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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
NTPC Celebrates 50th Raising Day; celebrated five decades of India’s Growth
NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation, India’s leading power generation company, celebrated its 50th Raising Day on 7th November 2024 recognizing five decades of remarkable growth, innovation, and contribution to India’s power sector.
- The celebrations took place at the Engineering Office Complex (EOC), Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP) wherein Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) hoisted the NTPC flag in the presence of Directors on the Board and senior officials.
About NTPC Ltd:
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) – Gurdeep Singh
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Founded– 1975
>> ReadFull News
India-Bhutan’s First Integrated Check Post Launched in Assam’s Darranga
On November 7, 2024, Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Governor of Assam, inaugurated the first-ever Integrated Check Post (ICP) along the India-Bhutan border at Darranga village in Assam. The facility was developed by the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI).
- This ICP allows entry and exit for third-country nationals via land.
- Prior to this, 3rd-country nationals could only enter or exit Bhutan through Paro International Airport, located in Paro,Bhutan or the Jaigaon-Phuentsholing land route, with Jaigaon in West Bengal, India, and Phuentsholing in southern Bhutan.
Note: This development follows an agreement made during King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan’s visit to India in November 2023, where both nations decided to designate Darranga (Assam) and Samdrup-Jongkhar (Bhutan) as official ICPs for third-country nationals.
Key People:
i.The ICP was inaugurated in the presence of Prime Minister (PM) of Bhutan H.E. Lyonchhen Dasho Tshering Tobgay.
ii.Minister of State (MoS) Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA); MoS, Pabitra Margherita, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA); Dasho Pema Chewang, the Leader of the Opposition of Bhutan, and other elected representatives and senior officials from both countries were present during the event.
Key Features of ICP Darranga:
i.Covering 14.5 acres, ICP Darranga is designed to enhance trade and cross-border transit with modern infrastructure.
ii.It includes facilities such as an office complex, dedicated parking, loading and unloading zones, a weighbridge, and a warehouse.
iii.As the facility was developed by theLPAI, it also provides residential quarters for officials, ensuring seamless operations.
iv.Additionally, it features inspection areas, plant quarantine systems, and specialized parking.
Enhanced Connectivity for Efficient Trade:
The ICP is strategically located just 700 meters from the India-Bhutan border, making it an ideal point for trade and transit.
- On the Indian side, Darranga is well-connected to National Highway (NH) 27, which is close to Rangia, Assam.
- On the Bhutanese side, the customs infrastructure at Samdrup-Jongkhar complements the Indian ICP, further enhancing cross-border cooperation.
About Bhutan:
King– HM King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk
President– H.E. Lyonchhen Dasho Tshering Tobgay
Capital– Thimphu
Currencies– Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN), Indian Rupee (INR)
About Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI):
Chairman– Aditya Mishra
Founded– 2012
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Air India Becomes 1st Indian Airline to Receive Design Organisation Approval from DGCA
Air India Limited has become the first-ever Indian Airlines to receive Design Organisation Approval (DOA) or CAR 21 approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to carry out modifications in aircraft interiors in-house as the Tata Group-owned airline works on revamping its fleet and expanding operations.
- The approval was handed over by DGCA Director General D.C. Sharma to Air India’s CEO, Campbell Wilson.
- The full-service carrier collaborates with Tata Technologies to enhance the interiors of its aircraft fleet.
i.The DOA from the DGCA will enable the airline to independently make design changes in-house and implement modifications to its aircraft interiors more efficiently.
ii.This DOA is a transformative step towards enhancing Air India’s in-house capabilities. This will bolster the decisions to set up its own engineering, maintenance and training facilities. This will enhance operational efficiency and make the airline more self-reliant.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Global City Index 2024: London Emerged as the World’s Top City Brand
According to the Brand Finance’s Global City Index 2024, London, the United Kingdom (UK), has again emerged as the world’s top city brand for 2nd consecutive year, with overall score of 90.9 out of 100.It is followed by New York City, the United States of America (USA), Paris, France secured 2nd and 3rd position respectively.
