Daily Current Affairs and GK | 29 November 2022

Topic: International News

1. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh co-chaired the 4th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue with his French counterpart in New Delhi.

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu discussed military-to-military cooperation and the strengthening of maritime cooperation.
• Leaders of India and France also discussed many issues, including operational defence ties, counter-terrorism, maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, and industrial and technological partnerships.
• They also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the bilateral, regional, and multilateral forums, with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region.
• Sebastien Lecornu is on a two-day visit to India. He will also meet with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar.
• This year, India and France conducted many defence exercises, such as IMEX 22 in March, Varuna in March-April, and Garuda in October-November.
• France is currently chairing the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).
• India and France:
  • India and France entered into a Strategic Partnership in 1998. Both countries have close and friendly relations.
  • India and France are also committed to promoting cooperation under the framework of "EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025”.
  • In February 2022, India and France agreed on a roadmap for a blue economy and Ocean Governance.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National Appointments

2. Government has extended the term of Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra till April 30, 2024.

• He took charge on May 1, 2022. He was to retire on 31 December 2022.
• He had succeeded Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
• Mr. Shringla is now serving as the Chief Coordinator of the upcoming G-20 summit to be held in India in 2023.
• Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi will be the ‘chief guest’ at the Republic Day celebrations in January 2023.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

3. 7^th edition of Global Technological Summit (GTS) is being held from 29th November to 1st December 2022 in New Delhi in a hybrid format.

• The summit is co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Carnegie India.
• It is India’s annual flagship event on Geotechnology. Geopolitics of Technology is the theme for this year’s Summit.
• GTS 2022 will see participation from more than 100 speakers across over 50-panel discussions, book launched and other events.
• Over 5000 participants from all over the world have registered to attend the Summit.
• GTS is one of the four flagship MEA annual conferences. The others are Raisina Dialogue, Asian Economic Dialogue, and the Indian Ocean Conference.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

4. Researchers discovered five new species of black corals.

• The discovered species live as deep as 2,500 feet (760 metres) below the surface in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea off the coast of Australia.
• Researchers at Smithsonian Institution, Washington, have discovered new species of black corals using a remote-controlled submarine.
• Researchers sent a robot to see and safely collect deep sea corals in their natural habitats.   
• Black corals can grow in shallow waters and down to depths of over 26,000 feet (8,000 metres).
• Unlike colourful corals, black corals are filter feeders. They eat tiny zooplankton that are abundant in deep waters.
• They act as important habitats where fish and invertebrates feed and hide from predators.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. Power Ministry launched a 4500 MW power purchase scheme to help states facing a power crisis.

• The Ministry of Power has started a plan to purchase 4500 MW of power in five years under the SHAKTI policy.
• The ministry has said that the scheme will benefit those states which are facing power shortages.      
• Along with this, it will also help in increasing the capacity of power houses.
• Power Finance Corporation (PFC) Consulting Limited has been appointed as the nodal agency for this.
• Bids have been invited for the supply of 4500 MW of power on his behalf. This supply will start from April 2023.
• The last date for bids under this scheme is December 21.
• This is the first-time bids have been invited under the Shakti Yojana.
• SHAKTI, a scheme for transparency in the development and allocation of coal production in India, was launched in 2018.
• Its objective is to make coal available to power units that are in distress due to a short supply of coal.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: Geography

6. World's largest active volcano, Mauna Loa in Hawaii, erupted for the first time in nearly 40 years.

• Lava is still coming out at the summit of the volcano. As of now, there is no danger to the local people.
• This volcano has erupted for the first time in almost 4 decades.
• An ashfall advisory is in effect for Hawaii's Big Island and the surrounding waters, and residents have been told to remain vigilant.
• The largest volcano, Mauna Loa, has a height of over 13,600 feet.
• The last time Mauna Loa erupted was in March and April 1984, at that time lava had come to 5 miles (13 kilometers) in the city of Hilo.
• On 27 November, the latest eruption began and made a caldera at the volcano's summit.
• Calderas are hollows that form beneath the summit at the end of an eruption.
• Note:
  • A volcano can be active, dormant, or extinct stage.
  • When the mantle of the Earth melts, it comes out in the form of lava through cracks on the Earth’s surface.
  • There are around 1,350 active volcanoes in the world.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

7. The pavilion of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has won the award for “Outstanding Contribution towards Public Communication and Outreach”.

• The pavilion of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare won this award at the 41st India International Trade Fair 2022.
• The health pavilion was one of the most popular pavilions at the trade fair.
• It conducted as many as 37 thousand 889 screenings, investigations, counseling, and trainings.
• Nearly 5,530 visitors visited the National Health Authority (NHA) counter where 1,110 visitors got their Ayushman Bharat Health Account cards.
• Padma Shri and Khel Ratna awardee Dr. Deepa Malik visited the pavilion.
• She also shared her experience of being a TB survivor with the audience and visitors.
• Mr. Lukanand Kshetrimayum, 1st Runner Up, Mr. International 2022 during his visit spoke on mental health.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

8. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya has been awarded UNESCO Award for cultural heritage conservation.

