Current Affairs 4 December 2024

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 4 December 2024, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2024 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

MoSPI Launches e-Sankhyiki Portal for Seamless Access to Official StatisticsThe Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has launched the e-Sankhyiki portal to facilitate seamless access to official statistics in India. This portal is designed to enhance the accessibility and dissemination of official statistics in India, serving as a definitive source for reliable statistical data.

• The Microdata of Surveys and Census is disseminated through a dedicated portal: Microdata Portal.

Key Points:
i.The e-Sankhyiki portal, with its Application Programming Interface (API), ensures seamless data accessibility across various platforms, including the National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP).
ii.Additionally, other Central Ministries and Departments share data through their respective portals, websites, and publications.
iii.The Ministry has also issued a National Metadata Structure (NMDS) on its website (www.mospi.gov.in) to standardize data for consistency.
About Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI):
Minister of State (MoS) Independent Charge(IC)– Rao Inderjit Singh (Constituency- Gurgaon, Haryana)

Home Minister Amit Shah Participated in Diamond Jubilee of NAFSCOB & National Meeting of Rural Cooperative BanksOn 26th November 2024, Union Minister Amit Shah, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and the Ministry of Cooperation, attended the Diamond Jubilee(60 Years) celebrations of the National Federation of State Co-operative Banks Limited (NAFSCOB) and the national meeting of Rural Cooperative Banks at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi.
Diamond jubilee celebrations of any institution have two key goals:

• First, to highlight the institution’s contributions and achievements over the past 60 years;
• and second, to examine its shortcomings and focus on improvements.

Highlights of Diamond Celebrations: 
Union Minister Amit Shah stated that in 2027, India’s economy will be the 3rd largest economy in the World, which is also a goal of the cooperative sector.
Transition in India’s Vision:

• India is moving from the concept of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” (prosperity through cooperation) to “Samriddhi Se Sampoornata” (from prosperity to completeness).
• The creation of the Ministry of Cooperation aligns with the vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi”, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in achieving holistic development.
• Mahatma Gandhi envisioned Gramin Swaraj (rural self-rule) and Ramrajya (ideal governance), and to make this vision a reality, Prime Minister Modi established the Ministry of Cooperation in 2021. He further stated that PM’s third term marks a significant “MOMENT” for those involved in the cooperative sector, emphasizing the need to move forward from this point.

Key Points : 
i.NAFSCOB’s Role in Agricultural Credit
National Federation of State Co-operative Banks Ltd(NAFSCOB) was founded in 1964 by Dr. Dhananjayrao Ramchandra Gadgil and Maganbhai Patel with a vision to guide district and state banks in India.It maintains authorized data of 100 parameters for agricultural loans, ensuring transparency with an accuracy of 99.72%.
ii.Empowering PACS

• Shri Amit Shah emphasized the need for technological integration in Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
• “Cooperation Among Cooperatives” is the key to growth: centralizing cooperative accounts in district banks boosts low-cost deposits by 20%, enhancing profits and loan capacity.

iii.Financial Strength and Profit Growth

• Deposits: District Cooperative Banks: Rs 4,33,000 crore and State Cooperative Banks: Rs 2,42,000 crore.
• The combined profits of State and District Cooperative Banks amount to Rs 2,400 crore and Rs 1,881 crore, respectively.

iv.Revamping PACS for Modernity
To make PACS viable and modern, the Modi government has updated their Bye- Laws, now enabling PACS to:

• Operate Jan Aushadhi Kendras – It was launched by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in 2008 to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses through special kendras known as Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendra (PMBJK).
• Receive licenses for fertilizer and drugs, benefiting nearly 39,000 PACS.
• Shri Amit Shah outlined plans for expanding district cooperative banks in 80% of districts over the next five years.

v.White Revolution’s success – Shri Amit Shah highlighted the White Revolution’s success through Amul, achieving a turnover of Rs 80,000 crore in just 2 years,a model to be adopted by district cooperative banks.
About Ministry of Cooperation:
Union Minister– Amit Shah(Constituency- Gandhinagar, Gujarat)
Minister of State– Krishan Pal Gurjar, Murlidhar Mohol
About The National Federation of State Co-operative Banks Ltd (NAFSCOB): 
Chairman– Konduru Ravinder Rao
Established– 1964
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra

11th edition of Indian Coast Guard’s “SAREX-24” Maritime Exercise Held in KeralaThe 11th edition of Indian Coast Guard (ICG)’s National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise & Workshop (SAREX-24) was held in Kochi, Kerala from 28th November to 29th November.

