an overarching infrastructure push to strengthen its capabilities in the sensitive sector during a lingering border standoff with the neighbour.

About the AM Technology:

• AM technology uses computer-aided designing to make prototypes or working models of objects by laying down successive layers of materials such as plastic, resin, thermoplastic, metal, fibre or ceramic. 

About the Bunkers:

• The modern bunkers, which the army terms 3D printed permanent defences, will come up near LAC next year onwards and will be able to withstand a direct hit by a tank shell.
• Their name comes from the fact that they are made using 3D printers; the material used is a proprietary form of quick-drying concrete and admixture.

Benefits:

• Reduced raw material wastage; Lower energy and environmental costs; design alterations can be done quickly and efficiently during the Manufacturing Process.
• A bunker can be printed in a matter of hours. “That’s the real advantage. The bunkers can be churned out very quickly depending on the army’s requirements”.

Question:

Which technology will be used by the Indian Army to construct modular, 3D-printed, next-generation bunkers?

A. Additive Manufacturing Technology

B. Shell Manufacturing Technology

C. Base Manufacturing Technology

D. Trufin Manufacturing Technology

Answer: A

Current Affairs: International Relations

UK-India Young Professionals Scheme

• UK PM Rishi Sunak has given the go-ahead for 3,000 visas for young Indian professionals to live and work in the country each year.

About the scheme:

• Under the scheme, the UK will offer 3,000 places to 18–30 year-old degree holders holding Indian nationals to live and work in the UK for up to two years
• India is the first visa-national country to benefit from such a scheme
• The scheme will commence in early 2023 and be on a reciprocal basis

Relevance of the Scheme: 

• The UK government called the launch of the program a “significant moment” for the UK-India relationship.

Question: 

The recently launched UK-India Young Professionals Scheme by PM Rishi Sunak considers the youth of the age group between

A. 15-25 years

B. 18-30 years

C. 20-40 years

D. 30-40 years

Answer: B

Current Affairs: National

National Technical Textiles Mission

• The Ministry of Textiles, in partnership with the Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA) and Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA), organised a full-day event, “National Conclave on Technical Textiles – Protech”, recently. 

Details:

• There were three-panel discussions in the conclave covering the prospect of indigenisation of ‘protective textile’ products in India, the experience and expectations of consumers towards adopting Indian protective textiles and Market promotion and Export opportunities of Protective Textiles in India along with Global Best Practices. 
• Around 450 participants attended the conclave, including Officials and Representatives from the Central Government, Indian Forces, researchers, entrepreneurs and professionals related to technical textiles, especially Protech.

What Are Technical Textiles?

• Technical textiles are functional fabrics that have applications across various industries, including automobiles, civil engineering and construction, agriculture, healthcare, industrial safety, personal protection, etc.
• Technical Textile products derive their demand from development and industrialisation in a country.

What Is the National Technical Textiles Mission?

• It was approved in 2020 by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) with the aim of positioning the country as a global leader in technical textiles and increasing the use of technical textiles in the domestic market.
• It aims at taking the domestic market size from USD 40 billion to USD 50 billion by 2024.

Question: 

Which of the following years saw CCEA approval for the National Technical Textiles Mission?

A. 2011

B. 2015

C. 2020

D. 2022

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Days and Events

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022

• World Antimicrobial Awareness Week is observed every year from 18 to 24 November. This week aims at spreading awareness about antibiotic or antimicrobial resistance. 
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines. 
• This makes infections harder to treat, thus increasing the risk of severe illness. Moreover, this week focuses on how the medical community is educating people about the appropriate use of disease-fighting drugs.

Theme:

• This year the theme of World Antimicrobial Awareness week centres around “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together”. 

History

• Recognising the urgent need to raise antibiotic resistance awareness, the World Health Organisation introduced World Antibiotics Awareness Week (WAAW) in 2015. 
• This came after European governments opted for an action plan on antibiotic resistance in 2011. 
• This step was taken into consideration to raise awareness on a global level and to take initiatives that seem to be necessary.

Significance:

• World Antimicrobial Awareness Week plays a pivotal role when it comes to educating the masses about the problems one might face if they don’t have resistance to antibiotics. 
• Every year, a global action plan is followed to address the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics. 
• This week, in particular, motivates us to learn more about antibiotic fundamentals.

How to Raise Awareness about Antibiotic Resistance?

• People should be well-equipped with the specific guidelines that the WHO introduced to tackle the serious issue of antibiotic resistance. 
• The initiative of World Antibiotics Awareness Week (WAAW) is the best viable way to educate the masses about antibiotic resistance.

Question:

Which of the following months is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week observed every year?

A. January

B. August

C. September

D. November

Answer: D

Kashi Tamil Sangamam Begins in Varanasi

Current Affairs: Art and Culture

• The one-month-long Kashi Tamil Sangam began recently in Varanasi. 
• The first batch of delegates from Tamil Nadu will reach on 18th November, late at night at Varanasi. 
• The Sangamam is being organised by the Government of India as a part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and to uphold the Spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

About the Event:

• The month-long Sangamam has been organised in Varanasi from 16th November to 19th December. 
• During this, academic exchanges – seminars, discussions, etc., will be held between experts and scholars on various facets of the two ancient manifestations of Indian culture, with a focus on bringing out the links and shared values between the two.

Objectives:

• The objective of Sangamam is to rediscover, reaffirm and celebrate the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi – two of the country’s most important and ancient seats of learning. 
• Kashi Tamil Sangamam aims to provide an opportunity for scholars, students, philosophers, traders, artisans, artists and people from other walks of life from the two regions to come together, share their knowledge, culture and best practices and learn from each others’ experiences. 
• The endeavour is in sync with National Education Policy 2020’s emphasis on integrating the wealth of Indian Knowledge Systems with modern systems of knowledge.

Themes Covered:

• The Sangamam will be centred on themes covering various facets of knowledge – literature, ancient texts, philosophy, spirituality, music, dance, drama, yoga, Ayurveda, handlooms, handicrafts, and as modern innovations, trade exchanges, edutech and other gen-next technology.

Question:

The Kashi Tamil Sangamam is organised in which of the following cities?

A. Ayodhya

B. Varanasi 

C. Chennai

D. Rameshwaram 

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Sports

Target Olympic Podium Scheme

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has approved wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s proposal to train in Belmeken, Bulgaria, which is a High Altitude training area situated approximately 2600 m above sea level.
• Vinesh, who is accompanied by her physio Ashwini Patil, is training under former Olympic Silver medallist Serafim Barzakov at the camp, which is going to last for 19 days (7-26 November 2022).
• The international camp is also expected to have other top wrestlers, such as Bilyana Dudova (2021 World Championship Gold medallist) and Evelina Nikolova (2020 Olympic Bronze medallist), among many other prominent wrestlers.

Key Highlights

• Funding would cover Vinesh and her physio’s flight, accommodation, local travel, and food costs, among others
• TOPS will also provide her with an out-of-pocket allowance of $50 per day for any other expense she might incur

What Is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme?

• To improve India’s performance at the Olympics and Paralympics, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) started the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) in September 2014. 
• TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) is a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports that attempts to assist India’s top athletes. 
• The Scheme looks to add a premium to the preparations of these athletes so that they can win medals in the Olympics.
• The Scheme currently supports 104 TOPS Core Group athletes across 13 sports disciplines and Hockey (M & W) teams and 269 TOPS Development Group athletes across 12 sports disciplines.

Question: 

Which female athlete has recently been approved for High Altitude training in Bulgaria under the Target Olympic Podium scheme?

A. Sakshi Malik

B. Saikhom Mirabai Chanu

C. Lovlina Borgohain

D. Vinesh Phogat

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

India, China, Brazil, South Africa Oppose ‘Carbon Border Tax’

• With the 27th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP) in Sharm El-Sheikh nearing its final stages and efforts being ramped up to arrive at a conclusive agreement, a consortium of countries that includes India has jointly stated that carbon border taxes, that could result in market distortion and aggravate the trust deficit amongst parties, must be avoided.
• The European Union has proposed a policy—the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism—to tax products such as cement and steel that are extremely carbon intensive, with effect from 2026.

What is a carbon border adjustment tax? 

• A carbon border adjustment tax is a duty on imports based on the amount of carbon emissions resulting from the production of the product in question. 
• As a price on carbon, it discourages emissions. As a trade-related measure, it affects production and exports.
• The idea of a carbon border tax has been discussed by experts for years. 
• If designed unilaterally, it tends to be seen as unfair by trading partners. 
• There is the risk that it becomes a protectionist device, unduly shielding local industries from foreign competition in so-called ‘green protectionism’.

How would the EU scheme work?

• If implemented as planned, EU importers will have to buy carbon certificates corresponding to the carbon price that would have been paid in the EU, in case the goods had been produced locally.
• The price of the certificates would be calculated according to the auction prices in the EU carbon credit market.
• The amount of certificates required would be defined yearly by the quantity of goods and the embedded emissions in those goods imported into the EU.
• The CBAM would initially apply to imports of cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers and electricity.

Details:

• BASIC, a group constituting Brazil, India, South Africa and China, and therefore large economies that are significantly dependent on coal, has for several years voiced common concerns and reiterated their right to use fossil fuels in the interim during their countries’ eventual transformation to clean energy sources.

Question:

In the recent 27th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP) in Sharm El Sheikh, which of the following countries did not oppose the proposal of carbon border tax?

A. India

B. South Africa

C. China

D. Nepal

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Sports

The Phrygian Cap Chosen as Paris 2024 Mascot

• The Phrygian cap, the symbol of the French republic but wearing sneakers as a nod to the present, was unveiled as the mascot for the 2024 Paris Olympics. 
• The Olympic Phryge (pronounced fri-jee-uhs) is a bit smaller, the Paralympic Phryge is a bit slimmer and has a blade on its right leg because it is a Phyrge with an impairment.

Details:

• The mascots were unveiled in a press conference in Paris by Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet, Beijing 2008 wheelchair tennis men’s doubles champion Michael Jérémiasz, and Gwladys Épangue, a bronze medallist in Taekwondo from Beijing 2008.

What is Phryges?

• Phryges (pronounced fri-jee-uhs) are small Phrygian caps, which represent a strong symbol of liberty, inclusivity, and the ability of people to support great and meaningful causes. 
• They are kitted out in a red, white, and blue colourway, with the golden Paris 2024 logo emblazoned across their chests. 
• They also have a mischievous and expressive eye made of a ‘cockade of France’, a knot of ribbons, which is the French national ornament.
• While Phryges are part of a large family, the main heroes of Paris 2024 will be Olympic Phryge and Paralympic Phryge. 
• Over the next two years, both of them will play a key role in promoting the upcoming games, before welcoming the athletes to Paris 2024.

Question: 

The Phrygian cap is recently chosen as the Mascot of which of the following international Sports events?

A. Para Olympics 2024

B. Commonwealth Games 2025

C. Paris Olympics 2024 

D. Asian Games 2024

Answer: C

Current Affairs: International

The 10^th International Tourism Mart

• The Ministry of Tourism is organising the 10^th International Tourism Mart (ITM) for the North-Eastern Region from November 17 to 19 in Aizawl, Mizoram.

Objective:

• The objective of International Tourism Mart, 2022 is to highlight the tourism potential of the North-Eastern region in domestic and international markets.

About International Tourism Mart (ITM):

• The International Tourism Marts are organised in the North-Eastern states on rotation basis. 
• Mizoram is hosting this Mart for the first time. 
• The earlier editions of this mart were held in Guwahati, Tawang, Shillong, Gangtok, Agartala, Imphal and Kohima.
• The event focuses on “Priorities of G20 for Tourism Track”, since India will assume the forthcoming G20 Presidency for a year, starting from December 1, 2022. 
• The Mart aims to bring together the tourism business fraternity and entrepreneurs from the eight North-Eastern states. 
• The event has been planned and scheduled to facilitate interaction between buyers, sellers, media, government agencies, and other stakeholders to create a buzz.

What is included in the Mart?

• The Mart includes presentations by eight North-Eastern states on their tourism potential, along with cultural evenings and sightseeing visits to local attractions in and around Aizawl. 
• It also includes B2B meetings where buyers from different regions of the country will engage in one-on-one meetings with sellers from the North-Eastern Region. 
• Also, an exhibition including the display of handicrafts and handlooms is being organised to showcase the tourism products of the respective participating states.

Question: 

In which of the following states is the 10^th International Tourism Mart being organised?

A. Rajasthan

B. Tripura

C. Mizoram

D. Kerala

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Person in News

CEA Arvind Virmani Appointed as a Full-Time Member of NITI Aayog

• Former Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Virmani has been appointed as a full-time member of NITI Aayog, according to an official notification.
• Arvind Virmani served as the Chief Economic Adviser in the Finance Ministry (2007-2009).

Details: 

• The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Shri Arvind Virmani, Founder, Chairman, Foundation for Economic Growth and Welfare as a Full-Time Member of NITI Aayog with immediate effect and until further orders, on the same terms and conditions as are applicable to Full-Time Members of NITI Aayog.

About Arvind Virmani:

• He served as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monetary Policy from February 2013 to August 2016.
• Virmani, a PhD in Economics from Harvard University, USA, has also served as Principal Advisor to the Planning Commission.

Other Members:

• NITI Aayog, which is the government’s premier think-tank, is headed by the Prime Minister and presently has three members, VK Saraswat, Ramesh Chand, and VK Paul.

Question: 

Who of the following has recently been appointed as a full member of NITI Aayog?

A. Krishnamurthy Subramanian

B. V Anantha Nageswaran

C. Arvind Subramanian

D. Arvind Virmani

Answer: D

Current Affairs: National

Indian Chemicals Council Sustainability Conclave

• Chemicals and Petrochemicals Secretary Arun Baroka inaugurated the 4th edition of Indian Chemicals Council, ICC Sustainability Conclave in New Delhi recently.

Theme: 

• The theme of the two-day event is ‘Boardrooms to Community-ESG, Carbon Neutrality, Operational Safety, Greener Solutions’. 

Rationale: 

• The Conclave aims to promote sustainability in the management of the entire life cycle of chemicals. 
• It is being organised jointly with the United Nations Environment Program and the International Council of Chemical Associations with support of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers and the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.

Question: 

The 4th edition of Indian Chemicals Council Sustainability Conclave was inaugurated in which of the following States/UT?

A. Gujarat

B. Telangana

C. Delhi

D. Pondicherry

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Person in News

Indian Basketball Legend Abbas Moontasir Passes Away

• The former Indian basketball captain and Arjuna awardee, Gulam Abbas Moontasir, passed away in Mumbai. From Nagpada Basketball Association to the International stage, he was always an aggressive player with a unique physical style on the court.

About Moontasir: 

• Born in Mumbai, Moontasir started playing basketball at the age of nine at the local courts of Nagpada, Central Mumbai. 
• He attended the Antonio D’Souza school and DG Ruparel College to complete his education. 
• But he always had an attraction towards sports, especially basketball. 
• He was always seen playing basketball for his school, university, and the Maharashtra state. 
• Giving a kickstart to his career, he made his international debut in Mumbai in 1960 against Australia. 
• Later, he represented his country in the quadrangular in Colombo in 1964 and played the game with exceptional skills and an aggressive style. 
• The legendary player received global recognition after he captained the Indian side at Asian Basketball Championship in 1969 and 1975, held in Bangkok. 
• During the matches, the basketball fans saw a spark inside him, and people started calling him the real angry man of the 1970s due to his aggression on the court. 

India’s Top Basketball Player by 22:

• Moontasir became one of India’s top basketball players by age 22 and managed to get several international recognitions for the country. 
• After attending international tournaments, he identified three main problems in basketball: outdated method of game, ridiculous refereeing, and constant bickering by the Basketball Federation of India.
• He raised his concerns in the public domain, due to which he was banned from playing basketball for three years. 
• He became the first basketball player from India in 1970 to receive the Arjuna Award and continued playing till 1986, when he represented the Railways in the Federation Cup. He also made a place in popular culture and worked in a few Bollywood films.

Question: 

Which former Indian basketball legend and Arjuna awardee recently passed away?

A. Khushi Ram

B. Hanuman Singh

C. Amarnath Natarajan

D. Gulam Abbas Moontasir

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace 2021

• Former Vice-President Hamid Ansari presented the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development of 2021 to Pratham, an NGO functioning in the field of education. 
• The award is in recognition of Pratham’s work in ensuring quality education for children of the country, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Pratham also used digital technology to deliver education so that the children could learn during the school closure amid the pandemic.

What Is the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development?

