Daily Current Affairs and GK | 26 and 27 November 2023

Topic: International News

1. South Korea, Japan and China agreed to resume the trilateral leader’s summit.

• The diplomats from South Korea, Japan and China have agreed to resume their trilateral leader’s summit.
• 25% of the global gross domestic product is produced by these three countries.
• These countries have agreed to restore and normalize three-nation cooperation at an early date.
• They also agreed to cooperate in different areas such as people-to-people exchange, trade, technology, public health, sustainable development and security.
• The first trilateral summit of South Korea, Japan and China was held in 2008. The summit has been suspended since 2019.
• South Korea and Japan are key allies of the USA. Around 80000 American soldiers are on their land.
• Japan demanded that China should remove its ban on seafood imports.

Topic: International Appointments

2. Christopher Luxon takes oath as prime minister of New Zealand.

• Christopher Luxon became Prime Minister of Christopher Luxon.
• The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by Governor-General Cindy Kiro.
• It ended the six years of left-wing governments in New Zealand.
• Christopher Luxon is leading a conservative coalition.
• Luxon has promised tax cuts and less government bureaucracy, including a 6.5% cut to the public service.
• Conservative coalition was formed after his National Party struck a deal with two smaller parties – libertarian ACT New Zealand and Populist New Zealand First.
• He quickly finalized a 100-day plan after the first cabinet meeting.

(Source: News)

Topic: National News

3. Central government exempted the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) from RTI Act.

• The central government added the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to a list of organizations that have been exempted from the Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005.
• Under the Right to Information Act (RTI) 2005, 26 other intelligence and security organizations have been exempted.
• In the last amendment, Strategic Forces Command was added to the list of exempted organisations under the RTI.
• Right to Information Act, 2005 was enacted to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.
• Indian-Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In):
  • It is an office under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
  • It is the nodal agency to deal with cyber security threats like hacking and phishing.
  • It was established on 19 January 2004. Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.

Topic: India and its Neighbour

4. Indian citizens will get visa-free entry to Malaysia from the 1st of December.

• In Malaysia, the visa requirement for Indian citizens coming to the country will be abolished from December 1 this year.
• Now Indian citizens can stay in Malaysia without a visa for 30 days.
• On 26 November, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made the announcement at the People's Justice Party annual meeting in Putrajaya.
• Along with India, citizens of China will also be allowed to enter Malaysia visa-free from December 1st.
• Malaysia has taken this step to promote additional tourist arrivals with a view to increasing economic growth.
• In October 2023, Mr Anwar announced improvements to visa facilities to encourage tourists and investors to visit Malaysia.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National News

5. Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres will be known as ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’.

• On 26 November, the Central Government changed the name of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) to ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir.’
• Its tagline is “Arogyam Paramam Dhanam.”
• All the states and union territories have been asked to change their current name appropriately by issuing guidelines through a letter.
• The ministry has also asked to upload photographs of the primary health centers after completing the renaming work.
• It is underlined that the logo of the National Health Mission (NHM) will be retained in the rebranded centres.
• The amount required to rename existing facilities has been proposed to be ₹3,000 per facility.
• There are currently over 1.6 lakh AB-HWCs in India.
• It aims to provide comprehensive primary health care including maternal and child health services and free essential medicines and diagnostic services close to people's homes through AB-HWCs.
• The center provides screening for hypertension, diabetes, and oral, breast, and cervical cancer.

Topic: MoUs and Agreements

6. A strategic partnership in disaster risk reduction was signed between NIDM and TERI.

• An MoU has been signed between the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to forge a strategic partnership in disaster risk reduction.
• This partnership symbolizes a joint commitment to contribute to the national agenda of disaster risk reduction, reinforcing the importance of cooperation in building a resilient and secure India.
• The MOU will serve as a platform to formalize strategic partnerships and facilitate research, capacity building, and training.
• Currently, 260 universities and institutions are part of the disaster risk reduction program, according to NIDM.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

7. 2023 Booker Prize presented to Irish writer Paul Lynch for the novel 'Prophet Song.'

• He won the award by beating London-based Indian-origin author Chetna Maru's debut novel "Western Lane" at a ceremony in London on November 26.
• 46-year-old Lynch won the award for his novel presenting a dystopian vision of Ireland in the grip of totalitarianism, which the author described as an attempt at radical empathy.
• Lynch is the fifth Irish writer to win the award, while the last Irish writer Anna Burns won the award in 2018.
• In 2022, Shehan Karunatilaka had won the Booker Prize for ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida.'
• Booker Prize:
  • It was launched in 1969.
  • It is a literary prize awarded every year for the best novel written in English and published in the UK or Ireland.
  • The winner receives £50,000, and £2,500 is given to all the shortlisted authors.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

8. Constitution Day 2023: 26 November

• Every year on 26 November, Constitution Day is celebrated in India.
• It is celebrated to commemorate the Constituent Assembly's adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1949.
• India's Constitution is the longest-written constitution of any sovereign country in the world.
• The Constituent Assembly of India enacted the Indian Constitution on November 26, 1949, and it came into effect on January 26, 1950.
• On November 19, 2015, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment announced the Government of India's plan to commemorate the 26 November each year as "Constitution Day" in order to promote constitutional principles among citizens.
• Dr. B R Ambedkar, widely known as the Father of the Indian Constitution, was a well-known social reformer, politician, and jurist.
• On August 29, 1947, he was assigned as the chairman of the constitution drafting committee.
• On the occasion of Constitution Day, President Draupadi Murmu unveiled the statue of Dr. Ambedkar in the Supreme Court.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

9. 8^th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) was organized from 22-24 November.