• It is a biennial exercise, which was conducted under the aegis of New Delhi (Delhi)-based National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSARB).
• Theme of SAREX-24: “Enhancing Search and Rescue capabilities through Regional collaboration”.

Key Dignitaries: S. Paramesh, Director General (DG) of ICG and also the DG of National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinating Authority (NMSRCA) was among the dignitaries present at the event.
Note: The 10th edition of SAREX-22 was held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) in 2022, under the theme “Capacity Building Towards Marine Passenger Safety”.
About SAREX-24:
i.The 1st day of the exercise featured several programmes, including table-top exercise, workshop & seminars which involved participation of senior officials from government agencies, ministries and armed forces, among others.
ii.The 2nd of the sea exercise involved two large scale contingencies carried out off Kochi coast and saw the participation of ships and aircrafts of ICG, Indian Navy (IN), Indian Air Force (IAF), passenger vessel and tug from Cochin Port Authority (CPA) and boats from the Customs.
iii.The 1st contingency stimulated distress onboard a passenger vessel carrying 500 passengers onboard, while, the second scenario showed civil aircraft with 200 passengers.

• The response matrix in the sea exercise included various methodology to evacuate and rescue distressed passengers using modern technologies like: satellite aided distress beacons, drones, air droppable life rafts, among others were demonstrated.

Note: India had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)with member states of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for coordinating Search and Rescue (SAR) in the Indian Ocean region and the ICG is the implementing agency.

• Also, ICG has been nominated as a nodal agency for SAR activities in the Indo-Pacific region.

About Indian Coast Guard (ICG):
Director General (DG) – Paramesh Sivamani
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 1st February, 1977

Finance Minister unveils Rs 100 commemorative coin to mark 100 years of SBI’s Horniman Circle Branch, Mumbai
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF) unveiled a specially minted Rs 100 commemorative coin to mark the centenary of the State Bank of India (SBI)’s iconic Horniman Circle Branch, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• She also unveiled the 5th edition of The Evolution of the State Bank of India, chronicling a transformative era of SBI’s journey between 1981 and 1996.

RECPDCL transferred Khavda HVDC transmission project SPV to PGCIL
REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL) has successfully transferred the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the Khavda V-A high-voltage direct current (HVDC) Transmission Project to Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL).

• The official handover ceremony was held in Gurugram, Haryana.
• PGCIL will oversee the project developed under the TBCB model.This initiative marks India’s 1st HVDC transmission project awarded through such a bidding framework, set to be executed on a Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) basis.
• The project foresees the construction of two advanced HVDC terminal stations with a capacity of 6000 MW each at KPS2 and Nagpur.

CCI Imposes ₹213 Crore Penalty on Meta for Abusing Dominant Position
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore on (most effective tactics available) Meta for abusing its dominant position through WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy. The policy made data sharing with Meta companies mandatory, removing users opt-out option. CCI deemed this as an unfair condition under Section 4(2)(a)(i) of the Competition Act, undermining user autonomy.

• Meta, dominant in India’s (over-the-top) OTT messaging and online display advertising markets, leveraged WhatsApp’s position to create entry barriers for competitors, violating Sections 4(2)(c) and 4(2)(e) of the Act. The mandatory data-sharing also harmed competition in the online advertising market.

i.CCI directed WhatsApp to suspend sharing user data for advertising purposes for 5 years,to provide users an opt-out option for data sharing unrelated to WhatsApp services and to clearly link data collection purposes to shared information in its policies.
ii.These measures aim to curb anti-competitive practices and protect consumer interests.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Highlights of PM Modi’s visit to Nigeria, Brazil & Guyana from 16th to 21st November 2024Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, was on a official visit to Nigeria, Brazil, and Guyana from 16th to 21st November 2024 with an aim to strengthen the diplomatic and economic ties with key global partners.
Highlights of PM Modi’s visit to Nigeria:
PM Modi visited Nigeria from 16th to 17th November 2024 at the invitation of Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

• This was the first visit by a PM of India to Nigeria in 17 years since the establishment of their relations in 2007.