• The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development was instituted in the memory of the former prime minister by a trust (Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust) in her name in 1986.
• It consists of a monetary award of ₹25 lakh along with a citation.
• The award is given to individuals or organisations who work towards ensuring international peace and development, ensuring that scientific discoveries are used to further the scope ofdom and better humanity, and creating a new international economic order.

What is Pratham?

• Pratham was set up in 1995. It began its work in slum areas by setting up community-based pre-schools and by offering remedial education to students who lagged behind in their classes.
• Its Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), based on surveying 6,00,000 rural Indian children, is now used as a model to assess educational outcomes and learning deficiencies in 14 countries over three continents.

Question: 

Which of the following individuals or organisations recently received the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development?

A. Centre for Science and Environment

B. Sir David Attenborough

C. Dr Manmohan Singh

D. Pratham

Answer: D

Current Affairs: National

Kameng Hydro Project

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recently dedicated the 600 MW Kameng Hydro Power Station to the nation, the biggest Hydro Power Project implemented by NEEPCO Ltd., a Mini Ratna Power PSU under the Ministry of Power.

About: 

• 600 MW Kameng Hydro Power Station in Arunachal Pradesh will be a major step towards fulfilling the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of the Govt. of India
• The project will form part of the projected hydro capacity addition of 30000 MW by 2030
• The project stretches over more than 80 kilometres in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh at the cost of approx. ₹8200 crores
• This will make Arunachal Pradesh a power surplus state with huge benefits to the National Grid in terms of grid stability and integration and balancing of solar and wind energy sources in the grid

About NEEPCO Ltd:

• NEEPCO Ltd, a Govt. of India Mini Ratna Schedule-A PSU under the Ministry of Power, is one of the leading power generating enterprises having an aggregate operational capacity of 2057 MW, comprising of hydro, natural gas based/ thermal power stations as well as Solar and has significantly contributed towards the improvement of power scenario in the North Eastern Region. 
• The company is now foraying into Jammu and Kashmir for solar as well as multipurpose projects.

Question: 

Which of the following States’ 600 MW Kameng Hydro Power Station was recently dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi?

A. Assam

B. Sikkim

C. Arunachal Pradesh

D. Himachal Pradesh

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Days and Events

World Television Day 2022

• On 21 November, a day dedicated to television is commemorated. The day recognises the idea that television represents rather than focussing on television as a technology. 
• In the modern world, television is a representation of communication and globalisation. 
• The number of households with televisions worldwide is increasing, even though screen sizes have changed and people create, share, watch, and consume content on various other platforms, according to the official website of the United Nations. 

History

• Philo Taylor Farnsworth, an American inventor, invented the first electrical television in 1927. 
• The first mechanical television station, W3XK, which Charles Francis Jenkins built, broadcast its first programme a year later. 
• On 17 December 1996, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 November to be World Television Day through resolution.

Significance

• It was done to acknowledge the growing influence that television has on our judgement. With televisions, we could watch everything that was happening in the world within the comfort of our living rooms.

Question: 

The United Nations General Assembly declared which of the following days as World Television Day?

A. 15 March

B. 22 June

C. 26 August

D. 21 November

Answer: D

Current Affairs: National

Donyi Polo Airport

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the first Greenfield airport in Arunachal Pradesh – the Donyi Polo Airport – 25 km from Itanagar. 

What Is Greenfield Airport?

• A greenfield airport is an aviation facility with greenfield project characteristics. 
• The designation reflects certain environmental qualities (using previously undeveloped or empty greenfield land, for example) and commissioning, planning and construction processes that are generally carried out from scratch. 
• While a green field in nature is defined as a wide expanse of natural land (meadow, prairie, grassland), here, greenfield denotes that a project lacks any constraints imposed upon it by prior work or existing infrastructure. (A brownfield, on the other hand, remodels or improves upon existing facilities.)

Details about Donyi Polo Airport:

• The airport has been developed in an area of over 690 acres at the cost of more than ₹640 crores. It has a 2,300 m long runway and is well-suited for all-weather day operations.
• The name of the airport reflects the traditions and rich cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh and the age-old indigenous reverence for the Sun (‘Donyi’) and the Moon (‘Polo’) in the state.
• The airport terminal is a modern building which promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy and the recycling of resources. 
• The terminal at Hollongi has been constructed approximately at the cost of ₹955 crores over an area of 4,100 sq m and has a peak handling capacity of 200 passengers per hour.
• The Donyi Polo Airport is the fourth operational airport in Arunachal Pradesh.

Strategic Importance of the AirPort:

• The North Eastern part of India is connected with the rest of the country through a narrow corridor popularly called Chicken’s neck. 
• Arunachal is even far in the Northeast, with the mighty Brahmaputra acting as a great divide. 
• Arunachal is the largest state of Northeast India, spreading from Bhutan on its western border to Myanmar in the east. 
• It shares a sensitive border in the north with Tibet’s autonomous region of China. 
• Post-partition, the natural lines of the movement were severed, and the northeast region became landlocked. 
• There were decades of political struggle, armed conflict, and insurgency in this region after independence. 
• Successive governments did make attempts to bring political stability to the region by signing pacts with insurgent groups or mainstreaming their leaders through the electoral process.

Question:

Donyi Polo Airport in Arunachal Pradesh, which PM Modi recently inaugurated, is a type of

A. Greenfield Airport

B. Brownfield Airport

C. Whitefield Airport

D. None of the above

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Report and Indexes

Network Readiness Index Report-2022

• India has improved its position by six slots and is now placed at 61st rank as per the Network Readiness Index 2022 report released recently. 
• In its latest version of 2022, the report maps the network-based readiness landscape of 131 economies based on their performances in four different pillars: technology, people, governance, and impact.

Details:

• The Network Readiness Index 2022 ranks a total of 131 economies that collectively account for almost 95 per cent of the global gross domestic product (GDP).
• The US takes 1st spot from the Netherlands (4th) as the most network-ready society. The biggest mover is Singapore (2nd), which surged from the seventh position to rank second in this year’s index, pushing Denmark (6th) and Finland (7thth) out of the top 5.
• The other five countries that make up the top 10 are Sweden (3rd), Switzerland (5th), Germany (8th), Korea, Rep. (9th) and Norway (10th).

About the Report:

• The report was prepared by the Portland Institute, an independent non-profit, nonpartisan research and educational institute based in Washington DC. 
• The report mentions that India has a greater network readiness than would be expected given its income level.
• The country is ranked third out of 36 in the group of lower-middle-income countries after Ukraine and Indonesia.

Facts about India in the Report:

• India has not only improved its ranking but also improved its score from 49.74 in 2021 to 51.19 in 2022. 
• The report states that India secured 1st rank in AI talent concentration, the second rank in Mobile broadband internet traffic within the country and International Internet bandwidth, third rank in Annual investment in telecommunication services and Domestic market size, fourth rank in ICT Services exports, fifth rank in FTTH and Building Internet subscriptions and AI scientific publications.

Question: 

What is India’s rank among 131 economies in the recently published Network Readiness Index 2022?

A. 31st

B. 43rd

C. 61st

D. 94th

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2021- 22

• Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Dr Subhas Sarkar, gave away the Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar (SVP), 2021-22, to the National awardee schools in New Delhi recently. 
• The third edition of the Award, i.e. SVP 2021-22, saw phenomenal participation, with 9.59 lakh schools registered for the awards. 
• This number is approx. 1.5 times more than the number of schools (6.15 lakh schools) in SVP 2017-18 who participated during that year.

Details:

• The National Selection Committee for selection of schools for SVP 2021-22, in their meeting held on 10th October 2022, selected 39 schools (34 in the overall category and 5 in sub-categories) for National level awards for SVP 2021-2022, after 3rd party evaluation by UNICEF partner agency (NEERMAN).
• Out of 39 selected schools, 21 schools are from rural areas, and 18 are from urban areas. Further, 28 schools are government/ government aided, while 11 are private schools. 
• The awarded schools also include 2 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, one Navodaya Vidyalaya and three Kendriya Vidyalayas. 
• Out of 39 schools, 17 are elementary, and 22 are secondary/ higher secondary schools. Cash prizes of ₹60,000/- to 34 schools (in the overall category) and ₹20,000/-, (in sub-categories) were given to the awardee schools.

What Is Swachh Vidyalaya Initiative?

• The Department launched the Swachh Vidyalaya Initiative in 2014. 
• Under this initiative, a record number of 4,17,796 toilets were constructed in 2,61,400 schools, including 1,90,887 girls’ toilets in a one-year period up to 15th August 2015. 
• Encouraged by this stupendous success, the Department of School Education and Literacy launched the Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar in 2016-17 to ensure long-term sustainability and behavioural change. 
• The Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar not only honours the schools that have taken up exemplary work in the field of water, sanitation and hygiene but also provides a benchmark and roadmap for schools to make further improvements.

Parameters of Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar:

• Under this Award, schools are rated on six broad parameters of

1. Water
2. Toilets
3. Handwashing with soap
4. Operation and Maintenance
5. Behaviour Change and Capacity building
6. COVID-19 (Preparedness and Response)

• The Puraskar is given at District, State and National levels.

Question: 

Which one of the following is not a parameter of Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2022?

A. Operation and Maintenance 

B. Behaviour Change and Capacity building 

C. COVID-19, Preparedness and Response

D. Use of technology in the classroom

Answer: D

Current Affairs: International

India-ASEAN Defence Ministers Meet in Cambodia

• Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers plus Meeting (ADMM) and the India-ASEAN defence ministers meeting on 22 and 23 November in Cambodia.
• Raksha Mantri has been invited to the 9th annual meeting at Siem Reap at the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Cambodia, Samdech Pichey Sena TEA Banh.

About the Meet:

• India and Cambodia will co-chair the India-ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting to commemorate 30 years of India-ASEAN relations. Rajnath Singh and other dignitaries of the ASEAN will be discussing and announcing plans to boost the India- ASEAN partnership.

India in ASEAN:

• India became the dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992, and the inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 12 October 2010.
• Since 2017, ADMM-Plus Ministers have been meeting annually to further the dialogue and cooperation between ASEAN and the Plus countries. 
• India and ASEAN elevated their group to ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ in November 2022.
• During the ADMM-Plus meeting and India-ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting, Raksha Mantri Singh will also hold bilateral discussions with the Defence Ministers of the participating countries. He will discuss defence cooperation matters and ways to strengthen mutually beneficial engagements further.

What Is ADMM?

• It is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN.
• It was established in 2006 and included 10 members of ASEAN.
• It aims to promote mutual trust and confidence through a greater understanding of defence and security challenges and the enhancement of transparency and openness.

What Is ADMM-Plus?

• The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners.
• Dialogue Partners are – Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the United States.
• ADMM-Plus aims to strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region.
• It currently focuses on seven areas of practical cooperation, namely:
  • Maritime security
  • Counter-terrorism
  • Humanitarian assistance and disaster management
  • Peacekeeping operations
  • Military medicine
  • Humanitarian mine action
  • Cyber security
• The Inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in Ha Noi, Vietnam, in October 2010.

Question: 

India-ASEAN Defence Ministers meeting will be held in which of the following countries?

A. Thailand

B. Vietnam

C. Laos

D. Cambodia

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Defence Technology

Hwasong-17

• North Korea said it test-fired its massive new Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which analysts said may be the first successful launch of the system after doubts were raised about earlier claims.

About the Hwasong-17 Missile:

• The Hwasong-17 is a North Korean two-stage ICBM, first unveiled on 10 October 2020, the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea parade.
• The Hwasong-17 is nuclear-armed North Korea’s biggest missile yet and is the largest road-mobile, liquid-fuelled ICBM in the world.
• Its diameter is estimated to be between 2.4 and 2.5 metres, and its total mass, when fully fuelled, is likely somewhere between 80,000 and 110,000 kg, according to 38 North, a U.S.-based programme that monitors North Korea.
• Unlike North Korea’s earlier ICBMs, the Hwasong-17 is launched directly from a transporter, erector, and launcher (TEL) vehicle with 11 axles.

How Far Can It Fly?

• The missile launched on Friday flew nearly 1,000 km (621 miles) for about 69 minutes and reached a maximum altitude of 6,041 km.
• Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the weapon could travel as far as 15,000 km (9,320 miles), to reach the continental United States.

Question: 

Which of the following countries successfully test-fired Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile recently?

A. North Korea

B. South Korea

C. Taiwan

D. China

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Sports

Manipur Tops North East Olympic Games

• Powerhouse Manipur clinched the top position in the North East Olympic Games for the second consecutive time with 237 medals, including 85 gold, as the second edition of the regional multi-sport event concluded recently.

Details:

• Manipur also won 76 silver and 77 bronze, while Assam was a close second with 201 medals (81 gold, 60 silver and 60 bronze) in the event and competed among the eight states of the country’s northeast region from 10 November.
• Arunachal Pradesh ended in third place, while host state Meghalaya was fourth with 149 medals (36 gold, 35 silver, 78 bronze), a much better show than their sixth-place finish with 39 medals in the first edition.
• Manipur had also topped the medal tally (80 gold, 49 silver and 33 bronze) when it hosted the inaugural Games in October 2018.

What Are the North East Olympic Games?

• The first edition of the North East Olympic Games was organised in Manipur in 2018; due to the pandemic outbreak, the subsequent editions could not be hosted. 
• The second edition is a revival of the Games, which is expected to feature around 3,000 athletes from the eight northeastern states of the country.
• The North East Olympic Games is an expression of solidarity by the northeastern states of the country. 
• Elite athletes congregate from the 8 northeastern states to compete in various sporting disciplines. 
• The aim of organising the Games is to encourage greater participation of youth in sporting activities in order to discover talents for higher level and international competitions at an early stage.
• ‘NEO’, the official game’s mascot, is inspired by the Clouded Leopard, the state animal of Meghalaya, which is also a vulnerable animal. 
• The attire worn by NEO is a fusion of the culture of the prominent tribes of Meghalaya.

About the 2022 Games:

• The Games are being organised by the government of Meghalaya and the state Olympic Association under the aegis of the North East Olympic Association (NEOA). 
• The Meghalaya government fully funded the event.
• Arunachal Pradesh was to host the second edition of the Games in 2019, but there was a change of plan following the COVID-19 pandemic and Shillong was named the host city.
• Nagaland will host the third edition of the North East Olympic Games.
• Hosts Meghalaya emerged as team champion in athletics while Manipur took the honours in archery. Assam won the team championships in the shooting.

Question: 

Which state topped the North East Olympic Games 2022 organised in Meghalaya recently?

A. Meghalaya

B. Nagaland

C. Manipur

D. Assam

Answer: C

Current Affairs: National

Jal Jeevan Mission Rankings-2022

• The Uttar Pradesh government recently cited the latest rankings released on the Jal Jeevan Mission website as proof of its commitment to ensuring tap water in all rural homes soon.
• Several Uttar Pradesh districts have done well in the rankings, especially Shahjahanpur, which has topped across the country in the “aspirant districts as well as best performing district” category in October.
• Bulandshahr, Bareilly and Mirzapur have excelled, too. Several other UP districts also figure in the survey.

What Is the Jal Jeevan Mission?

• The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide functional household tap connections to every rural household with a service level at the rate of 55 litres per capita per day. The whole country is to be covered by 2024. 

What Is Jal Jeevan Survekshan-2023?

• In Jal Jeevan Survekshan-2023, districts across the country have been selected in various categories. 
• The districts with 100% tap connections in a month emerge as front-runners. Those with 75 to 100% tap connections are high achievers. 
• Those providing 50 to 75% connections have been classified as performers. 
• The ones with up to 25% tap water connections are included in the aspirant category.

About Top District:

• Shahjahanpur, with 689,990 marks, stood first in two categories. It was ranked top in the aspirant category for ensuring 28,419 tap connections in October.

Question 

Which of the following districts of Uttar Pradesh topped across the country in the Jal Jeevan Mission rankings-2022 for October?

A. Shahjahanpur

B. Bulandshahr

C. Bareilly

D. Mirzapur

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

Dalai Lama Receives Gandhi Mandela Award

• The 14th Dalai Lama was recently conferred the Gandhi Mandela Award 2022 at Thekchen Choeling in Dharamshala’s McleodGanj by Himachal Pradesh governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
• The Tibetan spiritual leader, receiving the peace prize from the New Delhi-based Gandhi Mandela Foundation, said the qualities of non-violence and compassion had been ingrained in Indian culture for thousands of years.

What Is the Gandhi Mandela Award?

• The Gandhi Mandela Foundation, a government of India registered Trust, is a non-profit organisation formed with the motive to promote Mahatma Gandhi’s and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela’s values of non-violence. It has constituted an international prize, the Gandhi Mandela Award.
• The foundation instituted the award on the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, MK Gandhi.

