Daily Current Affairs and GK | 22 November 2023

Topic: State News/ Uttarakhand

1. Rescue operations are in full swing in the collapsed Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi.

• Rescue operations are underway on a war footing to evacuate 41 workers trapped in Silkyara Tunnel.
• The collapse occurred in the under-construction tunnel from Silkyara to Barko.
• The area in which the workers are trapped is 8.5 metres high and 2 km long
• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Sutluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDCL) are working in the rescue operations.
• Vertical drilling has also started from the Silkyara end. A six-inch-wide pipeline through rubble has reached to end where workers are trapped.
• Electricity and water are available in this portion of the tunnel.
• Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel in Uttarakhand is part of ‘Chardham Mahamarg Pariyojana’. It is being constructed to provide all-weather connectivity to Yamunotri.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

2. Droupadi Murmu to present the President’s Colour to Armed Forces Medical College Pune.

• President Droupadi Murmu to confer President’s Colour to Armed Forces Medical College Pune on 1st December on the occasion of platinum jubilee.
• AFMC is a premier Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) establishment. It is one of the leading medical colleges in India.
• The award is for recognizing its glorious 75 years of service to the nation.
• The alumni of this institution have made outstanding contributions to healthcare delivery and research.
• On this occasion, a cover and stamp and a commemorative coin will be also released by the honourable President.
• The President’s Colour is the highest award given to a military unit for its exceptional service rendered to the Nation in peace and during the war.
• Indian Navy was the first Indian Armed Force to receive President’s color by Dr Rajendra Prasad on 17 May 1951.
• President’s Colours is also known as 'Nishaan'.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually chaired the concluding meeting of the G-20 summit.

• The Virtual G20 Summit was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• It will attended by many world’s leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
• The G20 Troika during the Brazilian G20 Presidency in 2024 will comprise India, Brazil, and South Africa.
• G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said that the Virtual Summit will take forward key outcomes and review the implementation of the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration.
• India holds the G20 Presidency until November 30, 2023.
• On September 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that India would host a virtual G20 leaders' summit before the conclusion of its G20 presidency.

Topic: State News/ Jammu and Kashmir

4. Saffron of Kishtwar district has received a GI tag.

• Saffron from the mountainous Kishtwar district has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry.
• The saffron is cultivated in the highlands of Jammu and Kashmir.
• This spice is grown in parts of Kashmir as well as the Kishtwar region of Jammu.
• The most expensive crop, saffron (also known as kumkum), is also a major cash crop in Kishtwar, the isolated hill district of Jammu.
• The cultivation of saffron is a cultural heritage that represents freshness and purity.
• The saffron-growing area of Kishtwar is locally called Mandal.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Books and Authors

5. The book ‘Do Palkon Ki Chhavn Main’ released by Famous poet, lyricist, and CBFC Chief Prasoon Joshi.

• The book is written by noted academician Dr Hema Joshi.
• Her book is based on the fictional account of her own life and also narrates her love for two Indian cities — Almora and Pryagraj.
• Dr. Hema Joshi is originally from the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.
• For higher education, she came to Allahabad University, where she became the first woman to earn a DPhil in the English department.
• She taught at the same university for over 36 years and is still active in the academic world.

Topic: Miscellaneous

6. Lashkar-e-Taiba has been listed as a terror organization by Israel.

• On November 21, the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi said that Israel has listed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as a terrorist organization to mark the 15th year of commemoration of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
• In the 26/11 Mumbai attacks on November 26, 2008, 166 people were killed while another 238 were injured.
• This listing has been done by Israel on its own volition without any request from India.
• Israel only lists terror organizations that are actively operating against it or in India or recognized by the US State Department.
• This development comes at a time when Israel has also asked India to nominate Hamas.
• Lashkar was founded in 1990 by Mohammad Hafiz Saeed in Mudrich Pakistan.
• Its primary goal is to attack Indian troops in Kashmir, but in the last few years, it has been considered one of the deadliest Pakistan-backed terrorist organizations.
• It has carried out several bomb blasts in various cities of India and has created proxy organizations and sleeper cells.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

7. On 21 November, 9th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) conducted by India and Lithuania in New Delhi.

• Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma led the Indian side, and Egidijus Meilunas, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania led the Lithuanian side.
• The FOC provided an opportunity to review bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
• This included the Ukraine conflict, India's presidency of the G20, cooperation in multilateral fora, and reform of the UN Security Council.
• The two sides also discussed taking forward relations in areas such as trade, investment, and cultural ties.
• Despite the adverse effects of the pandemic, trade between India and Lithuania has increased in recent years.
• The two sides also agreed to hold the next round of FOC in Vilnius on mutually convenient dates.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

8. E-Registration portal launched by Union Minister of State for Textiles, Darshana Jardosh for the Sari Walkathon on 21 November.