Highlights of PM Modi’s visit to Brazil:
PM visited Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 18th November 2024 to participate in the G20(Group of 20) Summit, hosted by Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva.

• At the event, PM Modi presented India’s perspective on pressing global issues built on the outcomes from the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration and Voice of the Global South Summits, which were hosted by India in the past two years.

Highlights of PM Modi’s visit to Guyana:
PM Modi ended his tour with his visit to Guyana from 19th to 21st November 2024 at the invitation of President of Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

• This was the first visit by an Indian PM to Guyana in 56 years.

>> Read Full News

India signs Final Act of Riyadh Design Law TreatyIndia has signed the Final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT), marking a significant milestone after nearly two decades of negotiations.

• This treaty, adopted by the member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), aims to harmonize and simplify the registration processes for industrial designs across various jurisdictions.

Key Points:
i.Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, hosted the Diplomatic Conference to Conclude and Adopted the Design Law Treaty, from November 11 to 22, 2024.
ii.The Diplomatic Conference represents the final-stage treaty negotiation.
Key Objectives:
The Riyadh Design Law Treaty aims to improve industrial design protection by:
i.Standardizing frameworks to reduce administrative burdens and streamline design registration across countries.
ii.Focusing on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), startups, and independent designers, aligning with initiatives like India’s Startup India program and Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme.
iii.Provisions for Applicants:

• Extended time limits for submissions.
• Reinstatement of lost rights due to procedural lapses.
• Options to correct or add priority claims.
• Simplified procedures for recording assignments and licenses.
• Ability to file multiple designs in a single application.

Note: It should be noted that India has seen a significant surge in design registrations, with a 120% increase in domestic filings and a 25% growth in design applications over the past two years.

India and ISA Partner for Solar Energy Projects in four Indo-Pacific CountriesOn November 26, 2024 an agreement was signed between India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA), to implement solar energy projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles.

• The initiative aims to enhance energy access and reliability in these nations by introducing solar-powered solutions.
• Under this partnership, the ISA will serve as the Project Implementing Agency, with India contributing USD 2 million towards the project.
• The Wilmington Declaration, issued at the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Delaware, emphasized collaboration among Quad countries (India, USA, Japan, and Australia) to support clean energy supply chains.This commitment was reiterated during the Quad Leaders Summit in September 2024, where clean energy investments were prioritized.
• This initiative underscores India’s dedication to driving clean energy transitions and fostering sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific.

Key Focus Areas of Solar Energy Projects:

• Solarisation of Healthcare Facilities: Ensuring reliable energy supply for better healthcare services in underserved regions.
• Cold Storage Systems: Addressing agricultural perishability by providing energy-efficient storage solutions.
• Solar Water Pumping: Supporting irrigation needs in remote areas, boosting agricultural productivity.
• Economic Development: Enhancing energy reliability to foster growth in agriculture and healthcare sectors.
• Model for Clean Energy Initiatives: Setting a benchmark for future renewable energy projects in developing nations.

About International Solar Alliance (ISA):
ISA was launched by the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi and the former President of France, Francois Hollande during the COP21 Paris Climate Conference held  in November 2015.
Director General- Ajay Mathur (Ashish Khanna will replace Ajay Mathur when Mathur’s term ends in March 2025.)
President- Narendra Modi
Headquarters- Haryana, India
Establishment- 2015

UNESCO’s Roadmap for Global Tsunami Preparedness by 2030
The (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) UNESCO unveiled a comprehensive roadmap marking the 20th anniversary of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami to make all coastal community tsunami ready by 2030. This initiative was announced during an international conference in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

• Under the UNESCO Tsunami Ready Programme, over 30 countries have established critical early warning systems, with 26 Indian and 12 Indonesian coastal communities recognized as tsunami-ready. Globally, 700 million people reside in tsunami-prone areas, a figure projected to reach 1 billion by 2050.

i.Tsunamis, caused by sudden oceanic shifts like earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, remain highly destructive. Historical events such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (227,000+ deaths) and the 2011 Japanese tsunami (20,000 deaths) underline their catastrophic impact.
ii.UNESCO’s global detection network includes advanced seismic sensors, tsunami buoys, and sea-level stations, supported by a three step warning process detection, forecasting, and alert dissemination. This initiative underscores UNESCO’s mission of fostering safety through international cooperation.

