Daily Current Affairs and GK | 10 November 2022

Topic: Sports

1. India to host women’s World Boxing Championship in 2023 in New Delhi.

• A new review system based on artificial intelligence will be used for the first time in the women’s World Boxing Championship in 2023.
• India has never hosted the men’s world championship. It hosted the World Boxing Championship in 2006 and 2018 in New Delhi.
• India has also hosted the women’s youth world championships in 2017.
• The International Boxing Association (IBA) and the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) signed an MoU at a press conference in New Delhi.
• Around 1,500 boxers and coaches are expected to participate from about 75-100 countries.
• The gold medallists of the World Boxing Championship will be awarded approximately Rs 81 lakh.
• Earlier, BFI lost the hosting rights for the 2021 men's boxing World Championships which was hosted by Serbia.
• Important terms related to Boxing are given below:

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

2. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) introduced women centric challenges under Atal New India Challenge (ANIC) programme.

• AIM has introduced women-centric challenges under phase-II of the second edition of ANIC.
• ANIC’s women-centric challenges address the major issues faced by women.
• The challenge was launched during the annual mentor round table meeting organized by AIM, NITI Aayog.
• Atal New India Challenge (ANIC) is an initiative by AIM, NITI Aayog. It is targeted to select, support and nurture technology-based innovations through a grant-based mechanism of up to ₹1 crore.
• The technology-based innovations should solve sectoral challenges of national importance and societal relevance.
• Phase 1 of the 2^nd edition of the Atal New India Challenge (ANIC 2.0) was launched by Atal Innovation Mission on 28th April 2022.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

lo

3. Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport Initiative has won the National First Award in the 'City with the Best Public Transport System' category.

• Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport Initiative was awarded by the Institute of Urban Transport (India) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport Initiative was presented with the award at a programme held at Bolgatti Kochi from the 4th to the 6th of November.
• Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammad Khan, and the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Kaushal Kishore presented the award to Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport.
• The awards are given annually by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, on the basis of the performance of cities, metro companies, urban transport, and best projects in various 12 categories.

Topic: International Appointments

4. Aruna Miller has become the first Indian-American politician to be elected as the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland.

• She will also be the first South Asian woman to serve as the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland.
• Ms Miller is a former executive director of Indian American Impact.
• Maryland is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Annapolis is its capital.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

5. Two days PM Gati Shakti Multimodal Waterways Summit inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

• On 11 November, this summit is organized at Deen Dayal Hastkala Sankul in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
• The main objective of the summit is to raise awareness about the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan with an emphasis on the infrastructural development of waterways.
• Sonowal has said that the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is a major transformational initiative to make the operating system cost-effective while enhancing its efficiency.
• Under Gati Shakti, the Ministry has identified 101 projects which will be completed by 2024 at a cost of Rs.62 crores.
• This scheme will play an important role in connecting one corner of the country to another.
• Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti was launched by PM Modi on 13 October 2021.
• It was launched by PM Modi to create multi-dimensional connectivity between the Special Economic Zones of the country and increase the efficiency of the operating system.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National News

6. Second phase of the Transport for All Challenge and the Citizen Perception Survey 2022 were launched on 9 November.

• Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the survey through the virtual medium.
• The Transport for All Challenge aims to improve the transportation experience of citizens.
• This challenge focuses on digital innovation.
• Cities, citizens, and innovators have been invited to develop digital solutions to improve public transport.
• The second phase of the challenge has been open for start-ups aiming to develop solutions for the transport problems in 46 participating cities.
• More than 130 cities signed up for the first phase of the challenge, which was launched on April 15, 2021.
• Citizen Perception Survey has been launched under the Ease of Living Index-2022 for 264 cities. Under this, suggestions of citizens will be taken from these cities.
• The survey, which is being conducted both online and offline, began on 9 November 2022 and will continue till 23 December 2022.
• In 2020, the Citizen Perception Survey was conducted for the first time.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Economy/Banking/Finance

7. Sovereign Green Bonds framework of India has been approved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

• This approval will help in attracting global and domestic investments in eligible green projects.
• The proceeds generated from the issuance of green bonds will be deployed in Public Sector projects that would help in reducing carbon intensity of the economy.
• The Finance Ministry has formed a Green Finance Working Committee (GFWC).
• The committee has representation from relevant Ministries. It will be chaired by Chief Economic Adviser, Government of India.
• It will meet at least twice a year to support the Ministry of Finance with the selection and evaluation of projects.
• GFWC will review the allocation of proceeds in a time-bound manner to ensure that the allocation of proceeds is completed within 24 months from the date of issuance.
• Green bonds are financial instruments. They generate proceeds for investment in environmentally sustainable and climate-suitable projects.
• Current Chief Economic Adviser: Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran

Topic: Important Days

8. International Week of Science and Peace: November 9 to November 14

• International Week of Science and Peace is observed every year from November 9 to November 14.
• International Week of Science and Peace was for the first time observed during 1986.
• In December 1988, UN General Assembly adopted resolution, which proclaims the “International Week of Science and Peace”.
• International Week of Science and Peace generates greater awareness of the relationship of science and peace among the general public.
• The year 2022 is International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

9. Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat released the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report for 2022.

