Daily Current Affairs and GK | 25 November 2021

Topic: Awards and Prizes

1. President Ram Nath Kovind presented Gallantry awards at fourth Defence Investiture Ceremony.

• President Ram Nath Kovind presented Gallantry awards at fourth Defence Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan on the evening of 23 November.
• Jammu and Kashmir Police Head Constable Abdul Rashid Kalas was awarded Kirti Chakra posthumously.
• He was awarded Kirti Chakra for showing exemplary courage in eliminating hardcore terrorists' during an operation in Pulwama in 2019.
• Jammu and Kashmir Special Police Officer Bilal Ahmad Magray was awarded Shaurya Chakra posthumously.
• He was awarded Shaurya Chakra for showing indomitable courage in evacuating civilians and engaging terrorists during a counter-terror operation in Baramulla in 2019.
• Lt Gen CP Mohanty, Vice Chief of Army Staff received Param Vishisht Seva Medal from President.
• Earlier during the day, during the third Defence Investiture Ceremony, President presented Kirti Chakra posthumously to Subedar Sanjiv Kumar of four para special Forces.
• Subedar Sanjiv Kumar was awarded Kirti Chakra for an operation in Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Kirti Chakra is the second-highest peacetime gallantry award. 
• Colonel Santosh Babu was given Mahavir Chakra posthumously for resisting Chinese Army attack.
• He resisted Chinese Army attack while establishing an observation post in Galwan valley in Ladakh sector during Operation Snow Leopard.
• Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Chaudhari received the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

2. Extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana for another 4-months approved by Union Cabinet.

• Extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana for another 4-months has been approved by Union Cabinet.
• Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said that the 5th Phase of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana has been extended from December 2021 till March 2022.
• The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana is a food security welfare scheme. It was envisaged by PM Modi to provide assistance and help mitigate the economic impact of Covid-19.
• Under the scheme, food grain at five kilogram per person per month free of cost are provided to all beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

3. International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: 25 November.

• International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is every year celebrated on November 25 to increase awareness in respect of violence against women.
• This year, the theme of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is “Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!”
• November 25 was designated as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by UN General Assembly in the year 2000.
• November 25 was chosen as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to honor Mirabai Sisters, political activists from Dominion Republic.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

4. CCEA approves continuation of umbrella scheme ACROSS along with its eight sub-schemes.

• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approves continuation of umbrella scheme ACROSS along with its eight sub-schemes to next five years (2021-2026).
• Ministry of Earth Sciences is implementing Atmosphere and Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems and Services (ACROSS) scheme through its units. The names of units are given next.
  • India Meteorological Department
  • National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting
  • Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
  • Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services
• Different aspects of weather and climate services are incorporated as eight sub-schemes under the umbrella scheme ACROSS and being implemented in an integrated manner through the four institutes.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. CCEA approves continuation of O-SMART scheme during the period from 2021-26.

• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the continuation of Ocean Services, Modelling, Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART) scheme during the period 2021-26.
• Union cabinet has also completed the formalities to repeal three Farm Laws. The three farm laws are given below.
  • Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act 2020
  • Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020
  • Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020
• Parliament passed these laws in Monsoon season last year. On 19th November 2021, PM Modi announced that Government has decided to repeal all three farm laws.
• Cabinet also approved the continuation of National Apprenticeship Training Scheme for the next five years.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

6. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to lead Indian delegation for 13^th ASEM Summit.

• Vice President Venkaiah Naidu will lead the Indian delegation for 13^th Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit.
• 13^th ASEM Summit is being held virtually from 25 November. Its theme is Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth.
• All 51 member countries and ASEAN and European Union are expected to participate in this summit.
• 13th ASEM Summit also marks the 25th anniversary of the ASEM process. Cambodia is hosting the 13th ASEM Summit.

Topic: International News

7. Resolution for graduation of Bangladesh, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Nepal from LDC category adopted by UNGA.

• The resolution for graduation of Bangladesh, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Nepal from LDC category has been adopted by UN General Assembly.
• These countries will graduate from the least developed country category after an exceptionally extended preparatory period of five years. Usual preparatory period is of three years.
• Three countries have been given five years to enable them to prepare for graduation while planning for a post-COVID-19 recovery and implementing policies to reverse damage incurred by the COVID-19 shock.
• In February, the graduation of Bangladesh from the category of LDC was recommended by United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) for the second consecutive time since 2018.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

8. Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries gives 'Gopal Ratna' Award to Himachal Pradesh's Kamdhenu Hitkari Manch.

• Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries has given 'Gopal Ratna' Award to Himachal Pradesh's Kamdhenu Hitkari Manch.
• Kamdhenu Hitkari Manch, Namhol in district Bilaspur has also been selected as 'Best Milk Cooperative Society'.
• Kamdhenu Hitkari Manch is one of the leading Societies in the State.
• It has been awarded the prestigious 'Gopal Ratna' Award in the category of Best Dairy Cooperative Society.

Topic: International News

9. Magdalena Andersson approved as Sweden's first female Prime Minister by its Parliament.

• Sweden's Parliament has approved Magdalena Andersson as the country's first female Prime Minister.
• She has replaced Stefan Lofven, the leader of the center-left Social Democrats.
• Sweden is a country that has never before elected a woman as its national leader.
• A hundred years after Swedish women were given the right to vote, the 54-year-old Social Democrat leader was given a standing ovation by the sections of Parliament, or the Riksdag.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

10. 20^th meeting of Council of Heads of Government of SCO attended by S Jaishankar.

• The 20^th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government was held in virtual format on November 25 in Nur-Sultan under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan.
• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar represented India at the meeting.
• The SCO Council of Heads of Government meets once a year to discuss the Organization's trade and economic agenda as well as approve its yearly budget.

Topic: State News/ Madhya Pradesh

11. 'Urja Saksharta Abhiyan' will be launched in Madhya Pradesh.

• The 'Urja Saksharta Abhiyan' will be started in Madhya Pradesh to raise public awareness about energy conservation.
• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan presided over a cabinet meeting that made the decision.
• This campaign will involve activities, such as providing information on alternative energy sources and steps towards energy conservation.
• On November 25, the foundation stone for the 1500 MW Agar-Shajapur-Neemuch Solar Park will be set in the state.

Topic: Defence

12. INS Vela commissioned in Mumbai by Indian Navy.

• The INS Vela, an indigenously built Scorpene-class submarine, was commissioned on 25 November at Mumbai's Naval Dockyard.
• Captain Anish Mathew, the Commanding Officer of INS Vela, stated that the ship has an indigenous set of batteries as well as an advanced communication suite made in India.
• The INS Vela is the fourth stealth Scorpene-class submarine to be inducted as part of Project 75.
• Project 75 involves the construction of six Scorpene-designed submarines.
• Three of these submarines have already been commissioned, which are Kalvari, Khanderi, and Karanj.
• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd of Mumbai collaborated with M/s Naval Group of France to build the submarine.
• The last avatar of INS Vela was launched on August 31, 1973, and it served the country admirably for 37 years before being decommissioned on June 25, 2010.
• On November 21, 2021, the Indian Navy's stealth-guided missile destroyer Visakhapatnam was commissioned in Mumbai.

(Source: News on AIR)