Daily Current Affairs and GK | 24 November 2022

Topic: Awards and Prizes

1. Government announced the winners of the National Gopal Ratna Awards 2022.

• Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying announced the winners of the National Gopal Ratna Awards 2022.
• The awards will be presented on 26 November (National Milk Day) at Dr Babu Rajendra Prasad International Convention Centre, Bengaluru.
• The National Gopal Ratna Awards will be given in three categories. It is one of the highest national awards in the field of livestock and dairy sector.
• The awards carry a cash prize of 5 lakh rupees for the first rank, 3 lakh rupees for the second rank, and 2 lakh rupees for the third rank.
• The applications for this award were invited through the online application portal developed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• The list of winners in each category is given below:

Topic: MuUs/Agreements

2. QatarEnergy has signed a 27-year Sale and Purchase Agreement with China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec).

• The agreement is for the supply of 4 million tons per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China.
• The agreement is the second LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) between QatarEnergy and Sinopec.
• Earlier, the 10-year SPA was signed in March 2021 for the supply of 2 million tons per annum to China.
• QatarEnergy will supply 4 million tonnes of LNG annually from its new North Field East project to China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec).
• China is the first country to seal a deal for North Field East.
• Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar's Energy Minister and QatarEnergy's chief executive, said the agreement marks the longest gas supply agreement in the history of the LNG industry.
• Qatar is the world's largest LNG supplier and China is the world's largest LNG importer.
• The main market for Qatar's gas is Asian countries led by China, Japan and South Korea.
• Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is a colorless, non-toxic natural gas in liquid state formed after cooling the gas to -162ºC. In liquid state, natural gas will not ignite. LNG is mainly used by fertiliser manufacturers and city gas distribution (CGD) companies.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

3. President Droupadi Murmu will give Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards for the year 2021 on 30^th November 2022.

• Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announces Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards for year 2021.
• The award will be given in four categories. These categories are Land Adventure, Water Adventure, Air Adventure and Life Time Achievement.

• The winners will receive statuettes, certificates and award money of 15 lakh rupees each.
• Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards are given each year to recognize the achievements of persons in the fields of adventure.

Topic: Personality in News

4. Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day observed on 24 November 2022.

• He is the ninth Guru of the Sikh religion. His martyrdom day is observed as Shaheed Diwas every year.
• On this day, he was killed in 1675 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi for refusing to convert to Islam.
• In her message, President Droupadi Murmu said that it is rightly said about him that “Sir Diya Par Saar Na Diya”.
• Guru Tegh Bahadur:
  • He was born in April 1621 at Amritsar in Punjab. He built the city of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab.
  • He was also known as ‘Hind di Chaadar’, which means the ‘Shield of India’.
  • Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi is the site of the cremation of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

5. Government has given in-principle approval to 95 more ethanol projects.

• Under the new window of Ethanol Interest Subvention Schemes, 95 more ethanol projects have been approved.
• These projects will increase the annual ethanol capacity of the country by about 480 crore litres.
• Of these projects, 68 are grain-based, 20 are molasses based and seven are based on dual feedstock.
• The Food and Public Distribution Department has told that about Rs 12 thousand crores is likely to be invested in these projects.
• A total of 243 projects have been given in-principle approval since the program was notified in April 2022.
• Under the new window, ethanol project proponents who have land and environment clearance (EC) can apply to avail of the benefits by April 21, 2023.
• Ethanol is a biofuel obtained from various sources such as starch, sugars and vegetable oils.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Tamil Nadu

6. Arittapatti in Madurai has been notified as Tamil Nadu's 'First Biodiversity Heritage Site'.

• On 22 November, the Tamil Nadu Government issued a notification to declare Arittapatti village near Melur in the Madurai district as a Biodiversity Heritage Site.
• The village has been declared Biodiversity Heritage Site under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
• Arittapatti village is known for its rich biological and historical significance, with about 250 bird species. It is also home to 3 major raptor species - Lager Falcon, Shaheen Falcon, Bonelli's Eagle, and wildlife such as pangolins, pythons, and slender loris.
• The site is located in the Madurai district's Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages, covering a total area of 193.215 hectares.
• In India, the Himalayas, Indo-Burma, Sunderland, and the Western Ghats are the four biodiversity hotspots.
• Additionally, a total of 22 Biodiversity Heritage Sites had been notified by 12 State Governments.
• Nallur Tamarind Grove in Bengaluru was the first Biodiversity Heritage Site of India, notified in 2007.
• Biodiversity is the shortened form of two words "biological" and "diversity". It refers to all the diversity of life that can be found on Earth.

