NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Pankaj Tripathi named as 'UPI Safety Ambassador': The National Payments Corporation of India has announced
the appointment of actor Pankaj Tripathi as its 'UPI Safety Ambassador.'
Aim: To strengthen safety awareness on digital payment platforms This move
comes in the wake of ongoing discussions regarding the safety and security of
digital payment platforms, particularly United Payments Interface. NPCI's
initiatives such as UPI, RuPay, and IMPS, reach the farthest corners of
India, including cities, and villages.
2. IBM And AWS Launched An Innovation Lab In Bengalur: IT major IBM and Amazon Web
Services announced an expansion of their services to facilitate mutual clients
operations and derive value from generative artificial intelligence (AI). As
part of this, IBM launched the Innovation Lab, in collaboration with AWS, at
the IBM Client Experience Center in Bengaluru. Objective: To showcase the
full potential of the joint value proposition that IBM and AWS offer to our
clients from across the world.
3. Hermes 900 Starliner drones set to be inducted into
Indian Army: The induction of the Heron
Mark-2 drones along with the planned induction of the Hermes-900 drones is set
to boost the surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of the Indian
Army. Aim: To boost the reconnaissance and surveillance capability of the
Indian Army also their teaming with combat helicopters, which will prove to be
a game changer in the third dimension India is also expected to receive 31
General Atomics MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones for the Army and IAF.
4. Government launches ‘Bharat Atta’ Initiative for
affordable wheat flour: The Central government has launched
a new wheat flour scheme called ‘Bharat Atta’ at a subsidized price
of Rs 27.50 per kg. The scheme is aimed at providing affordable wheat
flour to the poor and vulnerable sections of the society. Bharat Atta is a
fortified wheat flour that is made with a blend of wheat, rice, and pulses. It
is a good source of protein, iron, and other essential nutrients. The scheme
will be implemented through the Public Distribution System (PDS), ensuring easy
access to affordable wheat flour for the target population. To ensure
widespread availability, Bharat Atta will be sold through cooperatives NAFED,
NCCF, and Kendriya Bhandar. These agencies will utilize their extensive network
of 800 mobile vans and 2,000-odd outlets spread across the country to
effectively distribute the subsidized wheat flour.
5. 9 November – Legal Services Day: Legal Services Day is observed every
year on 9 November. The day holds historical importance as it marks the
anniversary of the enactment of the Legal Services Authorities Act in 1995. This
legislation paved the way for legal protection and provisions for free legal
services to the people belonging to marginalised and vulnerable sections. The
day is also aimed at spreading legal awareness among all. The Legal Services
Authorities Act was passed on November 9, 1995, with a vision to offer legal
aid to poor and marginalised people. This landmark legislation led to the
establishment of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on December 5,
1995. Since then, National Legal Services Day is celebrated annually. The day
focuses on creating awareness about the availability of free legal aid and
alternative dispute resolution methods.
6. Uttarakhand celebrates 23rd Foundation Day: Uttarakhand has celebrated its 23rd
Foundation Day on November 9. It was on this day in 2000, that Uttarakhand
was created by carving out from Uttar Pradesh. On this occasion, various
programs are being organized in different parts of the state. The main program
was organized at Police Line in Dehradun, where President Droupadi Murmu
reviewed and took a salute of the Uttarakhand Police parade.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Kozhikode and Gwalior Join UNESCO Creative Cities
Network: Kozhikode in Kerala and Gwalior in Madhya
Pradesh have made it to the prestigious creative cities list
of UNESCO for contributions in the fields of literature and music
respectively. On World Cities Day, 55 cities join the UNESCO Creative Cities
Network (UCCN). New cities were acknowledged for their strong commitment to
harnessing culture and creativity as part of their development strategies, and
displaying innovative practices in human-centred urban planning
2. WHO Confirms India’s Achievement In Decreasing TB
Incidents: The Global
Tuberculosis Report 2023, issued by the WHO offered a mixed bag
for India. While India improved case detection for TB and was able to cover the
losses made during the pandemic in this regard, it missed major
milestones. India, incidentally, accounts for the highest TB burden
across the world contributing 27% of all the TB cases followed
by Indonesia (10%) and China (7.1%). The current report of 2023
gives figures on various indicators of TB for 2022.
3. India and Netherlands sign a MoI to cooperate on
medical product regulation : India and Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) to
cooperate on medical product regulation and enhance the quality of medical
products and healthcare services for both countries at Hague,
Netherlands. An Indian delegation led by Shri Khuba is in Netherlands to
participate in the second World Local Production Forum (WLPF) meeting being
held in The Hague. Aim: To increase access to medicines and other health
technologies.