Who Gets the Award and How Are They Selected?

• The award is given to personalities who have carried forward the legacies of Gandhi and Mandela by making significant contributions in the fields of Peace, Social Welfare, Culture, Environment, Education, Healthcare, Sports and Innovation.
• Eminent nominees of the Gandhi Mandela award.
• Eminent nominations in the 1st Edition of the Gandhi Mandela Award in 2019 included Prime Minister of Nepal Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, the first president of Bangladesh Late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Sri Lanka, the late Don Stephen Senanayake, former deputy Prime Minister of India Lal Krishna Advani and other head of states and governments.

Question:

Who is the recipient of the Gandhi Mandela Award 2022?

A. Lal Krishna Advani

B. Nitin Gadkari

C. 14th Dalai Lama 

D. Late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Awards and Honours

India Receives EXCELL Award at the International Conference on Family Planning

• India’s family planning measures got appreciation on the global stage, with the country receiving the Excellence in Leadership in Family Planning (EXCELL) Awards 2022. 
• The award was received at the International Conference on Family Planning held in Pattaya, Thailand.  

About the Award:

• The award is a recognition of India’s efforts under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership towards ensuring access to quality family planning choices based on the right information and reliable services.

What Is the International Conference on Family Planning?

• The conference focuses on universal access to family planning. It provides a platform to discuss various issues pertaining to family planning and awareness towards the same.
• Presently, more than 120 countries, numerous organisations, and individuals are members of this conference. 
• This year, the event registered the participation of around 3,500 delegates, excluding the people who attended it virtually. 

Some of the Flagship Schemes of the Government Are: 

National Family Health Survey (NFHS)

• First conducted in 1992-93 and the latest in 2019-21, NFHS-5 is a nationwide survey conducted nationwide in a representative sample of households.
• The survey is being conducted with an aim to provide high-quality data on the health and family welfare situation of the country and simultaneously highlight the main issues pertaining to the areas. 
• It comes under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, is the nodal agency for coordination and technical guidance for the survey.

Mission Parivar Vikas

• The mission is one of the flagship schemes of the Government. Under this, 145 districts in 7 states of Assam, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh are identified to be in high focus based on the Total Fertility Rate (TFR). 

Question:

The International Conference on family planning was recently held in which of the following countries?

A. Bangkok

B. Thailand

C. Philippines

D. Singapore

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Sports

FIFA World Cup 2022 Kicks Off in Qatar

• The countdown for the world’s biggest football tournament is over. 
• FIFA World Cup 2022 kicked off with a grand opening ceremony at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor in, Qatar, at 7:30 pm on 20 November.
• The host-nation Qatar will face off against Ecuador after the opening ceremony in the first match of the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Details:

• Hosts Qatar lost 2-0 to Ecuador in the opening World Cup match, as Enner Valencia scored both goals.
• Morganman, Jungkook and several others starred in a spectacular opening ceremony that delivered a message of unity and inclusivity ahead of the first-ever World Cup held in the Middle East.
• More than a decade of work went into preparing the country, with large parts of the capital Doha reimagined to cater to the fans.

Question: 

The opening match of the FIFA world cup- 2022 was played between the host Qatar and which of the following countries?

A. Brazil

B. Ecuador

C. Cameroon

D. Italy

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

India Launches the Official Website of SCO for 2023

• India has launched the official website of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as it will host the next SCO summit as a chairman of the organisation in 2023.
• The website highlights the events that will be undertaken under the chairmanship of India next year.
• India received the SCO rotating presidency recently in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
• India will hold the presidency of the grouping for a year until September 2023.

The theme of the Event:

• The theme of the event is “For a SECURE SCO”. 
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi floated the concept of SECURE at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China in 2018. 
• Explaining the SECURE concept, the Prime Minister said ‘S’ for security for citizens, ‘E’ for economic development, ‘C’ for connectivity in the region, ‘U’ for unity, ‘R’ for respect of sovereignty and integrity, and ‘E for environment protection.

Website:

• The official website of India’s Chairmanship of SCO Council of Heads of State is now live at https://indiainsco.in. Visit the website for the latest information on India as SCO Chair, calendar of events and other updates!”

Question:

What is the theme of the next SCO summit announced by India as a chairman of the organisation in 2023?

A. For a SECURE SCO

B. For a PowerFul SCO

C. For an EcoFriendly SCO

D. For a Developed SCO

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Appointment and Resignation

Arun Goel Appointed as Election Commissioner

• Arun Goel, a former bureaucrat and an officer from the Punjab cadre, recently took charge as an election commissioner, filling the third and final post in the all-important constitutional body that conducts elections in India. 
• The post had been vacant for six months. Goel joins chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar and election commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey.
• The post had been unoccupied since former CEC Sushil Chandra retired on 14th May, handing charge to Rajiv Kumar. 
• The union law ministry notified that Goel’s appointment had been approved by president Droupadi Murmu.

 About Arun Goel, the New Election Commissioner:

• Arun Goel is a 1985 batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre. He was to retire on 31st December at the age of 60 but took voluntary retirement last Friday.
• He served as the heavy industries secretary until his voluntary retirement. Previously, he served in the union culture ministry.
• Goel’s appointment comes days before elections in Gujarat, which may witness heightened political tension between the ruling BJP, the opposition Congress and newcomers AAP.
• Arun Goel is also next in line to be chief election commissioner (CEC) – when incumbent Rajiv Kumar demits office in February 2025. According to the law, the election commissioner or CEC post can be held for up to six years or till attaining the age of 65.
• With Goel taking charge, the poll panel will now have its full strength while deciding on schedules for elections next year, including those in Karnataka, Telangana and the northeastern states of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Karnataka.

Question: 

Who among the following has recently been appointed as the Election commissioner by President Droupadi Murmu?

A. Arun Goel

B. Harishankar Brahma

C. Sushil Chandra

D. N. Gopalaswami

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Person in News

Venu Gopal Achanta Elected as a Member of the International Committee for Weight and Measures

• In a historic election, Prof Venu Gopal Achanta, Director, CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi, has been elected as a member of the prestigious International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM). 
• Prof Gopal was declared an elected Member of CIPM in the recently held 27th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) meeting during 15-18 Nov 2022 in Paris, France. 

Significance: 

• The election of Prof Gopal is not only significant for CSIR-NPL, and the advancement of metrology in the country but wherein metrology is the backbone of industries and national missions of Govt. of India, i.e. ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, ‘Clean and green India”, “Swasth Bharat, Sashakt Bharat”, etc.
• It is also the pride of the nation as it would enhance India’s global visibility and participation in global decision-making. 
• Prof Achanta is among 18 elected members from different countries and the 7th personality in Indian history elected to CIPM after a few decades.

What is CIPM?

• The CIPM is a supreme international committee that functions under the authority of the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM), the highest intergovernmental international organisation created as a diplomatic treaty called the Meter Convention, signed on 20th May 1875 in Paris. 
• It is responsible for developing and implementing International Systems of Units, universally abbreviated as SI, its wide dissemination, making necessary modifications from time to time for the advancement of science and technology. 
• The advancement of Industry in the country is directly dependent on the state of its metrology capabilities.

About CSIR-NPL:

• The CSIR-NPL, the National Metrology Institute (NMI) of India, was established by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, on 4th January 1947. 
• The Government of India enacted the “Standards of Weights and Measures Act” for the first time in 1956 to ensure that every citizen has access to uniform standards of weights and measures that are traceable to the SI units. 
• During the year 1957, India became a member of the CGPM.

Question: 

Who among the following has recently been elected as a member of the prestigious International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM)?

A. Srikant Das

B. Venu Gopal Achanta

C. Debashish Narayana

D. Ajeet Sinha

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

India-Sri Lanka Trade Agreement

• Sri Lanka has exported five times more than its imports under the India-Sri Lanka Trade Agreement in the first nine months of this year, 2022. 
• A report issued by the Sri Lankan finance ministry stated that the island nation’s exports added up to over 140 billion Lankan rupees under the agreement. 
• Imports into Sri Lanka from India stood at 28 billion rupees.

Details: 

• Trade with India contributed to almost 65 per cent of the total trade of Sri Lanka under four existing trade agreements. 
• The India-Sri Lanka Trade Agreement was signed in 1998 and has been in force since March 2000.

Impact of Economic Crises:

• The economic crisis hit the nation, and it saw reduced imports in 2022 due to a fall in the forex reserves. 
• Sri Lanka had also imposed restrictions on the import of several items. 
• During the crisis, India extended humanitarian aid of about 4 billion US dollars to help secure food, health, and energy security.

What Is a Trade Agreement?

• It is a pact between two or more countries, where the objective is to remove trade barriers between imports and exports and ensure hassle-trade relations as far as possible. Under a trade agreement, countries offer preferential trade terms and tariff concessions to each other.

Which Countries Has India Signed FTAs with?

• India has so far signed a total of 13 trade agreements (FTAs) with its trading partners like Japan, South Korea, countries of the ASEAN region, etc. 
• India has signed three FTA agreements in the last five years. 
• FTAs are also agreed upon between countries to boost their respective trade. 
• For instance, under the India-Japan agreement, India’s exports to Japan have improved from $5.6 billion in 2011 to $6.1 billion in 2021.
• trade agreements could be bilateral or multilateral. 
• For instance, India has signed an agreement called South Asian Trade Area with South Asian countries, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan etc.

Why Does India Need FTA?

• The main objective behind India’s trade negotiations is the diversification and expansion of export markets. 
• Some of the other factors that India considers when going for trade agreements are cheaper access to raw materials, attracting foreign investment, boosting competitiveness and other geo-political reasons.
• In addition to trade agreements, India has also signed six preferential trade agreements. 
• The main difference between the both is that an FTA is comprehensive, covering various areas, while a PTA is limited to only trade in goods and seeks only a tariff elimination in terms of a margin of preference.

Question: 

India has so far signed how many trade agreements with its trading partners?

A. 10

B. 13

C. 15

D. 22

Answer: B

Current Affairs: National

Northeast’s 1st Centre of Unani Medicine

• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal recently inaugurated the new, state-of-the-art complex of the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (RRIUM) in Silchar, informed the Ministry in an official statement.
• The newly opened institute is the first such centre in the Northeast on Unani medicine — a traditional medicinal practice among the Ayush systems.

Details:

• The new complex spreads over an area of 3.5 acres, built with an investment of ₹48 crores. 
• The National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) developed the complex, which is a Government of India enterprise.
• The institute will organise IEC campaigns about the potential of Unani Medicine and create awareness around prevention and preservation of health about preventive/prophylactic aspects of Ayush in different communicable and non-communicable diseases.

About UNANI Medicine:

• The core belief of Unani medicine works on the principle that the human body has its own self-healing power, which needs to be boosted.
• The major benefit of this medicine is that it addresses the prevention and treatment of diseases by using herbal remedies. 
• This wonderful practice – which is one of the most popular in India – must be harnessed rationally, and this new complex of Unani will be able to extend its commitment to building a robust healthcare system.

Question: 

The first Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine for the Northeastern region recently opened in which of the following states?

A. Assam

B. Arunachal Pradesh

C. Mizoram

D. Manipur

Answer: A

Current Affairs: National

NCPCR launches ‘GHAR’ Initiative

• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights recently launched a web portal for digital tracking and monitoring of children who need protection and have to be repatriated to another country, state or district.
• The portal – “GHAR – Go Home and Re-Unite” will be a platform for information on children from every district to smoothen the process of their repatriation and restoration.

About NCPCR:

• NCPCR is a statutory body constituted under Section 3 of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005, to protect child rights and other related matters in the country. 
• The Commission is mandated to monitor the proper and effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and its Rules; the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and the Right to and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

Commission Envisages an Indispensable Role for the State to Ensure –

• Children and their well-being
• Strong institution-building processes
• Respect for local bodies and decentralisation at the community level and greater social concern in this direction

About GHAR:

• GHAR – Go Home and Re-Unite (Portal for Restoration and Repatriation of Child: GHAR portal developed by NCPCR addresses the amended roles of CWCs and DCPOs in matters of children in need of care and protection.

Features of GHAR Portal:

• Digital tracking and monitoring of children who are in the JJ system and have to be repatriated to another Country/State/District.
• Digital transfer of cases of children to the concerned JJB/CWC of the State. It will help in the speedy repatriation of children.
• Where there is a requirement for a translator/interpreter/expert, a request will be made to the concerned State Government.
• CWCs and DCPOs can ensure proper restoration and rehabilitation of children by digitally monitoring the progress of the case of the child.
• A checklist format will be provided in the forms so that the children who are being hard to repatriate or children who are not getting their entitled compensation or other monetary benefits can be identified.
• A list of Government implemented schemes will be provided so that at the time of restoration, the CWCs can link the child with the schemes to strengthen the family and ensure that the child remains with his/her family.

Question: 

GHAR – Go Home and Re-Unite is a portal recently launched that is majorly associated with

A. Rights of children

B. NRI visa Fastrack redressal

C. Migrant casual workers issues

D. Protection of Zoo animals

Answer: A

Current Affairs: National

25th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir

• The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, in association with the UT Government of Jammu and Kashmir, will organise the 25th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) on 26th – 27th November 2022 in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. 

Theme: 

• The theme of this Conference is “Bringing Citizens, Industry and Government closer”.

Details:

• 26th November is celebrated as Constitution Day to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. 
• As part of the celebrations, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh will administer a reading of the Preamble to the Constitution with all participants on 26th November 2022 in the Inaugural Session of the 25th NCeG.
• The Conference would provide considerable momentum to the e-Governance initiatives across the country, providing opportunities for civil servants and industry captains to showcase their successful interventions in e-Governance in improving end-to-end service delivery.

About National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG):

• The National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) will be presented under 5 categories of the NAeG Scheme – 2022 to 18 e-Governance initiatives at Central, State and District levels, Academic and Research Institutions and Public Sector Undertaking, which includes 9 Gold and 9 Silver Awards.

Question:

Which of the following States/UT will organise the 25th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG)?

A. Andhra Pradesh

B. Jammu and Kashmir

C. Gujarat

D. Manipur

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Defence

Exercise NASEEM AL BAHR – 2022

• The 13th edition of the bilateral exercise between the Indian and Omani navies, Naseem Al Bahr-2022, commenced off the coast of Oman on 20th November 2022. 
• The exercise was conducted in two phases: the Harbour Phase and the Sea Phase thereafter. 

About the Exercise: 

• Naseem Al Bahr was initiated in 1993. 
• The last edition was conducted in Goa in 2019. 
• The Indian Navy’s guided missile frigate Trikand and Offshore Patrol Vessel Sumitra, with their integral helicopters, and the maritime patrol aircraft, Dornier, will participate in the upcoming edition.

Details:

• This exercise, having grown in scope and complexity over the years, facilitates operational-level interaction between the two navies to foster mutual cooperation and enhance good order at sea. 
• It provides the two navies with an opportunity to train together for combined operations and focus on their shared commitment to promote peace, security and stability, as envisioned by the concept of SAGAR. 
• The exercise also aims to strengthen the ancient maritime and cultural linkages between India and Oman.

Question:

Indian Navy and the Navy of which of the following nations recently participated in the 13th edition of the bilateral exercise NASEEM AL BAHR – 2022?

A. Sudan

B. Oman

C. UAE

D. Indonesia

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Defence

Exercise Shatrunash

• South Western Command of the Indian Army recently conducted the Integrated Fire Power Exercise, ‘Shatrunash’ at MFFR in the Thar desert of Rajasthan. 
• The exercise witnessed the use of multifarious firing platforms in an integrated manner involving both ground and aerial manoeuvres. 
• Various actions were conducted, including the insertion of troops, offensive ground actions involving comprehensive coordination incorporating contemporary technologies in a multi-domain environment, etc.
• Real-time communication and sharing of common operating pictures amongst various participants to overcome emerging threats were practised, and skills were honed.

Details:

• The important facet of the exercise was the employment of all resources, including IAF and aviation assets, in an integrated manner with a combined arms approach to warfighting.  
• This was affected by exploiting versatile and indigenously manufactured long-range aerial and ground vectors such as Advanced Light Helicopter (Weapon System Integrated), K9 – Vajra, Sharang Arty Guns, Bhishma (T-90 tanks) and Ajeya (T-72 tanks) to operate in a synergised manner based on the intelligence picture provided by well-established Intelligence, Surveillance and Recce (ISR)  Architecture.

Question: 

South Western Command of the Indian Army recently conducted the Integrated Fire Power Exercise, ‘Shatrunash’, in which of the following States/UT?