• The 8th edition of the India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) was organized from 22 to 24 Nov, 2023.
• The summit was organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the Center for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga).
• ‘Development vis-à-vis Land, Water and Rivers’ was the theme of IWIS.
• Its main aim is to bring together scientific experts, stakeholders, and government representatives to address dynamic challenges and opportunities in India's water sector.
• Union Minister of Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the summit.
• During the 8th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS), “Samarth Ganga and Productive Land” (highlighting the inter-dependability of Land and Rivers), and “Lifestyle for Rivers” (in the context of the ongoing national initiative of Lifestyle for Environment) themes were discussed.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Bihar

10. ‘Mission Daksh’ will be launched by the Bihar government.

• The Bihar government has decided to launch the 'Mission Daksh' on December 1 for around 25 lakh children who are lagging behind their peers in schools.
• The effective implementation of ‘Mission Daksh’ will be monitored by District-wise monitoring committees led by DM.
• Academically weak students will be identified and then Principals will coordinate with teachers to conduct additional classes, limited to five students at a time, after lunch.
• The main aim of the programme is to provide individual attention to academically weaker students.
• This targeted approach will help students grasp challenging concepts and bridge learning gaps.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

11. ‘Agni’ initiative started to promote innovations by Ayurveda practitioners.

• On 22 November, the “Ayurveda Gyan Naipunya Initiative” (AGNI) was launched for physicians working in the field of Ayurveda.
• The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has launched this initiative.
• Interested eligible Ayurveda practitioners can send an Expression of Interest in the format available on the CCRAS website by December 15, 2023.
• The initiative also aims to conduct research to mainstream practical practices through scientific validation and evidence-based evaluation.
• CCRAS, in consultation with NCISM, will document and publish reported medical practices and therapeutic regimens for educational and educational purposes.
• At present, there are more than 5,00,000 registered Ayurveda practitioners working mainly in India.
• CCRAS is an apex research organization under the Ministry of AYUSH committed to conducting, coordinating, formulating, developing and promoting scientifically based research in Ayurveda.

Topic: Important Days

12. National Milk Day 2023: 26 November

• Every year on 26 November, National Milk Day is celebrated in India.
• The day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr Verghese Kurien.
• He is popularly known as the Father of the White Revolution in India. He is also known as the “Milkman of India”.
• It was started by the IDA (Indian Dairy Association) in the year 2014. The first national milk day in India was observed on November 26, 2014.
• On 26 November, the National Gopal Ratna Awards 2023 has also been awarded by Union Minister Parshottam Rupala at Guwahati in Assam.
• The National Gopal Ratna Award is one of the highest national awards in the livestock and dairy sector.
• The livestock sector is important to the Indian economy, comprising one-third of the agriculture and allied sectors and with a compound annual growth rate of more than 8 per cent.
• Milk production:
  • India is the highest milk-producing country in the world. It is followed by the United States.
  • Rajasthan is the highest milk-producing state in India.
  • Operation Flood is related to the White Revolution of India. It was launched in 1973 by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

Topic: Personality in News

13. Narendra Modi became the first Prime Minister to fly LCA Tejas.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas. He co-piloted a trainer version.
• He became the first Prime Minister to fly the Tejas on a sortie.
• The aircraft took off from the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Airport) in Bengaluru. He was accompanied by an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot.
• Light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas has been developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with the Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
• Tejas has been part of the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet for more than seven years.
• At present, IAF operates two squadrons- ‘Flying Daggers’ and ‘Flying Bulltes’ of the Tejas aircraft.
• IAF has already ordered 83 LCA Mk-1A. It will have updated avionics, as well as an Active Electronically Steered Radar, updated Electronic Warfare suite and a Beyond Visual Range missile capability.
• The new variant of Tejas will be capable of firing many weapons from increased stand-off ranges.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Banking System

14. RBI imposed penalties totalling Rs 10.34 cr on Citibank, BoB, and IOB.

• The Reserve Bank imposed penalties on Citibank, Bank of Baroda, and Indian Overseas Bank for violating various regulatory norms.
• For non-compliance of norms related to depositor education and awareness fund scheme, and code of conduct on outsourcing of financial services, a fine of Rs 5 crore has been imposed on Citibank.
• Rs 4.34 core fine has been imposed on the Bank of Baroda for violating directions related to the creation of a central repository of large common exposures, and others.
• Rs 1 crore fine has been slapped on Indian Overseas Bank for contravention of directions concerning loans and advances.
• RBI said that all these penalties are based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance.