NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Shiv Nadar India’s most generous philanthropist, Nikhil Kamath youngest: Shiv Nadar, the founder of HCL Technologies, has retained his position as India’s most generous philanthropist for the third time in five years.The 79-year-old tech magnate donated Rs 2,153 crore in the financial year 2024 — translating to Rs 5.9 crore every single day, according to the EdelGive-Hurun India Philanthropy List 2024.Nadar’s philanthropic work is primarily channeled through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, with a strong emphasis on education and technology-driven initiatives.Rohini Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys and wife of Nandan Nilekani, took the lead as the most generous woman on the list with an annual donation of Rs 154 crore.The EdelGive-Hurun India Philanthropy List 2024 has revealed a remarkable surge in charitable donations across the country, with a collective donation of Rs 8,783 crore by 203 philanthropists, marking an impressive 55% increase in donations compared to two years ago.
2. 2024 Became the Hottest Year Ever Recorded: Recent analysis shows that 2024 could break global temperature records for the second consecutive year. The C3S evaluated data from the first ten months of 2024. October was recorded at 1.65°C above preindustrial levels. This marks the 15th month in the last 16 where temperatures have exceeded the critical 1.5°C threshold. The average global temperature anomaly for 2024 has reached unprecedented levels. The WMO utilises various datasets to compile temperature records. These include data from NOAA, NASA, the UK Met Office, and other reputable sources. The datasets incorporate observational data and weather models. This combination allows for a comprehensive overview of global temperatures, including areas lacking observational sites.
3. Ladki Bahin Yojana Scheme: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently addressed a rally in Nashik. He brought into light the Mahayuti government’s ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’. This scheme aims to empower underprivileged women in Maharashtra. Modi’s remarks came amid the upcoming assembly elections on November 20. His speech focused on women’s issues, farmer welfare, and infrastructure development. The Prime Minister emphasized his government’s dedication to women’s welfare. He mentioned that three crore women have become ‘Lakhpati Didi’ through self-help groups. These women earn an annual income of Rs 1 lakh or more. Modi also brought into light housing initiatives under the PM Awas Yojana, which are allocated in women’s names.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Australia proposes ban on social media for children under 16: The Australian government will legislate for a ban on social media for children under 16.Australia is trialing an age-verification system to assist in blocking children from accessing social media platforms, as part of a range of measures that include some of the toughest controls imposed by any country to date.A number of countries have already vowed to curb social media use by children through legislation, though Australia’s policy is one of the most stringent.No jurisdiction so far has tried using age verification methods like biometrics or government identification to enforce a social media age cut-off, two of the methods being trialed.Australia’s other world-first proposals are the highest age limit set by any country, no exemption for parental consent and no exemption for pre-existing accounts.
2. 10 November – World Science Day for Peace and Development: World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated annually on November 10, serves as a significant reminder of the vital role that science plays in society and its contribution to global peace and sustainable development.Organized by UNESCO since 2001, this day emphasizes the importance of connecting science with society and ensuring that scientific knowledge is shared widely, making it relevant and accessible to everyone.Theme 2024 – Youth at the Forefront
3. 10 November – World Immunization Day 2024: World Immunization Day is observed annually on November 10.Objective – To raise awareness about the vital role vaccines play in preventing infectious diseases and protecting public health.Immunization is one of the most effective and cost-efficient intervention for controlling and eradicating diseases, saving millions of lives globally each year.The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is one of India’s most comprehensive public health initiatives, aiming to provide life-saving vaccines to millions of newborns and pregnant women each year. Initially launched in 1978 as the Expanded Programme on Immunization, it was rebranded as the UIP in 1985 when its coverage was extended beyond urban centres to rural areas.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India-Australia Joint Military Exercise “AUSTRAHIND” Begins: Exercise AUSTRAHIND has commenced in Pune, Maharashtra. This joint military exercise runs from 8th to 21st November 2024. It involves troops from India and Australia. The exercise takes place annually, alternating between the two nations. The last edition occurred in Australia in December 2023. The primary aim is to enhance military cooperation. It focuses on improving interoperability. This is essential for conducting joint sub-conventional operations. The operations will occur in a semi-urban environment. The exercise will also address challenges in semi-desert terrain.
SPORTS
1. Harmanpreet Singh wins FIH Player of the Year; PR Sreejesh receives Goalkeeper of Year title at FIH Hockey Awards: Indian Men’s Hockey Team captain Harmanpreet Singh and former goalkeeper PR Sreejesh have won the FIH Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year titles for the year 2024. Both Harmanpreet and Sreejesh received recognition during the 49th FIH Statutory Congress in Oman.Two-time Olympic bronze medallist Harmanpreet received over 63 per cent of all votes cast in his category. Similarly, Sreejesh was highly popular among voters, polling over 62 per cent of all votes in his category.The winners were selected through a voting process involving an expert panel, national hockey associations, fans, and media.Harmanpreet Singh won his third FIH Player of the Year award in 2024, having won it in 2021 and 2022. Incidentally, another Indian, Hardik Singh, won the 2023 Award.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Cashfree launches pilot for cross-border payments: Cashfree Payments has partnered with Indian companies like Swiggy and Nykaa to enable international customers to make payments in India.This pilot program caters to users of RuPay cards and UPI, which are not typically recognized for global transactions.Cashfree’s cross-border payments license allows them to facilitate seamless transactions for both import and export businesses, as well as individual users.This pilot programme caters to UPI and RuPay card users, which are not typically recognised for global transactions.
2. GenWise launches UPI payments for senior citizens with secure interface: GenWise has launched the UPI payments on its app for senior citizens. This is the industry’s first-ever introduction of UPI for elders, offering a simple user interface, enhanced security, and cyber fraud awareness.GenWise UPI has been developed in collaboration with Axis Bank, which is acting as the sponsor bank for facilitating transactions.Over the years, UPI has become an integral part of everyday transactions, with over 400 million unique users.In October alone, the platform processed over 16.5 billion transactions. However, over 250 million Indian elders have remained less connected to this transformation due to fear of the unknown and the complex interfaces of other apps.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Winners of the 2024 FIH Hockey Star Awards: Rising Star of the Year Award
Male-Sufyan Khan (Pakistan)
Women-Zoe Diaz (Argentina)
Coach of the Year Award
Men- Jeroen Delmee (Netherlands)
Women-Alyson Annan (China)
Umpire of the Year
Male – Steve Rogers (Australia)
Women-Sarah Wilson (Scotland)
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