NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Dr. Jitendra Singh launches VISION Portal, for nurturing skill development in underprivileged children: The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, has inaugurated the VISION (“Viksit Bharat Initiative for Student Innovation and Outreach Network”) Portal in New Delhi.The Portal aims to empower and uplift youth from the underprivileged section of the country through education, skill development and sustainable livelihood.The Gurugram, Haryana-based non-profit organisation Utsav Foundation developed the VISION (“Viksit Bharat Initiative for Student Innovation and Outreach Network”) Portal.The Utsav Foundation works to empower the youth by providing them with the necessary skills and resources through internship and skill development.The Scheme aims to develop problem-solving abilities among the youth by bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
2. DPIIT gives nod to Hinduja Group firm IIHL for acquisition of RCAP: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has given a go-ahead to Hinduja Group firm IIHL for acquisition of debt-ridden Reliance Capital Ltd (RCAP).DPIIT approval was required as some of the shareholders of IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL) are residents of Hong Kong, a special administrative region controlled by China.According to Press Note 3, if an entity from a nation sharing a land border with India (China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Afghanistan), or if a citizen or permanent resident of any such country is the beneficial owner of an investment in India, they are required to pursue investment through the government approval route.The approval was crucial as the Hinduja Group should close the transaction by the extended deadline of January 31, 2025. Failure to meet the deadline would require the group to return Rs 3,000 crore raised from high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), ultra-HNIs, and family offices for the deal.
3. India hosted Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce & Bowling Competition in New Delhi: For the first time, India hosted the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce & Bowling Competition at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex in New Delhi.The event is open to athletes from the Asia-Pacific with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is the first time a competitive bowling event has been held in India.Eighty-one athletes from 12 countries of the Asia-Pacific region participated in the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce & Bowling CompetitionThe Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce & Bowling Competition was inaugurated by the Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Centre launches World Bank’s ‘Jobs at your doorstep’ report: Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Minister of Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launched a report titled Jobs at Your Doorstep: A Jobs Diagnostics for Young People in the Six States, at an event in New Delhi.World Bank assists the Ministry of Education with its program called Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) covering six states namely Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan (collectively the STARS states) STARS Scheme has a national component under which key reforms are shared and disseminated for implementation.This report underscores the significant benefits of embedding skill-based education from grades 9-12 to prepare students for diverse career paths relying on a bottom-up approach, going deep in districts of the six states.
2. Iraq conducts first national census in nearly 40 years: Iraq began its first nationwide population census in decades, a step aimed at modernizing data collection and planning in a country long impacted by conflict and political divisions.The act of counting the population is also contentious. The census is expected to have profound implications for Iraq’s resource distribution, budget allocations, and development planning.The last nationwide census in Iraq was held in 1987. Another one held in 1997 excluded the Kurdish region.The new census “charts a developmental map for the future and sends a message of stability,” Planning Minister Mohammed Tamim said in a televised address.The census will be the first to employ advanced technologies for gathering and analyzing data, providing a comprehensive picture of Iraq’s demographic, social, and economic landscape, officials say.
3. PM Modi meets caribbean leaders at India-CARICOM Summit To Strengthen Ties: The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi chaired the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown, Guyana, alongside the Prime Minister of Grenada, the current CARICOM Chair.The first India-CARICOM Summit was held in 2019 in New York. To further build on India’s close development partnership and strong people to people ties with the region, Prime Minister offered assistance to CARICOM countries in seven key areas.These areas fit well with the CARICOM acronym and amplify the close bonds of friendship between India and the group.
4. 21 November – World Television Day: World Television Day is celebrated annually on November 21 to highlight television’s role as a key medium of communication and its impact on global awareness, decision-making, and education.Theme 2024 – AccessibilityThe United Nations established World Television Day in 1996 following the first World Television Forum, which recognised television’s growing influence on society. The UN declared this day to emphasise its importance as a tool for communication and global connectivity.Television arrived in India in 1959, initially broadcasting educational programs. By 1982, the introduction of colour broadcasting and satellite networks brought TV closer to the masses, laying the foundation for today’s diverse media landscape
5. 21 November- World Hello Day: World Hello Day is observed every year on 21 November.World Hello Day is an opportunity to promote awareness that conflicts should be resolved through communication rather than the use of force.Theme 2024 – Greeting for PeaceWorld Hello Day was founded by Michael McCormack, a Harvard University graduate, and Brian McCormack, an Arizona State University Ph.D. graduate, in 1973 in response to the Yom Kippur War between Egypt and Israel.To encourage participation in the first World Hello Day, the McCormack brothers wrote 1,360 letters in seven different languages to world leaders across the globe, urging them to resolve disputes through communication rather than force.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Gen. Upendra Dwivedi Conferred with the Nepali Army’s General rank: The Indian Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, was conferred with the honourary rank of the General of the Nepali Army.General Upendra Dwivedi is on an official visit to Nepal from 20 to 24 November 2024 at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart, General Ashok Raj Sigdel.General Upendra Dwivedi was conferred the rank of honourary General of the Nepali Army by the President of Nepal, Ramchandra Paudel, at a special ceremony at the President’s House in Kathmandu.India and Nepal have a long tradition of honouring each other’s country’s chief of the army with this rank. This tradition was continued after India’s independence in 1947. A tripartite agreement was signed between India, the British government, and the Nepali government in 1947.