• The report has been released on 9 November 2022 in New Delhi.
• Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and States/UTs jointly carried out the assessment for the report.
• As per the report, the annual groundwater recharge for the entire country is 437.60 billion cubic meters (BCM) while the annual groundwater extraction for the entire country is 239.16 BCM.
• The assessment has indicated that the groundwater recharge has increased.
• Out of the total of 7089 assessment units, 1006 units have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’.
• The report indicated improvement in groundwater conditions in 909 assessment units as compared to the 2017 assessment data.
• As per the report, the groundwater recharge has increased mainly due to the following reasons:
  • Increase in recharge from canal seepage
  • Return flow of irrigation water
  • Recharges from water bodies/tanks
• Groundwater is the water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock.
• With an estimated usage of around 251 bcm per year, India is the largest groundwater user in the world.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: National News

10. Government declared Census and NPR databases as critical information infrastructure.

• The government has declared that certain databases related to the Census and the National Population Register (NPR) are critical information infrastructure.
• The government has taken this decision by using the powers under the Information Technology Act, of 2000.
• Census Monitoring and Management System, Self Enumeration and Civil Registration System (CRS) web portals, mobile applications for House Listing, Population Enumeration and National Population Register updation will be considered as critical information infrastructure (CII).
• The Census database and CRS database, computer resources setup and installed at the National Data Centre, Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Delhi have been declared as CII.
• The computer resources of these entities will be considered “protected systems” under the law.
• The National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) formed in 2014 is the nodal agency to protect the Critical Information Infrastructure in India.
• CIIs are protected from unauthorized access, modification, use, disclosure, disruption, and incapacitation.

Topic: Sports

11. 2023 Khelo India University Games to be hosted by Uttar Pradesh.

• The third edition of the Khelo India University Games will be hosted by Uttar Pradesh with Lucknow as the main host city.
• Around 6000 athletes will take part in the event.
• If the number of participants will increase, Varanasi and Gautam Buddh Nagar could be used as additional host cities.
• The first Khelo India University Games were held in Odisha in 2020.
• The second Khelo India University Games were hosted by Karnataka in 2022.
• Fifth Khelo India Youth Games will be hosted by Madhya Pradesh.
• Khelo India University Games is a multi-sport event. It is organised by Sports Authority of India and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports along with Association of Indian Universities and National Sports Federation.
• It is the largest sporting event at the level of University. It is held for the under 25 age group.

Topic: Defence

12. DRDO launched Testing and Evaluation Facility for Sonar System for Indian Navy.

• Giving impetus to the vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India' initiative, DRDO has launched a test and evaluation facility for the Sonar system to be used by the Indian Navy.
• It is a state-of-the-art facility which has been developed for the Navy to use on various platforms, including ships, submarines, and helicopters.
• The new facility is a submersible platform that can reach depths of about 100 metres.
• This facility is named as the Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization and Evaluation (SPACE) module.
• It will boost the maritime navigation and ranging capabilities of the country.
• At the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of the DRDO in Kochi, the new facility is now fully operational.
• The SPACE facility has been constructed by M/s L&T Shipbuilding, Chennai, based on the concept design and specifications proposed by NPOL.
• The Hull-mounted sonar detects unmanned underwater vehicles, diver-delivery vehicles, submarines, and mines with exact localization.
• Specifically, sonar uses sound waves to 'see' in the water, which are then used for exploration and mapping of the ocean as sound waves travel farther in water than radar and light waves.
• The Advanced Panoramic Sonar Hull-Mounted (APSOH) was the first sonar delivered by NPOL.

Topic: International News

13. Precision Air plane crashed in Lake Victoria in Tanzania.

• This Tanzanian passenger plane has crashed in Lake Victoria, killing at least 19 people.
• According to operator Precision Air, 24 of the 43 people on board the plane survived.
• Lake Victoria:
  • It is one of the African Great Lakes.
  • It is the largest lake in Africa and the largest tropical lake in the world. It covers about 59,947 square kilometres.
  • It is the second largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area after Lake Superior in North America.
  • By volume, Lake Victoria is the ninth-largest continental lake in the world, with approximately 2,424 km³ of water.
  • The lake's area is divided among three countries, mainly Tanzania and Uganda, and some area of the lake is spread in Kenya.

Topic: Important Days

14. National Legal Service Day 2022: 9 November

• Every year on November 9, National Legal Services Day is observed.
• It is celebrated to raise awareness among the people about the various provisions of the Legal Services Authorities Act.
• On National Legal Services Day, State Legal Services Authorities organize legal awareness camps across the country to make people aware of the availability of free legal aid.
• On October 11, 1987, the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 was enacted which came into effect on November 9, 1995.
• The Supreme Court of India commenced National Legal Services Day in 1995.
• The first annual meeting of the State Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was held on 12 September 1998 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.