BANKING & FINANCE

A Year after RBI Notified PA-CB Norms; Only 4 Entities Received LicenseSince the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had notified guidelines to regulate Payment Aggregator- Cross Border (PA-CB) entities in 2023, only 4 companies: Cashfree Payments, Amazon Pay, BillDesk, and Adyen India have received the licence to operate within this highly regulated sector.

• This is in contrast with the 41 companies that have been approved to function as domestic online Payment Aggregators (PAs).
• Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Cashfree Payments was the 1st company in India, to receive a PA-CB licence in July, 2024. It had received approval from the RBI to operate within the import and export sectors.
• Obtaining a license in this sector requires meeting stringent regulations, including Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) compliance, which is not mandatory for domestic/local payment aggregators.

Note: PA-CBs are entities that provide cross-border payment transactions for the import and export of permissible goods and services in online mode.
Key Points:
i.Entities/ Companies that have domestic PA licence, may get priority when applying for a PA-CB licence, as they have already showed the necessary compliance during domestic PA licensing process.
ii.Meanwhile, the entities engaged in the business-to-business cross-border transactions, who have not yet received their PA-CB licences, will continue to operate under a regulatory provision that allows them to do so, until they applied before April, 2024.
RBI Compliance Norms for Non-Bank PAs:
i.As per RBI norms, all non-banks providing payment aggregation and payment processing services are required to have minimum net worth of Rs 15 crore during application to RBI.

• They are required to increase net worth to Rs 25 crore by 31st March, 2026.

ii.Mandatory registration with Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) before RBI Authorization.
iii.Unlike domestic PAs, it is mandatory to maintain separate Import Collection Accounts (ICAs) and Export Collection Accounts (ECAs).
About Reserve Bank of India(RBI):
Governor– Shaktikanta Das (25th Governor of RBI)
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established– 1 April, 1935

HDFC Bank Launches Pragati Savings Account for Semi-Urban and Rural IndiaOn November 27, 2024 the India’s leading private sector (Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited) HDFC Bank, announced the launch of Pragati Savings Account which was designed specifically to support farmers with a wide range of features and benefits in order to meet the banking needs of rural and semi-urban (SURU) people across India.

• Pragati Savings Account aims to build a comprehensive banking ecosystem for India’s agricultural sector, including farmers, those in cattle breeding, fisheries, poultry, dairy farming, self-employed individuals, rural residents, self-help groups, and cooperatives.
• It was previously known as the Farmer Savings Account that provides access for exclusive discounts, personalised services and financial support through preferential loan rates.
• HDFC Bank continues to support rural economies and drive financial inclusion with 51% of its branches in semi-urban and rural areas.
• Additionally the Bank brings curated propositions including Discounted Asset offers on Two-wheeler Loan (TWL), Tractor Loan (TRL), Gold Loan, Kisan Gold Card (KGC) products and Cattle insurance in partnership with HDFC Ergo General Insurance Company Limited.
• “Vishesh” program by HDFC Bank is a retail banking initiative designed to serve high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) in semi-urban and rural areas (SURU).

Key Features of the Pragati Savings Account:
i.Exclusive Discounts: HDFC’s partnership with BigHaat Agro Private Limited offers exclusive discounts on farming tools benefiting over 17 million farmers to improve the productivity.
ii.Tailored Offerings: The Pragati Savings Account comes with customised features such as low-maintenance requirements and special benefits for rural and semi-urban customers, promoting rural digitization.
iv.Debit Card Benefits:Get up to Rs 3,000 CashBack every year with 1% CashBack on every Rs 100 spent on Fuel, Apparel, Insurance, Education & Grocery (Maximum CashBack: Rs 250 per month per card).
Note:

• HDFC Bank’s overall deposits grew at Rs 25 lakh crore in Second Fiscal Year Quarter (Q2FY25)

About (Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited) HDFC Bank:
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Sashidhar Jagdishan
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Establishment– 1994
Tagline- We Understand your World

WB approves USD 225.5mn for ELEMENT Project in Tripura, NagalandThe World Bank (WB) has approved USD 225.5 million funding for the Enhancing Landscape and Ecosystem Management (ELEMENT) Project, aimed at improving forest management and enhancing economic opportunities in Tripura and Nagaland.

