National news
Launch of ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ National Campaign to End Child Marriage
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi will launch the ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat‘ campaign in New Delhi.
- The campaign aims to make India a child marriage-free nation.
- Child Marriage-Free Bharat portal will be unveiled to support the campaign’s mission.
- The platform will help raise awareness, prevent child marriage, and report incidents.
- A collective pledge against child marriage is expected to involve up to 25 crore citizens during the campaign.
12th Edition of International Tourism Mart Inaugurated at Kaziranga National Park
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurates the 12th edition of the International Tourism Mart at the UNESCO World Heritage site on 27 th November at Kaziranga National Park .
- The event highlights the tourism potential of the North Eastern region of India for both domestic and international audiences.
- It brings together tourism businesses from the eight North Eastern States: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim.The mart fosters collaboration among buyers, sellers, media, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
- The event is attended by around 400 participants, including international and domestic tour operators, hoteliers, homestay owners, tourism service providers, and influencers.
About UNESCO : United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization:
- Founded: 1945.
- Director-General: Audrey Azoulay
- Headquarters: Paris, France.
Govt Announces Quantum Startups for All Domains under National Quantum Mission
Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced various quantum startups under the National Quantum Mission in New Delhi.
- The selected startups will cover all major domains of quantum technology, including quantum communications, quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum materials.
- The initiative aims to boost commercialization and promote sustainable startups in the quantum technology sector.
- Dr. Singh emphasized that the startups will be the torchbearers of Viksit Bharat 2047, contributing to India’s vision of becoming a developed nation.
- India is one of the few nations globally to be implementing the quantum mission.
Ministry of Mines to Launch First Auction of Offshore Mineral Blocks
The Ministry of Mines will launch the first-ever tranche of the auction of mineral blocks in the offshore areas of India on 28th November 2024. This initiative marks India’s entry into the exploration of undersea mineral resources within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), covering the territorial waters, continental shelf, and other maritime zones.
- In August 2023, the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 was amended to allow auction as the method for allocating offshore mineral blocks. The first tranche includes 13 mineral blocks across the Arabian Sea and Andaman Sea, featuring a mix of construction sand, limemud, and polymetallic nodules.
- The auction will be officially launched by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey. The initiative aims to unlock significant economic and strategic opportunities while promoting sustainable resource utilization and enhancing India’s position as a global leader in critical minerals.
International news
Voyage Sri Lanka 2024 Conference Focuses on Blue Economy Potential
The Voyage Sri Lanka 2024 conference on the blue economy was held in Colombo. Speaking at the event, Dr. Naresh Bana, Vice Chairman of the India Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the significance of the Neighbourhood First Policy and the increasing trade and commerce between India and Sri Lanka.
- He emphasized that India has been assisting Sri Lanka in various sectors, including energy, ports, and railways, as well as supporting capacity building through the International Solar Alliance. Dr. Bana also mentioned that India has contributed to the development of wind energy in Sri Lanka, with a focus on building 500 MW of wind energy capacity.
- The event was organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and brought together key stakeholders and experts from the blue economy sector. The blue economy contributes 4% to India’s GDP and accounts for 95% of international trade by volume. During India’s G20 presidency, there was a strong focus on the need to develop a sustainable and resilient blue economy to ensure long-term growth and sustainability in the region.
About Sri Lanka:
- President: Ranil Wickremesinghe).
- legislative capital : Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- executive and judicial capital : Colombo
- Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR).
State news
J&K Govt Launches Online RTI Portal Developed by NIC
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced the launch of an online Right to Information (RTI) portal, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The new platform, accessible at rtionline.jk.gov.in, aims to streamline the RTI process across the Union Territory.
- The portal will allow citizens to electronically submit RTI requests, track their applications, and receive responses online, eliminating the need for physical visits to government offices. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts enhance transparency and accountability in governance. The portal is expected to be fully operational by December 10, 2024.
- To ensure smooth implementation, nodal officers have been appointed at various administrative levels, including department, district, and directorate levels. These officers will oversee the onboarding of Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) and First Appellate Authorities (FAAs) onto the portal by November 29, 2024.
About Jharkhand :
- Capital: Ranchi.
- Chief Minister (CM): Hemant Soren
National Parks:
- Hazaribagh National Park
- Betla National Park
- Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary
National Informatics Centre (NIC):
- Established: 1976.
- Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
- Director General : Amit Agrawal
Appointment and Resignation
Dr. Jaiteerth Raghavendra Joshi Appointed Chief of BrahMos Aerospace
Dr. Jaiteerth Raghavendra Joshi has been appointed as the new Chief of BrahMos Aerospace, the organization responsible for the development of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system. With over three decades of experience, Dr. Joshi has made significant contributions to missile technology, non-destructive testing (NDT), and the professional development of industry experts. His appointment highlights a continued focus on innovation and excellence in India’s defense sector.
BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture between India and Russia, dedicated to developing the BrahMos missile, which is considered the world’s most potent supersonic cruise missile system. The name “BrahMos” is derived from two rivers: Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia).
Eknath Shinde Resigns as Maharashtra CM
Eknath Shinde has resigned as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Following his resignation, Governor CP Radhakrishnan has appointed Shinde as the caretaker Chief Minister. Shinde, along with his Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, met the Governor at Raj Bhavan. The term of the current Assembly ends 26 th November .
The Mahayuti coalition, consisting of the BJP, Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), secured 230 out of 288 seats in the Assembly elections. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with a record 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena (led by Shinde) secured 57 seats and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP got 41 seats.
About Maharashtra:
- Chief Minister (CM): Eknath Shinde.
- Capital: Mumbai.
National Parks:
- Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Mumbai)
- Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (Chandrapur)
- Melghat Tiger Reserve (Amravati)
- Pench National Park (Nagpur)
Banking news
Canara HSBC Life Unveils OmniGen AI to Transform Underwriting
Canara HSBC Life Insurance has launched OmniGen AI, a generative AI-powered solution designed to revolutionize risk evaluation in underwriting. Built on Amazon Web Services (AWS), this innovative system automates complex risk assessments, enabling underwriters to make faster and more accurate decisions.
- By leveraging AI-driven models, OmniGen AI enhances decision-making accuracy, reduces errors, and improves consistency in underwriting. The solution accelerates policy issuance and aims to enhance operational efficiency, delivering a superior customer experience. This move underscores Canara HSBC Life’s commitment to transforming the underwriting process and driving innovation in the industry.
Canara HSBC Life Insurance:
- Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer : Anuj Mathur
- Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana, India.
- Established: 2008
Important days
Nation Celebrates National Milk Day on Dr. Verghese Kurien’s 103rd Birth Anniversary
National Milk Day is celebrated on 26 tn November to honor the 103rd birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, known as the Father of the White Revolution in India. Gujarat, regarded as the cradle of India’s White Revolution, has seen significant growth in milk production over the years.
In the past 22 years, Gujarat’s milk production has increased by 119.63 lakh metric tons, with an average annual growth rate of 10.23%, surpassing the national growth rate. The state contributes 7.49% to India’s total milk production.
The rise in per capita milk availability in Gujarat over the last two decades has been remarkable. The Amul Federation, which started with 6 member unions and a turnover of Rs. 49 crore, now has 18 member unions and collects over 3 crore liters of milk daily. Amul products are sold across India and in 50 countries. The Amul model has created a self-reliant dairy system, benefiting livestock farmers and contributing to socio-economic development.