Topic: Indian Economy

7. India’s export of pharma products recorded a growth of 138% from April to October 2022 over April-October 2013.  

• India’s export of pharma products increased to over Rs 90,000 crore from April to October of this fiscal year.
• In 2013, India’s export of pharma products was around Rs 37,988 crore from April to October.
• The USA, UK, South Africa, Russia, and Nigeria are India’s top 5 pharma export destinations.
• Pharmaceutical and drug exports make up 5.92% of our total exports.
• Formulations and biologicals account for a major share of 73.31% of our total exports. They are followed by Bulk drugs and drug intermediates.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Sports

8. Army Red Team is the winner of the 72nd Inter Services Volleyball Championship 2022-23.

• The Army Red Team has won the championship with a score of 3-1.
• The closing ceremony of the 72^nd Inter Services Volleyball Championship was held at Eagles Indoor Volleyball Stadium in Secunderabad.
• Two teams of Indian Army, Red and Green and one team each of Indian Navy and Indian Air Force took part in the championship.
• Telangana and Andhra Sub Area officiating General officer commanding (GoC), Brigadier K Somashankar presented the trophy.
• Booster, Deuce, Smash, Block, Center Line, Jump Serve, etc. are some common terms used in Volleyball.

Topic: Indian Economy

9. OECD slashed India’s GDP growth forecast to 6.6%.

• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has lowered India’s GDP growth forecast from 6.9% to 6.6% for FY 23.
• The OECD in its latest economic outlook report said that economic growth has lost momentum in India due to erratic rainfall. As of result, sowing activities got impacted and purchasing power has fallen.
• Slowing exports, the decline in domestic demand, and high inflation are the main reasons behind the slowing down of India's economic growth.
• In the July-September quarter, the current account deficit widened to 2.9 percent of GDP.
• In the current fiscal year, India will remain the second-fastest-growing economy in the G-20.
• The GDP growth rate of India will slow down to 5.7 percent in FY24. The GDP growth rate of India will be around 6.9% in FY25.
• The OECD said that improvement in the business climate with skills development can boost investment and infrastructure.
• The OECD said CPI inflation will remain above the upper limit of 6% until early 2023.
• Apart from the OECD, IMF, World Bank, SBI and RBI have also lowered their GDP growth rate forecast of India for FY 23.
• Earlier, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut India's economic growth for 2022-23 to 6.8% from 7.4%.

Topic: Defence

10. Indian and Indonesian troops are taking part in the joint training exercise 'GARUDA SHAKTI'.

• A contingent of Indian Special Forces and Indonesian Special Forces are taking part in a bilateral joint training exercise, Garuda Shakti, in Karawang, Indonesia.
• It is part of the military-to-military exchange program and is the eighth edition of the series of bilateral exercises under this banner.
• The comprehensive 13-day training exercise began on November 21, 2022.
• Its main aim is to enhance understanding, cooperation, and interoperability between the Special Forces of India and Indonesia.
• Advanced Special Forces skills and sharing of information on weapons, equipment, innovations, tactics, techniques & procedures are part of this joint exercise.
• The exercise will end with a 48-hour-long validation exercise.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