• It has been conferred with the ‘Award of Excellence’ at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation-2022.
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya had earlier received an ‘honourable mention’ at the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2010.
• Its construction work was complete in 1914. On 10 January 1922, it was thrown open to the public as a museum.
• Of the 13 projects from six countries – Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal and Thailand – four from India were awarded. Four winners from India are given below.
  • Award of Excellence - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
  • Award of Distinction - Stepwells of Golconda, Hyderabad
  • Award of Merit - Domakonda Fort, Telangana, and Byculla Station, Mumbai

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

9. World Health Organisation has renamed monkeypox as mpox.

• World Health Organisation renamed monkeypox as mpox citing discriminatory and racist concerns.
• Both names will be used simultaneously for one year after that 'monkeypox' will be phased out.
• WHO said that numerous individuals and countries have proposed changing the name.
• Monkeypox is a rare viral infection, and its largest global outbreak has occurred this year. It transmits from animals to humans.
• The World Health Organisation declared monkeypox a global emergency after cases emerged in many countries.
• Until November, more than 80,000 cases of monkeypox have been identified in dozens of countries.
• The majority of deaths from monkeypox have happened in Africa. The disease mainly affected people who come into contact with infected animals such as rodents and squirrels.
• Mpox was first named monkeypox in 1958 when monkeys in Denmark were observed to have a pox-like disease.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

10. India’s first retail municipal bond for solar power projects will be issued by Indore Municipal Corporation.

• Indore Municipal Corporation will raise 2.6 billion rupees ($31.8 million) through a 10-year bond. It will be used to fund solar power projects.
• A.K. Capital Services Ltd. and SBI Capital Markets Ltd. are the lead managers of the offering.
• A 60-megawatt solar plant will be built near Indore at a cost of 3 billion rupees.
• India’s central bank has called on local authorities to consider issuing municipal bonds to meet funding requirements.  
• For six years in a row, Indore has won India's cleanest city award.

Topic: Important Days

11. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2022: 29 November

• Every year on November 29, International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed.
• The day is also known as Solidarity Day.
• The purpose of the day is to educate the public on the issue of Palestine and to support a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
• The General Assembly declared November 29 to be the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in 1977.
• On this day in 1947, the resolution on the partition of Palestine was adopted by the United Nations Assembly.

Topic: Sports

12. Canada won its maiden Davis Cup title.

• On 27 November, Felix Auger-Aliassime gave Canada an invincible 2–0 lead against Australia in Malaga.
• He defeated Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 to give his country its first Davis Cup.
• Felix won both his singles and doubles sets to assure Canada of a position in the final match, and he then defeated de Minaur.
• Shapovalov defeated Thanasi Kokkinakis to give Canada the lead.
• Canada also defeated Germany and Italy in this tournament.
• In the semi-finals, Australia defeated Croatia to reach its first Davis Cup final since 2003.
• In 2019, Canada made its debut in the Davis Cup title game.
• Davis Cup:
  • It is an international tennis tournament of men’s tennis.
  • The 2022 Davis Cup was the 110th edition of the Davis Cup.
  • It was founded in 1990 as the International Lawn Tennis Challenge.
  • It is organised by the International Tennis Federation.

Topic: National Appointments

13. FSIB has recommended the name of Samuel Joseph Jebaraj for the post of Deputy Managing Director (Lending & Project Finance) in NABFID.

• Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) has interfaced with 12 candidates for this post in National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NABFID).
• Samuel Joseph Jebaraj is Deputy Managing Director, IDBI Bank Ltd.
• Deputy Managing Director (Chief Financial Officer), Deputy Managing Director (Chief Risk Officer-CRO) and Deputy Managing Director (Lending & Project Finance) are three DMD positions in NABFID.
• In August, the names of Monika Kalia and B S Venkatesha were recommended by FSIB for the positions of DMD (Chief Financial Officer) and DMD (Chief Risk Officer) respectively.
• In July, the name of former Union Bank Chief Rajkiran Rai was recommended by FSIB for the position of Managing Director at NABFID.

Topic: Defence

14. India-Malaysia joint military Exercise started at Pulai, Kluang in Malaysia on 28th November 2022.

• The exercise is named Harimau Shakti-2022. It will culminate on 12th December 2022.
• Combat troops of the Garhwal Rifles Regiment of the Indian Army and the Royal Malay Regiment of the Malaysian Army are taking part in the exercise.
• It will enhance the defence cooperation between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army.
• It will also enhance interoperability in the planning and execution of various operations in jungle terrain.
• Harimau Shakti is an annual training event between Indian and Malaysian armies. It is being conducted since 2012.