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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
PLFS: India’s Urban Unemployment Rate Declined to 6.4% in Q2 FY25
On 18th November 2024, the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 24th Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Quarterly Bulletin (July to September 2024). As per the report, Unemployment Rate (UR) in urban areas among persons aged 15 years and above has decreased by 20 basis points (bps), to 6.4% in 2nd Quarter(Q2: July-September) of Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25), from 6.6% in Q1 of FY25.
- This marks the lowest UR since the inception of PLFS in April-June 2018.
i.The UR among females (aged 15 years and above) in urban areas has decreased marginally to 8.4% in Q2FY25 from 8.6% in the same quarter of FY24 and 9% in Q1FY25. This marks the 5th consecutive quarter of the female UR has been above 8%.
- While, the UR among males (aged 15 years and above) in urban areas has decreased from 6% (in Q2FY24) to 5.7% in Q2FY25. The rate was 5.8% in Q1FY25.
ii.The LFPR in CWS in urban areas among persons aged 15 years and above has surged to a record-high of 50.4% in Q2 of FY25 compared to 49.3% for same quarter of FY24.
About Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementaion (MoSPI):
Minister of State (MoS)–Rao Inderjit Singh (Constituency- Gurugram, Haryana)
>> ReadFull News
MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh Launched Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index 2023
On 18th November 2024, Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P), launched Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index (GRAI) 2023 during the National Workshop on “Effective Redressal of Public Grievances” held at Vigyan Bhawan, in New Delhi, Delhi.
- The Workshop was organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), MoPPG&P.
i.GRAI 2023 has assessed 89 Central Ministries and Departments and ranked them based on a comprehensive index in the dimensions of: efficiency, feedback, domain and organizational commitment and corresponding 11 indicators.
ii.While addressing the event, Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted a significant milestone in public grievance redressal and announced that the average grievance resolution time has reduced from 30 days to just 13 days and will soon be reduced further.
About Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P):
Union Minister- Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi (Constituency- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP))
Union Minister of State (MoS)- Dr. Jitendra Singh (Constituency- Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir, J&K)
>> ReadFull News
AIM unveils 4th Cohort of Community Innovator Fellows supported by Capgemini, India
The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India in partnership with Capgemini India launched its fourth cohort of Community Innovator Fellows (CIFs), aimed at fostering grassroots innovation and empower local innovators to create sustainable solutions for their communities.
Cohort Details:
The program, implemented by SRF Foundation in collaboration with AIM and Capgemini, includes 15 fellows hosted at Atal Community Innovation Centers (ACICs) that provide a supportive environment for innovators from diverse backgrounds. These will offer essential skills in entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
Key Points:
i.The CIF initiative focuses on addressing community-specific challenges through local, sustainable solutions.
ii.The program includes a 1-year intensive training with mentorship on entrepreneurship, life skills, and UN SDGs (United Nation- Sustainable Development Goals)-aligned solutions.
iii.Each Fellow receives a grant of Rs 1 lakh from Capgemini India to scale their innovative solutions.
iv.AIM’s broader mission is to foster innovation and entrepreneurship at the grassroots level, particularly in underserved regions, driving progress toward SDGs 2030.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
AM Green Kakinada Cluster Joins WEF‘s Transitioning Industrial Clusters Initiative
Andhra Pradesh(AP) based the AM Green Kakinada Cluster, the world’s first Zero Emission Cluster, has joined the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Transitioning Industrial Clusters Initiative to drive economic growth, create jobs, and reduce Carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions through collaboration between industries and public institutions.
Note: The AM Green Ammonia (India) Private Limited, a company under Greenko Group, is developing one of the worlds largest Green Ammonia Platforms at Kakinada, AP.
Objectives:
i.To foster cooperation among industries and governments for sustainable practices.
ii.To drive economic growth with innovative solutions aligned with global sustainability goals.
iii.To contribute to reducing carbon emissions by producing green molecules, including green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel.
About AM Green Kakinada Cluster:
i.The AM Green Kakinada cluster represents an investment of over USD 3 billion, projected to generate 10,000+ direct and indirect jobs.
ii.Operations will begin in 2026 with zero projected CO2 emissions.
iii.Starting with an Initial capacity includes 1 Million Tons Per Annum (MTPA) of green ammonia. The cluster also includes a 2 GW (Giga Watt) electrolyser manufacturing plant, and other green molecule production.
