- National:
- The 24th edition of the Hornbill Festival has indeed started at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama. This much-awaited festival is a vibrant celebration of the rich culture, heritage, and traditions of Nagaland’s 16 major tribes.
- The 40th Coast Guard Commanders’ Conference was inaugurated by Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on November 30, 2023. The conference was held to discuss and strategize various aspects of coastal defense and maritime security.
- The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) for various capital acquisition proposals amounting to Rs 2.23 lakh crore.
- India’s push for sovereign AI is a strategic vision that aims to establish the country as a global leader in artificial intelligence. The foundation of India’s AI strategy, as laid out in the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, is to leverage this disruptive technology not just for economic and military growth, but for social inclusion as well. This concept is referred to as "AI for All".
- The DIGI-PHARMed application is a portal developed by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI). It’s used for various purposes including the submission of applications for approval under section 12 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948. The portal also provides services for different stakeholders such as institutes, faculty, students, and inspectors.
- A Recovery and Reconstruction (R&R) plan for Joshimath in Uttarakhand, India, has been approved by a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The plan is worth Rs 1658.17 crore.
- International:
- The 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC started in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November until 12 December 2023. The UN Climate Change conferences (or COPs) take place every year, and are the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change with almost complete membership of every country in the world.
- The 3rd International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2023) is an annual event that provides a unique African-led platform for leaders across the continent to reflect on lessons learned in health and science, and align on a way forward for creating more resilient health systems. The conference is held in Lusaka, Zambia from 27th to 30th November 2023.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has indeed put health at the center stage at COP28. The WHO called for urgent action on climate and health at COP28. This call to action united the health community in demanding a commitment to building resilient health systems, reducing emissions, and prioritizing health.
- The UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2023 report shows that there is a clear path that ends AIDS by 2030. The report was released on 13 July 2023 by UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
- The Capital Kiwi Project is a conservation initiative in New Zealand with the mission to restore a large-scale wild kiwi population to Wellington’s backyard. The project aims to remove key predator threats and engage the community as guardians, allowing people and kiwi to successfully live together.
- Banking:
- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Mohammad Shafi Dar, the former chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Bank, in connection with a Rs 250-crore money laundering case.
- The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposal by Atlas 2022 Holdings Limited to increase its shareholding in Vodafone Group Plc from 14.6% to less than 25%. Atlas 2022 Holdings is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emirates Telecommunications Group (e&), incorporated in the Cayman Islands for acquiring and holding e&'s current 14.6% interest in Vodafone.
- SBI Mutual Fund (SBI MF) has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire up to 9.99% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of Karur Vysya Bank Ltd (KVB).
- As many as 1.15 crore (or 11.5 million) digital life certificates were generated by pensioners across the country during a recently concluded special campaign. This was part of the Jeevan Pramaan initiative, a biometric-enabled digital service for pensioners.
- Economy:
- The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above in urban areas declined to 6.6 per cent in April-June 2023 from 7.6 per cent a year ago. The high unemployment rate in the same period last year was due to Covid-related restrictions.
- The output of eight key infrastructure sectors jumped by 12.1 per cent in October 2023 against 0.7 per cent expansion in the year-ago period on account of a sharp uptick in production of coal, steel, cement and electricity, according to the official data released on Thursday.
- The government's fiscal deficit at the end of October stood at ₹8.03 lakh crore, or 45% of the full-year budget estimate, according to data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).
- The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Wednesday retained its growth projection for India at 6.3 per cent for FY24 holding that surging services exports and public investment will continue to drive the economy.
- India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at a higher-than-expected 7.6% in the July to September 2023 quarter, as per initial estimates from the National Statistical Office.
- Mous:
- The historic peace agreement between the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and the Government of India was signed on 29th November 2023 in New Delhi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah called it a “historic milestone” and welcomed them to the democratic processes.
- Science & Technology:
- NASA’s ambitious plan involves creating human settlements on the Moon by 2040. The project signifies a major leap in space exploration and habitation, with NASA envisioning the establishment of the first American lunar subdivision within the next two decades.
- NASA’s Odyssey orbiter captured an unusual view of the horizon of Mars using its Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) camera. This image is a false color composite, made by combining three channels of infrared data that highlight water-ice clouds and dust in the atmosphere.
- Garuda Aerospace has indeed secured its second Type Certificate from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for Medium Category Drones. This certification showcases Garuda Aerospace’s dedication to pioneering advancements in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle technology, reinforcing its commitment to meeting stringent regulatory standards.
- Important Days:
- Nagaland celebrated its 61st statehood day on December 1, 2023. Nagaland was formally inaugurated as the 16th state of the Indian Union on December 1, 1963. This day is also known as Nagaland’s foundation day.
- Military Exercise:
- Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL) in Kochi has launched the first three of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs) for the Indian Navy. The vessels are 78m long, 11.36m wide, with a maximum speed of 25 knots and an endurance of 1800 nautical miles.
- Awards & Honors:
- Dr. V R Lalithambika, a distinguished scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and former Director of the Directorate of the Human Spaceflight Programme, has been conferred with the Légion d’Honneur, the highest civilian honour of France.
- Books:
- The book “India’s Moment: Changing Power Equations Around the World” by Mohan Kumar was indeed launched by the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, H.E. Mr. Vikram K. Doraiswami.
- Obituaries:
- Henry Kissinger, the former U.S. Secretary of State and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, passed away at the age of 100. He died on November 29, 2023, at his home in Connecticut.
Questions:
Q.1 Who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a Rs 250-crore money laundering case?a. Mohammad Shafi Dar
b. Hilal A Mir
c. Both A and B
d. None of the above
Q.2 Who developed the DIGI-PHARMed application?
a. Indian Medical Association
b. Pharmacy Council of India
c. All India Institute of Medical Sciences
d. National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research
