1 India’s GDP grew by 7.6% in the second quarter
According to government data, India’s gross domestic product (GDP) registered a growth of 7.6 percent in the July-September quarter . In the same quarter last year it was 5.4 percent . This is much higher than the estimate of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India last month. India’s GDP grew by 7.8 percent in the first quarter of 2023-24 (FY24). MPC had estimated GDP growth to be 6.5 percent in the second quarter.
2 First edition of high-level virtual dialogue “Mahasagar” organized by Indian Navy
“ Ocean ” is another term for the vast ocean and is an outreach initiative of the Indian Navy for high-level virtual interactions between naval chiefs of different countries with the aim of ensuring proactive security and development for all in the region. The first edition of the high-level virtual dialogue “Mahasagar” was organized by the Indian Navy on 29 November 2023 . During this, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar held discussions with heads of navies/maritime agencies of different countries and senior leadership of coastal areas adjacent to Indian waters. These included Bangladesh, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. The theme of the conversation was ‘ Collective Maritime Approach to Meet Common Challenges ‘, which highlights the current and urgent imperative to synergize and cooperate in capabilities and capacity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This is in line with the Government of India’s vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Sea’.
3 Water History Festival organized in New Delhi
National Water Mission, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation , Ministry of Jal Shakti is going to organize ‘ Jal Itihas Utsav ‘ at Shamsi Talab, Jahaz Mahal, Mehrauli , Delhi on December 01, 2023 , with the objective of promoting water heritage sites. The objective is to increase public consciousness towards safety, generate a sense of ownership among the public, promote tourism as well as restore such heritage structures. This grand event marks the culmination of the “Water Heritage Fortnight ” being celebrated in 75 ‘Natural Water Heritage Structures’ in various districts across the country from November 15, 2023 to November 30, 2023 and is part of the nationwide campaign ‘ Jal Shakti Abhiyan: CATCH ‘The Rain ‘ also marks the successful completion of 2023.
4 India Pavilion inaugurated at COP-28 in Dubai
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav inaugurated the India Pavilion at COP-28 in Dubai . The theme of this pavilion is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam , which reflects India’s commitment towards global environmental responsibility. The pavilion aims to showcase India’s significant efforts in climate action and leadership, especially in the field of renewable energy including green hydrogen, solar and wind power. The World Climate Conference under COP-28 is being organized in Dubai from November 30 to December 12 under the chairmanship of the United Arab Emirates.
5 Central Government approved reconstruction plan of more than Rs 1,658 crore for Joshimath in Uttarakhand
The Central Government has approved Rs 1,658 crore for the reconstruction plan of Joshimath affected by ground subsidence and landslides . A high-level committee headed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved the plan. Under the scheme, central assistance of approximately Rs 1,800 crore will be provided from the reconstruction portion of the National Disaster Relief Fund. Uttarakhand government will provide assistance of Rs 126 crore from the State Disaster Relief Fund. The state government will also provide approximately Rs 452 crore from its budget.
6 Simultaneous launch of first three ships of ASW SWC (CSL) project ‘Mahe, Malvan and Mangrol’ at CSL, Kochi on 30 Nov 23
Mahe , Malvan and Mangrol , the first three ships of the 08 In keeping with maritime tradition, Mahe was launched by Mrs. Anjali Bahl in the presence of Vice Admiral Puneet Bahl, Commandant INA, Malvan was launched by Smt. Kangana Berry in the presence of Vice Admiral Suraj Berry, C-in-C and Mangrol was launched by To Vice Admiral Sanjay J. Singh, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Smt. Zareen Lord Singh. The ships were launched with invocations of the Atharvaveda. The Mahe class ASW shallow water crafts are named after ports of strategic importance along the coast of India and will seek to carry forward the glorious legacy of the erstwhile warships which were their namesakes.
7 Defense Acquisition Council approves capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 2.23 lakh crore to enhance operational capabilities of armed forces
The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh on November 30, 2023 has given its approval regarding Approval of Requirement (AoN) for various capital acquisition proposals amounting to Rs 2.23 lakh crore . In these proposals, an amount of Rs 2.20 lakh crore (98 percent of the total AON amount) will be raised from domestic industries. This will give a great boost to the Indian defense industry towards achieving the goal of ‘ self-reliance ‘. DAC has approved the AON for procurement of two types of anti-tank munitions, Area Denial Munition (ADM) Type-2 and Type-3, which are capable of neutralizing tanks and armored personnel carriers and neutralizing enemy fire. Are capable. To replace the retired Indian Field Gun (IFG), state-of-the-art Towed Gun System (TGS) has been approved which will form the mainstay of the Indian Army’s artillery forces. AON was also approved for the 155 mm nubless projectile for use in 155 mm artillery guns, which would increase the lethality and safety of the projectile. This equipment of the Indian Army will be purchased under the BAI (Indian-IDDM) category.
