Daily Current Affairs and GK | 25 November 2023

Topic: National Appointments

1. Anish Shah has been elected as the next FICCI president.

• Mahindra Group CEO Anish Shah is set to become president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).
• He will assume the charge in December 2023.
• Anish Shah is currently the senior Vice-President of Ficci. He will take place Subhrakant Panda as the President after the 96th Annual General Meeting.
• Anish Shah is the Group CEO of Mahindra Group and the Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra.
• Earlier, he was the President and CEO of GE Capital India from 2009-14.
• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI):
  • It is the largest, oldest and apex business non-governmental trade association in India.
  • It was established in 1927.
  • It is headquartered in New Delhi.

Topic: State News/ Uttar Pradesh

2. Bundelkhand Expressway is set to become the first solar expressway in Uttar Pradesh.

• The Uttar Pradesh government is planning to set up solar plants on 1700 hectares of land along the Bundelkhand Expressway.
• These solar plants along the Bundelkhand Expressway will generate 550 MW of solar power.
• This project will be implemented by the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).
• The Due Diligence Study related to the project has been completed and the Expression of Interest (EOI) phase was completed in August 2023.
• The lifespan of this project will be 25 years and will supply electricity to more than 1 Lakh houses along the expressway.
• Bundelkhand Expressway passes through seven districts, Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Auraiya and Etawah.
• It is a 296 km long four-lane expressway, which has been built at a cost of around Rs 14,850 crores.

Topic: Important Days

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

• International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed every year on 25 November.
• The main aim is to spread awareness about the victims of various forms of violence against women, including domestic violence and rape.
• On this day, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence begins.
• UN General Assembly designated November 25 as International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women in 2000.
• Since 1981, Women's rights activists have observed November 25 as a day against gender-based violence.
• Around 1 in 3 (30%) women globally experience physical and/ or sexual violence, mostly by their intimate partner.
• Almost 1 in 4 (24%) adolescent girls aged 15-19 experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. Best Film Award presented to 'Odh' in the '75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow' organized at the 54th IFFI.

• On 24 November, ‘Odh’, the refreshing and thought provoking short film on receding beach lines of Goa, has won this award at the 54th International Film Festival of India.
• On November 21, the ‘75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow’ film challenge was launched at IFFI in Goa.
• As part of the Film Challenge, 75 participants were divided into five teams who made short films in 48 hours on the theme 'Mission Life'.
• The initiative aims to encourage and nurture young creative talents from various fields of film production.
• In 2021, the initiative was launched as part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations to mark the 75th year of India's independence.
• The story of the winning film deals with a fisherman who takes his boat into the middle of the city in an attempt to find a parking space.
• He complains that the beach has been stolen, and he has no place left to park his boat.
• The film addresses the issue of Goa's diminishing coastlines due to sea level rise and large-scale construction taking place on the beaches.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National Appointment

5. Robert Shetkintong has been appointed India's High Commissioner to the Republic of Mozambique.

• Currently, he is serving as the Ambassador of India to Ethiopia since 2020.
• The ministry said he is expected to take charge soon.
• In addition, Senior diplomat Saurabh Kumar has been appointed India's Ambassador to Belgium.
• Currently, Kumar is working as a secretary in the External Ministry, and will also be accredited as India's ambassador to the European Union.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Sports

6. Anish Bhanwala won the bronze medal at the ISSF World Cup Final 2023.

• On November 24, Indian shooter Anish Bhanwala won a bronze medal in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol event at the ISSF World Cup Final 2023 in Doha, Qatar.
• Anish Bhanwala, competing at the Lusail Shooting Range, scored 27 out of 35 in the final for third place.
• It was also the first medal for India in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol event in ISSF World Cup Finals history.
• Germany’s Florian Peter hit 35 from 40 and won the gold medal.
• China’s LI Yuehong, the reigning world champion, and two-time Olympic medallist, won the silver medal.
• The ISSF World Cup Final 2023 was held for rifle, pistol, and shotgun shooters, which concluded on November 25.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

7. The chairmanship of the global sugar industry body ISO will be assumed by India for 2024.

• On November 24, the government announced that India will assume the chairmanship of the International Sugar Organization (ISO), the apex body for sugar and related products, for 2024.
• India is the largest consumer and second largest producer of sugar in the world.
• London-headquartered ISO has announced the appointment of India as the chair of the organization for 2024 in its 63rd Council meeting.
• Leading the global sugar sector is a major achievement for the country and a reflection of the country's growing stature in the region.
• The main goal will be to bring together all member countries to adopt more sustainable practices in sugarcane cultivation, sugar, and ethanol production, and better utilization of by-products.
• Indian sugar trends deeply influence global markets with about 15% share in global sugar consumption and about 20% of sugar production.
• Now, India is the world's third largest country in ethanol production after the United States and Brazil.