A. Arunachal Pradesh

B. Gujarat

C. Jammu and Kashmir

D. Rajasthan

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Loss and Damages Fund

• The UN Climate Conference (COP27) in Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh, which saw polarised debates on responsibility and accountability among the global North and South, made history recently with a decision to create a Loss and Damages fund.
• It will provide support to developing countries in efforts to avert, minimise and address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change in the light of continued global warming.

About the Fund:

• It refers to the costs the rich and developed countries, which are majorly responsible for industrial emissions that pollute the environment, should pay to poorer nations that have made a negligible contribution to pollution but are more vulnerable to extreme climate events.
• The expected monetary compensation from the L&D fund is estimated to be nearly $500 billion and rising by $200 billion annually.
• Crucial questions such as who will manage this fund, whether contributions are expected from large developing countries and what the fair share of contributors will be — have been left to a “transitional committee” that will make recommendations for the adoption of the fund at the next Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UN’s Framework Convention for Climate Change, to be held in the UAE in 2023.

Significance:

• Set against a complex geopolitical backdrop, COP27 resulted in countries delivering a package of decisions that reaffirmed their commitment to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. 
• The package also strengthened action by countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change, as well as boosting the support of finance, technology and capacity building needed by developing countries.
• Creating a specific fund for loss and damages marked an important point of progress, with the issue added to the official agenda and adopted for the first time at COP27.

Question: 

“Loss and Damages” fund for vulnerable countries was created in which of the following UN Climate Conference?

A. COP22

B. COP23

C. COP25

D. COP27

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Sports

F1 Race: Max Verstappen Wins Abu Dhabi GP

• Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took his 15th win of the 2022 Formula 1 season with victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix recently. 
• The battle for second place remained a major story, with Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez entering the race tied at 290 points, but it was Leclerc who came out on top with a second-place finish on the Yas Marina Circuit.
• Starting from the pole position, Verstappen controlled the race from the front and was never threatened as he took a typically dominant win and extended his record for most Grand Prix wins in a single season.

Facts:

• Max Verstappen won his record 15th title of the 2022 season 
• He also ended the 2022 season as the world F1 champion 
• He won his first F1 world championship title in 2021 
• He also holds the record for winning a maximum of 15 races in a single season 
• He broke the previous record of 13 race victories in a season jointly held by seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher (2004 season) and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel (2013 season)

Question: 

Who among the following recently won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix F1 race on Yas Marina Circuit?

A. Max Verstappen

B. Sebastian Vettel

C. Mick Schumacher

D. Charles Leclerc

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Awards and Honours

Writer Khalid Jawed Wins 2022 JCB Prize for Literature

• Author Khalid Jawed’s “The Paradise of Food”, translated by Baran Farooqi from Urdu, recently won the fifth JCB Prize for Literature.
• The book, originally published as “Ne’mat Khana” in 2014, is the fourth translation to win the award and the first work in Urdu.

Details:

• “The Paradise of Food”, tells the story of a middle-class joint Muslim family over a span of fifty years where the narrator struggles to find a place for himself, at odds in his home and the world outside.
• Jawed received the prize money of ₹25 lakh along with a trophy — a sculpture by Delhi artist duo Thukral and Tagra, “Mirror Melting”.
• Baran Farooqi also received an additional ₹10 lakh for the award.

Fact:

• The shortlist also included debut books — “Song of the Soil” by Chuden Kabimo (translated from Nepali by Ajit Baral) and “Valli” by Sheela Tomy (translated from Malayalam by Jayasree Kalathil).
• Each of the shortlisted authors also received ₹1 lakh, and the translators received ₹50,000.
• About JCB Literature Foundation:
• The award was instituted by the JCB Literature Foundation, a not-for-profit company, in 2018 to promote the art of literature in India. 

Question:

The 2022 JCB Prize for Literature 2022 was awarded to the Urdu author Khalid Jawed for which of the following works?

A. Ne’mat Khana

B. Imaan

C. Valli

D. Song of the Soil

Answer: A

Current Affairs: International

UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon 2022

• Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath recently inaugurated the four-day UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon (UIAH) 2022 event being organised at Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida.
• A total of 603 students, under the guidance of 100 mentors, will focus on tackling 20 problem statements. 
• Agriculture, drinking water and sanitation, education, energy/sustainability, and health and hygiene are the five sub-themes under the umbrella theme, LiFE.

About UIA Hackathon:

• The UIA Hackathon, being organised jointly by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Ministry of Education (MOE), and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), was inaugurated on 22 November.
• The two days of the hackathon will comprise a 36-hour non-stop event where students from various countries will use their skills to provide solutions to complex problems. 
• Students taking part in the hackathon must be proficient in coding or software development in User Interface and User Experience design (UI/UX), Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Internet of Things (IoT), and data analysis.

Objective of the Hackathon:

• The primary aim of the UIAH 2022 is to explore novel technologies and skills and create solutions for social causes. 
• It will also focus on nourishing potential, sourcing incubation programmes, and creating potential start-ups. 
• The nodal agency will make the teams, assign mentors to each team, and ensure that language and culture barriers between the students do not become an issue.

Question:

UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon 2022, recently inaugurated in which of the following states/UT?

A. Uttar Pradesh

B. Delhi

C. Gujarat

D. Tamil Nadu

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Person in News

Lachit Barphukan

• The three-day-long celebration of the 400th birth anniversary of Ahom General Lachit Barphukan has begun in New Delhi today. 
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated an exhibition on this occasion at Vigyan Bhawan this morning. 
• Union Law Minister Kiren Rijijju will attend the cultural event as the Chief Guest in the evening.  
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the closing ceremony on Friday, 25th November.

About Lachit Barphukan:

• Lachit Barphukan is remembered as one of the greatest army commanders in the Ahom kingdom. Known for leading the Battle of Saraighat on the Brahmaputra in 1671, he foiled a drawn-out attempt by Mughal forces led by Raja Ramsingh-I to retake Assam.
• The Ahoms, who ruled Assam for over 600 years, have a record as one of the longest reigns in the world. 
• Lachit Barphukan was seriously ill when the Ahoms confronted the mighty Mughals at Saraighat in 1671. 
• Despite his ill health, Lachit Barphukan as a true general, led from the front and defeated the Mughals.

About the Event:

• Assam Handloom Minister UG Brahma said that the life and culture of Assam’s village, as well as the events of Lachit Barphukan, will be displayed in the exhibition. 
• The main objective of organising the 400th birth anniversary celebration in the national capital is to sanitise the people of the country on the bravery and war skills of Lachit Barphukan. 

Question: 

The celebration of the 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Barphukan began in New Delhi today. He belongs to which of the following dynasties?

A. Kamata 

B. Kuch 

C. Ahoms

D. Mughal

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Environment 

Coast Guard Pollution Control Vessels

• In line with the country’s ‘Make in India’ commitment to sourcing equipment and systems from indigenous firms, including MSMEs, the Indian Coast Guard laid the keel for two Coast Guard Pollution Control Vessels, GSL Yard 1267 and 1268, recently at the Goa Shipyard.
• The two Pollution Control Vessels (PCVs) are indigenously designed and developed by the Goa Shipyard, to be delivered by February 2025 and August 2025, respectively.

About PCVs:

• The PCVs will be equipped with state-of-art technology, advanced and highly-sensitive pollution control equipment, navigation and communication equipment, sensor and machinery. 
• Ships will be capable of carrying out dedicated oil spill response operations for containment, recovery, separation and dispersal of pollutants. 
• The vessel will be fitted with the latest pollution control equipment, including two flush-type side sweeping arms enabling it to contain oil spills whilst in motion.

Features:

• Advanced software would assist in predicting the spread of the complex oil spill pattern, and the Dynamic Positioning System will enable the vessel to be manoeuvred in restricted areas with precision. 
• The vessel is being designed to recover the lightest to the most viscous oil at the rate of 300 tons per hour. 
• The vessels are also equipped with fire-fighting and salvage systems.

Question: 

Which shipyard recently laid the keel for the GSL Yard 1267 and 1268, two Coast Guard Pollution Control Vessels?

A. Cochin Shipyard

B. Mazagon Shipyard 

C. Goa Shipyard 

D. Western India Shipyard

Answer: C

Current Affairs: National

Film Bazaar Inaugurated by Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur

• Film Bazaar, the largest South Asian film market, was inaugurated recently in Goa by Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur. 
• The initiative, organised on the sidelines of the 53rd International Film Festival of India(IFFI), encourages creative and financial collaboration between the South Asian and International film communities. 
• Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L. Murugan, Secretary, Ministry of I & B Apurva Chandra, along with representatives from the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), and the film industry, among others, attended the event.

What Is a Film Bazaar?

• Created and organised by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Film Bazaar has evolved into South Asia’s global film market from its humble beginnings in 2007. 
• Every edition witnesses increased national and international participation. 
• Over the years, films such as Lunch Box, Margarita With A Straw, Chauthi Koot, Qissa, Ship of Theseus, Titli, Court, Anhe Ghore Da Daan, Miss Lovely, Dum Lagake Haisha, Liar’s Dice and Thithi have been through one or more program of the Bazaar.

Details: 

• Over five days, Film Bazaar becomes the converging point for film buyers and sellers worldwide. 
• The focus is on discovering, supporting and showcasing South Asian content and talent in filmmaking, production and distribution. The Bazaar also facilitates the sales of world cinema in the South Asian region.

Question:

Film Bazaar, the largest South Asian film market, was inaugurated recently in which of the following states/UT?

A. Goa

B. Jammu and Kashmir

C. Maharashtra

D. Delhi

Answer: A

Current Affairs: International

Qatar Signs World’s ‘Longest’ Gas Supply Deal with China

• QatarEnergy recently announced a 27 years natural gas supply deal with China, calling it the “longest” ever seen as it strengthened ties with Asia at a time when Europe is scrambling for alternative sources.

Details:

• The state energy company will send four million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually from its new North Field East project to China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec).
• The deal “marks the longest gas supply agreement in the history of the LNG industry”.
• Asian countries led by China, Japan and South Korea are the main market for Qatar’s gas, which is increasingly being sought by European countries since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

About North Field:

• North Field is at the centre of Qatar’s expansion of its liquefied natural gas production by more than 60% to 126 million tonnes a year by 2027.
• North field accounts for approximately 10% of the world’s known reserves.​
• China is the first country to seal a deal for North Field East.

Question:

Qatar recently signed the world’s ‘longest’ gas supply deal with China for a period of

A. 10 years

B. 13 years

C. 22 years

D. 27 years

Answer: D

Current Affairs: International

India, EU Sign Agreement for Cooperation in High-Performance Computing, Quantum Tech

• India and the European Union (EU) recently signed an agreement on cooperation in hi-tech areas such as climate modelling and quantum technologies, building on the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) launched by the two sides earlier this year.

Rationale:

• The agreement signed on Monday, 21st November, aims to facilitate collaboration on high-performance computing applications using Indian and European supercomputers in areas such as bio-molecular medicines, Covid-19 therapeutics, mitigating climate change, predicting natural disasters and quantum computing.

About High-Performance Computing:

• High-performance computing is tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges, and the demand for such systems is increasing rapidly in various domains. 
• Under this partnership, India and the EU will leverage expertise from both sides to optimise high-performance computing towards developing advanced technology solutions in multiple fields.

About India-EU TTC:

• The India-EU TTC is a strategic mechanism that gives New Delhi access to advanced technologies and allows the two sides to set standards in crucial areas such as 5G and artificial intelligence. 
• This is the first such trade and technology council set up by India with any of its partners. For the EU, it is only the second such body, following the first one set up with the US.

Question: 

India recently signed an agreement for cooperation in high-performance computing and quantum tech with which of the following global trade blocks?

A. BRICS

B. EU

C. ASEAN

D. G20

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Prize for 2022

• The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence, for the 2022 edition, has been given to Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong from Cameroon, president of two NGOs: Afrogiveness and Positive Youths Africa. She received the Prize at an official ceremony held recently at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

About Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong:

• As a journalist for seven years, Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong has strived to change the way mental illness is viewed and represented in society. 
• Trained in art therapy and psychology, she became the founder and president of two NGOs: Afrogiveness Movement (#Afrogiveness) and Positive Youths Africa (PYA).

What Is the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize?

• The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence is awarded every two years to individuals or institutions for their exceptional contributions to promoting tolerance and non-violence through the arts, education, culture, science and communication. The laureate will receive US$ 100,000.

• The Prize is named after its benefactor, former Indian artist, writer and diplomat Madanjeet Singh (1924-2013), who was also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. 
• The Prize, which contributes to the mandate of UNESCO in promoting peace, is managed by the Social and Human Sciences Sector of UNESCO.

Question:

Who among the following received the 2022 edition of the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize?

A. Manon Barbeau

B. François Houtart

C. Aung San Suu Kyi

D. Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Person in News

Shrikrishna Rajagopala Appointed as Chairman of Joint Academic Chair of Ayurveda at Western Sydney University

• The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Ministry of Ayush, Government of India and Western Sydney University jointly announced the appointment of a Joint Academic Chair in Ayurveda. AIIA’s associate professor Shrikrishna Rajagopala has been appointed as the academic chair in Ayurvedic Medicine.

About the Programme:

• This programme will organise collaborative research projects and help candidates develop short- and medium-term academic courses, provide students tutorials, conduct sensitisation programmes, workshops and seminars, and serve as a credible source of Ayush-related information for Australia.

Rationale: 

• The focus of this position will be to build capacity for the scientific validation of Ayurvedic medicine and aligned inventions such as Ayurveda, herbal medicine, yoga and meditation.

About Shrikrishna Rajgopala:

• Rajagopala is currently the Head of the Department of Kaumarabhritya (paediatric department) at AIIA. 
• He has 28 years of experience, and his expertise is in clinical and pharmacological research of Ayurveda interventions for asthma, cerebral palsy, Covid-19, anaemia and muscular dystrophy.

About AYUSH Academic Chairs:

• The Ministry of Ayush has established a programme for Ayush Academic Chairs in foreign institutions to give more opportunities and resources for research collaboration and to strengthen cultural ties. 
• The programme has also added momentum to the ongoing initiatives of the Ministry of Ayush in placing India as a global healthcare destination. 
• Western Sydney University is the first Australian university to participate in this global programme.

What Is the Ministry of AYUSH?

• AYUSH is the acronym of medical systems such as Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.
• The Ministry of AYUSH was set up on the 9th of November 2014 to revive the knowledge of traditional Indian systems of medicine
• It focuses on education and research in Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy
• Minister of AYUSH: Sarbananda Sonowal

Question:

Who has recently been appointed as chairman of the Joint Academic Chair of Ayurveda at Western Sydney University?

A. Kaustabh Pathak

B. Rajesh Chander

C. OP Chaudhary

D. Shrikrishna Rajagopala 

Answer: D

Current Affairs: National

Karmayogi Prarambh Module

• As part of the government’s ‘Rozgar Mela’ (employment fair), Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently distributed over 71,000 appointment letters to the new recruits via video conferencing. 
• Physical copies of appointment letters were handed over at 45 locations across the country, except Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, where the Model Code of Conduct is in force.

What Is Karmayogi Prarambh Module?

• The module is an online orientation course for all new appointees in various government departments. 
• It will include a code of conduct for government servants, workplace ethics and integrity, human resource policies and other benefits and allowances that will help them acclimate to the policies and transition smoothly into the new roles.

About Rozgaar Mela:

• The Rozgar Mela is a step towards fulfilling the Prime Minister’s commitment to accord the highest priority to employment generation. 
• The Rozgar Mela is expected to act as a catalyst in furthering employment generation and providing meaningful opportunities to the youth for their empowerment as well as direct participation in national development. 
• Earlier in October, 75,000 appointment letters were handed over to newly inducted appointees under Rozgar Mela.
• The physical copies of the appointment letters to the new appointees will be handed over at 45 locations across the country (except Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh). 
• In addition to the categories of posts filled earlier, posts of teachers, lecturers, nurses, nursing officers, doctors, pharmacists, radiographers, and other technical and paramedical posts are also being filled. 
• A significant number of posts are being filled by the Ministry of Home Affairs in various Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).

Question:

Karmayogi Prarambh Module, recently launched by PM Modi, is associated with

A. Employment

B. Moral Policing

C. Cyber Security

D. Women Empowerment

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

USA’s 1st Global Humanitarian Award

• An Indian journalist has been honoured with a humanitarian award for his work and efforts in helping scores of people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly during the deadly second wave in India.

Details:

• Danish Manzoor Bhat, originally hailing from Kashmir Valley, was honoured with Jaipur Foot USA’s first Global Humanitarian Award this week at a ceremony held at the Consulate General of India in New York.