8 Maharashtra: National Agricultural Higher Education Project, Indian Agricultural Research Project and Water Management Project started with the help of World Bank in Ahmednagar district.
National Agricultural Higher Education Project and Indian Agricultural Research Project and Water Management Project have been started with the help of the World Bank at Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra . Under this project, teachers of Mahatma Phule Agricultural University will be trained in technologies like drones, robots, artificial intelligence, geographical systems and remote sensors. A study abroad tour to Thailand was also organized under the guidance of Dr. PG Patil, Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Phule Agricultural University.
9 NASA’s Psyche spacecraft recently achieved a historic feat by successfully sending a laser signal to Earth
NASA ‘s Psyche spacecraft, which is currently traveling more than 16 million kilometers in space , recently achieved a historic feat by successfully sending a laser signal to Earth. The goal of the Psyche mission is to explore the Psyche asteroid located between Mars and Jupiter . Psyche is a metal-rich asteroid that is believed to have the free nickel-iron core of an early planet. This mission provides a unique opportunity to directly study the planetary core, providing invaluable insights into the evolution of terrestrial planets like Earth. Psyche is NASA’s newest spacecraft equipped with a Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) transceiver . (DSOC) technology encodes data in near-infrared light photons instead of radio waves. It is set to enable data rates at least ten times higher than current radio systems, facilitating advanced imaging, mass scientific data transmission and even video streaming. This will facilitate faster data transmission than current space communication technology which primarily relies on radio waves due to their propagation capabilities, allowing them to travel through various mediums and overcome obstructions.
10 grounds privacy and marital rights
The Karnataka High Court recently highlighted that marriage does not entitle one spouse to obtain the Aadhaar data of the other without a fair hearing. The Court rejected the notion that marriage dissolves the identities of the spouses, and asserted that every individual’s right to privacy is paramount. Emphasizing the need to follow due process under Section 33 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Benefits, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, the Court rejected the notion that marriage links the identities of spouses. And strongly said that every person’s right to privacy is paramount.
11 High Court quashes decade-old forced marriage
The Patna High Court has annulled a forced marriage , commonly known as a ” capture marriage “, that took place a decade ago. The Court ruled that the marriage was invalid because the important ” Saptapadi ” ritual, in which seven vows are taken around the sacred fire as per the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 , was not included. ‘ Capture marriage ‘ is a kind of ‘ forced marriage ‘. It is prevalent in Bihar, often involving the kidnapping of young men for the purpose of marriage. These marriages are usually arranged through threats, sometimes endangering the lives of the individuals and their families. The Court gave its decision on the basis that the required ritual of “Saptapadi” or seven vows around the sacred fire, mandated by the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, was not fulfilled.
12 HDFC Bank appointed former NABARD chairman Harsh Kumar Bhanwala as director.
The Board of Directors of HDFC Bank has approved the appointment of former NABARD Chairman Harsh Kumar Bhanwala as Additional Independent Director. The tenure for this post is fixed for three years, starting from January 25, 2024. HDFC Bank said in a filing to the stock exchange that the Board of Directors (Board) in its meeting also approved the appointment of former HDFC Limited Chief Finance Officer V Srinivas Rangan as Executive Director for three years from November 23, 2023. Gave.
13 “Authentic” becomes Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year for 2023
With controversies surrounding ‘ deepfake ‘ videos dominating the headlines, Merriam-Webster Dictionary recently revealed some of the most searched words of the year 2023. Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year for 2023 has become “ authentic ,” which means “ not false or imitated ” and “ true to your own personality.” ,
14 HDFC Securities launches mobile trading app HDFC Sky on AWS Cloud
HDFC Securities, a leading investment services provider in India, has successfully launched its mobile trading app, HDFC Sky, on Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud . The partnership with AWS is expected to deliver substantial benefits, including a significant 50% reduction in annual IT infrastructure and management costs compared to traditional on-premises solutions.
15 Angkor Wat temple becomes the 8th wonder of the world
Cambodia ‘s Angkor Wat temple has become the eighth wonder of the world, surpassing Italy’s Pompeii . This 800 years old temple was built by King Suryavarman II . Angkor Wat was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu , but it was later changed to become a Buddhist temple . This is the largest temple in the world. It is spread over an area of about 500 acres.
16 After Air India, IndiGo unveils AI-powered chat assistant “6Sky”
IndiGo announced the launch of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chat assistant named “ 6Sky ” to handle customer queries in different languages . This innovative tool is designed to cater to customer queries in different languages, which is an important step towards enhancing customer service in the aviation industry.