• This decision is expected to benefit over 700,000 people across more than 400 villages in these northeastern Indian states.
• The funding comprises a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) with a maturity period of 12 years, including a grace period of 4.5 years.
• The project will also receive a complementary grant of USD 2.4 million from the Global Partnership for Sustainable and Resilient Landscapes (PROGREEN).

About ELEMENT Project:
i.It will conserve and restore 100,000 hectares of forest for biodiversity and tribal livelihoods.
ii.It prevents 435,000 tons of carbon emissions annually to mitigate climate change.
iii.It enhances soil conservation and improve water availability to support local ecosystems.
iv.There will be creation of 60,000 jobs, focusing on youth and women, through forest-based entrepreneurship and training in hospitality and nature guiding.
v.It will develop value chains for forest products like agarwood, bamboo, and honey, in partnership with the private sector.
vi.There will also be enhancement of national parks and protected areas to promote tourism, generating additional income for local communities.
About World Bank (WB):
President– Ajay Banga
Headquarters– Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
Establishment– 1944
Member Countries– 189

Canara HSBC Life Insurance launches OmniGen AICanara HSBC Life Insurance has introduced OmniGen AI (Artificial Intelligence), a first-of-its-kind generative AI solution to optimize risk evaluation in underwriting.

• This tool, built on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Bedrock platform, aims to improve operational efficiency and enhance customer experience in the insurance industry.

Key Points:
i.OmniGen AI aids underwriters by analyzing data for quick, accurate decisions, reducing biases and errors.
ii.It uses advanced algorithms to identify trends, ensuring precise, time-efficient, and cost-effective risk evaluations, especially for high-risk cases.
iii.The solution automates fraud detection and shortens turnaround times for policy issuance and claims processing.
iv.It uses LLM (Large Language Model) agents to automate the entire process.
Note:
Traditional underwriting processes are manual, error-prone, and time-consuming, especially for high-risk cases, leading to longer Turnaround Times (TAT) and delayed decision-making.
About Canara HSBC Life Insurance:
Canara HSBC Life Insurance, was established in 2008, as a Joint Venture (JV) of Canara Bank (51%), HSBC Insurance (Asia Pacific) (26%), and Punjab National Bank (23%).
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Anuj Mathur
Headquarters– Gurugram, Haryana

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

NABL-QCI and CREDAI Join Hands to Boost Quality Assurance in Construction ProjectsThe National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), under the Quality Council of India (QCI), signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (CREDAI) to enhance quality standards in temporary site testing laboratories.

• The MoU was formalized during CREDAI’s Silver Jubilee celebration on November 25, 2024, in New Delhi, in the presence of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.
• This collaboration aims to recognize temporary site testing laboratories for civil engineering projects, ensuring accurate testing of construction materials like aggregates and concrete cubes directly at project sites.

Signatories:

• The MoU was inked by N. Venkateswaran (Chief Executive Officer) CEO of NABL, Shekar G. Patel, President-Elect of CREDAI, Jaxay Shah, Chairman of QCI, Manoj Gaur, Chairman of CREDAI and Boman Irani, President of CREDAI.