- This the 2nd edition of the index, which provides the most comprehensive global survey of city perceptions, collecting opinions from more than 15,000 respondents across 20 countries worldwide.
i.Tokyo, Japan has improved its overall ranking in the index by 3 places, from 7th (in 2023) position to 4th (in 2024).
ii.Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as the highest-ranked city in the West Asia and Africa region for the 2nd consecutive year.
About Brand Finance:
Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- David Haigh
Headquarters- London, the United Kingdom (UK)
Established- 1996
>> ReadFull News
BANKING & FINANCE
India & ADB sign USD 200 million loan to boost urban services in Uttarakhand
The Government of India(GoI) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a USD 200 million loan (about Rs 1,680 crore) to provide support in upgradation of water supply, sanitation, urban mobility, and other urban services in the state of Uttarakhand.
- The agreement was a part of the Uttarakhand Livability Improvement Project and was signed by Juhi Mukherjee, joint secretary, Department of Economic Affairs(DEA), Ministry of Finance(MoF) and Mio Oka, country director of the ADB’s India Resident Mission.
- The European Investment Bank(EIB) will be co-financing the project with USD 191 million on a parallel basis.
Key Points
i.The main aim of the project was to create an urban infrastructure that is strong enough to tackle climate and environmental risks such as floods and landslides, ensuring the safety and health of Uttarakhand’s population.
ii.The project will develop transportation, urban mobility, drainage, flood management, and overall public services in Haldwani.
- Additionally, efficient and climate-resilient water supply systems will be developed in four cities – Champawat, Kichha, Kotdwar, and Vikasnagar improving water supply delivery.
ii.Climate resilient roads of 16 kilometers (km) in length will be developed in Haldwani alongwith intelligent traffic management system, providing compressed natural gas buses, and pilot electric buses.
- The project will construct 36 km of stormwater and roadside drains to improve flood management and implement an early warning system against disasters.
- A green-certified administrative complex and bus terminal will also be constructed to improve public services delivery.
iii.The water service coverage will be increased to 100% in the other four cities, by constructing 1,024 km of climate-resilient pipelines with smart water meters, 26 tubewells, new reservoirs, and a 3.5 million-litre-per-day water treatment plant.
- Sewage treatment facilities will be provided in Vikasnagar improving sanitation coverage and benefitting around 2,000 households.
iv.Moreover, several initiatives for women will be introduced, such as livelihood skills training on driving buses, bus ticketing, and the operation of electric charging stations to build the capacity of women.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB) :
President– Masatsugu Asakawa (Japan)
Headquarters– Manila, the Philippines
Founded – 1966
Membership– 69 countries
IBBI Partners with IBA to List and Auction Liquidation Assets on eBKray Platform
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) announced that it has collaborated with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) to facilitate the auction of assets under the liquidation process through the ‘eBKray platform’, which is presently owned and managed by PSB Alliance Private Limited (a consortium of 12 Public Sector Banks,PSBs).
- This announcement was made by IBBI through a circular issued in the exercise of the powers given under Section 196 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC 2016).
i.This circular will come into force with effect from 1st November, 2024.
ii.For the initial phase, the platform will be deployed on a pilot mode and it will be improved based on the experiences of the usage. The complete roll-out of the platform will be notified thereafter.
About Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI):
Chairman- Ravi Mittal
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 2016
>> ReadFull News
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
SBI Report: India’s GDP expected to grow at 6.5% in Q2FY25
According to the State Bank of India (SBI)’s latest report, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow around 6.5% in 2nd Quarter (Q2: July-September) of Financial Year 2024-25(FY 25).
- This projection by SBI is 50 basis points (bps) lower than Reserve Bank of India’s(RBI) estimate of 7% for Q2FY25.
- The report has further estimated that India’s GDP growth in the 3rd Quarter (Q3) and 4th Quarter (Q4) of FY25 is closer to 7%.
Key Findings:
i.The report has monitored 50 leading indicators in consumption and demand, agriculture, industry, service and other indicators and they have indicated a decline in Q2FY25.
- The percentage of indicators showing acceleration decreased to 69% in Q2FY25 compared to 80% in Q2FY24 and 78% in Q1FY25.
ii.The report underscored that the recent growth in rural demand, juxtaposed against the somewhat declining urban demand, with 85% of rural indicators showing acceleration as against 73% of urban indicators (September 2024).