4. India and Nepal Border Forces Join Hands to Combat
Crime: Border forces of India and
Nepal have expressed their commitment to strengthen bilateral security efforts
by focussing on curbing trans-border crimes, smuggling of arms and ammunition,
and combating human trafficking. Aim: To facilitate the movement of
citizens from both nations, particularly during festive seasons. The
decision was taken in the seventh annual Coordination Meeting between Sashastra
Seema Bal of India and Armed Police Force of Nepal in New Delhi.
5. 9 November 2023 – World Usability Day: World Usability Day or Make Things Easier Day is celebrated annually
on the second Thursday in November. This year celebrated on 9
November.
Objective
– To promote the values of usability, usability engineering, user-centered
design, universal usability, and every user’s obligation to demand better
things. Theme 2023 – Collaboration and Cooperation The User Experience
Professional Association established World Usability Day in November 2005. The
association was founded in 1991, with a membership of 50, and has since grown
to serve a community of nearly 2,400 professionals around the world by
promoting user experience (UX) concepts and techniques through annual
international conferences, the “Journal of Usability Studies” (JUS), the “User
Experience Magazine,” and 59 local chapters in 30 countries.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. R Vaishali and Vidit Gujrathi win FIDE Grand Swiss
Women's and Open titles: In Chess, R
Vaishali defeated Mongolia’s Batkhuyag Munguntuul to
win FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2023 at the Isle of Man in UK. Vidit
Gujrathi beat Alexandr Predke of Serbia to record his seventh victory in
the event and take the top spot in open section. Vaishali became the
first Indian to win the Grand Swiss and will have her task cut out in the
Candidates alongside India’s first woman Grandmaster - Koneru Humpy.
2. Meg Lanning Announces Retirement From International
Cricket: Australian Women's captain
Meg Lanning has announced her retirement from international cricket. Meg
Lanning quit international cricket after winning seven World Cup titles during
a 241-match career. Lanning, with two ICC Women's Cricket World Cup wins and
five ICC Women's T20 World Cup victories to her name, retires from cricket at
31. She has scored over 8,000 runs in all formats for her nation. She won
her first ICC trophy at the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2012.
3. Novak Djokovic beats Grigor Dimitrov to win 7th Paris
Masters title: Top-ranked Novak Djokovic won a
record-extending seventh title at the Paris Masters with a 6-4, 6-3 win
over Grigor Dimitrov in the final. Djokovic, who had been pushed to three sets
in his three previous matches, enjoyed a comfortable afternoon under the roof
of the Palais Omnisports. The 36-year-old surpassed his own record as the
tournament’s oldest champion, notching his 40th Masters 1000 title and extending
his winning streak to 18 matches.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. UBS raises India’s GDP Forecast to 6.3% for FY24: UBS has upped India’s GDP growth forecast by 10 basis points
(100 basis points mean 1 percentage point) to 6.3 percent. Also, it has
increased India’s FY25 GDP growth forecast upwards by 20 basis points to 6.2
per cent. However, it feels that macro risks and next year’s general poll will
be key factors to watch. It can be noted that the Reserve Bank has estimated
growth to come at 6.5 percent for FY24, while Governor Shaktikanta Das recently
said that the number for the July-September 2023 period will surprise on the
upside.
2. Pankaj Malhotra takes over as Member, Finance at AAI: Executive Director of Central Electronics Limited
(CEL), Pankaj Malhotra has taken over the charge of the post
of Member (Finance) at the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Prior to
this appointment, Pankaj Malhotra was serving as Executive Director (Finance)
at Central Electronics Limited, a government of India enterprise under the
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science
and Technology. Member (Finance) of AAI, Pankaj Malhotra, will be in charge of
finance, accounts, and the overall financial operation of the organization. He
will also be responsible for evolving and formulating policies and strategies
related to the entire gamut of financial operations, including resource
mobilization and statutory compliances.
OBITUARIES
1. Former Karnataka Law minister D. B. Chandregowda passed away: Veteran politician and former minister D B Chandre Gowda, who vacated his Lok Sabha seat for former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that allowed her to stage a political comeback post Emergency in 1978, passed away at the age of 87. Gowda, who had represented all the four Houses — legislative assembly, council, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, was also part of various political parties such as — Praja Socialist Party, Karnataka Kranti Ranga, Janata Party, Janata Dal, Congress and BJP. He was born at Daradahalli of Mudigere Taluk, Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka on 26 August 1936 to D. A. Byre Gowda and Puttamma.
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