NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Sarai Kale Khan ISBT Chowk in Delhi renamed after Birsa Munda: Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced, the chowk outside the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) bus stand in Delhi’s Sarai Kale Khan will be renamed after Bhagwan Birsa Munda.The decision was announced on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of the freedom fighter and tribal leader Bhagwan Birsa Munda.This decision was taken to honour the freedom fighter so that people visiting the area could know about him and get inspired by his life.Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Delhi LG VK Saxena, also unveiled a statue of Bhagwan Birsa Munda in the national capital city on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary.
2. Meghalaya hosts Helicopter and Small Aircraft Summit 2024: The 6th Helicopter & Small Aircraft Summit 2024 was inaugurated in Shillong, Meghalaya. The event, held at Courtyard by Marriott, was organized by Pawan Hans Ltd in collaboration with FICCI, with support from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Meghalaya government.The summit aims to enhance the use of helicopters and small aircraft across India, with a particular focus on addressing the challenges of connectivity in regions like the Northeast.The summit brought together various industry participants, including operators, original equipment manufacturers, maintenance providers, regulators, and financing companies, alongside representatives from state governments.
3. 24 coastal villages in Odisha recognised by UNESCO as ‘Tsunami Ready’: 24 coastal villages in Odisha were recognised by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO as ‘Tsunami Ready’.The recognition was given during the 2nd Global Tsunami Symposium held in Indonesia.These villages are located in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Ganjam districts.Besides, the Tsunami Ready Recognition Certificates were renewed for two villages in the state. These villages are Noliasahi in Jagatsinghpur district and Venkatraipur in Ganjam district. They were recognised as Tsunami Ready in 2020.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. US announces return of over 1,400 looted artefacts to India: The United States announced the return of over 1,400 looted artefacts valued at 10 million dollars to India.The items, part of an ongoing initiative to restore stolen art to South and Southeast Asia, include pieces recently displayed at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Among the returned treasures is a sandstone sculpture of a celestial dancer, illicitly transported from central India to London before being sold to a Met patron and subsequently donated to the museum.Manhattan District Attorney’s Office revealed the recovery was the result of ‘several ongoing investigations’ targeting looting networks, including those run by convicted art traffickers Nancy Wiener and Subhash Kapoor.Kapoor, a former antiquities dealer, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for managing a multimillion-dollar looting operation through his New York gallery. After his arrest in Germany in 2011, Kapoor was extradited to India, where he awaits further legal proceedings and extradition to the US.
2. UAE Launches Global Energy Efficiency Alliance at COP29: The UAE has unveiled an ambitious initiative to establish the ‘Global Energy Efficiency Alliance’ during COP29, hosted in Azerbaijan.
This move aims to double global energy efficiency rates by 2030 and contribute to significant emission reductions.The initiative builds on the ‘UAE ConseFnsus’ from COP28, a commitment that brought together countries, organizations, and corporations to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable resource management.The UAE plans to lead the alliance by sharing its expertise in energy efficiency, fostering knowledge transfer, and building effective partnership models with the private sector. The alliance is designed to support the reduction of carbon emissions and the sustainable use of natural resources through knowledge sharing, capacity building, and standardization efforts.
3. 18 – 24 November – World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week: World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is celebrated every year from November 18-24.Objective – To increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to encourage best practices.Theme 2024 – Advocate. Act noAs per the WHO, an estimated 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 were directly the result of bacterial AMR, and it also contributed to 4.95 million deaths.Wazed cited increased population, limited access to healthcare, and misuse of antimicrobials as major risk factors for raising the risks for AMR in developing nations.
4. 18 November – World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence: World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence is observed every year on November 18.Objective – To promote global action to prevent abuse, provide healing, and uphold the rights and dignity of affected children.Affirming the need to eliminate and prevent all forms of child sexual exploitation, abuse, and violence and to promote dignity and rights, including mental and physical health and healing, of those who experience child sexual exploitation, abuse and violence, on 7 November 2022, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/77/8, proclaiming 18 November of each year as the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Bharat NCX 2024 Officially Inaugurated: Strengthening Cyber Defense and Strategic Decision-Making Across India: The Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise (Bharat NCX 2024), a landmark initiative to fortify India’s cybersecurity resilience, was inaugurated at a high-profile ceremony organized by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU)The 12-day exercise is a critical step in preparing India’s cybersecurity professionals and leadership to tackle evolving threats with advanced cyber defence, incident response capabilities, and strategic decision-making.The event runs from November 18 to November 29, 2024, culminating in a comprehensive debrief to consolidate lessons learned and establish best practices in cybersecurity.
