NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Fourth G20 Infrastructure Working Group meeting held
in MP: Under India’s G20 presidency, the fourth
International Infrastructure Working Group meeting was organized in Maharaja
Chhatrasal Convention Center, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. More than 50 delegates
participated in this two-day meeting. The delegates discussed various aspects
of infrastructure investments, including developing infrastructure as an asset
class, promoting quality urban infrastructure, Infratech, and identifying
innovative instruments for mobilizing financial resources for investment
towards resilient, sustainable, and inclusive urban infrastructure. The meeting
is being hosted and chaired by the Ministry of Finance with Australia and
Brazil as co-chairs.
2. Government Unveils AI Chatbot for PM-Kisan Scheme: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’
Welfare has launched an AI chatbot — the first of its kind to be
integrated with a major flagship scheme of the central government — for
the PM-KISAN scheme. The AI chatbot was launched by Kailash Choudhary, Minister
of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, in presence of Agriculture
Secretary Manoj Ahuja and Additional Agriculture Secretary Pramod Meherda. The
AI Chatbot introduced with the PM-KISAN scheme serves as a comprehensive guide
for beneficiaries, offering timely and accurate responses to their inquiries
related to the scheme. This marks the first instance of an AI Chatbot
integration with a major flagship scheme of the Union Government. Developed and
enhanced with the support of EK step Foundation and Bhashini, the Chatbot aims
to empower farmers with a user-friendly and accessible platform.
3. ECI ropes in Chacha Chaudhary & Sabu to educate
young voters: “Chacha Chaudhary aur
Chunavi Dangal” comic book has been launched by the Election Commission of
India (ECI) & Pran Comics to inspire youth to enroll and participate
in the festival of democracy. Chacha Chaudhary, Sabu, Raaka, Dhamaka Singh,
Billoo & other comic characters will now create awareness amongst
children about elections The characters brought to life by the renowned
Cartoonist late Pran Kumar Sharma.
4. Adani Group bags contract for smart meter installation
in Maharashtra: The Adani
Group has been awarded two contracts worth Rs 13,888 crore by
the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to
install smart meters. A total of six tenders were awarded by the Maharashtra
State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) to install smart meters, of
which two have been bagged by the Adani Group. The diversified group has a
sizeable presence in the power sector and had recently won a Rs 1,000 crore
contract to install smart meters in the area serviced by BEST Undertaking in
Mumbai. The two zones awarded to Adani include Bhandup, Kalyan, and Konkan
having 63.44 lakh meters, and Baramati and Pune having 52.45 lakh meters, it
said. The group’s transmission arm Adani Energy Solutions, which was earlier
known as Adani Transmission, is active in the smart meter segment. Adani Group
will emerge as the largest smart meter supplier in the country, commanding a 30
percent share of the market. It has already won contracts to install such
meters in four to five states.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Singapore – India annual Naval Maritime Bilateral
Exercise started: The 30th edition of the Singapore-India
Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) has commenced, marking another
milestone in the strong and enduring partnership between the Indian Navy
and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). This annual naval exercise, which
began in 1994, stands as a testament to the deep-rooted maritime cooperation
between the two nations. Indian Naval Ships Ranvijay and Kavaratti, alongside
the submarine INS Sindhukesari, have arrived in Singapore to participate in
SIMBEX-2023. The exercise also sees the inclusion of the Long-Range Maritime
Patrol Aircraft P8I. The SIMBEX enhances interoperability and mutual
understanding between two navies. The Exercise is conducted in two phases. The
Harbour Phase includes wide range of professional interactions, cross-deck
visits, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges and sports fixtures. The Sea phase of
SIMBEX includes exercises of air- defence, gunnery firing, anti-submarine and
other maritime operations.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. India won two silver; Women's trio in 10m air rifle
and Men's double Rowing: In Asian Games 2023, The
Indian women's 10m air rifle team comprising Mehuli Ghosh,
Ramita and Ashi Chouksey bagged silver medal. China claimed
the gold medal in women's 10m air rifle team In Rowing, India
secured silver medal in the lightweight men's double sculls
event. Arjun Lal jat and Arvind singh representing India finished
second In shooting, India grabbed its first medal.
2. Antim Panghal wins bronze medal at World
Championships: Young Indian wrestler Antim Panghal won
a bronze medal in the women’s 53 kg category at the World Championships in
Belgrade, Serbia. Panghal’s victory also secured a quota for India in the 2024
Paris Olympics. In the bronze medal match, Panghal defeated two-time European
champion Emma Jonna Denise Malmgren by a score of 16-6, India’s first medal in
the ongoing edition of the World Championships. Antim became the first Indian
wrestler male or female to qualify for the 2024 Paris Games. She is only the
sixth Indian woman to win a bronze medal at the World Championship.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Indian banker first to scale world’s 8th highest peak
this season: A 32-year-old Indian banker has
successfully scaled Mt Manaslu in Nepal, achieving the feat of being the
first Indian climber to summit the world’s eighth-highest mountain peak in this
season. Sunil Kumar, who hails from Haryana, reached the peak of Mt Manaslu
which stands at 8,163 metres above sea level along with another
Nepalese climber and two mountain guides. Kumar climbed the mountain situated
on the northern side of central Nepal in Gorkha district.
2. African Union to launch own credit ratings agency: The African Union plans to launch a new African credit rating agency next year in response to its concerns about what it views as unfair ratings given to African countries. The agency will generate its own evaluation of lending risks associated with African countries. It will operate within the continent, self-funding its operations, and aims to provide additional context for investors when making decisions about purchasing African bonds or extending private loans to countries. The African Union and its member nations’ leaders assert that the “big three” ratings agencies – Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P Global Ratings – do not fairly assess the lending risks associated with African countries. They also allege that these agencies are quicker to downgrade African countries, especially during crises such as the global health crisis. A study by the UN earlier had shown that subjective biases in credit ratings had cost African countries a combined US$74.5 billion. This was through funding opportunities lost and excess interest paid on public debt.
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