Current Affairs

29^th November 2022

Top 20 Daily Current Affairs: National & International News

Here is the Daily Current Affairs of the 29th November 2022 covering the following news headlines: Ruturaj Gaikwad, G20 Sherpa Meeting, International Film Festival of India, UNESCO Award, Harimau Shakti -2022, S&P Global Ratings, Christian Democratic Union.

National News

1.KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar Inaugurated RE-HAB Project

KVIC Chairman Shri Manoj Kumar inaugurated the ambitious Reducing Human Attacks using Honey Bees (Re-Hab) Project. Re-Hab Project was inaugurated under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Government of India).

Shri Manoj Kumar also distributed 330 bee boxes, bee colonies, and toolkits along with the honey extractor to the rural beneficiaries in Chausla village.

International News

2.India to Send Utility Helicopter Unit to UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali

India has decided to send a utility helicopter unit to the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Bangladesh and Pakistan, each, will also send an armed helicopter unit to this operation.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s Spokesperson Farhan Haq said, that the utility helicopter unit from India that is to be deployed in March will “provide much-needed support to our forces and are critical for early warning and rapid response to protect civilians”.

Haq added, “The UN continues to discuss with member states the deployment of new assets and plans to fill longer-standing gaps in addition to those resulting from recent announcements” of withdrawals.

State News

3.Odisha govt launched Anemia eradication programme ‘AMLAN’

In a bid to ensure complete eradication of anaemia problem among women and children in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched AMLAN- ‘Anaemia Mukta Lakhya Abhiyan’ in the state.

The state has formulated a multi-pronged approach for accelerated reduction of anaemia among targeted groups. The programme will be rolled out in 55,000 government and government aided schools and 74,000 Anganwadi Centres across the state.

The programme will be implemented with joint efforts of several departments including Health and Family Welfare, School and Mass Education, Women and Child Development, Mission Shakti and ST and SC Development Department.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Odisha Governor: Ganeshi Lal;

Odisha Capital: Bhubaneswar;

Odisha Chief minister: Naveen Patnaik.

4.Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Launched Har Ghar Gangajal Project

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched the Har Ghar Gangajal Project in Rajgir. The Har Ghar Gangajal Project is a unique and ambitious initiative to provide Ganga water on tap in the parched areas of the state.

The Har Ghar Gangajal Project will help to harvest the excess water of the Ganga during the monsoon season. The water will be stored in reservoirs in Rajgir and Gaya before being channeled to three treatment-and-purification plants.

Under the Har Ghar Gangajal project, the excess water of the Ganga will be stored in a reservoir which would then be treated and supplied to Rajgir, Gaya, and Bodh Gaya, the regions that have witnessed water scarcity for a long period.

Appointments News

5.Gurdeep Randhawa named to State Presidium of CDU in Germany

Indian-origin German citizen, Gurdeep Singh Randhawa has been appointed to the Thuringia state Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party presidium in Germany. Randhawa has been an active member of the CDU and has served in the party for several years now.

Earlier in August, Gurdeep Singh Randhawa was elected as the first representative of the Indian community in Germany. It is the first time that an Indian-origin German national has been appointed to a state presidium in Germany by the CDU.

The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian-democratic and liberal-conservative political party in Germany. It is the major catch-all party of the centre-right in German politics.

The CDU’s policies derive from political Catholicism, Catholic social teaching and political Protestantism as well as economic liberalism and national conservatism. The party has adopted more liberal economic policies since Helmut Kohl’s term in office as the Chancellor of Germany (1982–1998).

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Christian Democratic Union Founder: Konrad Adenauer;

Christian Democratic Union Founded: 26 June 1945, Berlin, Germany;

Christian Democratic Union Headquarters: Berlin, Germany.

Banking News

6.RBI Asks Paytm To Re-apply For Payment Aggregator Licence

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has for now declined to entertain Paytm Payments Services’ (PPSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paytm, application for an authorisation to provide payment aggregator services for online merchants. The central bank has advised PPSL to resubmit its application within 120 days after taking certain steps.

One97 Communications (OCL), which owns the Paytm brand, had proposed to transfer the payment aggregator services business undertaken by it to Paytm Payments Services (PPSL) in December 2020 to comply with payment aggregator (PA) guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) but the banking regulator had rejected its application. The company had re-submitted the required documents in September 2021.