- It targets green ammonia production to 5 MTPA by 2030 equates to approximately 1 MTPA of green hydrogen.
iv.It will be powered by 24/7 carbon-free energy through pumped storage projects, with integrated utilities like green steam, desalinated water, and effluent treatment.
v.It is part of a larger strategy involving approximately USD 15 billion in upstream ecosystem investments.
About Transitioning Industrial Clusters Initiative :
i.The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) in collaboration with Accenture and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) launched its Transitioning Industrial Clusters initiative at the 26th Conference of the Parties(COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021.
ii.The initiative aims to accelerate the decarbonization of hard-to-abate industrial sectors through regional cooperation.
About World Economic Forum’s (WEF):
President– Børge Brende
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Establishment– 1971
BANKING & FINANCE
Rio Partnered with Yes Bank & NPIC to launch Co-branded Credit Card; Rio launched UPI app
Bengaluru (Karnataka)- based fintech company Rio Money has partnered with Yes Bank Limited and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch, Yes Bank Rio RuPay Credit Card, a co-branded credit card.
- Rio Money also launch of its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) app, to rovides users with seamless access to credit for UPI payments.
Key Features of the Credit Card:
i.This innovative card integrates credit benefits with UPI, enabling users to transact at over 100 million merchant locations across India.
ii.The card is available to individuals aged 21 to 60 years and is open to both salaried employees, with a minimum net monthly salary of Rs 25,000, and self-employed individuals, with an annual Income Tax Return (ITR) of Rs 5 lakh. However, existing YES BANK credit cardholders are not eligible to apply.
iii.The card is lifetime free and does not require any joining fee. Annual charges are waivable, depending on usage.
iv.The card offers a credit limit of up to Rs 5 lakh and provides personalized rewards along with exclusive deals, accessible through the Rio application (app)’s “Know Your Offers” feature.
Applicable Fees:
i.Utility Payments: Transactions exceeding Rs 15,000 per month will incur a 1% fee plus Goods and Services Tax (GST), with a maximum charge of Rs 3,000.
ii.Education Fees: From October 2024, payments made via third-party platforms like CRED (fintech firm) or PhonePe (digital financial services provider) will attract a 1% fee plus GST, capped at Rs 5,000 per calendar month.
iii.Fuel Transactions: A 1% fee plus GST will be charged for fuel purchases above Rs 10,000 per transaction, capped at Rs 5,000 per month.
Key Facts:
i.The Yes Bank Rio RuPay Credit Card has seen strong adoption, with 60% of applications during its beta phase coming from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
ii.With daily UPI transactions expected to rise from 0.5 billion to five billion, Rio is positioned to be a key provider of UPI-linked credit solutions.
About Yes Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Prashant Kumar
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established– 2004
About National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI):
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)-Dilip Asbe
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Founded– 2008
GoI Releases 2nd Tranche of USD 2.5 Million to UNRWA for Palestine Refugees
Representative Office of India to Palestine announced that the Government of India (GoI) has released the 2nd tranche of USD 2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), one of the largest United Nations (UN) programs completing its annual commitment of USD 5 million for 2024-25.
- This contribution highlights India’s ongoing support for the welfare of Palestinian refugees.
Key Points:
i.India has provided a cumulative financial assistance of USD 40 million to UNRWA over the years. This support has been instrumental in funding the agency’s key initiatives, including education, healthcare, and social services for Palestinian refugees.
ii.India has also consistently extended humanitarian aid, such as medical assistance, to Palestine.
- In October 2024, India supplied 30 tons of essential medicines, including life-saving and anti-cancer drugs, to address the healthcare needs of Palestinian refugees.
- India’s continued support underscores its dedication to international humanitarian efforts and strengthening ties with Palestine.
Additional Info: Palestine’s Independence Day is annually observed on November 15 marking the day in 1988 when the Palestinian National Council (PNC) formally declared the establishment of the State of Palestine in Algiers, Algeria.
About United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA):
The UNRWA is a United Nations (UN) organization dedicated to providing relief and supporting the human development of Palestinian refugees. It was established in 1949 by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and became operational on 1 May 1950.
Commissioner-General– Philippe Lazzarini
Headquarters-Amman, Jordan
GenWise Launches UPI Payments for Senior Citizens with secure Interface
GenWise, India’s leading app-based club for senior citizens, has launched an industry’s-1st Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payment solution “GenWise UPI” designed to address the needs of India’s elderly population. This was developed in collaboration with Axis Bank Limited.
- GenWise UPI features an intuitive, simplified interface, emphasizing security measures like geo-fencing, biometric authentication, and audio-based navigation.
- It will enable India’s elders to scan and make payments while shopping, pay their friends and family, and pay their utility bills, etc.
