- National:
- The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), operating under the Ministry of Power, has launched the National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP) and Energy Efficient Fans Programme (EEFP). These initiatives aim to promote energy-efficient and eco-friendly solutions in India.
- The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has indeed formed a taskforce to review the existing bancassurance norms. The taskforce will look into various aspects of the bancassurance channel, including issues of mis-selling.
- The Jharkhand Cabinet has approved a Rs 1,485 crore electrification scheme. The scheme, named Mukhya Mantri Ujjwal Jharkhand Yojana, aims to cover un-electrified rural hamlets and households as well as leftover urban areas.
- The Indian government, on the recommendation of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has issued blocking orders for 22 illegal betting apps and websites. This includes the Mahadev Online betting platform.
- The 7th edition of Ganga Utsav was indeed organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). The event was inaugurated by Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- The Indian Navy bid farewell to the IL-38SD Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft after 46 years of glorious service to the nation. The decommissioning ceremony was held on October 31, 2023, at INS Hansa, Dabolim.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana for a period of five years. This scheme aims to benefit 80 crore underprivileged families in India.
- The Kerala government has decided to launch multi-language microsites to boost religious tourism. These microsites are designed to shed light on the state’s rich heritage and showcase the profound significance of its key religious sites.
- International:
- The first meeting of the Australia India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) was indeed held on 6th November 2023 at IIT Gandhinagar. The meeting was jointly chaired by India’s Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan, Australia’s Minister for Education Jason Clare, and Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor.
- Banking:
- ICICI Prudential Multi-Asset Fund has completed 21 years of its existence on October 30, 2023. It is one of the oldest and largest multi-asset funds in India, with an AUM of Rs.24060.99 crore as on October 30, 2023.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has indeed increased the minimum amount for offering non-callable term deposits from Rs.15 lakh to Rs.1 crore. This means that all domestic term deposits accepted from individuals for an amount of Rs.1 crore and below shall have the option for premature withdrawal
- Mous:
- The CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), based in Kerala, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)on November 2,2023 in Bengaluru. The MoU aims to strengthen the indigenisation and import substitution programme for the nation’s aerospace and defense sectors, as envisioned by the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
- Appointments:
- Pravin Madhukar Pawar, an IPS officer, has been appointed as the Joint Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a period of five years.
- Surendra Kumar Adhana, India’s candidate, has been re-elected to serve on the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) at the United Nations for the term 2024-26.
- Important Days:
- The International Day for Biosphere Reserve was celebrated on November 3, 2023. The theme for the International Day for Biosphere Reserve in 2023 was #ItsAboutLife.
- The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is observed every year on November 6. The theme for the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict in 2023 is "Together for a more sustainable and peaceful future."
- Sports:
- The Indian Women’s Hockey Team won the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2023. They secured a resounding 4-0 victory over reigning champions Japan in the final.
- The Indian shooting team had a remarkable performance at the Asian Shooting Championships 2023. They won a total of 55 medals — 21 gold, 21 silver, and 13 bronze. This achievement was celebrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Questions:
Q.1 What was the theme for the International Day for Biosphere Reserve in 2023?a. #ItsAboutLife
b. #SaveTheBiosphere
c. #LifeOnEarth
d. #PreserveBiodiversity
Q.2 Who has been appointed as the Joint Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)?
a. Prakash Singh Badal
b. Pravin Madhukar Pawar
c. Rakesh Asthana
d. Alok Verma