2. DRDO carries out successful flight trial of India’s first long-range hypersonic missile off the Odisha coast: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight trial of India’s first long-range hypersonic missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.This hypersonic missile is designed to carry various payloads for ranges greater than 1,500 kms for the Armed Forces.The missile was tracked by various range systems, deployed in multiple domains. The flight data obtained from down-range ship stations confirmed the successful terminal maneuvers and impact with a high degree of accuracy.This missile has been indigenously developed by the laboratories of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Hyderabad, along with various other DRDO laboratories and Industry Partners. The flight trial was carried out in the presence of senior scientists of DRDO and officers of the Armed Forces.
SPORTS
1. FIFA Unveils NASA-Inspired Trophy for Expanded 2025 Club World Cup: The Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) has unveiled the new trophy for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which is scheduled to be played in the US from July 15 to July 13, 2025.The football’s past and future are symbolized by the cup’s design, which was inspired by NASA’s Voyager Golden Records. The 24-carat gold cup also features many graphics that illustrate the periodic table, astronomy, and the football’s magnificence.The cup was created in collaboration with Tiffany & Co. and will be given to the champion after the final game at MetLife Stadium.The trophy also symbolizes the world of club football, which is a celebration of greatness, hope, and pride. It captures the journey of every club, player, and supporter who is bound together by their love of the beautiful game.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Elon Musk’s SpaceX launches India’s heavy communication satellite GSAT-20 from Cape Canaveral, US: Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched India’s heavy communication satellite GSAT-20 from Cape Canaveral in the US.SpaceX’s Falcon-9 has launched ISRO’s GSAT-20, also called GSAT N-2. The satellite is expected to remain in operation for 14 years. It will provide vital services across India, including internet connectivity for remote areas.Weighing 4,700 kg, GSAT-20 is one of India’s heaviest communication satellites. The GSAT-20 is too heavy for India’s own rocket LVM-3, popularly known as ‘Bahubali’ to carry, so SpaceX was chosen for the launch.SpaceX’s heavy-lifter Falcon-9 rocket can launch payloads of 8,300 kg or 8.3 tonnes to geostationary transfer orbit.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Karnataka Bank launches 2 financial products for students: Karnataka Bank Ltd. has launched two financial products – ‘KBL Peak’, an education loan with financing of up to ₹2 crore and comprehensive coverage, and ‘KBL Genius’, a student savings account featuring free cyber insurance.With the ‘KBL Peak’ education loan and ‘KBL Genius’ savings account, Karnataka Bank aims to help students pursue their academic goals and aspirations with financial freedom, contributing to a brighter future for both individuals and the nation.‘KBL Peak’ supports students pursuing higher education in India and abroad. With loan amounts up to ₹2 crore, it covers tuition fees and expenses related to accommodation, travel, books and laptops. ‘KBL Peak’ provides a pre-admission sanction letter, simplifying the admission process, and includes credit life insurance for both the student and the parent, ensuring comprehensive financial protection.
2. Unifi Asset Management gets SEBI nod for mutual fund operations: Unifi Asset Management Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Unifi Capital, has received final approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch its mutual fund operations.The Fund is designed to bring Unifi’s core absolute value investing process to investors seeking specialist funds with a focus on niche and rewarding opportunities.The company has built an experienced mutual fund team by blending internal expertise with strategic external hires.Unifi Capital, founded in 2001, is a registered portfolio manager with assets under management (AUM) of approximately ₹27,000 crore ($3.2 billion) across equity and debt platforms via its PMS and AIF offerings in India and abroad, as of October 31, 2024.
CEO of Unifi Mutual Fund – George Alexander
3. SBI Empowers Rural Youth Entrepreneurs Through Jagriti Yatra 2024 to Boost ‘Viksit Bharat’: State Bank of India (SBI) has partnered with Jagriti Yatra 2024, a transformative 8,000-km, 15-day entrepreneurial journey across India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions.This initiative will support 500 young aspirants in exploring entrepreneurial opportunities, receiving expert mentorship, and engaging in practical learning experiences.Through this collaboration, SBI aims to nurture future innovators, advancing India’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047.The bank has established 152 Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs), which have successfully trained over 11.5 lakh rural candidates, enabling 74% of them to become self-employed. Additionally, SBI leads the Self-Help Group (SHG) loans market, with a portfolio exceeding Rs. 50,000 crores, benefiting over 1 crore women members.
4. IndusInd Bank and BFIL partnered with Ministry of Agriculture to Empower Farmer Producer Organizations: IndusInd Bank Limited (IBL) and Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited (BFIL), a wholly owned subsidiary of IBL, have signed an MoU with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India, to launch the Bharat Sanjeevani Krishi Utthan initiative.The initiative aligns with the government’s flagship program, “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs),” and aims to provide a robust framework for empowering FPOs across India.These organizations play a pivotal role in enhancing farmers’ bargaining power, reducing production costs, and improving incomes through collective efforts.This unit will oversee the implementation of FPO projects at the national level and in 11 target states, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.It also includes capacity-building, IT infrastructure development, and data management to optimize FPO operations.
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