Topic: Defence

8. India-Nepal joint military exercise Surya Kiran-XVII started in Pithoragarh.

• A contingent of the Nepal Army consisting of 334 military personnel arrived in India to participate in the 17th Joint Military Exercise Surya Kiran.
• This exercise is being conducted in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand from 24 November to 07 December 2023.
• It is an annual event and is organized by rotation in both the countries.
• The Indian Army contingent comprising 354 personnel is being led by a battalion of the Kumaon Regiment, while on the other hand, the Nepal Army contingent is being represented by the Tara Dal battalion.
• The objective of the exercise is to enhance operational procedures in jungle warfare, counter-terrorism operations in mountainous areas, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
• The exercise will focus on the deployment of drones and anti-drone measures, medical training, aviation aspects, and environmental protection.
• Through these activities, the soldiers will enhance their operational capabilities, hone their fighting skills, and strengthen their coordination in challenging situations.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

9. REC Limited received the ‘Best Employer in Diversity & Inclusion’ Award by Assocham.

• A Maharatna CPSE under the Ministry of Power, REC Limited, received the “Best Employer for Policies in Diversity & Inclusion” Award at the 4th Diversity & Inclusion Excellence Awards and Conclave organized by Assocham.
• The ‘Best Employer for Policies in Diversity & Inclusion’ award shows the commitment of REC to create a workplace that promotes innovation and promotes equal opportunities for all employees.
• The award was presented by the Institute of Directors (IOD).
• It has also received the 'Best Central PSU' Award in the Financial Services category at the Dun & Bradstreet PSU Awards 2023.
• REC Limited:
  • It was established in 1969 and is responsible for Power Sector Financing and Development across India.
  • It provides financial assistance to state electricity boards, state governments, and central and state power utilities.
  • It is involved in projects related to Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Renewable Energy.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: MoUs /Agreements

10. India and the EU signed a MoU to build a robust supply chain of semiconductors.

• India and the European Union signed a pact to build a robust supply chain and support innovation in semiconductors.
• The MoU has been signed at the meeting of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC).
• Under this MoU, India and the EU will share experiences, best practices and information related to semiconductor ecosystems.
• Both sides will identify areas of collaboration in research, development and innovation among universities, research organizations and businesses.
• Semiconductors have emerged as a strategic commodity after the COVID period.
• This agreement will help India align more with the EU and the US on the future semiconductor industry.
• The Trade and Technology Council will meet in India in early 2024.

Topic: International News

11. Afghanistan has permanently closed its Embassy in New Delhi.

• Afghanistan's embassy has been permanently closed since November 23, according to a statement from the embassy announced on November 24.
• The embassy blamed both the Taliban rulers in Kabul and the Indian government for exerting pressure to permanently halt operations in India.
• On September 30, the embassy ceased functioning after senior Afghan diplomats and the ambassador representing the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan left India.
• Before closing, the Afghanistan embassy had completed 22 years of the Afghan Republic's diplomatic presence in India.
• India has not recognized the Taliban government – which seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021.
• India had withdrawn its personnel from Kabul ahead of the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan two years ago.

Topic: Sports

12. Anahat became the second youngest-ever winner at the National Squash Championship 2023.

• On 23 November, Anahat Singh won their maiden women’s title in the 79th National Squash Championships at the Indian Squash and Triathlon Academy (ISTA).
• 15-year-old Anahat is the second youngest player to win the women's title.
• Joshna Chinappa is the youngest to win the title. She won the title in 2000 at the age of 14 years.
• In the match, top seed Tanvi Khanna unfortunately lost the women's final to Anahat due to a right knee injury.
• She was the youngest athlete to represent India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games at the age of 14.
• She won team bronze and mixed doubles bronze at the 2023 Asian Games.
• Velavan Senthilkumar from Tamil Nadu has also won his maiden National title in men’s at the 79th Squash Championships.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

13. WHO requested China to provide details on the respiratory illness outbreak.

• WHO has asked China for more data on respiratory illnesses spreading in northern China.
• Since mid-October, Northern China has reported an increase in the "influenza-like illness".
• China's National Health Commission said that respiratory illness is due to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and circulations of pathogens.
• The common bacterial infections including mycoplasma pneumonia are affecting children.
• The Chinese capital of Beijing is currently showing a trend of multiple pathogens coexisting.
• The government urged people to take preventative measures, including getting vaccinated, keeping distance from sick people and wearing masks.
• Pneumonia is an infection that affects the lungs. It is an inflammation of air sacs in the lungs due to bacterial, viral or fungal infection.

Topic: Personality in News

14. Film director-producer Rajkumar Kohli died at the age of 95.

• Veteran filmmaker and producer Rajkumar Kohli passed away after a heart attack.
• He had directed and produced his first film Sapni in 1963.
• He is known for making films like Jaani Dushman, Nagin, Pati Patni Aur Tawaif etc.
• He has directed more than fifteen films in his career as a director.