Current Affairs One - Liner : 21st November 2024

• National:
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has exempted White Category Industries from obtaining separate Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) from State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) as of November 12, 2024.

• The Ministry of Culture launched the Amrit Parampara festival series on November 2, 2024, to celebrate India's cultural heritage. The inaugural event, Kaveri Meets Ganga, took place from November 2-5, 2024, at Kartavya Path and the CCRT campus in Dwarka.
• The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) partnered to form ONGC NTPC Green Private Ltd (ONGPL), a 50:50 joint venture company, incorporated on November 18, 2024. This venture aims to develop renewable energy projects, including offshore wind energy, and explore opportunities in energy storage, e-mobility, and ESG-compliant ventures.
• On November 15, 2024, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) recognized 55 villages globally as Best Tourism Villages for 2024. Selected from over 260 applications from more than 60 UN Tourism Member States, this initiative promotes sustainable tourism, preserves cultural heritage, and supports community development.
• On November 21, 2024, Prasar Bharati launched the OTT platform WAVES. The platform offers over 65 live channels, movies, interactive games, live events, and online shopping in 12 languages, aiming to enhance digital inclusivity, especially in rural areas through the BharatNet infrastructure.
• On November 20, 2024, it was announced that over 1.76 crore school students from 36 states and Union Territories participated in Project Veer Gatha 4.0. This initiative by the Ministry of Education honors the bravery of Armed Forces personnel through creative expressions like poems, paintings, and videos.
• International:
• India and Italy have formalized a strategic action plan (2025-2029) to deepen cooperation in defence, trade, clean energy, and connectivity. Announced during the G20 summit in Brazil on November 18, 2024, this plan aims to enhance collaboration in technology, innovation, and sustainable development.
• Banking:
• The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) sold a 2.02% stake in Tata Power for Rs 2,888 crore on November 12, 2024. The shares were sold between June 20, 2024, and November 11, 2024, reducing LIC's holding in Tata Power from 5.906% to 3.881%.
• The Ministry of Finance (MoF) announced that Public Sector Banks (PSBs) registered an 11% year-on-year (YoY) growth in the first half of the fiscal year 2024-25 (H1 FY25), reaching an aggregate business of Rs 236 trillion. This growth reflects the positive impact of banking reforms and digital advancements.
• The Income Tax Department launched a Compliance-Cum-Awareness Campaign for AY 2024-25 to ensure accurate reporting of foreign assets and income. The campaign targets individuals with high-value foreign assets or income and guides them through informational messages. Non-compliance can result in a penalty of up to ₹10 lakh.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $200 million policy-based loan on November 19, 2024, to help Sri Lanka strengthen its financial sector. This loan aims to improve regulatory supervision, enhance financial inclusion, and support sustainable recovery from the economic crisis.
• MoUs:
• On November 15, 2024, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and UN-Habitat signed an MoU at the Twelfth World Urban Forum in Cairo. This agreement aims to promote sustainable development in urban areas in India by focusing on inclusivity, safety, resilience, and sustainability.
• Science & Technology:
• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India's first indigenous antibiotic, Nafithromycin, on November 20, 2024. Developed by Wockhardt with support from BIRAC, Nafithromycin targets drug-resistant pneumonia and offers a three-day treatment regimen.
• Scientists from the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune discovered a new fire-resilient, dual-blooming species of Dicliptera in the Northern Western Ghats. Announced on November 12, 2024, the species, Dicliptera polymorpha, flowers twice a year, highlighting the region's rich biodiversity.
• Sports:
• Nandan Kumar Jha was elected president of the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) on November 19, 2024, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. His nomination by the World Draughts Federation aims to make mind sports more inclusive and globally accessible.
• Defence:
• The second India-Japan Joint Service Staff Dialogue concluded in New Delhi on November 20, 2024. Co-chaired by Assistant Chief of IDS Air Vice Marshal Prashant Mohan and Major General Minamikawa Nobutaka of the Japan Self Defence Force (JSDF), the dialogue focused on space and cyber collaboration.
• Summits & Conferences:
• The 27th Energy Technology Summit was held from November 12-14, 2024, at The Leela Bhartiya City in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Organized by the Centre for High Technology (CHT), the summit focused on "Emerging Energy Trends & Future of Refining" and included participation from various oil companies and industry experts.
• The 2nd India-CARICOM Summit took place in Georgetown, Guyana, on November 20, 2024. It was hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada. With the theme "Strengthening Ties for Global South," the summit aimed to bolster cooperation in crucial areas such as agriculture, renewable energy, healthcare, capacity building, innovation, cricket and culture, and the ocean economy.
• Important Days:
• World Fisheries Day 2024 is celebrated on November 21. This year's theme, "India’s Blue Transformation: Strengthening Small-Scale and Sustainable Fisheries," aims to raise awareness about the need to protect marine ecosystems for future generations.
• National Philosophy Day 2024 is observed on November 21 with the theme "Exploring the Wisdom of the Ages." This theme encourages reflection on the teachings of great philosophers and their relevance today, emphasizing the importance of philosophical inquiry in promoting critical thinking and dialogue.
• Appointments:
• Justice D. Krishnakumar was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court on November 20, 2024, following a recommendation by the Supreme Court Collegium. He was previously a judge at the Madras High Court and will retire on May 21, 2025.
• Awards & Honours:
• Shivangi Desai was crowned Miss Charm India 2024 on November 19, 2024. The 22-year-old law student at Indian Law School (ILS) Pune will represent India at the global Miss Charm 2024 pageant in Vietnam this December.
• On November 20, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the highest honors from Guyana and Dominica. Guyana awarded him the Order of Excellence, and Dominica conferred the Dominica Award of Honour. These accolades recognize his global contributions and efforts to strengthen ties with both nations.

Questions:

1 What is the primary purpose of the $200 million loan from the ADB to Sri Lanka?

• A) To develop infrastructure
• B) To enhance tourism
• C) To strengthen the financial sector
• D) To support education

Answer: C) The primary purpose of the loan is to strengthen Sri Lanka's financial sector.

2 What is the name of the award Prime Minister Narendra Modi received from Guyana on November 20, 2024?

• A) Order of the Republic
• B) Order of Excellence
• C) Bharat Ratna
• D) Order of Distinction

Answer: B) The Order of Excellence is Guyana’s highest civilian honor, awarded to Prime Minister Modi for his contributions to global diplomacy and strengthening India-Guyana relations.