17 Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched ‘Hot Cooked Meal Scheme’
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the ‘ Hot Cooked Meal ‘ scheme to provide hot cooked food to children at Anganwadi centers from Ayodhya . Along with this, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of 3 thousand 401 Anganwadi centers in 35 districts at a cost of Rs 403 crore . On this occasion, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of the residential transit building built in Police Lines. Dry ration of rice, porridge, wheat etc. is given to children at Anganwadi centres. UP CM Yogi Adityanath launched the Hot Cooked Meal Scheme for Anganwadi centers in the state. Now children aged three to six years will be given hot food like mid-day meal instead of dry ration at Anganwadi centres. Hot Cooked Food Scheme was closed in UP for a long time, now it has been restarted.
18 Indian Army will purchase 200 mounted howitzers to modernize border areas.
In an effort to enhance its mobile firepower in high-altitude border areas such as the Line of Actual Control with China , the Indian Army is set to float a tender for the procurement of 200 new mounted howitzers equipped with 105 mm guns . This ‘ Make in India ‘ project aims to strengthen forward deployed formations, marking the first deployment of 105 mm mounted howitzers in Indian artillery. The Indian Army is indigenously modernizing its artillery capabilities by leveraging the capabilities of Indian companies. This initiative is in line with the ‘Make in India’ route, with Indian industry demonstrating expertise in artillery systems. The procurement includes a separate case for clearance of 200 mounted howitzers and 400 new towed guns, all contributing to the indigenous development of artillery capabilities.
19 WHO highlights violence against women globally
Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for South -East Asia, has drawn attention to the worrying prevalence of physical and/or sexual violence against women globally. Nearly one in three women worldwide experience such violence in their lifetime, with partner violence being a significant contributor. The South-East Asia region ranks second with an estimated 33% prevalence. Violence against women is a serious violation of human rights and has significant health impacts. The WHO regional director’s statements coincide with the start of the annual campaign, “ 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women ”, which will run from November 25 to December 10 .
20 Increasing number of disasters in India: A year in review
India has faced a series of disasters in the first nine months of this year , ranging from heat waves and cold waves to cyclones, lightning, heavy rains, floods and landslides . According to the report “ India 2023: An assessment of extreme weather events ” by Down to Earth magazine and Center for Science and Environment , the death toll is staggering. A total of 2,923 people died, 1.84 million hectares of crop area was affected, 80,563 houses were destroyed, and approximately 92,519 livestock were killed. However, these figures may underestimate actual losses and damage, as data are not systematically compiled for each event.
21 Raas Mahotsav started in Majuli
The enchanting annual Raas Mahotsav has begun its divine celebrations in Majuli , Assam , making it an ideal place to immerse yourself in the devotion of Lord Krishna. Majuli, the world’s largest river island in the Brahmaputra, is the heart of Assamese Neo-Vaishnavism. The island is adorned with Vaishnava monasteries known as Satras, and the Raas festival is celebrated with grandeur, preserving the pure essence of the event.
22 Astrosat Space Telescope detects 600th gamma-ray burst
India’s Astrosat space telescope has reached an important milestone by detecting its 600th gamma-ray burst (GRB) , marking the continued performance of its Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI) eight years after its launch. Gamma-ray bursts, representing the extinction of massive stars or neutron star mergers, pack enormous amounts of energy, often exceeding the Sun’s total lifetime emission in a matter of seconds. GRBs release extraordinary amounts of energy, earning them the nickname “mini big-bangs.” They can last from a fraction of a second to several minutes, and their occurrence is associated with either the death of massive stars or the merger of neutron stars. These cosmic fireworks emit energy equivalent to the Sun’s entire lifetime output.
23 Italy won Davis Cup after 47 years
Italy has won Davis Cup-2023 after 47 years . The team defeated 28-time champion Australia 2-0 in Malaga , Spain . Italy has become champion for the second time in this 123 year old tournament. Earlier, the team had won the Davis Cup in 1976 by defeating Chile 4-1.
24 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2023: 29 November
Every year 29 November is celebrated by the United Nations as International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People . The day is observed on the anniversary of Resolution 181, in which the General Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine on November 29, 1947.
25 Former US Secretary of State and Nobel Prize winner Henry Kissinger passes away
Former US Secretary of State and Nobel Prize winner Henry Kissinger died in Connecticut. He was one hundred years old. He worked with two US Presidents and left his indelible mark on foreign policy. Till May this year, he remained quite active in public and political life. During this time, his book on leadership styles was published and he testified before the Senate Committee on the possibility of nuclear threat from North Korea.