Business News

7.India’s Milk Production Registers Significant Growth by 83 MT in last 8 years

India’s milk production has registered a monumental growth in the last eight years as it has increased by 83 Million Tonnes.  In 2013-14, the production was 138 Million Tonnes which increased to 221 Million Tonnes in 2021-22.

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala has credited it to the government’s initiatives for a paradigm shift in the policy perspective of the Dairy and Animal Husbandry sector in the last eight years.

The Minister also said that Centre has expanded the vaccination program for Foot and  Mouth Disease to pan India.  He added that it was launched as an eradication programme which was earlier a disease control program limited to selected states and districts.

The per capita availability of milk in India is much higher than the world average. In three decades (the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s), the daily milk consumption in the country rose from a low of 107 grams per person in 1970 to 427 grams per person in 2020-21 as against the world average of 322 grams per day during 2021.

Economy News

8.S&P Lowers India GDP Growth Forecast by 30 bps to 7% For 2022-23

S&P Global Ratings cut India’s economic growth forecast for the current fiscal year ending March to 7 per cent as against 7.3 per cent projected earlier. S&P has also cut the growth forecast for 2023 to 6 per cent from 6.5 per cent as projected earlier. Subsequently, for FY24, GDP growth was downgraded by 50 basis points to 6%. The Indian economy grew 8.5 per cent in 2021.

The agency had earlier retained its FY23 forecast at 7.3% and said the inflation is likely to remain above 6% till the end of the fiscal. It expects inflation to rise by 6.8% in the current fiscal, and RBI’s benchmark rate to rise to 6.25% by March 2023. The central bank has raised the repo rate by 1.9% so far during the year to a three-year high of 5.9%.

9.SEBI Releases Uniform Format for OTC Trades In Non-Convertible Securities

Capital markets regulator SEBI came out with a uniform format for reporting over-the-counter (OTC) trades in listed non-convertible securities.

The development comes after Sebi observed that information on OTC trades in listed non-convertible securities provided to the stock exchanges by the investors is incomplete and inaccurate.

This, in turn, amounts to incorrect and distorted information being displayed on the exchanges’ websites.

Defence News

10.India – Malaysia joint military Exercise “Harimau Shakti -2022”

India – Malaysia joint military Exercise “Harimau Shakti -2022” commenced at Pulai, Kluang, Malaysia on 28th November and will culminate on 12th December 22.

The joint exercise schedule includes the establishment of a joint command post, joint surveillance centre, sharing expertise in employment of aerial assets, technical demonstrations, casualty management & casualty evacuation apart from planning logistics at the Battalion level.

Combat-experienced troops of the GARHWAL RIFLES Regiment of Indian Army and the Royal Malay Regiment of the Malaysian Army are participating in the exercise this year to share experiences gained during operations in order to enhance inter-operability in planning & execution of various operations in jungle terrain.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Malaysia Capital: Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur;

Malaysia Prime minister: Anwar Ibrahim.

Awards News

11.Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya wins UNESCO Award

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) was conferred with the ‘Award of Excellence’ at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation-2022.

In late 2019, the museum–in the run-up to its centenary celebration on January 10, 2022—initiated comprehensive repairs, restoration and refurbishment of the main and extension building, exterior and interiors and main dome in a phased manner. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya was established as the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India in 1922.

The Domakonda Fort of Telangana and Byculla Station of Mumbai are among the winners in the ‘Award of Merit’ category, while the stepwells of Golconda in Hyderabad has won an award in the ‘Award of Distinction’ category.

Topdara Stupa, Charikar, Afghanistan, and Nantian Buddhist Temple, Fujian, China, have also received the ‘Award of Merit’.

12.53rd edition International Film Festival of India concludes

The 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) came to an end at a ceremony held at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium near Panaji on 28 November 2022.

The 53rd edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has concluded with Spanish film ‘I Have Electric Dreams’ directed by Valentina Maurel winning the prestigious ‘Golden Peacock’ for the best film of the festival.

The closing ceremony of IFFI was held at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee indoor stadium in Taleigao, Goa.

13.Tamil writer Imayam selected for Kuvempu national award

Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Prathishtana Kuppali has selected Tamil poet V Annamalai aka Imayam for the Kuvempu National award for the year 2022 at the Kuvempu’s 118th birth anniversary program on December 29 at Kuppali in Thirthahalli taluk.

‘Kannada National Poet Kwembu Rashtriya Puraskar Award is presented annually in memory of the late poet Kwembu has been announced to Writer Institute for the Tamil language. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a silver medal and a citation.