• On 10th December 2023, the Sari Walkathon will be organized at MMRDA Ground, Mumbai.
• Women from different states of the country are being invited to showcase their ways of wearing saree and thus, India is being presented as a country of "Unity in Diversity."
• Participants can enroll for the Saree Walkathon through this dedicated website in which the registration will be OTP-based.
• Mrs Jardosh was the first woman to register herself on the portal.
• The first saree walkathon was organized in Surat.
• Here, more than 15,000 women, clad in different types of sarees, walked for fitness with the aim of promoting the spirit of traditional textiles and supporting the idea of vocal for locals.
• The event organized by the Textiles Ministry aims to increase awareness about fitness among women and encourage them to lead a healthy life.
• Approximately 10,000 women from across the country are expected to attend the event, dressed in their distinctive traditional attire.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

9. “VAJRA PRAHAR 2023” exercise started between India and the US Joint Special Forces.

• The 14th Edition of the “VAJRA PRAHAR 2023” started at the Joint Training Node, Umroi in Meghalaya.
• It will be organized from 21st November to 11th December 2023.
• Personnel from the 1st Special Forces Group (SFG) of US Special Forces and Special Forces personnel from the Eastern Command of India are taking part in this exercise.
• Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR's aim is to share best practices and experiences in areas like joint mission planning and operational tactics.
• The first edition of this exercise was conducted in 2010 and the 13th edition was conducted at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS), Bakloh (HP).
• Both countries' forces will take part in a series of Special Operations, Counter Terrorist Operations, and Air Borne operations in simulated conventional and unconventional scenarios in mountainous terrain.
• ‘Combat free fall insertion of troops from stand-off distances’, ‘Water borne insertion of troops’, ‘Precision engagement of targets at long ranges’, etc. will be the main highlights of the exercise.
• It is a platform to enhance interoperability and strengthen defence cooperation between the armies of India and the United States of America.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

10. Atal Innovation Mission under NITI Aayog launched the Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion program.

• The Atal Innovation Mission under NITI Aayog launched a new accelerator program called Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) in New Delhi.
• This program will support startups and small to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) working on circular economy technologies and solutions in India and Australia.
• The applications for this program will be open till 7 January on the rise accelerator dot org.
• The participating startups will be eligible for non-equity grants up to 40 Lakh Rupees.
• It is launched in partnership between Australia's National Science Agency and the India-Australia RISE Accelerator and India's Atal Innovation Mission.
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):
  • It was launched in 2016.
  • It is a flagship initiative of NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • Atal Tinkering Labs is a major initiative under the Atal Innovation Mission to promote a creative, innovative mindset in schools.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

11. World is set to get warmer by nearly 3°C by the end of the century: UN report.

• As per a UN report, the 1.5 degree Celsius temperature threshold passed in only 86 days of this year.
• Global greenhouse gas emissions scaled a record high in 2022.
• According to the report, the world is set to become warmer by at least 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.
• A total of 57.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide has been emitted in 2022.
• The Covid pandemic caused a dip in global emissions in 2020 but the emissions climbed back to the 2019 levels in 2021.
• China and the United States emissions have also increased in 2022. The emission has decreased slightly in the European Union, Russia and Brazil.
• As per the current promises made by the countries, global emissions in 2030 will be at least 19 billion tonnes.
• It will be higher than the level required to keep global warming within 1.5 degree Celsius from pre-industrial times.
• Global emissions have to drop by at least 8.7 per cent every year from 2024 to meet the gap.
• The goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement is to contain the global temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Topic: National Appointments

12. Vinay M. Tonse has been appointed as the Managing Director of State Bank of India.

• He has been appointed as the Managing Director of the State Bank of India until 30 November 2025.
• The post was vacant from June after the appointment of Swaminathan Janakiraman as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank.
• Swaminathan Janakiraman served as the Managing Director of the State Bank of India from January 2021 until June 2023.
• Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) recommends directors of state-owned banks and financial institutions.
• The State Bank of India is operated by four managing directors and one chairman.

Topic: Personality in News

13. On 21 November, the founder of Sankara Netralaya Dr.S.S Badrinath passed away in Chennai at the age of 83.

• In 1978, he established Shankara Nethralaya as a unit of the Medical Research Foundation.
• In 1983, he received the Padma Shri and in 1999, he received the Padma Bhushan.
• The institute he founded has become prestigious, a symbol of the progress of modern medicine.
• Born on 24 February 1940, Dr. S.S. Badrinath graduated from Madras Medical College in 1962.
• He pursued postgraduate studies in the United States.
• According to the information, on average 1200 eye-related patients arrive every day from every corner of the country and 100 surgeries are performed every day.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

14. India's first incubator information platform unveiled by IIT Madras for startups.

• In an unprecedented move, the Center for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing (CREST) at IIT Madras has launched 'incubators' in collaboration with YNOS.
• The aim of this innovative platform is to consolidate information on India's diverse incubators and accelerators while simplifying the start-up selection process.
• The new platform ‘Incubators’ act as a game-changer, simplifying the identification, comparison, and analysis of these support systems.
• For the first time, founders can access a centralized hub, reducing the arduous task of individually researching a multitude of incubators.
• 'Incubator' provides data on over 920 incubators and accelerators with comprehensive details on each, including funding agencies, supported start-ups, investors, and focus areas.
• The platform facilitates side-by-side comparisons of incubators, empowering founders to make informed decisions tailored to the needs of their start-ups.