- This feature is tailored to support elders using digital payments.
Profectus Capital Raised USD 25 million via NCDs to IFC
Profectus Capital Private Limited, a Non-Banking Finance Company(NBFC) focused on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), raised USD 25 million (~Rs 205 crore) through issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) to International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank (WB) Group.
- This is IFC’s 1st investment to finance energy efficient (EE) machinery for MSMEs in India.
i.Profectus Capital has developed a Green Bond Framework in line with International Capital Market Association’s(ICMA) Green Bond Principles.
ii.Though an estimated 65 million MSMEs in India contribute about 30% to India’s GDP and about 40% to exports. The credit gap for the sector is estimated to be Rs 25.8 trillion (approximately USD 311 billion).
Northern Arc Secures USD 65 Million for Climate Impact Fund
In November 2024, Northern Arc, a leading Non- Banking Financial Company) (NBFC), announced that it secured a total of USD 65 million from global development banks for its inaugural climate fund, managed through its fund management arm, Northern Arc Investments Indian Financial System Code(IFSC) Trust.
- The climate fund has received a USD 50 million commitment from the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and an additional USD 15 million from (Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG) OeEB, the development bank of the Republic of Austria.
i.The fund focuses on providing debt financing to growth-stage companies in sectors such as commercial, industrial, and residential solar energy, energy efficiency, green buildings and materials, e-mobility, and sustainable agriculture.
ii.The fund also aligns with India’s broader climate goals towards renewable energy and sustainable practices, reinforcing Northern Arc’s commitment in reduction of emissions.
Cashfree launched Pilot for Cross-Border Payments & Global Transactions
Cashfree payment India Private Limited, a leading Indian fintech company, has launched a pilot project for cross-border payments in partnership with foodtech Swiggy, quick commerce giant Zepto, premium grocery platform Nature’s Basket, online beauty and fashion retailer Nykaa, online ticketing platform Bookmyshow, online travel reservation platform Redbus and edtech company Vedantu.
- This marks a significant step towards facilitating seamless international transactions for both import and export businesses as well for individual users.
- The pilot programme benefits the users of Unified Payments Interface(UPI) systems and RuPay credit and debit card platforms that are not typically recognised for Global Transactions.
Note:Cashfree Payment has received Payment Aggregators Cross Border (PA-CB) licence and Pay
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Indian Economy likely to Grow 6.7% in FY25 due to Weaker Q2 Performance: Morgan Stanley
In November 2024, Morgan Stanley, American multinational investment bank and financial services company,released its ‘2025 India Economics Outlook’. It revised India’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) growth forecast to 6.7% for the Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25) from an earlier projection of 7%.
- This revision is due to weaker-than-expected performance in the Second Quarter (Q2) of FY25 at 6.3%, driven by agriculture and government spending.
- The report also anticipates steady growth at 6.5% in FY26 and FY27, driven by domestic demand.
Key Points:
i.Weak indicators in Q2 include falling GST (Gross Domestic Tax) collections to a 40-month low in September 2024, declining core sector output, and 8-month low manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).
ii.Consumption, accounting for 60.3% of GDP, remains a central driver of the constructive outlook for the economy.
iii.According to the report, the retail inflation to moderate to 4.3% in FY26, lower than the level of 4.9% in FY25, driven by stable commodity prices.
iv.Rural demand will benefit from a favorable monsoon, rising wages, and better labor market conditions, while urban demand sees gains from job growth and financial improvements.
v.Risks to consumption persist due to inflation, but improved rainfall and crop outlook may ease food inflation.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Jane Figueiredo and Vitaliy Petrov Honored with IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards 2024
In November 18 2024, Diving coach Jane Figueiredo (Zimbabwe/Portugal) and Pole vault coach Vitaliy Petrov (Ukraine) were honored with 6th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards in the presence of IOC President Thomas Bach at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland.
- They have been recognised for their long-standing dedication to their respective sports and the athletes they coach.
- The IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards 2023 winners are Laura Martinel (Argentina, judo) and Taesuk Chang (Republic of Korea, fencing).
About IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards:
i.The IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards was launched in 2017.
ii.This award is annually awarded to 2 coaches each year(1 female, 1 male) to recognise the vital role played by coaches in the life of any athlete, both on and off the field of play.
iii.The Award winners were selected by a panel appointed by IOC President Thomas Bach and chaired by Sergii Bubka. Candidates were nominated by Olympians, International Federations, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), members of the IOC Athletes’ and IOC Athletes’ Entourage commissions and Members.
About Jane Figueiredo:
i.Jane Figueiredo started her career in sport as an athlete, representing Zimbabwe at the 1982 World Aquatics Championships and Portugal at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984 and the 1986 World Aquatics Championships.
ii.She has served as the (Great Britain) GB head diving coach since 2014.
iii.She was one of the lead coaches in the United Kingdom(UK) Sport’s inaugural Female Coaches Leadership Programme in 2021.
iv.She coached 7 Olympic medallists during her career, including British duo Tom Daley and Matty Lee.
v.As a member of the UK Sport Women’s Leadership group she also organized coaching seminars for young coaches.
About Vitaliy Petrov:
i.Vitaliy Petrov led the 1st athlete from the Philippines, Ernest John Obiena, to qualify for the Olympic Games in pole vaulting.
ii.Vitaliy Petrov ‘s dedication towards coaching athletes signifies shaping the careers of numerous athletes, including Sergii Bubka, whom he coached to an Olympic gold medal and two world titles in pole vault.
iii.His athletes have set 36 world records and won a combination of 6 Olympic medals and 21 World Championship titles.
About International Olympic Committee(IOC):
President- Thomas Bach
Headquarters- Lausanne, Switzerland.
Establishment- 1894
24 Coastal villages in Odisha were recognised as “Tsunami-Ready” by IOC-UNESCO 
24 coastal villages from 6 districts of Odisha have been officially recognised as ‘Tsunami Ready’ by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- This Tsunami Ready Recognition Certificates was presented during the 2nd Global Tsunami Symposium in Indonesia on 11th November 2024.
- These villages are located in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Ganjam districts.
About Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (IOC-UNESCO):
Chairperson – Dr. Yutaka Michida
Headquartered – Paris, France
Established – 1960
>> ReadFull News
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Somaliland Elects Dr Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi as New President
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, leader of Somaliland’s opposition has won the presidential elections and was elected as the 6th President of Somaliland. Abdullahi (Waddani Party), also known as Irro, secured nearly 64% of the vote by defeating the incumbent President Muse Bihi Abdi (Kulmiye Party).
- The Results were announced by the Somaliland National Electoral Commission (SLNEC).
- Prior to the appointment, Abdullahi served as Somaliland’s Parliament Speaker in 2005.
About Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi:
i.Abdirahman Irro, was born on April 29 1955, in Hargeisa, Somalia.
ii.His career began in Somalia’s foreign service in 1981, where he was posted to Moscow, eventually serving as the country’s acting Ambassador to the Soviet Union during the civil war.
iii.Irro entered politics in 2002 as a co-founder of the opposition Justice and Welfare Party (UCID).
iv.He served as Speaker of the Parliament for 12 years, during which he founded the Waddani Party and was chosen as its first Chairman as well as the Presidential candidate for the 2017 election.
iv.Following parliamentary elections in 2021, Waddani became the majority party in parliament.
About Somaliland:
Somaliland is a former British protectorate that joined the rest of Somalia on 1 July 1960. In 1991 Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia.
President- Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi
Capital– Hargeisa
Currency- Somaliland Shilling (SLSH)
IMPORTANT DAYS
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day 2024 – November 19
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) is observed annually across the globe on 19th November to recognize and celebrate the achievements of female entrepreneurs. The day highlights the women’s role in business and their contributions to the entrepreneurial landscape.
- 19th November 2024 marks the 11th anniversary of WED.
- The annual observance of WED was organized by the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO), a non-governmental organization(NGO) founded by Wendy Diamond, a social entrepreneur in 2013.
Background:
i.The 1st WED was observed on 19th November 2014, at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, the United States of America(USA).
ii.It is a global initiative celebrated at the UN and in 144 countries to empower women in business to help alleviate poverty economically.
#ChooseWOMEN Campaign:
i.WEDO launched the international digital campaign #ChooseWOMEN campaign in 2013, to empower women entrepreneurs, drive economic growth, and alleviate poverty.
ii.This campaign aims to designate the Wednesday after Thanksgiving to celebrate and support women in business.
iii.In collaboration with Bartle Bogle Hegarty, #ChooseWOMEN is a grassroots social media movement that encourages both women and men to pledge their support to #ChooseWOMEN in the business world.
Mission of WEDO:
The mission of WEDO is to empower the 4 billion women globally, enabling them to become catalysts for change and improve the lives of over 250 million girls living in poverty worldwide.