Achievement of Danish Manzoor Bhat:

• He collected and distributed more than 1000 oximeters in Bengaluru to those who could not afford them, bringing these essential supplies to patients’ doorsteps. 
• His efforts also ensured that these oximeters were kept in rotation, enabling more patients to use them.
• He also supports ‘Rescuing Indians’, a not-for-profit that helps Indians stranded overseas.

About USA’s 1st Global Humanitarian Award:

• The award has been constituted to honour and recognise the “selfless work of Indians” who went above and beyond to help those in need during the difficult years of the pandemic.
• The award was presented in the Indian High Commission New York by Consul General Randhir Jaiswal, IAS and Prem Bhandari, Chairman, JaipurFoot USA. Deputy Consul General Varun Jeph was also present at the private ceremony.

Question: 

A recent awardee of the Jaipur Foot USA’s 1st Global Humanitarian Award for COVID-19 relief efforts, journalist Danish Manzoor Bhat is associated with which state/UT

A. Jammu and Kashmir

B. Lakshadweep 

C. Kerala

D. Rajasthan

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

Kochi Green Hydrogen (KGH2) Hub

• India Hydrogen Alliance (IH2A) and the government of Kerala recently announced the proposal to build the Kochi Green Hydrogen (KGH2) Hub.

Details: 

• The proposal envisages a potential capital expenditure of USD 575 million to build a 60-tonnes per day (TPD) green hydrogen plant with a 150 MW Electrolyser, Storage and Infrastructure, which could achieve giga-watt scale and build the hydrogen economy in Kerala. 
• IH2A and the Kerala Government shared the plan after a consultation meeting between the government, industry and funding agencies, as per IH2A.

What Is Hydrogen Hub:

• IH2A’s KGH2 Hub plan is modelled after the Hydrogen Valley projects in the EU to create production, storage, transmission and end-use infrastructure for green hydrogen (in compressed gas and liquified form) within a 50-km radius cluster in Kochi.
• The plan focuses on the transport use case in the first phase, aligning with the state government’s plans for zero-emission transport to power Hydrogen-ICE retrofitted bus fleets of 60 buses and build the required infrastructure. 
• In the second phase, industrial demand for green hydrogen from refineries, fertiliser and chemical plants is expected to drive capacity expansion and scale up the KGH2 hub.

What Is Hydrogen Demo Valley?

• In parallel with these initiatives, so-called Hydrogen Valleys (localised, large-scale integrated “ecosystems” based on hydrogen as a common vector), co-financed by the European Commission, are under construction especially driven by the industrial sector in various European countries.
• The hydrogen demo Valley project aims to create an infrastructural hub for testing and demonstrating hydrogen technologies covering production, storage, distribution and utilisation of hydrogen and blends of natural gas and hydrogen for applications in the energy, industrial and transport sectors.

Efforts by Kerala:

• Green Hydrogen is part of Kerala’s Net Zero Pathway. The government of Kerala is actively collaborating with industry and investors to replicate the hydrogen valleys in Europe in Kerala.
• The proposed Kochi Green Hydrogen Hub is significant for its scale and focuses on building hydrogen infrastructure.
• The Kochi Green Hydrogen Hub is the first of its kind in the country in its current form and scale.
• Kerala intends to lead project development and show the path forward on green hydrogen commercialisation in India.

Question: 

Which state recently announced the proposal to build the Green Hydrogen (KGH2) Hub?

A. Karnataka

B. Kerala

C. Arunachal Pradesh

D. Uttarakhand

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Days and Events

Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day- 24 November

• Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day is observed every year on 24 November, commemorating Shaheedi Diwas of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth guru of the Sikhs, who stood up against forcible conversions by the Mughals and was executed on the orders of Aurangzeb in 1675.
• At the site of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s execution stands Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk.

Who Was Guru Tegh Bahadur?

• Tegh Bahadur was born in Amritsar on 21 April 1621 to Mata Nanki and Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh guru, who raised an army against the Mughals and introduced the concept of warrior saints.
• As a boy, Tegh Bahadur was called Tyag Mal because of his ascetic nature. 
• He spent his early childhood in Amritsar under the tutelage of Bhai Gurdas, who taught him Gurmukhi, Hindi, Sanskrit, and Indian religious philosophy, while Baba Budha trained him in swordsmanship, archery, and horse-riding.
• He was only 13 when he distinguished himself in a battle against a Mughal chieftain. His bravery and swordsmanship in the battle earned him the name of Tegh Bahadur.

History

• Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed his life to protect religion, human values, ideals, and principles. He stood out from an early age for his qualities of sacrifice and valour. 
• He was executed for supporting the religiousdom of Kashmiri Pandits on the orders of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. 
• He is respected as Hind Ki Chaddar due to his supreme sacrifice.

Question:

Which of the following Sikh gurus is also called as “Hind Ki Chaddar”?

A. Guru Gobind Singh

B. Guru Tegh Bahadur

C. Guru Har Krishan

D. Guru Hargobind

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Defence

Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI

• As part of military-to-military exchange programs, a contingent of Indian Special Forces troops are currently engaged in a bilateral joint training Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI with Indonesian Special Forces at Sangga Buana Training Area, Karawang, Indonesia. 
• Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI is the eighth edition of the series of bilateral exercises under this banner.

About Exercise:

• The exercise, which commenced on 21 November 2022, aims at enhancing understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the Special Forces of both armies. 
• The scope of the joint exercise includes orientation to advance special forces skills, sharing of information on the weapon, equipment, innovations, tactics, techniques and procedures, and lessons learnt from various operations undertaken.
• It also includes Special Forces Operations in Jungle terrain, strikes on terrorist camps and a validation exercise integrating basic and advance special forces skills apart from gaining an insight into the lifestyle and culture of both countries to foster military cooperation. 
• The joint training would also focus on a high degree of physical fitness, tactical drills, techniques and procedures for which a comprehensive 13-day training programme has been worked out. 
• The exercise will culminate in a 48-hour-long validation exercise.

Major Objective of This Exercise:

• The joint exercise will facilitate both armies to know each other better and share their vast experiences and combat experience on countering terrorist operations, Regional Security Operations and Peace Keeping Operations in an international environment. 
• The exercise is yet another significant milestone in ensuring cordial relations between the two countries and another step forward towards ensuring regional security.

Question:

In the eighth edition of Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI, Indian Special Forces troops participated with the special forces of which of the following Countries?

A. France

B. USA

C. Indonesia

D. Australia

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Economy

Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2021-22: report by RBI

• The Reserve Bank of India has just released the seventh edition of its statistical publication titled “Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2021-22”. 
• Through this publication, the Reserve Bank has been disseminating wide-ranging data on the regional economies of India also. 

What Is Covered in This Report?

• This publication covers sub-national statistics on socio-demographics, state domestic product, agriculture, price and wages, industry, infrastructure, banking and fiscal indicators across Indian states over various time periods ranging from 1951 to 2022.
• In the current edition of the Handbook, two new sections – Health and Environment have been introduced.

Key Findings: 

• The Indian economy has exhibited remarkable resilience to multiple shocks encountered in succession since early 2020, preserving macro stability while sustaining the momentum of recovery in growth.
• Now, with inflation beginning to show signs of easing, the macro economic outlook of the economy appears to be on course for good growth in the current fiscal though.
• India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to register a growth rate of about 7% in 2022-23 and between 6.1% and 6.3% in the June-September quarter of this fiscal, suggested the RBI report. 
• The GDP growth numbers for the second quarter will be out by the end of this month; however, the monetary policy review presented in October, has projected a GDP growth rate of 6.3% for this quarter.

Major Data Series Sections of the Report:

1. State-wise Maternal Mortality Ratio under the social and demographic section
2. State-wise total fertility rate under the social and demographic section
3. State-wise, children aged 6–59 months who are anaemic and under the health section
4. State-wise, pregnant women aged 15-49 years who are anaemic under the health section
5. State-wise cold storage capacity under the agriculture section
6. State-wise forest cover under the environment section
7. State-wise tree cover under the environment section
8. State-wise total installed capacity of grid interactive renewable power under infrastructure section
9. State-wise outstanding guarantees of state governments under the fiscal section

Question: 

Which two new sections are introduced in the current edition of the “Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2021-22”?

A. Health and Environment

B. Health and Forest

C. Health and Agriculture

D. Environment and Agriculture

Answer: A

Current Affairs: National

FSSAI Drafted Norms for Genetically Modified Foods

• FSSAI has come out with draft regulations for genetically modified food, proposing mandatory prior approval from the regulator to manufacture, sell and import food or ingredients produced from genetically-modified organisms.
• The proposed Food Safety and Standards (Genetically Modified Foods) Regulations, 2022, will apply to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) intended for food use, as per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Proposals for Food Safety and Standards (Genetically Modified Foods) Regulations, 2022:

• Applicability: It will be applicable to food ingredients produced from GMOs that contain modified DNA as well as to food ingredients produced from GMOs that do not contain modified DNA but includes ingredients/additives/processing aids derived from GMOs
• Permission required: No person shall manufacture, pack, store, sell, market or otherwise distribute or import any food or food ingredient produced from GMOs, except with the prior approval of the food authority
• Mandatory Labelling: All food products (GMOs intended for food use and food ingredients produced from GMOs that contain modified DNA) must be labelled with the words ‘contains genetically modified organisms’ on the front

What Are Genetically Modified Organisms?

• GMO means any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.
• Most of the GMO crops grown today were developed to help farmers prevent crop and food loss and control weeds. 
• The three most common traits found in GMO crops are: Resistance to certain damaging insects, Tolerance of certain herbicides used to control weeds, and  Resistance to certain plant viruses.

What Is FSSAI?

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. 
• The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.

Question: 

Which of the following bodies/ministries/departments recently drafted the regulations for genetically modified food?

A. Department of Biotechnology

B. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

C. Ministry of Agriculture

D. Ministry of Science and Technology

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Tamil Nadu Gets Its First Biodiversity Heritage Site

• The state government of Tamilnadu notified 193.215 hectares of area spread across Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages in Madurai district as ‘Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site’ under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. 
• This is the first Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) notified in Tamil Nadu.

What Are Biodiversity Heritage Sites?

• Biodiversity heritage sites are well-defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems with a high diversity of wild and domesticated species, the presence of rare and threatened species, and keystone species. 
• The significance and aims of BHS are outlined in Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act of 2002. The creation of BHS may not put any restriction on the prevailing practices and usages of the local communities other than those voluntarily decided by them. 
• The purpose is to enhance the quality of life of the local communities through conservation measures.

About the Sites:

• The village of Arittapatti consists of a chain of seven barren granite hillocks. The distinctive landscape of rocky hills acts as a watershed and supports 72 lakes, 200 natural spring pools, and three check dams. 
• One of the water bodies, Anaikondan Lake, was built during the reign of Pandyas in the 16th century. Hillocks in Arittapatti village have rich biological and historical significance with the presence of around 250 bird species.
• These species include three flagship raptor species—Laggar Falcon, Shaheen Falcon, and Bonelli’s Eagle—and wildlife such as Indian pangolin, python, and slender loris.  
• The site also features various megalithic structures, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, Jain Beds, and 2,200-year-old rock-cut temples, lending it historical value.

Question: 

Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages are recently notified as the first Biodiversity Heritage Site of which of the following states/UT?

A. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

B. Tamil Nadu

C. Andhra Pradesh

D. Kerala

Answer: B

Current Affairs: National

Nicobari Hodi Craft

• The Geographical Indications Registry at Guindy, Chennai, has received an application from the Tribal Development Council, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, seeking the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the Nicobari hodi craft. 
• This is the first application from the Union Territory seeking a tag for one of its products.

What Is Hodi Craft?

• The hodi is the Nicobari tribe’s traditional craft. It is an outrigger canoe, very commonly operated in the Nicobar group of islands. 
• The technical skills for building a hodi are based on indigenous knowledge inherited by the Nicobarese from their forefathers. 
• The hodi is built using either locally available trees or from nearby islands, and its design varies slightly from island to island.
• Hodis are used for transporting people and goods from one island to another, sending coconuts, fishing, and racing.
• The tuhet, a group of families under a headman, consider the hodi an asset. Hodi races are held between islands and villages.

What Is a Geographical Indication (GI) Tag?

• The GI is an indication used to identify goods having special characteristics originating from a definite geographical territory.
• The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
• It is governed and directed by the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
• This tag is valid for a period of 10 years, following which it can be renewed.

Importance of GI Tagging:

• Once a product gets this tag, no person or company can sell a similar item under that name.
• GI registration of a product provides it with legal protection and prevention against unauthorised use by others.
• GI tag helps in promoting the exports of the product.
• It also provides comfort to customers about the authenticity of that product.

Question:

Recently Andaman and Nicobar Islands submitted its first application for the Geographical Indication tag for the Nicobari hodi craft, which is a type of

A. Traditional Spice

B. Outrigger canoe

C. Miniature Art

D. Traditional Dish Made from Local Fish

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Defence Technology

India successfully Tests Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile Agni-3

• India on Wednesday carried out a successful training launch of the nuclear-capable Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Agni-3 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, as part of routine user training launches conducted by the Strategic Forces Command.

Details: 

• The launch was carried out for a predetermined range and validated all operational parameters of the system. 
• The 16-metre-long missile, weighing more than 48 tonnes, has a range of over 3000 kilometres and is capable of carrying a payload of over 1.5 tonnes. 
• Flight trajectory was tracked by a number of radars, telemetry observation stations, electro-optic instruments and naval ships deployed at sea.

About AGNI-III:

• The first known developmental trial of Agni-3 was conducted in July 2006 but could not yield the expected result. It was subsequently successfully flight-tested in April 2007. 
• The system has been successfully tested several times since then.
• The missile’s strike range is between 1,000 km and 2,000 km.
• The Agni series of missiles constitute the backbone of India’s nuclear weapons delivery, including the Prithvi short-range ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft. 
• India has also completed its nuclear triad and operationalised its second strike capability, with the nuclear ballistic missile submarine INS Arihant undertaking deterrence patrols.

Question:

India recently carried out a successful training launch of the nuclear-capable Agni-3 Missile is a type of

A. Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM)

B. Cruise missile

C. Submarine-launched ballistic missile

D. Air Launched Cruise Missile (Alcm)

Answer: A 

Current Affairs: National

Karnataka’s Groundnut Festival Begins after Two Years

• There are many unique festivals and traditions in India, some of which are local and hyperlocal. Among them is the annual festival of ‘Kadalekai Parishe’, also known as the groundnut festival.
• Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai inaugurated the popular ‘Kadlekai Parishe’, a groundnut fair in Bengaluru’s Basavanagudi, recently. 
• The annual fair was halted for the last two years due to the pandemic, and this year, the fair was held in a grand manner.

What is ‘Kadlekai Parishe?’

• Every year, the Kadlekai Parishe is organised in the opposite lane of the famous Bull temple in Basavanagudi. 
• During the fair, the groundnut farmers from all over the state – and even from neighbouring areas of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh – bring the bags of groundnuts to sell them in the fair. 
• Several thousands of residents from Bengaluru hop into the Kadlekai Parishe to buy the groundnuts and experience the cultural exchange. 
• The groundnut fair is usually organised for a day but it extends till the farmers sell their stock of groundnuts.

Question: 

Which of the following states recently celebrated the grand groundnut festival called ‘Kadalekai Parishe’ after a gap of two years?

A. Karnataka

B. Tamil Nadu

C. Kerala

D. Rajasthan

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Economics

Airtel Payments Bank Introduced Face Authentication KYC

• Airtel Payments Bank has taken yet another step towards digital inclusion and announced the launch of a Face Authentication-based savings bank account opening for customers. 
• The facility will further ease the account opening process making it seamless and convenient for customers. Airtel Payments Bank is the first Payments Bank in the country to offer this facility.

Benefits of New Facility:

• The new facility will help Business Correspondents (BCs) of the bank to open an account just by undertaking face authentication e-KYC. The authentication is processed using a newly developed mobile application by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), and as a result, the business correspondent will now only need a smartphone to open an account. 
• The bank will make this facility available across all its 500,000 banking points by the end of this year.

How Will This System Work?

• This KYC facility uses AI/ML-based Face Authentication RD Application, which helps in the prevention of fraudulent activities by cross-checking an individual’s photo with the image captured in Aadhaar and allows secure customer onboarding.
• Till now, if a customer wished to open an account with Airtel Payments Bank, the Aadhaar-based OTP or fingerprint biometric authentication was carried out.

Question: 

Which is the first bank in the country to recently roll out e-KYC based on a face authentication system?

A. Bandhan Bank

B. DBS Bank

C. Kotak Mahindra Bank

D. Airtel Payments Bank

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Days and Events

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 2022

• International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed on 25 November, every year. 
• It is a day to pay tribute to the Mirabal sisters, the Dominican Republic activists who were murdered at the order of Rafael Trujillo in 1960. 
• The United Nations aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence against women.
• This year’s campaign is a 16-day initiative starting on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women and concluding on International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

Theme:

• The 2022 theme of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is ‘UNITE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls’.
• According to the United Nations’ official website, this campaign will be an initiative of 16 days of activism starting on 25 November and concluding on International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

Aim of the Campaign:

• The campaign “will aim to mobilize all society to become activists for the prevention of violence against women, to stand in solidarity with women’s rights activists and to support feminist movements around the world to resist the rollback on women’s rights and calling for a world from VAWG”.

History:

• The UN General Assembly, in 1979, adopted the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). 
• However, violence against women and girls is a problem that can still be seen worldwide. 
• To tackle this issue, the General Assembly issued resolution 48/104 to lay the foundation of a world of gender-based violence.

Significance:

• According to the United Nations’ official website, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is one of the world’s most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations today.
• Furthermore, it still remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it. 
• The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is commemorated to raise public awareness about gender-based violence issues.
• It is also a day to spread awareness about how this gender-based violence manifests itself in physical, sexual and psychological forms. 
• The United Nations hopes to raise awareness about the adverse consequences of VAWG for women of all ages.

Question:

Which of the following dates is observed as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women?

A. 27 March

B. 15 June

C. 19 September

D. 25 November

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Economy

India’s First Sticker-Based Debit Card, FIRSTAP

• IDFC FIRST Bank has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch FIRSTAP, the country’s first sticker-based debit card.

What Is a Sticker-Based Debit Card and How Will It Work?

• The sticker-based Debit Card is one-third the size of a regular debit card, thus making the sticker applicable to a wide range of devices and objects and significantly enhancing customer convenience.
• Customers can affix the Sticker-based Debit Card on any surface of their choice, such as cell phones, identity cards, wallets, tabs, AirPods cases, etc. 
• The object can be used to tap and pay, thus doing away with the need to carry a Debit Card or adapting to wearable devices such as watches and rings, or entering a UPI PIN after scanning a QR code. 
• The touch-way to pay enables payments in seconds for transactions up to ₹5,000 without a PIN, and those beyond that, with a tap and PIN.

Aim:

• The card is aimed at facilitating transactions by simply tapping the sticker on a Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled point-of-sale terminal. 

About IDFC FIRST Bank:

• IDFC FIRST Bank was formed by the merger of erstwhile IDFC Bank, promoted by renowned infrastructure financing institution IDFC Ltd., and leading technology NBFC, Capital First. 
• The Bank believed in making customer-first products and was the first universal bank to offer monthly interest credit on savings accounts, the first bank to issue lifetime credit cards with no minimum spend conditions, the first bank to offer dynamic and low APR rates, evergreen rewards points and many other such interesting products.
• The Bank’s vision is to build a world class bank in India, guided by ethics, powered by technology, and to be a force for social good. Our mission is to touch the lives of millions of Indians in a positive way by providing them high-quality banking services.

What Is National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)?

• National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was incorporated in 2008 as an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. 
• NPCI has created a robust payment and settlement infrastructure in the country. 
• It has changed the way payments are made in India through a bouquet of retail payment products such as RuPay card, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), BHIM Aadhaar, National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC FasTag) and Bharat BillPay. 
• NPCI is focused on bringing innovations in the retail payment systems through the use of technology and is relentlessly working to transform India into a digital economy. 
• It facilitates secure payment solutions with nationwide accessibility at minimal cost furthering India’s aspiration to be a fully digital society.

Question:

IDFC FIRST Bank has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch FIRSTAP, is a _____ type of banking Service

A. Contactless ATM

B. Mobile Based monitoring system

C. Sticker-based debit card

D. On site Banking Correspondent service.

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Science and Technology.

ISRO Completes 200th Consecutive Launch of Rohini Rocket

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its indigenously built Rohini RH-200 sounding rocket recently.  
• It was a historical moment since it was the sounding rocket’s 200th consecutive launch, having completed 100 launches in 2015.

What Is a Rohini Rocket?

• Rohini is a series of sounding rockets developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation for meteorological and atmospheric study. 
• These sounding rockets are capable of carrying payloads of 2 to 200 kilograms between altitudes of 100 to 500 kilometres.

About Rocket:

• The RH-200 is one of three sounding rockets currently operational with ISRO, the other two being the RH-300 Mk 2 and the RH-560 Mk 2. 
• The rockets are part of a series of sounding rockets developed by ISRO under the Rohini Sounding Rocket (RSR) Programme. 
• Currently, the RH-200 has had a total of over 1,600 launches.
• RH-200 is a two-stage rocket capable of climbing to a height of 70 km bearing scientific payloads.
• The first and second stages of RH-200 are powered by solid motors.
• For years, the RH-200 rocket had used a polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based propellant.
• Campaigns such as Equatorial ElectroJet (EEJ), Leonid Meteor Shower (LMS), Indian Middle Atmosphere Programme (IMAP), Monsoon Experiment (MONEX), Middle Atmosphere Dynamics (MIDAS), and Sooryagrahan-2010 have been conducted using the sounding rocket platform for scientific exploration of the Earth’s atmosphere.

What Is a Sounding Rocket?

• A sounding rocket or rocketsonde, sometimes called a research rocket or a suborbital rocket, is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight.

Question:

ISRO recently completed the 200th consecutive launch of which of the following Sounding Rockets?

A. Cartosat

B. INSAT 

C. Rohini 

D. Kalpana

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Defence

Exercise ‘Samanvay 2022’

• Indian Air Force is conducting the Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise ‘Samanvay 2022’ from 28 November to 30 November 2022 at Air Force Station Agra. 
• Along with the involvement of various stakeholders from the country, the exercise will see participation by representatives from the ASEAN countries.

Rationale: 

• The exercise also aims to provide a unique platform for the exchange of domain knowledge, experience and best practices with the participating ASEAN member countries. 
• With an aim to assess the efficacy of institutional Disaster Management structures and contingency measures, the exercise will comprise a seminar on Disaster Management, a ‘Multi Agency Exercise’ involving static and flying displays of various HADR assets and a ‘Table Top Exercise’.  

About Exercise Samanvay:

• Samanvay 2022 will promote a synergistic approach towards HADR by various national and regional stakeholders involved in Disaster Management, including the Civil Administration, the Armed Forces, NDMA, NIDM, NDRF, DRDO, BRO, IMD, NRS and INCOIS. 
• This multi-agency engagement is expected to contribute to the evolution of institutional frameworks for effective communication, interoperability, cooperation and their application for the successful conduct of HADR. 

Question:

Indian Air Force is conducting the annual joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise ‘Samanvay 2022’ in which of the following cities?

A. Agra

B. Panjim

C. Kochi

D. Mumbai

Answer: A

Current Affairs: International

Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue

• The fourth edition of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) started in Delhi recently.
• The 2022 edition of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD-2022) is appropriately centred upon the IPOI and its operationalisation, with a particular but not exclusive focus upon the pillars of ‘Maritime Security’.

What Is IPRD ?

• IPRD is an apex-level international annual conference of the Indian Navy. 
• The National Maritime Foundation is the Navy’s knowledge partner and chief organiser of each edition of the event. 

Theme:

• The theme of IPRD-2022 is the ‘Operationalising the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative’.

About the Event:

• As part of the event, globally renowned speakers and eminent panellists will explore how the areas of maritime cooperation could be optimally and inclusively operationalised. 
• In addition, there will be a Margdarshan session which will include addresses from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav.

The Six Thematically-Arranged Sessions of the IPRD-2022: 

1. Weaving the Fabric of Holistic Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific: Multilateral Options.
2. Constructing Holistic-Security Bridges across the Western and Eastern Maritime Expanse of the Indo-Pacific.
3. Building maritime Connectivity: Ports, Trade, and Transport.
4. Capacity-building and Capability Enhancement Leveraging the Physical and Social Sciences.
5. Practical approaches to a Regional Blue Economy.
6. Disaster Risk-reduction and Management; Solutions for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Vulnerable Littoral States.

Question: 

Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue is an apex-level international annual conference of which of the following?

A. Trade and commerce ministry

B. Department of Exclusive Economic Zone

C. Indian Navy

D. Ministry of foreign Affairs

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

India’s Purnima Devi Barman Honoured with UN’s Highest Environmental Award

• Indian wildlife biologist Dr Purnima Devi Barman was recently awarded the Champions of the Earth award in the Entrepreneurial Vision category, the UN’s highest environmental honour. 
• She is the founder of the Hargila Army and senior project manager of the Avifauna Research and Conservation Division, Aaranyak.
• The Champions of the Earth is an appreciation for innovative ways implemented by awardees across the world to support nature’s extraordinary capacity for renewal.

What Is the Champions of the Earth Award?

• The Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour. Since 2005, the Award has recognised heroes who inspire, encourage others to join them, and defend a better, more sustainable future.

Champions of the Earth Are Celebrated in Four Categories:

• Policy leadership – individuals or organisations in the public sector leading global or national action for the environment. They shape the dialogue, lead commitments and act for the good of the planet.
• Inspiration and action – individuals or organisations taking bold steps to inspire positive change to protect our world. They lead by example, challenge behaviour and inspire millions.
• Entrepreneurial vision – individuals or organisations challenging the status quo to build a cleaner future. They build systems, create new technology and spearhead a groundbreaking vision. 
• Science and innovation– individuals or organisations who push the boundaries of technology for profound environmental benefit. They invent possibilities for a more sustainable world.

Who Is Purnima Devi Barman?

• Barman is an Indian wildlife biologist working in Assam to protect storks. 
• Her love for birds was born when she was sent to live with her grandparents on the banks of the Brahmaputra River in Assam at age five. Barman’s grandmother, a farmer, started taking her to nearby paddy fields and wetlands to teach her about the birds there, which cultivated her passion.

Why Is a Barman’s Work Important?

• The greater adjutant stork is the second-rarest stork species in the world. 
• Their population has dropped to 1,200 today, less than 1 per cent of what they numbered a century ago, due to the destruction of their natural habitat. 
• The urbanisation of rural areas is speeding up, and wetlands, where the storks thrive have been drained, polluted and degraded, replaced by buildings, roads and mobile phone towers.

How Does the Army Uplift Women?

• Over 10,000 women make up the Hargila Army today. 
• Their primary tasks are to protect nesting sites, treat injured storks that have fallen from their nests, and arrange “baby showers” to celebrate the arrival of newborn chicks.
• Barman has helped women become self-sufficient by weaving looms and yarn. 
• They now create and sell textiles decorated with motifs of the ‘hargila’. 
• This entrepreneurship is creating awareness about the birds and also making women financially independent.

Question:

In which of the following categories is Dr Purnima Devi Barman recently given the UN’s highest environmental honour called the ‘Champions of the Earth’ award by UNEP?

A. Entrepreneurial Vision

B. Inspiration and action

C. Science and innovation

D. Policy leadership 

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards for 2021

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports recently announced the National Adventure Awards for the year 2021. 
• The award will be given in four categories, Land Adventure, Water Adventure, Air Adventure and Life Time Achievement.

Award for year: 2021

S. No.	Name	Category
1.	Ms Naina Dhakad	Land Adventure
2.	Shri Shubham Dhananjay Vanmali	Water Adventure
3.	Group Captain  Kunwar BhawaniSingh Samyal	Life Time Achievement

• The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India along with other Sports Awardees at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 30 November 2022. 
• They will receive statuettes, certificates and award money of ₹15 lakh each.

What Is the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award?

• Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards are given every year to recognise the achievements of persons in the fields of adventure and to encourage young people to develop the spirit of endurance, risk-taking, cooperative teamwork and quick, ready and effective reflexes in challenging situations. It also incentivises young people to get exposed to adventurous activities.

Question: 

Which category is not featured in the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards?

A. Water Adventure

B. Air Adventure 

C. Life Time Achievement

D. Sacrifice for nation

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

National Gopal Ratna Awards 2022

• The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying recently announced the National Gopal Ratna Awards 2022. The Award is conferred in three categories, namely,

1. Best Dairy Farmer Rearing Indigenous Cattle/buffalo Breeds,
2. Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) and
3. Best Dairy Cooperative/ Milk Producer Company/ Dairy Farmer Producer Organisation.

Details: 

• The award consists of a cash prize of ₹5 lakh for the first rank (1st), ₹3 lakh for the second rank (2nd) and ₹2 lakh for the third rank (3rd), along with a Certificate of merit and a memento in each category. 

What Is the National Gopal Ratna Award?

• National Gopal Ratna Award is one of the highest National Awards in the field of livestock and dairy sector, with an objective to recognise and encourage all individuals like Farmers rearing indigenous animals, AI Technicians and Dairy Cooperative Societies / Milk Producer Company / Dairy Farmers’ Producers Organisations working in this sector.

Livestock Facts:

• The livestock sector is crucial to the Indian economy today, comprising one-third of the agriculture and allied sector GVA and having over 8% CAGR. 
• At the same time, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries activities play a significant role in generating farmer income, particularly among the landless, small and marginal farmers and women, besides providing cheap and nutritious food to millions of people.

Winners in each category are as under:  

S. No.	Category	Name of the applicants selected	Rank
1.	Best Dairy farmer rearing indigenous cattle/buffalo breeds	Sh Jitendra Singh, Fatehabad, Haryana Ravishankar Shashikant Sahasrabudhe, Pune, MaharashtraMs Goyal Sonalben Naran, Kachchh, Gujarat	1st 2nd  3rd
2.	Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT)	Sh Gopal  Rana, Balangir, Odisha Hari Singh, Ganganagar, Rajasthan Maachepalli Basavaiah, Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh	1st 2nd   3rd
3.	Best Dairy Cooperative society/Milk Producer company/Dairy Farmer producer organisation	Mananthavady Ksheerolpadaka Sahakarana Sangam Ltd, Wayanad, KeralaArakere Milk Producers Cooperative Society Ltd, Mandya, KarnatakaMannargudi MPCS, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu	1st  2nd  3rd

Question:

Which of the following is the cash amount recently given under National Gopal Ratna Awards 2022 for the first rank (1st) winner?

A. ₹5 lakh

B. ₹10 lakh

C. ₹15 lakh

D. ₹20 lakh

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

Ravi Kumar Sagar Conferred with the Prestigious Dr Kalam Seva Puraskar

• Ravi Kumar Sagar, 22, one of the youngest founders and CEO of RK’S INNO group was conferred with the most prestigious Dr Abdul Kalam Seva Puraskar.
• The award was presented to him for his persistent service to society and is one of the youngest entrepreneurs in India.

What is Dr Kalam Seva Puraskar?

• Dr Kalam Seva Purasakar is hosted every year by Vande Bharat Foundation and Lead India Foundation to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late former President of India Dr. APJ Adul Kalam. 
• The award is conferred to the deserving candidates on Dr Kalam’s birth anniversary for recognising various people who have been doing extraordinary work for the society.

Reason he got this Award:

• When other businesses suffered huge losses due to the lockdown and the spread of the pandemic, Ravi Kumar Sagar started his entrepreneurship journey by selling PPE kits, sanitisers, and face masks to medical stores and hospitals. 
• With the initial investment of ₹50,000, Ravi Kumar Sagar was a success in generating his business turnover to a whooping ₹2 crore.

Question: 

Which of the following has recently been conferred the prestigious Dr Kalam Seva Puraskar?

A. Ravi Kumar Sagar

B. Acharya Vasishtha

C. Murli Shridhar

D. Nancy Kumari

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Defence

Stealth-Guided Missile Destroyer Mormugao Delivered to the Indian Navy

• The second ship of Project 15B stealth-guided missile destroyers, Y12705 (Mormugao), being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in the city, was handed over to the Indian Navy on Thursday.

Details:

• The contract for four ships of Project 15B was signed on January 28, 2011. 
• This project is a continuation of the Kolkata class destroyers, which were part of Project 15A and were commissioned in the previous decade. 
• Last November, the project’s lead ship, INS Visakhapatnam, was commissioned into service.

About the Ship:

• The keel of Mormugao (Yard No. 12705), named after the port city in Goa, was laid in June 2015 and the ship was launched in September 2016. 
• The ship is 163 metres long and 17 metres wide, has a displacement of 7,400 tonnes when fully loaded, and has a maximum speed of 30 knots. 
• The overall indigenous content of the project is around 75 per cent.
• The destroyer is armed with indigenous weapons including medium-range surface-to-air missiles, BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, indigenous torpedo tube launchers, anti-submarine indigenous rocket launchers, and the 76 mm super rapid gun mount.