Key Points to Note:
i.Temporary site testing laboratories play a vital role in civil engineering projects exceeding 50,000 square feet (sq. ft.), providing on site testing for quality assurance(QA).
ii.NABL’s recognition scheme ensures these labs meet demanding standards, strengthening trust in their test results and promoting excellence in construction practices.
About National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL):
CEO (Chief Executive Officer)- N. Venkateswaran
Headquarters- Gurugram, Haryana
Established- 1988
About Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (CREDAI):
CEO (Chief Executive Officer)- Anil Nayak
Headquarters- New Delhi, India
Established- 1999

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

52nd International Emmy Awards 2024; Vir Das became 1st Indian to Host EventOn 25th November 2024, the 52nd International Emmy Awards 2024 took place in New York, United States of America (USA). The awards were presented by presented by the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (IATAS).
i.The event was hosted by Indian stand-up comedian and actor Vir Das. With this, he became the first Indian to host this annual event.
ii.The International Emmy Directorate Award was presented Sidonie Dumas, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gaumont, the Paris (France) based television & film production group, and International Emmy Founders Award was presented to the American writer-producer David E. Kelley.
About International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (IATAS):
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Bruce L. Paisner
Headquarters– New York, United States of America (USA)
Establishment– 1969
>> Read Full News

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Dr Jaiteerth Raghavendra Joshi appointed as New Chief of BrahMos AerospaceEminent scientist Dr. Jaiteerth Raghavendra Joshi has been appointed as the new chief of BrahMos Aerospace w.e.f. 1st December 2024.

• He succeeds Atul Dinkar Rane, who has held the position since 2021.

About Dr Jaiteerth Raghavendra Joshi:
i.Dr Jaiteerth Raghavendra Joshi is a prominent figure in missile technology, non-destructive testing (NDT), and professional skill development.
ii.He has contributed significantly to India’s missile programs, particularly the Prithvi and Agni systems.
iii.As Deputy Project Director for the Long Range Surface to Air Missiles (LRSAM) program, he was key in developing mission-critical technologies.
iv.He has trained and certified over 600 candidates in Level-I and Level-II Non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques, including radiography, ultrasonic, and magnetic particle testing.
v.He also served as the Chairman of the Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN)- based Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ISNT).
vi.In 2022, he received the Dr. N. Kondal Rao Memorial Award from ISNT for his R&D (Research & Development) contributions to missile and aerospace technologies.
About BrahMos Aerospace:
i.It is a Joint Venture (JV) between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, based in New Delhi.
ii.BrahMoS Aerospace manufactures BrahMos missile which is capable of Mach 2.8 speeds and a range of 800 km.

ACC Approves One-Year Extension to PESB Chairperson ‘Mallika Srinivasan’
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved one-year extension of tenure for Mallika Srinivasan as Chairperson of the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) beyond the age of 65, from 19th November 2024 to 18th November 2025 or until further notice.
i.Mallika Srinivasan, the Chairman and Managing Director of Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE) Limited was appointed as Chairperson of PESB in April 2021 for 3 years, which was later extended in March 2024 until November 2024, when she reached the age of 65.
ii.She is the first private-sector leader to head the PESB, the body under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P), responsible for selecting board members, including the chairman for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
Note: The Rs 10,000 crore company ‘TAFE’, is the third-largest tractor manufacturer globally and the second-largest in India by volume.

IMPORTANT DAYS

AAI’s Aviation Safety Awareness Week 2024 – November 25 -29The Airport Authority of India (AAI) observes Aviation Safety Awareness Week (ASAW) at all airports and Air Navigation Services (ANS) locations managed by AAI across India to raise awareness of Aviation Safety.

• Aviation Safety Awareness Week 2024 was held from 25th to 29th November 2024.

i.Chairman of AAI Vipin Kumar inaugurated the event and emphasized AAI’s dedication to aviation safety, in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Aviation Safety Plan, through Safety Awareness Week.
ii.The Safety Awareness Week started with a presentation by Captain Hemant Kumar, Vice President & Chief of Flight Safety at Indigo Airlines.
About the Airport Authority of India:
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is a government-owned statutory organization under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
Chairman – Vipin Kumar
Established – 1995
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
>> Read Full News

STATE NEWS

Assam Cabinet Approves Renaming of Karimganj as Sribhumi District
The Assam cabinet has approved the renaming of Karimganj district in the Barak Valley as Sribhumi district in response to a long-standing demand. The decision was made during a cabinet meeting led by Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma.

• The name ‘Sribhumi’ – The land of Maa Lakshmi, was chosen in connotation to Rabindranath Togore’s description of the modern-day karimganj District.

Note: The cabinet also approved to organize an investment and infrastructure summit in Assam on February 24, 2025.

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