- Thus, the report has emphasized the need to capture “soft data” accurately that could be used to reflect changing consumer behaviours, especially as q-commerce (quick commerce) gains traction in urban areas.
iii.The report highlighted that rural demand has been robust, underscored by high consumer sentiment. The report showed that in all months of 1st Half (H1) of FY25, rural consumer sentiment is over 100 and gradually converging to that of urban consumer sentiment.
iv.However, the report has warned against any policy decisions that could create short-term fiscal pressures. As per the report, initiatives like loan waivers and universal crop price guarantees are “unscientific” and could lead to long-term economic challenges.
v.This positive growth in rural demand is expected to support broader economic growth and ensure that India’s GDP remains on track for strong close to FY25.
About State Bank of India(SBI):
Chairman- Challa Sreenivasulu (C.S.) Setty
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Tag line – The Banker to Every Indian
Established- 1st July 1955
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Brazil’s Valdecy Urquiza elected as INTERPOL’s New Secretary General
Valdecy Urquiza, a Federal Police Commissioner from Brazil, has been elected as the new Secretary-General of the International Criminal Police Organisation INTERPOL,during its 92nd General Assembly held at Glasgow(Scotland) in the United Kingdom(UK). He officially assumed office on November 7, succeeding Jürgen Stock (Germany), who served the Organisation for a decade.
- He was the first person from a developing country Brazil to hold this position since INTERPOL’s establishment in 1923.
- Prior to this, he served as the Director of International Cooperation (DIC) for the Brazilian Federal Police, Brazil.
About Valdecy Urquiza:
i.Valdecy Urquiza was a Brazilian Police Commissioner with extensive experience in senior law enforcement roles at both national and international level.
ii.He was also responsible for its International Legal Cooperation Division (ILCD), International Relations Division (IRD), and Directorate of Information Technology (DIT).
iii.He served as Vice-President for the America’s on INTERPOL’s Executive Committee from 2021 to 2024.
iv.From 2018 to 2021, he was the Assistant Director for Vulnerable Communities at the INTERPOL General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France, overseeing three key crime areas: crimes against children, human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
v.He held progressive roles within the Brazilian Federal Police from 2007 to 2018.
vi.He has been the Head of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) of Brazil and Head of International Police Cooperation (IPC) for the Brazilian Federal Police 2015-2018.
About 92nd General Assembly of INTERPOL Organisation:
i.The United Kingdom(UK) hosted the 92nd INTERPOL General Assembly, world’s largest gathering of senior law enforcement officials, from 4th to 7th November 2024 at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow. Keir Starmer, Prime Minister (PM) of the UK has opened the General Assembly meeting.
ii.Attended by around 1,000 delegates from member countries.The General Assembly elected 9 members of the INTERPOL Executive committee.
iii.From India, the annual event was attended by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director, Praveen Sood and Vijayendra Bidari, joint director in the federal anti-corruption agency.
iv.Taiwan seeks to join as an observer in the 92nd INTERPOL General Assembly to strengthen international cooperation in combating global crimes.
About International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL):
INTERPOL was founded in 1923 as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) in Vienna, Austria. In 1956, the organization adopted the name INTERPOL, derived from “International Criminal Police Organization” (ICPO).
Secretary General- Valdecy Urquiza(Brazil)
President- Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Headquarters- Lyon, France
Member Countries- 196
ACC appointed Deepak Agarwal as MD of NAFED
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, has appointed Deepak Agarwal as the new Managing Director(MD) of the National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW).
- Deepak Agarwal, a 2000-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Uttar Pradesh(UP) cadre, will hold the post for a fixed term of 5 years.
i.Previously in September 2024, MoA&FW assigned additional charge of MD of NAFED, to Muktanand Agrawal, a Joint Secretary, MoA&FW. The order was issued after Ritesh Chauhan demitted from office as MD.
ii.On 30th September 2024, Pankaj Kumar Bansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, as the MD of NAFED, initially for “a period of three months or till the appointment of a regular incumbent to the post.”
Note: New Delhi(Delhi) based NAFED was established in 1958. It is registered under the Multi State Co-operative Societies Act.