2024 Events:
On 15th November 2024, WEDO organized some events to commemorate the celebration of 11 years of WED (proclaimed on November 19th) at the Delegates’ Dining Room inside the UN headquarters in New York City, USA.
Note: The first-ever WED Summit was hosted in 2016 at the UN headquarters in New York City.
World Children’s Day 2024 – November 20 
The United Nations (UN)’s World Children’s Day is annually observed across the globe on 20th November to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.
- This is an annual day of action for children by children led by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
- The theme of World Children’s Day 2024 is “Listen to the Future!”.
Background:
i.World Children’s Day was initially established as the Universal Children’s Day.
ii.On 14th December 1954, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/836(IX) and recommended all the nations to institute a Universal Children’s Day with effect from 1956.
About United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
UNICEF was established in 1946 as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). It became a permanent part of the UN in 1953 and its name was shortened to the United Nations Children’s Fund.
Executive Director(ED)– Catherine M. Russell
Headquarters– New York, the United States of America (USA)
>> ReadFull News
Africa Industrialization Day 2024 – November 20
The United Nations (UN)’s Africa Industrialization Day is annually observed across the globe on 20th November to raise awareness about the importance of Africa’s industrialization and the challenges faced by the continent.
- 20th November 2024 marks the 35th Africa Industrialization Day.
Theme:
The theme of Africa Industrialization Day 2024 is “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Green Industrialization to Accelerate Africa’s Structural Transformation”.
- The theme focuses on harnessing emerging technologies like AI and innovations in green manufacturing to drive Africa’s industrialization sustainably.
STATE NEWS
“Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla” notified as India’s 56th Tiger Reserve
On November 18 2024, Union Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav notified the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla protected area in Chhattisgarh as India’s 56th tiger reserve.
- The new reserve becomes India’s 3rd largest tiger reserve behind the Manas Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Assam and the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in Andhra Pradesh (AP).
- It is the 4th tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh after Achanakmar, Indravati, and Udanti Sitanadi.
Key points:
i.The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve is situated across the Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Korea, Surajpur, and Balrampur districts of Chhattisgarh.
ii.The reserve will spread with a total size of 2,829.38 square kilometers(sq km) and 2,049.2 sq km designated as core area. It is contiguous to Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh(MP).
iii.The reserve has a buffer zone of 780.15 sq km, which reduces human-animal conflicts and gives wildlife the space they need to thrive.
iv.A total of 753 species, including 365 invertebrates and 388 vertebrates, have been documented from Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
v.This strengthens India’s commitment to tiger conservation and its position as a global leader in protection with support from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under Project Tiger.
About Chhattisgarh:
Chief Minister (CM)– Vishnu Deo Sai
Governor- Ramen Deka
Capital- Raipur
Airports – Swami Vivekananda International Airport, Maa Mahamaya Airport
MP and Rajasthan Form Joint Panel Committee for Cheetah Project
The Governments of Madhya Pradesh and the Government of Rajasthan have formed a 10-member joint corridor management committee between the two states in response to the incidents of cheetahs from Madhya Pradesh(MP) straying into neighboring Rajasthan. It aims to create and manage a cheetah corridor between the two states, guaranteeing the safe movement of cheetahs.
- The committee was formed following the incidents of cheetahs straying from MP into Rajasthan in December 2023 and May 2024.
i.The panel, co-chaired by the Principal Chief Conservators of Forest (PCCFs) (wildlife) from MP and Rajasthan, has been tasked with identifying the “Cheetah Conservancy Landscape”.
ii.The committee will discuss and formulate a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two states.
- The primary focus will be on conserving these felines, creating appropriate habitats, and supporting the future relocation of cheetahs from MP’s Kuno National Park (KNP) and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary (GSWS).
Note: In 2022, eight cheetahs from Namibia were relocated to KNP. In 2023, 12 additional cheetahs were brought from South Africa. Now, KNP is home to 24 cheetahs.
Karnataka Celebrates “Bali Padyami” Festival
Karnataka celebrated the “Bali Padyami” festival (Bali Pratipada) on the fourth day of Deepavali which commemorated the return of the Asura king, Bali Chakravarty, from Pathala Loka to Bhuloka, as per the boon granted to him by Lord Vishnu during his Vamana Avatar.
- This year it was celebrated on 2nd November, 2024.
i.Worship of Ganga Mata on the first day, observance of Naraka Chaturdashi on the second day, and celebration of Lakshmi Puja on the third day of Deepavali, the festival of Bali Padyami gains its significance on the fourth day.
ii.The day symbolizes prosperity and well-being, reflecting the once-thriving kingdom of Bali Chakravarty.
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