Increase in Marine Power of Country:

• The early induction of the destroyer, almost three months prior to the contractual date, despite the COVID challenges, is a tribute to the collaborative efforts of a large number of stakeholders and would enhance the maritime prowess of the country in the Indian Ocean Region.

Question:

The second ship of Project 15B stealth-guided missile destroyers, Y12705 (Mormugao) recently handed over to the Navy is being built by:

A. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited 

B. Goa Shipyard Ltd

C. Hindustan Shipyard Ltd

D. Hooghly Dock & Port Engineers Ltd

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Economy

India–Gulf Cooperation Council

• India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have decided to pursue resumption of Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. Both the sides have agreed to expedite conclusion of the requisite legal and technical requirements for formal resumption of the FTA negotiations.

Details:

• This was announced in a joint press conference held by Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and GCC Secretary General Nayef Falah M. Al-Hajraf.
• Both sides emphasised that the FTA will create new jobs, raise living standards, and provide wider social and economic opportunities in India and all the GCC countries.
• They agreed to significantly expand and diversify the trade basket in line with the enormous potential that exists on account of the complementary business and economic ecosystems of India and the GCC.

Important Facts:

• GCC is currently India’s largest trading partner bloc with bilateral trade in 2021-22 valued at over $154 billion with exports valued at approximately $44 billion and imports of around $110 billion (non-oil exports of $33.8 billion and non-oil imports of $37.2 billion).
• Bilateral trade in services between India and the GCC was valued at around $14 billion in 2021-22, with exports valued at $5.5 billion and imports at $8.3 billion.
• GCC countries contribute almost 35 per cent of India’s oil imports and 70 per cent of gas imports.
• India’s overall crude oil imports from the GCC in 2021-22 were about $48 billion, while LNG and LPG imports in 2021-22 were about $21 billion. Investments from the GCC in India are currently valued at over $18 billion.

What is a Trade Agreement?

• It is a pact between two or more countries, where the objective is to remove trade barriers between imports and exports, and ensure hassle-trade relations as far as possible. Under a trade agreement, countries offer preferential trade terms and tariff concessions to each other.

Why does India need FTA?

• The main objective behind India’s trade negotiations is the diversification and expansion of export markets. 
• Some of the other factors that India considers when going for trade agreements are cheaper access to raw materials, attracting foreign investment, boosting competitiveness and other geo-political reasons.
• In addition to trade agreements, India has also signed six preferential trade agreements. 
• The main difference between the both is that an FTA is comprehensive, covering various areas, while a PTA is limited to only trade in goods and seeks only a tariff elimination in terms of a margin of preference.

Current Affairs: Sports

PT Usha Set to Become the First Woman President of IOA

• The legendary PT Usha is set to become the first woman President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as she emerged as the lone candidate for the top post for the 10th December elections.

About PT Usha:

• One of the most accomplished athletes from India, the 58-year-old PT Usha has won 11 medals, including four gold, at the Asian Games between 1982 and 1994. 
• She won four gold medals at the Seoul Asian Games in 1986 in the 200 metre, 400 metre, 400-metre hurdles, and 4 x 400 relay. 
• She also took home a silver in the 100 metre.
• She finished fourth in the 400-metre hurdles final at the 1984 Olympics.
• Usha won 23 medals, including 14 gold, in the Asian Championships from 1983 to 1998.

Fact:

• Usha will also become the first Olympian and first international medallist to head the IOA in its 95-year-old history. 
• It will also add another feather to her cap after dominating Indian and Asian athletics for two decades before retiring in 2000 with a bagful of international medals.

Question: 

Which of the following women athletes of India is going to be the first woman President of the Indian Olympic Association?

A. Karnam Malleswari

B. Mary Kom

C. Lovlina Borgohain

D. PT Usha

Answer: D

Current Affairs: National

Dhamma Dipa International Buddhist University: The First Buddhist University in India.

• Shakya Gasan, chief monk of the World Buddhist Pope Association of South Korea, will lay the foundation stone for the International Buddhist University at Manu Bankul in Sabroom of South Tripura district.

Details:

• The Dhamma Dipa International Buddhist University (DDIBU) is expected to become the first Buddhist-run university in India to offer Buddhist education along with courses in other disciplines of modern education as well.
• DDIBU will be the first Buddhist University in India to be headed by Buddhist Monastics and run and monitored by Buddhists.
• Preliminary estimates said around ₹100 crores might be spent for the project. The entire expenditure would be borne by the Buddhist community.

Courses:

• Students from 31 countries will get a chance to study as well as research Buddhist literature, culture and tradition in the proposed varsity. Besides, there is also a plan to establish medical, technical and general degree colleges on the campus.

Question: 

DDIBU, the first Buddhist University in India is being built in which of the following places of the country?

A. Ladakh

B. Itanagar

C. Tripura

D. Dharamshala

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Defence

Austra Hind Exercise-22

• The bilateral training exercise “AUSTRA HIND 22” between contingents of the Indian Army and the Australian Army is scheduled to take place at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges (Rajasthan) from 28 November to 11 December 2022. 

Details: 

• This is the first exercise in the series of Austra Hind with participation of all arms and services contingent from both armies. 
• The Australian Army contingent comprising soldiers from the 13th Brigade of the 2nd Division has arrived at the exercise location. 
• The Indian Army is represented by troops from the DOGRA Regiment.
• Exercise “Austra Hind” will be a yearly event that will be conducted alternatively in India and Australia.

Rationale of the Exercise:

• The aim of the exercise is to build positive military relations, imbibe each other’s best practices and promote the ability to operate together while undertaking multi-domain operations in semi-desert terrain under a UN peace enforcement mandate. 
• This joint exercise will enable the two armies to share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for conducting tactical operations at the company and platoon level for neutralising hostile threats. 
• Training on new generation equipment and specialist weapons including snipers, surveillance and communication equipment to achieve a high degree of situational awareness apart from casualty management, casualty evacuation and planning logistics at the battalion/company level are also planned.

What is to be done During the Exercise?

• During the exercise, participants will engage in a variety of tasks ranging from joint planning, joint tactical drills, sharing basics of special arms skills and raiding a hostile target. 
• The joint exercise, besides promoting understanding and interoperability between the two armies, will further help in strengthening ties between India and Australia.

Question: 

The bilateral training exercise “Austra Hind-22” between contingents of the Indian Army and the Australian Army is to be recently held in which of the following states?

A. Gujrat

B. Rajasthan

C. Assam

D. Uttarakhand

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

ISRO Places Nine Satellites in Orbit

• In one of its longest missions, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully placed nine satellites, including an Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-06) in multiple orbits with the help of the space agency’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C54). 
• The vehicle took off precisely at 11:56 am on Saturday from the first launch pad (FLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), SHAR.

Details: 

• The eight nano satellites include ISRO Nano Satellite-2 for Bhutan (INS-2B), Anand, Astrocast (four satellites), and two Thybolt satellites. 
• Notably, EOS-6 is the Oceansat series’ third-generation satellite. 
• This is the 56th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the 24th flight of the PSLV-XL version with 6 PSOM-Xls.

What is  PSLV-C54?

• The PSLV-C54 is the 56th mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. It was launched on 26th November, 2022 with the EOS-06 satellite and Thybolt nanosatellites of Dhruva Space from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India.

SATELLITES IN PSLV-C54

Satellite	Agency, Country	Separating Mass (kg)
EOS-06	URSC, India	1117.0
INS-2B	URSC, India	18.28
Anand	Pixxel, India	16.51
Thybolt (2 Nos.)	Dhruva Space,India	1.45
Astrocast (4 Nos.)	Spaceflight, USA

What is EOS-6?

• EOS-6 is the third-generation satellite in the Oceansat series. 
• This is to provide continuity of services of Oceansat-2 spacecraft with enhanced payload specifications as well as application areas.

Payload:

• Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM-3)
• Sea Surface Temperature Monitor (SSTM)
• Ku-Band Scatterometer (SCAT-3)
• ARGOS

Mission Objectives:

• To ensure the data continuity of ocean colour and wind vector data to sustain the operational applications.
• To improve the applications, some additional datasets such as Sea Surface Temperature and more bands in the optical region for fluorescence and in the Infrared region for atmospheric corrections are accommodated.
• To develop/improve related algorithms and data products to serve in well-established application areas and to enhance the mission utility.

Question: 

ISRO PSLV-C54, which recently placed nine satellites into multiple orbits successfully, also consists of two satellites of which country?

A. Bhutan

B. Indonesia

C. UK

D. Srilanka

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

New Species of Black Corals Discovered

• Using a remote-controlled submarine, researchers at Smithsonian Institution, Washington, discovered five new species of black corals living as deep as 2,500 feet (760 metres) below the surface in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea off the coast of Australia.

About Black Corals: 

• Unlike their colourful, shallow-water cousins that rely on the sun and photosynthesis for energy, black corals are filter feeders and eat tiny zooplankton that are abundant in deep waters.
• Many of these corals are branched and look like feathers, fans or bushes, while others are straight like a whip.

Details:

• Among the many interesting specimens were five new species, including one that was found growing on the shell of a nautilus more than 2,500 feet (760 metres) below the ocean’s surface.
• Similarly to shallow-water corals that build colourful reefs full of fish, black corals act as important habitats where fish and invertebrates feed and hide from predators in what is otherwise a mostly barren sea floor.
• For example, a single black coral colony that researchers collected in 2005 off the coast of California, United States, was home to 2,554 individual invertebrates.

Question:

Researchers of Smithsonian Institution, Washington recently discovered 5 new species of black corals on the coast line of which of the following countries?

A. Australia

B. USA

C. Canada

D. Mexico

Answer: A

Current Affairs: National

PM Launched E-Court Initiatives

• On 26th November, 2022, while celebrating the Constitution Day in the Supreme Court of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched various initiatives under the e-court project.

Details: 

• The project is an effort to provide services to litigants, lawyers, and the judiciary through ICT enablement of courts.
• The initiatives launched by the Prime Minister include ‘Virtual Justice Clock’, ‘JustIS mobile App 2.0’, ‘Digital Court’, and ‘S3WaaS Websites’.

What is Virtual Justice Clock?

• The Virtual Justice Clock is an initiative to exhibit vital statistics of the justice delivery system at the court level, giving the details of the cases instituted, cases disposed and pendency of cases on day/week/month basis at the court level.
• The effort is to make the functioning of the courts accountable and transparent by sharing with the public the status of case disposals by the court.
• Public can access the Virtual Justice Clock of any court establishment on the District Court’s website.

What is JustIS Mobile App 2.0?

• JustIS Mobile App 2.0 is a tool available to judicial officers for effective court and case management by monitoring pendency and disposal of not only their courts but also for individual judges working under them.
• This app is also made available to the High Court and the Supreme Court Judges who can now monitor pendency and disposal of all the States and Districts under.

What is a Digital Court?

• Digital court is an initiative to make the court records available to the judge in digitised form to enable the transition to paperless courts.

What is S3WaaS Website?

• S3WaaS Websites stands for Secure, Scalable and Sugamya Website as a Service. 
• It is a framework to generate, configure, deploy and manage websites for publishing specified information and services related to district judiciary. 
• S3WaaS is a cloud service developed for government entities to generate Secure, Scalable and Sugamya (Accessible) websites. 
• It is multilingual, citizen friendly and disability friendly.

Question: 

Which of the following is not an Initiative recently launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi lunder the e-court project?

A. Virtual Justice Clock

B. S3WaaS Websites

C. E-Kanoon App

D. JustIS Mobile App 2.0

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) was recently conferred with the ‘Award of Excellence’ at the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, 2022.
• UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards (since 2000) are given as the strategic purpose of UNESCO within the Asia Pacific region. 
• UNESCO introduced the new category, ‘Special Recognition for Sustainable Development’, in 2020, together with an updated set of awards criteria to acknowledge the role and contribution of cultural heritage to sustainable development within the broader framework of the UN 2030 Agenda.

Objective: 

• The objective is to motivate the protection of Cultural Heritage sites, which are initiated by any individual organisation under the private sector or institutional organisation.

Award Categories:

• Winners will be announced in November 2022 in the following levels of achievement: Award of Excellence, Award of Distinction, Award of Merit, Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts, and Special Recognition for Sustainable Development.
• Award of Excellence: 
• Chhtrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum, Mumbai, India 
• Award of Distinction:

• Stepwells of Golconda, Hyderabad, India
• Zarch Qanat, Yazd, Iran 
• Neilson Hays Library, Bangkok, Thailand 
• Award of Merit:

• Topdara Stupa, Charikar, Afghanistan 
• Nantian Buddhist Temple, Fujian, China 
• Domakonda Fort, Telangana, India 
• Byculla Station, Mumbai, India 
• Sadoughi House, Yazd, Iran 
• 25 Chivas in Kathmandu, Nepal 
• Special Recognition for Sustainable Development:
• West Guizhou Lilong Neighbourhood, Shanghai, China 
• Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts:

• M30 Integrated Infrastructure for Power Supply and Waste Collection, Macao SAR, China
• Xiaoxihu Block, Nanjing, China

What is the Award of Excellence Category?

• The Award of Excellence is the highest recognition in the Awards programme, presented to projects that display exceptional achievement in all criteria, and that demonstrate major catalytic impact at the national or regional level.

Question: 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya was recently conferred with the UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation-2022 in which of the following categories?

A. Special Recognition for Sustainable Development

B. Award of Merit

C. Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts

D. Award of Excellence

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

• In the meeting of its General Council held recently in New Delhi, Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, selected 102 (Including three joint Awards) artists of India who have made a mark as young talents in their respective fields of the performing arts for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021.

About Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar:

• The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, given to artists below the age of 40 years, was introduced with the objective of identifying and encouraging outstanding young talents in diverse fields of performing arts and giving them national recognition early in their life, so that they may work with greater commitment and dedication in their chosen fields.
• The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar carries a purse money of ₹25,000/- (Rupees twenty-five thousand only). 
• The Yuva Puraskar will be presented at a special ceremony by the Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Details: 

• Younger artists cover the entire gamut of the performing arts such as Hindustani and Carnatic vocal as well as instrumental music, which include the Flute, Sitar and Mridangam, and other major traditions of music.  
• The North-eastern States of the country have also been adequately represented with 19 artists from the North-east selected for the Award from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

Question:

Recently 102 artists from the field of performing arts were selected for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2019, 20, and 21, which carries a purse money of:

A. ₹25,000

B. ₹50,000

C. ₹1,00,000

D. ₹2,00,000

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Science and Technology.

India to have ‘Tilting Trains’ by 2026

• The Indian Railways plans to introduce ‘tilting trains’ by 2026 with an aim to maintain higher speed on curvy stretches. 
• According to the officials, 100 new units of the semi-high speed Vande Bharat trains are being manufactured using this technology.

What are Tilting Trains?

• Tilting trains have a mechanism that enables higher speed on regular broad-gauge tracks, which tilt while undergoing a curve on the track.
• It is a technology that enables trains to maneuver curves at increased speed, that too on regular tracks, just like a motorcycle on a winding road.
• A broad-gauge (distance between the rails) railway track is broader than the standard 1,435-mm used by the railways.

Working Mechanism of Tilting Trains

• When a train rounds a curve at speed, objects (and people) inside experience centrifugal force, which pushes them outwards.
• The effect can cause luggage inside to slide, seated passengers to feel squashed and standing passengers to lose balance. These trains are designed to counteract the effect by tilting the carriages towards the inside of the curve, thus compensating the g-force.
• There can be various mechanisms to neutralise the tilt force and achieve a balance. 
• It further explains how motion sickness can be essentially eliminated by adjusting the timing of when the cars tilt.

Fact:

• Such locomotives operate in the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, China, Germany and Romania.

Question: 

Indian Railways is planning to introduce trains with tilting technology till which of the following years?

A. 2026

B. 2028

C. 2030

D. 2032

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Defence

Indian Navy Launches New Survey Vessel ‘Ikshak’

• The Indian Navy launched ‘Ikshak’, the third of the four survey vessels (Large) project, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and Larson and Toubro (L&T) recently at Kattupalli, Chennai.
• The contract for building four SVL ships was signed between MoD and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata on 30th October, 2018 for a total cost of ₹2435 Cr. 

About the Ship:

• The ship has been named ‘Ikshak’ which means ‘Guide’. 
• The ship has been named to signify the contribution of the survey ships towards facilitating a safe passage for mariners at sea.   
• The Survey Vessel (Large) ships are 110 m long, and 16 m wide with a deep displacement of 3400 tonnes and a complement of 231 personnel.
• The ship’s propulsion system consists of two main engines with twin shafts, each capable of a maximum speed of 18 knots and a cruise speed of 14 knots.