Summits and Committees News

14.Seventh Edition of Global Technology Summit to be held in New Delhi

The seventh edition of the Global Technology Summit is to be held till the 1st of December in New Delhi in a hybrid format. The Global Technology Summit is India’s annual flagship event on Geotechnology and is co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs and Carnegie India.

The inaugural session of the Summit would be a conversation with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on geo-digital and its effects.

External Affairs Ministry informed that over three days, the world’s leading minds in technology, government, security, space, startups, data, law, public health, climate change, academics, and the economy will gather, and debate related to technology and its future.

The theme for this year’s Summit is ‘Geopolitics of Technology.

15.Udaipur to Host First G20 Sherpa Meeting in India

Udaipur is gearing up to host the first G20 Sherpa Meeting in India from 4 to 7 December. The meeting is aimed at fostering growth and  building bonds amongst the member nations. Among the highlights will be the depiction of Indian culture with wall paintings and illumination of heritage sites across the city.

The G20 Sherpa meeting is expected to be held at the Darbar Hall at the City Palace Udaipur.  Arrangement is being made at Fateh Prakash Palace, Hotel Udai Vilas and Leela Palace to accommodate the delegates for this meeting. The Royal Dinner is expected to be held at Jag Mandir where the delegates will be treated to delicacies from the Indian cuisine as well as those of the member countries.

Schemes and Committees News

16.‘Nai Chetna’ Gender Campaign Launched by Ministry of Rural Development

‘Nai Chetna’, is a month-long campaign envisioned as a ‘Jan Andolan’ or people’s movement. The ‘Nai Chetna’ campaign is launched by the Ministry of Rural Development and involves sensitizing women, especially in rural areas. It seeks to enable women to acknowledge, prepare, and take support in situations of comprise.

The Union Minister described that the ‘Nai Chetna’ campaign focuses on women.

Women in rural areas are unaware of the various mechanisms available to raise their concerns.

The campaign has an idea to bring the issue of gender-based violence into focus and make women aware of their rights and the mechanism available to help redress their grievances.

Sports News

17.Rituraj Gaikwad smashes 7 sixes in an over to make world record

Ruturaj Gaikwad hit a world record seven sixes in the 49th over of Maharashtra’s Vijay Hazare Trophy quarter-final against Uttar Pradesh in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Rituraj Gaikwad, playing for Maharashtra, became the first batsman in List-A cricket to hit 7 sixes in an over in the quarter-finals.

Gaikwad made this record against Uttar Pradesh in Ahmedabad. He remained unbeaten after scoring 220 runs off 159 balls.

This is his first double century in List-A cricket, before that 187 not out was his best score. This is also his sixth century in the last 8 innings of Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the 49th over of the innings, he scored 43 runs including 7 sixes on left arm spinner Shiva Singh.

Important Days

18.International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2022: 29 November

November 29 is marked as the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People every year. Since 1978, the United Nations has commemorated the day as a way to express solidarity with the people of Palestine while the peace and resolution process remains stalled.

The day aims to spread more awareness about the issues faced by the Palestinian people along with promoting a peaceful Palestine-Israel resolution.

On 1 December 2005, the Assembly requested the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the UN.

Miscellaneous News

19.First science documentary made in Sanskrit ‘Yanam’ screened at the 53rd IFFI

‘Yaanam,’ a non-feature film, was screened under the Indian Panorama section at the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival at Goa.

It is based on the autobiographical book “My Odyssey: Memoirs of the Man Behind the Mangalyaan Mission” by former space chairman Padma Bhushan Dr K. Radhakrishnan. ‘Yaanam’ movie portrays India’s dream project Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan).

The 45-minute documentary is a complete Sanskrit film by all means as the entire script and dialogues are in the ancient language. The film has been produced by AV Anoop under the banner AVA Productions with the complete support of ISRO.

20.World’s Largest Active Volcano Mauna Loa Erupted in Hawaii

The world’s largest active volcano erupted in Hawaii for the first time in four decades. Mauna Loa erupted at 11.30 pm according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was the first eruption since 1984. The eruption began in Moku’aweoweo, the summit caldera of Mauna Loa, inside the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

The residents at risk from Mauna Loa lava flows were advised to review preparedness and refer to Hawaii Country Civil Defence information for further guidance.

The early stages of the Mauna Loa eruption were dynamic and the advances of lava changed rapidly.

Hawaii’s civil defense agency also helped meet across the island to help residents prepare for a possible emergency.