2. Rajnath Singh attends the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Plus Meeting: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has represented India at the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Plus Forum meeting in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s capital, Vientiane.Lao PDR, the Chair of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is hosting the 18th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting and the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Plus Meeting in Vientiane.During his visit to Vientiane, Rajnath Singh also held a bilateral meeting with the Defence Minister of Lao PDR, General Chansamone Chanyalath, Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun and Malaysian Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Bin Nordin, on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Plus Meeting.India has a close partnership with ASEAN. India was made a sectoral partner in 1992 and the relationship between the two was raised to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
SPORTS
1. Bihar to host Khelo India Youth Games and Para Games in April 2025: Bihar will host the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) and Khelo India Para Games (KIPG) in 2025.KIYG is a national-level, multi-disciplinary sports competition for school and college students in India. It aims to promote sports culture and identify sporting talent at the grassroots level.The games are held annually in January or February and are part of the government’s Khelo India initiative.For the first time and in the lines of the Summer Olympics, the Khelo India Para Games will also be held in Bihar.The first edition of the Para Games was held in Delhi last year. Previously the Khelo India Youth Games 2023 were held in Tamil Nadu in January this year.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. ISRO, Australian space agency sign cooperation pact for human space flight: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed an Implementation Agreement (IA) with the Australian Space Agency (ASA) for further strengthening of cooperation in space activities between the two countries.The IA enables cooperation between both space agencies on crew and crew module recovery for Gaganyaan missions, the country’s first crewed spaceflight program.India and Australia are enduring strategic partners and both space agencies are working closely and are committed to explore current and future collaboration activities.The IA enables the Australian authorities to work with Indian authorities to ensure support for search and rescue of crew and recovery of crew module as part of a contingency plan for ascent phase that aborts near Australian waters.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Tata Power ties up with ADB for $4.25 bn to finance clean energy projects: Tata Power has signed a MoU with Asian Development Bank (ADB) for financing clean energy projects worth $4.25 billion in India.The MoU outlines the evaluation of financing for key ongoing projects, such as the 966 MW solar-wind hybrid project, pumped hydro storage project, and other projects in the pipeline related to energy transition, decarbonization, and battery storage.It also includes ongoing financing for capital expenditures (capex) to strengthen the distribution networks managed by Tata Power.This agreement coincides with the ongoing climate conference (COP29) at Baku, Azerbaijan, aimed at enhancing Indias power infrastructure and promoting renewable and clean energy.
2. RBI, Maldives Monetary Authority sign pact to promote use of local currencies: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) signed a MoU for establishing a framework to promote the use of local currencies viz., the Indian Rupee (INR) and the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) for cross-border transactions.The MoU was signed by the Governor, Reserve Bank of India, Shaktikanta Das and the Governor, Maldives Monetary Authority, Mr. Ahmed Munawar.
The MoU encourages the use of INR and MVR in current account transactions, permissible capital account transactions and any other economic and financial transactions as agreed upon by both countries.This framework would enable exporters and importers to invoice and settle in their respective domestic currencies, which in turn would enable the development of trading in INR-MVR pair in foreign exchange market. Use of local currencies would optimise costs and settlement time for transactions.
3. RBI nod for Central Bank of India’s insurance foray in JV with Future Generali: The Central Bank of India has received Reserve Bank of India approval for its proposed foray into life and non-life insurance business through a joint venture with the Generali group.The RBI approved the bank’s entry in the insurance business, through a joint venture with the Generali group under Future Generali India Insurance Company and Future Generali India Life Insurance Company, subject to continuous compliance of conditions stipulated by it and approval of sectoral regulator IRDAI.This follows the Committee of Creditors for sale of Category 1 assets of Future Enterprises stake in FGILICL, and FGIICL declaring the State-owned lender successful bidder in August. In October, the Competition Commission of India had approved the proposed combination.
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