GRSE-Class Survey Vessels:

• The GRSE-class survey vessels are a series of four survey vessels planned to be built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata for the Indian Navy. 
• The keel of the first ship Sandhayak, named after its predecessor Sandhayak, was laid down on 8th November, 2019 and launched on 5th December, 2021. It is expected to be commissioned by 2023.
• The second vessel of the class, Nirdeshak, was laid on 1st December, 2020 and was subsequently launched on 26th May, 2022.

Features:

• With the capability to carry four Survey Motor Boats and an integral helicopter, the primary role of the ships would be to undertake full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of ports and navigational channels. 
• The ships would also be deployed for collecting oceanographic and geophysical data for defence as well as civil applications. 
• In their secondary role, the ships are capable of providing limited defence, besides serving as hospital ships during emergencies.

Question:

The Indian Navy launched ‘Ikshak’, the third of the four ships, built by GRSE and L&T recently at Kattupalli, Chennai, is basically which type of ship?

A. Destroyer Ships 

B. Frigate

C. Survey ships

D. Corvette

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Defence

India – Malaysia Joint Military Exercise “Harimau Shakti -2022”

• India – Malaysia joint military Exercise “Harimau Shakti -2022” commenced at Pulai, Kluang, Malaysia recently and will culminate on 12th December 22. 
• Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI is an annual training event between the Indian and Malaysian Army which has been conducted since 2012.

Details:

• Combat-experienced troops of the GARHWAL RIFLES Regiment of the Indian Army and the Royal Malay Regiment of the Malaysian Army are participating in the exercise this year to share experiences gained during operations in order to enhance interoperability in the planning and execution of various operations in jungle terrain. 
• The scope of this exercise involves a Command Planning Exercise (CPX) at the Battalion level and Company-level Field Training Exercise (FTX) on sub-conventional operations in jungle terrain.

Rationale:

• “Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI” will enhance the level of defence cooperation between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army, which in turn will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations.

What Is Included in the Exercise:

• The joint exercise schedule includes establishing a joint command post and joint surveillance centre, sharing expertise in the employment of aerial assets, technical demonstrations, casualty management and evacuation, apart from planning logistics at the Battalion level.
• Joint field training exercises, joint combat discussions and demonstrations will culminate with a two-day validation exercise, where the special emphasis will be on enhancing tactical skills and interoperability between the forces and promoting Army-to-Army relations.
• “Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI” will enhance the level of defence cooperation between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army, which in turn will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations.

Question: 

Joint military Exercise “Harimau Shakti -2022” is recently being conducted between the army of India and which of the following countries?

A. Malaysia

B. Mongolia

C. Indonesia

D. Bangladesh

Answer: A 

Current Affairs: Arts and Entertainment

53rd International Film Festival of India-2022, Winners List

• The 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) held its coveted award ceremony on the festival’s closing day on Monday, 28th November 2022, in Goa. 
• While Spanish coming-of-age drama “I Have Electric Dreams” won the Golden Peacock award, Vahid Mobasheri and Daniela Marin Navarro took home the top acting honours.

What Is the International Film Festival of India (IFFI)?

• The International Film Festival of India (IFFI), founded in 1952, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia 
• Location: Goa
• Founded: 24 January 1952
• Hosted by: Government of Goa, Directorate of Film Festivals
• Awards in IFFI: 

• Golden Peacock
• Best Film
• Silver Peacock
• Best Director
• Best Actor (Male)
• Best Actor (Female)
• Special Jury Award
• Lifetime Achievement
• Indian Personality of the Year

Winner list the 53rd IFFI-2022:

• Best Film – I Have Electric Dreams (Spanish Film)
• Best Actor (Male) – Vahid Mobasheri, No End
• Best Actor (Female) – Daniela Marin Navarro, I Have Electric Dreams
• Best Director – Nader Saeivar, No End
• 53-Hour Challenge for 75 creative minds: “Dear Diary” by team purple
• DI award at the Film Bazaar section: Bangladesh feature film “Agantuk”
• Best Debut Feature Film of a Director – Asimina Proedrou’s Behind The Haystacks
• Special Jury Award – Lav Diaz, When The Waves Are Gone
• Special Mention to a Debut Feature Film of a Director – Praveen Kandregula’s Cinema Bandi
• ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal – Payam Eskandar’s Narges
• Indian Film Personality of the Year – Chiranjeevi

Question: 

Who among the following recently won the Indian Film Personality of the Year at the 53rd International Film Festival of India-2022?

A. Rajnikant

B. Chiranjeevi

C. Amitabh Bacchan

D. Nagarjun

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Arts and Entertainment

World’s First Science-Sanskrit Film to Depict ‘Mangalyaan’ Saga

• Yaanam is a non-feature film screened under the Indian Panorama section at the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival in Goa. 
• It is based on the autobiographical book “My Odyssey: Memoirs of the Man Behind the Mangalyaan Mission” by former space chairman Padma Bhushan Dr K. Radhakrishnan.

About Yaanam Movie:

• Yaanam movie portrays India’s dream project Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan). 
• It is the first science documentary in the Sanskrit language in the history of world cinema. 
• It shows the capability and expertise of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the stellar contribution of space scientists and the importance of the Sanskrit language showing how India overcame an arduous interplanetary journey for a monumental victory in the first attempt itself.
• The producer of the film is AV Anoop.
• The movie was shot in different locations in four southern states – Vikram Sarabhai Space Center in Kerala, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, ISRO Headquarters in Karnataka and the oldest observatory in Tamil Nadu. 

Question: 

Who wrote “My Odyssey: Memoirs of the Man Behind the Mangalyaan Mission”, the inspiration for “Yaanam”, the first science documentary movie ever made in Sanskrit?

A. G. Madhavan Nair

B. K. Kasturirangan

C. K. Radhakrishnan

D. S. Somanath

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Sports

Canada Wins Maiden Davis Cup Title

• Canada recently won its first Davis Cup title after Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Australia’s Alex de Minaur by 6-3, 6-4 in the second match of the finals. Felix Auger-Aliassime, who is world number six, had to guard against three break points in the first set but also found his rhythm in the eighth game.

What Is the Davis Cup?

• The Davis Cup, the tennis equivalent of the football World Cup, was named after American collegian Dwight Filley Davis, who came up with the idea to start a challenging tennis match between the USA and Great Britain.
• It is the premier international team event in men’s tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested annually between teams from competing countries in a knock-out format.
• Founder: Dwight F. Davis
• Founded: 1900
• Number of teams: 18 (World Group)
• Most recent champion(s): Canada; (1st title)
• Most titles: United States; (32 titles)

Important Fact about Davis Cup:

• Davis Cup 2022 Venue: Malaga city, USA
• The 2022 Davis Cup is the 110th edition of the Davis Cup
• Rakuten sponsored Davis Cup 2022
• The Russian Tennis Federation was the defending champion
• Russia and Belarus were eliminated from competing in international events due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

Question: 

Which of the following countries recently won the famous Davis Cup?

A. Australia

B. Canada

C. USA

D. Russia

Answer: B

Current Affairs: National

Egypt President to Be Chief Guest at Republic Day Celebrations-2023

• India has invited Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi as the chief guest on Republic Day 2023.
• This would be the first time an Egyptian president would be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.
• This is the first time the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt will be the Chief Guest on Republic Day.
• Egypt is also one of the nine guest countries at the G20 summit under India’s presidency in 2023.

Fact:

• The 68-year-old general-turned-politician is set to be the first Egyptian leader to be hosted by India for the Republic Day celebrations though the two countries have enjoyed close relations in past decades, especially as founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961.

India-Egypt Corporation:

• Defence and security cooperation has emerged as a key pillar of India-Egypt relations in the past few years, and defence minister Rajnath Singh too met Sisi when he visited Cairo during 19-20 September.
• The two sides also agreed to enhance joint exercises and exchanges of military personnel for training, especially in counter-insurgency.
• Egypt is reportedly eyeing India’s home-grown light combat aircraft Tejas for a plan to acquire some 70 jet fighters.

Economy Figures:

• Egypt has traditionally been one of India’s most important trading partners in Africa, and India was Egypt’s eighth-largest trading partner in 2020-21.
• Bilateral trade peaked at $5.45 billion in 2012-13 before declining to $3.23 billion in 2016-17 due to the general economic slowdown and decline in oil prices. 
• Trade witnessed positive growth again from 2017-18 to reach $4.15 billion during 2020-21.

Question:

President of which country has recently been announced as the chief guest for the 2023 Republic Day Celebrations?

A. Brazil

B. Egypt

C. France

D. USA

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

India’s First Integrated Rocket Facility

• Telangana’s IT and Industries Minister K T Rama Rao recently stated that the state will have the country’s first integrated rocket design, manufacturing and testing facility in Hyderabad, which will be built by Skyroot Aerospace.
• The Minister participated as Guest of Honour at an event held at T-Hub to commemorate Skyroot Aerospace’s successful launch of the Vikram-S rocket. On 18 November, the Hyderabad-based startup, incubated at T-Hub, launched India’s first private rocket.

About Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited:

• Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited is an Indian private aerospace manufacturer and commercial launch service provider headquartered in Hyderabad. The company was founded by former engineers and scientists from ISRO.
• Founders: Pawan Kumar Chandana, Naga Bharath Daka
• Founded: 12 June 2018
• Skyroot Aerospace became the first privately held company in India after the space sector was opened for private players by the Union government in 2020
• The six-metre-tall launch vehicle is one of the world’s first all-composite rockets with 3-D printed solid thrusters for spin stability
• Skyroot Aerospace wants to build high-technology, low-cost, reliable launch vehicles

India in Global Space Economy:

• The global space economy is valued at just over $450 billion, of which India’s share is roughly two per cent. The key to increasing India’s contribution to the global space output lies with the private sector. 
• That is why the government of India opened the space sector to private enterprises and made room for sharing ISRO know-how and infrastructure with private players.
• A little over two years later, a private player is set for take-off using their own rocket from ISRO’s launch base.
• In 2021, Skyroot formally signed up with ISRO. By entering into an agreement with the Department of Space on 2 February, it secured access to ISRO’s facilities and technical expertise as they went about developing their launch vehicles.
• Over a year later, in June 2022, the Hyderabad-based startup signed an agreement (MoU) with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), which enabled the launch of its rockets from the ISRO spaceport.

Question: 

Which of the following states/UT will build India’s First Integrated Rocket Facility?

A. Telangana

B. Karnataka

C. Tamil Nadu

D. Kerala

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

National Awards for e-Governance

• e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (eGramSwaraj and AuditOnline) of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has won the GOLD AWARD under the category “Excellence in Government Process Re-engineering for Digital Transformation” of the National Awards for e-Governance. 
• The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, in association with the UT Government of Jammu and Kashmir, recently organised the 25th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) on 26th – 27th November 2022 in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. 

Theme: 

• The theme of this Conference was “Bringing Citizens, Industry and Government closer”.

Why Have They Been Awarded?

• The award is a recognition of the excellent and exemplary work done by Team eGovernance and supported by Team NIC-MoPR. 
• Various stakeholders, especially Panchayati Raj Institutions, which adopted e-Panchayat applications very fast, have helped in making the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project successful by strengthening the Panchayati Raj System and making it effective, transparent and efficient.

About National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG):

• The National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) have been presented under five (5) categories of the NAeG Scheme – 2022 to 18 e-Governance initiatives at Central, State and District levels, Academic and Research Institutions and Public Sector Undertaking, which includes nine (9) Gold and nine (9) Silver Awards.
• Earlier awards were given in nine categories. The award scheme has been revised, and new categories for National Awards are

• Excellence in Government Process Re-engineering for Digital Transformation.
• Excellence in providing Citizen-centric Delivery.
• Excellence in District level Initiative in e-Governance (i) North-East States + Hilly States (ii) UTs (including Delhi) (iii) Other States.
• Outstanding research on Citizen Centric Services by Academic/Research Institutions.
• Innovative Use of ICT in e-Governance solutions by Startups [Startup as defined by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Government of India]
• Excellence in Adopting Emerging Technologies.

What Is eGramSwaraj:

• To strengthen e-Governance in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across the country, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has launched eGramSwaraj, a user-friendly web-based portal. eGramSwaraj aims to bring better transparency in decentralised planning, progress reporting and work-based accounting.

Question:

e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (eGramSwaraj and AuditOnline) of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has won the GOLD AWARD in the National Awards for e-Governance announced recently in which of the following categories?

A. Excellence in Government Process Re-engineering for Digital Transformation

B. Excellence in providing Citizen-centric Delivery

C. Excellence in District level Initiative in e-Governance

D. Excellence in Adopting Emerging Technologies

Answer: A

Current Affairs: National

Aero India 2023

• Aero India 2023 will be held from 13-17 February 2023 at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, the Ministry of Defence announced recently. Air Force Station Yelahanka has been hosting the show since 1996.

About Aero India 2023:

• Asia’s biggest airshow, Aero India 2023, will have exhibitors – both Indian and foreign. 
• It will also facilitate virtual exhibitions. 
• The biennial show will be held for over five days. In 2021, the show was reduced to a three-day affair due to the Covid pandemic.

Details:

• The first three days of the air show are reserved for business visitors, and the last two days are open to the general public. 
• According to reports, Bengaluru-based defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be organising the event. 
• In the last edition, delegations from 43 countries, along with 530 companies, participated.

Who Is Organising:

• The Ministry of Defence, the Indian Air Force, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Department of Space, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other such organisations join hands to organise the Aero India show, making it the largest air show in Asia.

Fact: 

• The 14th Aero India is expected to be bigger and better than the previous editions. The first edition of Aero India was held in 1996. 
• Since then, the event has grown over the years, earned a great reputation, and grabbed eyeballs from across the world. It has also seen increased participation from both exhibitors and the public.

Question: 

Asia’s biggest airshow, Aero India 2023, will be organised in which of the following cities?

A. Bikaner

B. Bengaluru

C. Agra

D. Shimla

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology

Indian Scientists Receive International Awards on Behalf of the Snow Leopard Conservation Alliance

• Indian snow leopard experts Charudutt Mishra and Koustubh Sharma, along with Chyngyz Kochorov of Kyrgyzstan, received the Madrid-based BBVA Foundation’s Worldwide Biodiversity Conservation Award recently on behalf of a 12-nation intergovernmental alliance that they helped create and manage.
• The three received the award on behalf of The Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) at the headquarters of the BBVA Foundation in Madrid.

What Is the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme?

• GSLEP was created in 2013 when officials, politicians and conservationists arrived at a common conservation strategy enshrined in the Bishkek Declaration (2013) to cooperate in the conservation of this species and its habitat.
• It seeks to address high-mountain development issues using the conservation of the charismatic and endangered snow leopard as a flagship.
• The GSLEP is a range-wide effort that unites a range of country governments, non-governmental and intergovernmental organisations, local communities, and the private sector around a shared vision to conserve snow leopards and their valuable high-mountain ecosystems
• The GSLEP is a high-level inter-governmental alliance of all the 12 snow leopard range countries.
• The snow leopard countries are India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Mongolia, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• It majorly focuses on the need for awareness and understanding of the value of Snow Leopard for the ecosystem.
• The GSLEP Programme (2019) was organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in New Delhi.
• The Steering Committee meetings of GSLEP are currently chaired by Nepal and co-chaired by Kyrgyzstan.

India: First Snow Leopard Survey

• The inaugural session of the 4th steering committee meeting of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme also marked the launch of the First National Protocol on Snow Leopard Population Assessment to mark the occasion of International Snow Leopard Day (23rd October).
• The first National Snow Leopard Survey of the nation has been developed by scientific experts in association with the Snow Leopard states/UTs, namely, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• The use of technology such as camera traps and scientific surveys will help to estimate the numbers.

About Snow Leopard:

• The snow leopard inhabits the higher Himalayan and trans-Himalayan landscape in the five states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• This area contributes to about five per cent (5%) of the global snow leopard range.
• Snow leopards are categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ by IUCN and in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
• They are listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), revealing the need for the highest conservation status for the species, both globally and in India.

Question: 

Consider the following statements: 

1. Snow leopards are categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ by IUCN and in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972
2. Indian snow leopard experts Charudutt Mishra and Koustubh Sharma recently received international awards on behalf of the snow leopard conservation alliance
3. Snow leopards are not found in Afghanistan 

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

A. Only 1 and 2

B. Only 1 and 3

C. Only 2 and 3

D. All are correct

Answer: A

Also, check:

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