11. COP27 has given its approval to establish a special Loss and Damage Fund on 20 November.

• The specific Loss and Damage Fund has been approved to be established during the 27th UN Conference of the Parties (COP27).
• This fund will help to compensate for the loss caused to developing countries that are vulnerable to climate change.
• COP27 said that all parties have agreed to establish the long-awaited Loss and Damage Fund to assist developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
• The Fund will assist developing countries in their efforts to avert, minimize and address losses and damages associated with the adverse effects of climate change considering continued global warming.
• The decision on the Loss and Damage Fund states that limiting future loss and damage will be necessary to keep the global average temperature rise to well below 1.5°C.
• A Transitional Committee will be set up which will decide the modalities, sources, and so forth to be considered at COP28 in November-December 2023.
• The Committee will consist of 23 members, 10 from developed country parties and 13 from developing country parties.
• The Committee will consider on following aspects:
  • Establishing institutional arrangements, modalities, structure, governance, and terms of reference for the fund
  • Defining the elements of the new funding arrangements
  • Identifying and expanding sources of funding
  • Ensuring coordination and complementarity with existing funding arrangements
• Loss and Damage:
  • Beyond natural climate variability, human-induced climate change has had widespread negative impacts on nature and people, including more frequent and intense extreme events.
  • Loss and damage resulting from the adverse effects of climate change are related to extreme weather events but can also include slow-onset events.
  • Such events are: sea level rise, increasing temperatures, ocean acidification, glacial retreat and related impacts, salinization, land and forest degradation, loss of biodiversity, and desertification.

Topic: National News

12. 14^th Poultry India Expo is being held in Hyderabad from 23^rd to 25^th November.

• It is the biggest poultry event in South Asia, which is being organized at HITEC, Madhapur, Hyderabad.
• About 331 companies from India and 39 companies from other countries, as well as 99 experts from around the world, are taking part in the event. 
• The objective of the exhibition is to help farmers keep in line with the latest developments in management, animal health and nutrition, new technologies in poultry production at affordable costs, and more.
• Production of Eggs and broilers is increasing at the rate of 8 to 10 percent per annum.
• Currently, India is the third-largest producer of egg in the world.
• Tamil Nadu is the highest egg producer and Hyderabad is counted for the maximum number of poultry and hatcheries.
• During the year 2021-22, India exported 320,240.46 MT of poultry products in the world.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

13. Rs 72,000 crore development project of Great Nicobar Island received clearance last month from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

• The project will be implemented in three stages over the period of next 30 years.
• The project includes a proposed “greenfield city” with an International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) and a greenfield international airport.
• The proposed port will be controlled by the Indian Navy. It is expected to be commissioned by 2027–28. The airport will have dual military-civilian functions.
• 166.1 sq km along the southeastern and southern coasts of the island have been identified for project. 130 sq km of forests have been sanctioned for diversion.
• Great Nicobar is equidistant from Colombo to the southwest. It is equidistant from Port Klang and Singapore to the southeast.
• Great Nicobar is positioned close to the East-West international shipping corridor.
• The proposed ICTT can be a hub for cargo ships travelling on this route.
• The proposed development project will lead to loss of tree cover, which will affect the flora and fauna on the island as well as impact coral reefs in the area.
• There will be loss of mangroves on the island as a result of the development project.
• The project site is located outside the eco-sensitive zones of Campbell Bay and Galathea National Park.
• According to the centre, development area is only a small area of the island and 15% of development area will be green cover and open spaces.
• Great Nicobar:
  • Great Nicobar is the southernmost island of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • It has an area of 910 sq km. India’s southernmost point, Indira Point is located on the southern tip of Great Nicobar Island.
  • Great Nicobar is home to two national parks and a biosphere reserve. It is also home to the Shompen and Nicobarese tribal peoples.
  • About 8,000 settlers living on the island are engaged in agriculture, horticulture, and fishing.
  • The Great Nicobar Island has tropical wet evergreen forests, mountain ranges, and coastal plains.
  • The leatherback sea turtle is the island’s flagship species. Fourteen species of mammals and 71 species of birds are found on the island.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

14. Researchers have sighted black-naped pheasant-pigeon in Papua New Guinea for the first time in 140 years.

• Black-naped pheasant-pigeon was last sighted some 140 years ago. It had not been sighted since 1882.
• A team in September took footage of the bird in the forest of a tiny island off Papua New Guinea.
• Members of the team had earlier failed to find any trace of the bird. They searched Fergusson Island - its only habitat - in 2019.
• In 2022, the team reached villages on western side of Mount Kilkerran - the island's highest peak.
• They met hunters who had heard and seen the pheasant-pigeon.
• Pheasant pigeon (Otidiphaps nobilis) is a species of large terrestrial pigeon.
• Black-naped pheasant-pigeon:
  • It is a critically endangered bird. It is a large, ground-dwelling pigeon.
  • It has a broad and laterally compressed tail. It is endemic to Fergusson Island. It eats fallen fruits and seeds.