IAS Officer Vipin Kumar takes over as Chairman of AAI
On 28th October 2024, Vipin Kumar, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1996 batch from the Bihar cadre, took over as the Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) under Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
- He succedded M. Suresh, who has been serving as the interim chairman after Sanjeev Kumar, the former chairman, was appointed as the Defence secretary in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in August 2024.
- Prior to the appointment, he served as Additional secretary in the Department of School Education & Literacy (DSEL), Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India(GoI).
- He was responsible for projects like Samagra Shiksha Scheme under National Education Policy (NEP)-2020, Prime Minister Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) Scheme.
Shashwat Sharma Set to Take over as MD and CEO of Bharti Airtel Ltd in January 2026
Shashwat Sharma, the Chied Operating Officer (COO) of Bharti Airtel Limited (BAL), will take over as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of BAL with effect from (wef) 1st January 2026.
- He will succeed Gopal Vittal, who has been promoted as the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of BAL effective from 1st January 2026.
- Shashwat Sharma will be responsible for the entire end-to-end consumer business, after taking charge as MD and CEO.
About Bharti Airtel Limited(BAL):
Chairman – Sunil Mittal
Established – 1995
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DRDO Successfully Tests Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile off Odisha’s coast
i.On 12th November 2024, The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the first flight-test of the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) , with a range of 1,000 kilometers(km), from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
- This is a new variant of the Nirbhay LRLACM with improved features. It was launched from a mobile articulated launcher.
- The LRLACM was developed by Bengaluru(Karnataka)-based Aeronautical Development Establishment(ADE) with contributions from other DRDO laboratories and other industries
ii.On 11th November 2024, DRDO handed over the Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP) of P-7 Parachute System to the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) by the Agra(Uttar Pradesh-UP) based Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), a DRDO laboratory.
About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
DRDO is an agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development(DDR&D) in the Ministry of Defence(MoD).
Chairman– Dr. Samir V Kamat
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1958
>> ReadFull News
SpaceX Successfully Launches Koreasat-6A Satellite
On 11 November 2024, SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) successfully launched Koreasat-6A, South Korean communication satellite, onboard the Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Cape Canaveral, Florida, The United States of America (USA).
- The satellite was launched for KT SAT corporation Limited (South Korea’s national satellite operator).
- It was deployed into geosynchronous transfer orbit around 35 minutes after liftoff.
- This marks the 23rd flight of Falcon 9 first-stage booster.
About the mission:
i.This mission was crucial for deploying the satellite but also for demonstrating the capabilities of the company’s reusable rocket technology.
ii.The booster made a successful autonomous landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s landing zone 1, nearly 10 minutes after launch.
iii.This launch marks the 107th successful mission for SpaceX this year and the 364th successful booster landing across all Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy missions.
iv.The launch of the Koreasat-6A satellite is part of KT SAT’s strategy to enhance its satellite infrastructure, including its shift towards multi-orbit satellite capabilities.
Koreasat-6A Satellite:
i.Koreasat 6A was developed by France based Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture (JV) between French company Thales Group (67%) and the Italian defense company Leonardo (33%).
ii.The satellite is based on the Spacebus 4000B2 platform and is set to replace the existing Koreasat 6, providing crucial fixed and broadcast satellite services to South Korea (KS) from its geostationary orbit at 116° East.
- It is integrated with 6 broadcast transponders and 20 fixed satellite service (FSS) transponders.
- Additionally, Koreasat 6A will enhance the Korea Augmentation Satellite System (KASS), improving the accuracy and reliability of satellite navigation in South Korea (KS).
iii.Koreasat 6A’s satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) payload will play a significant role in supporting the positioning accuracy of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).
- It will especially impact sectors such as air navigation, overland transportation, shipping, and location-based services (LBS), expanding its influence beyond just satellite communications.
About Korea Augmentation Satellite System (KASS):
KASS was developed by Thales Alenia Space in collaboration with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), KASS began operational service in late 2023.
- Initially, KASS relied on the MEASAT-3D satellite, but now Koreasat 6A will provide enhanced services for a more reliable navigation system.
About Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX):
Chief Operating Officer (CEO)– Elon Musk
Headquarters– California, the United States of America (USA)
Founded– 2002
About South Korea:
President– Yoon Suk Yeol
Prime minister (PM)- Han Duck-soo
Capital– Seoul
Currency– South Korean won
SPORTS
Chennai Grandmasters 2024: Aravindh wins Masters title & Pranav becomes Challengers champion
Grandmaster (GM) Aravindh Chithambaram (4.5 points) clinched the Masters title after tying for first place with GMs Levon Aronian (Armenia) and Arjun Erigaisi(India) and defeating Aronian in the final of the tiebreak with a 2-0 score at the 2nd edition of the Chennai Grandmasters 2024 held from 5th November to 11th November 2024 at the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).
- Meanwhile, in the Challengers category, GM Pranav Venkatesh (5.5 points) emerged victorious after drawing with Leon Mendonca (India) thus ending the competition with four wins and three draws.
- With this win, Pranav got an opportunity to play in the Masters section of next year’s event.
About Chennai Grandmasters 2024 :
i.The Chennai Grand Masters is an 8-player single round-robin with a time control of 90 minutes for the game plus 30-second increments per move.
ii.It is organised by MGD1 and sponsored by the Sports Development Authority of TN and features two categories- Masters & Challengers.
iii.The rating average of this tournament is 2729 according to the October rating list
iv.The Challengers section is the new addition to the Chennai Grandmasters.
>> ReadFull News
Hockey India begins celebration of 100 years of Indian Hockey
On 7th November 2024, Hockey India(HI) announced a year-long celebration to mark the 100th year of Indian hockey. 2025, the centenary year of Hockey India, is a tribute to a century of unparalleled excellence and vision for the future of Hockey in India.
- Hockey India was formed as India’s first national body for Hockey on 7th November 1925 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh(MP).
i.As a part of the celebration, Hockey India relaunched the Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) after a 7-year pause and also announced the launch of the Women’s HIL.
ii.Over these100 years, the Indian Men’s hockey team has won 8 gold medals, one silver and 4 bronze medals in the Olympics. They have also won the 1975 Hockey World Cup trophy.
About Hockey India:
Hockey India (HI) is the apex body of India which has the sole mandate to govern and conduct all activities for both men and women hockey in India.
President– Dr. Dilip Kumar Tirkey
Secretary General- Bhola Nath Singh,
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1925
OBITUARY
Renowned Folk Singer & Padma Bhushan Awardee Sharda Sinha Passes Away at 72
Renowned folk singer Sharda Sinha, who is popularly known as ‘Bihar Kokila’ (Nightingale of Bihar), passed away at the age of 72 due to complications of blood cancer in New Delhi, Delhi. He was born on 1st October 1952 in Bihar.
About Sharda Sinha:
i.Sharda Sinha was a Nritya Visharad (Manipuri) and also held a master’s degree in Indian classical music-vocal and a Ph.D.
ii.Sharda Sinha is known for her songs in Bhojpuri, Maithili, Magahi, and Hindi and is famous for her songs during Chhath Puja, a popular festival celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh(UP).
iii.She was honored with Padma Shri for outstanding contribution to music in 1991 and Padma Bhushan in the Art-Music field in 2018.
iv.In 2000, she was conferred with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
v.She has also received several awards including Rashtriya Devi Ahiliya Samman, Bihar Kala Puraskar, Bihar Ratna, Bhojpuri Ratna, Mithila Vibhuti Samman.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Diabetes Day 2024 – November 14
The United Nations (UN)’s World Diabetes Day (WDD) is annually observed across the globe on 14 November to raise awareness about the impacts of diabetes, need for prevention, early diagnosis, proper treatment and equal access to care.
- WDD is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in over 160 countries
Theme:
i.Each year, WDD highlights a specific theme that continues for one or more years.
- The UN theme for WDD 2024-26 is “Diabetes and well-being”.
ii.The WHO theme for WDD 2024 is “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps”.
Background:
i.WDD was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to address the growing concerns about the health threat posed by diabetes.
ii.The first-ever UN-recognised WDD was observed on 14 November 2007.
About International Diabetes Federation (IDF):
President– Prof. Peter Schwarz (Germany)
Headquarters – Brussels, Belgium
Founded – 1950
>> ReadFull News
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