Daily GK Update- 30th Nov, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Kashi Tamil Sangamam Phase 2 to be held from December 17 to 30, 2023: The second phase of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam programme will be held from the 17th to the 30th of next month. In this regard, the registration portal was launched by IIT Madras yesterday. The programme aims to take forward the objective of reviving the living bonds between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu by facilitating people to connect across different walks of life.

 

2. President inaugurates national conference on integration of Yoga in SES: President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a national conference on integration of Yoga in School Education System organized by Kaivalyadhama as part of its centenary year celebrations at Lonavala in Maharashtra. She said that Yoga is an invaluable gift of India to the world community.  Kaivalyadhama is the first Yoga institute to proactively conduct scientific research to demonstrate the benefits and uses of Yoga.

 

3. Railways to upgrade anti-collision tech Kavach to LTE: The Ministry of Railways looks to upgrade to 4G/5G (LTE-based) its indigenous anti-collision system Kavach and expedite its implementation. Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. 

If the driver fails to do so, and prevents the collision between two locomotives equipped with functional Kavach systems. Kavach is already in operation across more than 1,465 route kilometres (rkm) with work ongoing for over 3,000 rkm.

 

4. Nitin Gadkari Inaugurates ‘Classic Imperial’ Luxury Cruise In Kerala: Nitin Gadkari virtually inaugurated 'Classic Imperial,' a luxury cruise vessel, at the Neo classic Boat Jetty on Marine Drive in Kochi to promote cruise tourism in the region. This event was a significant milestone in the efforts to promote cruise tourism in the region.  The Union Minister commended the commissioning of the vessel, emphasizing the display of professional excellence and entrepreneurial skills.

 

Govt extends Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana for another five years: The Government has extended the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) for another five years from 1st of January 2024. Under the scheme, five kg of free food grains are being provided per month to over 81 crores poor in the country and Antyodaya households get 35 kg of free food grains per month. The free food grains will concurrently ensure uniform implementation of portability under One Nation One Ration Card across the country.

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Narendra Modi to embark on two-day visit to Dubai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day visit to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend the World Climate Action Summit. The aim of the summit would be to focus on reducing emissions and supporting developing countries in dealing with extreme weather events.  The Summit is the High-Level Segment of the 28th Conference of Parties, COP-28 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC.

 

2. World Bank funded National Agricultural Higher Education Project New Delhi: The World Bank funded National Agricultural Higher Education Project and Indian Agricultural Research Project New Delhi, Modern Agricultural Science Technology Center for Climate Adapted Agriculture and Water Management has been launched at MPAU, in Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra. The faculty working in Mahatma Phule Agricultural University will be trained in the use of drones, robots, IOT, artificial intelligence, geographic systems, remote sensing, earth engines, etc.

 

3. India to build 10,000 houses in Sri Lanka's tea plantation areas: India will build 10,000 more houses in the plantation areas of Sri Lanka in an extension of its housing project in the country.

It may be recalled that the overall commitment of the Government of India under the Indian Housing Project currently stands at 60,000 houses.  While 46,000 houses were completed in Northern and Eastern Provinces in the first two phases, the third phase for the construction of 4,000 houses in plantation areas is nearing completion. Historic Milestone: Nepal Officially Registers First Same-Sex Marriage: Five months after the landmark decision by Nepal’s Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage, the country has officially registered its first case. This move positions Nepal as the first South Asian country to recognize and formalize same-sex marriages. The groundbreaking event ..

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Joint Military Exercise ‘Austrahind’ is being organized in Australia: Indian and Australian armed forces conducted tactical exercises in multi-domain operations in urban and semi-urban terrain during the Joint Military Exercise AustraHind 2023 in Australia. The exercise is being conducted in Western Australia’s Perth from November 22 to December 6. The aim of the exercise is to foster collaborative partnership and share best practices between the two nations.

 

2. Indian Navy Receives Third ACTCM Barge: The Indian Navy celebrated a significant achievement on November 30, 2023, with the delivery of the Third Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, LSAM 17 (Yard 127). The ceremony was graced by the presence of Shri Shankar Mukharjee, INAS, ..

 

SPORTS

 

1. Uganda qualifies for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024: Uganda caused a major upset as it beat Zimbabwe to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, becoming only the fifth African nation to feature in the history of the competition. This will be Uganda’s first-ever appearance in an ICC World Cup event.  With five wins from their six games, Uganda has ensured a top-two finish in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier and booked it's tickets for the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Unveiling the Swift Spin of Sagittarius A: At the heart of our galaxy lies Sagittarius A*, a colossal black hole that has captivated astronomers for years. A recent study, utilizing NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, delves into the mysteries of this black hole, revealing not only its rapid ..

 

AWARDS AND HONORS

 

1. Abdullahi Mire wins 2023 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award: Abdullahi Mire has been named the 2023 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award Global Laureate for his work championing the right to education for displaced children. Abdullahi Mire born in Somalia, Mire grew up in the Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya.  He has put over 100,000 books in the hands of displaced children and youth in the country.  Award will be presented  at a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, on December 13, 2023.