Daily Current Affairs November 06 & 07 2022

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day for Preventing Exploitation of Environment in War and Armed Conflict: 6th November

• International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict 2022 is observed on 6th November 2022.
• On 5th November 2001, the UN General Assembly declared the 6th November of each year as an International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the environment in War and Armed Conflict.
• On 27th May 2016 United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to recognize the role of a healthy ecosystem and sustainably managed resources in reducing the risk of armed conflict
• The United Nations ensured strong commitment to the full implementation of the Sustainable Development goals according to the resolution passed on 27th May.
• The United Nations Organisation (UN) and European Nations (EU) have made partnerships to help countries to identify and prevent the War conflict on natural resources as a part of peacemaking.

Infant Protection Day: 7th November

• Infant Protection Day 2022 is observed on the 7th of November 2022.
• In 1990 nearly 5 million infants died due to a lack of awareness of protecting Infants.
• So in the early 1900s, many Countries decided that steps should be taken for better child health care and to reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR).
• Europe first started a campaign to improve child health care. Europe Countries established Infant Protection Day to create awareness among the people about Child Care Services and to reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR).
• The Infant Mortality Rate has decreased from 100 to 10 deaths per 1000 births because of the awareness created by this day.
• Later America joined in this and started to celebrate Infant Protection Day to create awareness among the People.
• So Infant Protection Day was celebrated every year on 7th November.

National Cancer Awareness Day: 7th November

• National Cancer Awareness Day 2022 is observed on the 7th of November 2022.
• National Cancer Awareness Day 2022 is celebrated on 7th November after the birth anniversary of Nobel Prize winner Scientist Marie Curie who discovered Polonium and radium and her remarkable service for cancer treatment.
• The National Cancer Awareness day celebration was first announced by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the Indian Union Minister for health and family welfare in September 2014.
• A committee was formed in September 2014 and decided National Cancer Awareness Day will be celebrated on 7th November every year.
• National Cancer Awareness Day is celebrated every year to create awareness about the early detection of cancer and prevention methods
• Harsha launched a state-level cancer control process that encourages early detection and research in finding a cancer cure.
• In 1975 National Cancer Control Programme was started to arrange treatment facilities for cancer.
• In 1984-85 some changes were made in the National Cancer Control Programme to make the Cancer treatment process more efficient and available to all.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Adaptation efforts not consistent with climate risks: UNEP

• The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Adaptation Gap Report 2022 titled “Too Little, Too Slow: Climate adaptation failure puts the world at risk”, the report has pointed out that global efforts in adaptation planning, financing, and implementation are not keeping pace with the growing risks.

Key Highlights :

• The flow of international adaptation finance to developing countries grew 4% from 2019 to reach $29 billion in 2020, 34% of overall climate finance.
• The estimated annual adaptation needs are $160-$340 billion needed by 2030 & USD 315-565 billion by 2050.
• According to the UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report, Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement point toward global warming of 2.4-2.6°C by the end of the century.
• Research from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that climate risks will intensify with each tenth of a degree.
• Combined adaptation and mitigation finance flows in 2020 fell at least $17 billion short of the $100 billion pledged to develop countries
• A third of the 197 countries that are party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have incorporated quantified and time-bound targets on adaptation.

About UNEP :

• Established: 5 June 1972
• Headquarters:  Nairobi, Kenya
• Executive Director: Inger Andersen

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Vadodara becomes the second city to issue municipal bonds issuance

• Vadodara, Gujarat became the second Indian city to issue a municipal bond with assistance from the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Technical Assistance.
• This is Vadodara’s first municipal bond that will provide funds for infrastructure in Vadodara.
• Pune was the first city to issue such a bond in 2017.

Key Highlights :

• The successful issuance of the bond was celebrated by the US Embassy and the US Treasury officials, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Vadodara city, and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• The bond was oversubscribed by 10 times ( ₹1007 crore in bids received from 33 bidders) and was priced at a low yield of just 7.15%.
• A written case study will also be published sharing lessons learned from Vadodara’s bond issuance that will benefit other Indian cities issuing their municipal bonds in the future.

About Municipal Bonds :

• Municipal Bonds are also known as Muni bonds.
• It is a debt instrument which is issued by Urban Local Bodies in India.
• The fund is used to develop Infrastructure developments in municipal areas.
• The first Municipal bonds were issued in 1997 by the Bangalore Municipal Corporation.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & FINANCE

Unity Small Finance Bank Launches increases FD rates to 8.30% for senior citizens

• Unity Small Finance Bank Limited (Unity Bank) has launched Shagun 366, a 1 year, 1 day fixed deposit, promising retail customers an alluring return of 7.80% p.a., while senior citizens will earn 8.30% p.a. for a 366-day tenure.
• This deal is only valid for deposits made before November 30, 2022.

Key Highlights :

• Unity Bank has also hiked its interest rates for Callable and Non-Callable Bulk Deposits (deposits of more than Rs 2 crore). 
• Callable Bulk Deposits provide up to 7.75% interest per annum whereas non-callable bulk deposits give up to 7.85% interest per annum. 
• The bank is offering 6% interest on savings account deposits up to Rs 1 lakh. 
• For deposits of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 crore, the bank has increased yearly interest to 7%.
• Meanwhile, the Bank of India announced the “Star Super Triple Seven Fixed Deposit scheme” which provides an interest rate of 7.25% and up to 7.75% for senior citizens on a deposit for 777 days. 

About Unity Small Finance Bank :

• Founded: 2018
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO: Inderjit Camotra
• Unity Small Finance Bank is a Scheduled Commercial Bank, sponsored by Centrum Financial Services Ltd and has Resilient Innovations Pvt Ltd as a joint investor.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Adani New Industries installed the largest wind turbine in India:

• Adani New Industries Ltd. has built India’s tallest wind turbine in Mundra, Gujarat, as part of its renewable energy growth goals.
• The wind turbine is taller than the Statue of Unity and has blades that are wider than the wingspan of a jumbo jet.
• Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL) announced the installation of the largest wind turbine generator (WTG) in the country in Mundra, Gujarat.
• Mundra Windtech Ltd (MWL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd., installed the turbine.
• This prototype is also Adani New Industries Ltd.’s (ANIL) first addition to its portfolio, and it has paved the path for the installation of larger wind turbine generators.
• The proto assembly took a record-breaking 19 days to complete.
• It has been built up and tested, and it will soon apply for type certification.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Israeli PM Yair Lapid Concedes Defeat; Benjamin Netanyahu Set To Become Next Prime Minister

• Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has won the 25th elections of the Israeli Parliament defeating the interim PM Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid, a center-left political party.
• Benjamin Netanyahu won the election by capturing 64 seats in Israel’s 120-member Knesset.

About Benjamin Netanyahu :

• Netanyahu was born in 1949 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
• Between 1984 and 1988, Netanyahu served as the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations.
• He served as the ninth prime minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021.
• He is the longest-serving prime minister in the country’s history, having served for 15 years.
• He was also the first prime minister to be born in Israel after its Declaration of Independence.

About Israel :

• President : Isaac Herzog
• Capital: Jerusalem
• Currency : New shekel

Ajit Mohan quits as head of Meta India; Manish Chopra interim chief

• Meta Platforms Inc’s (formerly Facebook) vice-president and managing director (MD) of the India unit, Ajit Mohan, has quit the company after a 4-year stint.
• Mohan will join Snap Inc’s president of the Asia-Pacific Region (APAC).
• Manish Chopra, Director, and Head of Partnerships for Facebook India (Meta) will lead the company on an interim basis.

About Ajit Mohan :

• Mohan was the founding chief executive officer of Star India’s streaming media platform Hotstar.
• He was a consultant for the firms Arthur D. Little and McKinsey & Company.
• He is a member of the Internet and Mobile Association of India and the Museum of Art & Photography, among other organizations.
• Ajit Mohan was appointed managing director of Meta India (formerly Facebook) in January 2019.
• Apart from this, Mohan is currently serving as the vice chairman of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), an industry body that represents the top domestic and multinational internet companies and tech platforms.
• He is also on the advisory board of the advocacy group US–India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Army registers IPR of new design and camouflage pattern uniform

• The Indian Army has registered the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of its new design and camouflage pattern uniform.
• The new digital pattern combat uniform for Army soldiers was unveiled on Army Day on January 15, 2022.
• The process for registration of the new Camouflage Pattern and Design of Improved Combat Uniform to establish ownership of the Indian Army has been completed by the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademark, Kolkata, West Bengal.

Key Highlights :

• The Indian army holds exclusive intellectual property rights (IPR) of the design and camouflage pattern
• Remedies against infringements include interim and permanent injunctions as well as damages.
• The improved uniform has a contemporary look and functional design.
• The fabric has been made lighter, stronger, breathable, quick-drying, and easier to maintain.
• The uniform’s uniqueness is evident with the inclusion of gender-specific modifications for women’s combat uniform
• “Bulk procurement of 11.70 lakh sets to cater for the issue to Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and Other Ranks (OR) as part of the individual kit is in progress and is likely to commence from August 2023.

About the Indian Army :

• Chief of Defence Staff: General Anil Chauhan
• Chief of the Army Staff: General Manoj Pande

About MoD :

• Union Minister: Rajnath Singh
• Minister of State: Ajay Bhatt
• Defence Secretary: Dr. Ajay Kumar

Indian Army Approves Five make II Projects Providing Impetus to  “Atma Nirbhaarta”

• Indian Army has approved project sanction orders for five Make -2 projects providing Impetus to Atma Nirbhaarta.
• Indian Army is spearheading actions to provide impetus to “Make Projects” as the prime drivers of infusion of niche technologies through indigenous development

About Make II projects :

• Make II projects are essentially Industry funded projects involving design, development, and innovative solutions by Indian vendors for the development of prototypes.
• An assurance of order is given after successful prototype development.

List of 5 Make -2 projects whose PSOs have been approved:-

• High-Frequency Man Packed Software Defined Radio (HFSDR)
• A project Sanction Order (PSO) for the development of a prototype of Frequency Man Packed Software Defined Radio (HFSDR) under the Make II scheme has been issued to 14 Developing Agencies (DAs). 
• 300 HFSDRs are planned to be procured by the Indian Army, on the successful development of the prototype.
• The lightweight HFSDR will provide long-distance radio communication through enhanced data capability and bandwidth coupled with enhanced security.
• Drone Kill System. 
• As part of efforts to further encourage the indigenous anti-drone ecosystem, the Indian Army has approved Project Sanction Order (PSO) to 18 Developing Agencies (DAs) for procurement of 35 sets of Drone Kill Systems under the Make II scheme, post successful development of Prototype.
• The project is reserved for MSMEs/Startups. 
• A drone Kill System is a hard kill anti-drone system against low Radio Cross Section (RCS) Drone/ unmanned Aerial System (UAS), being developed to function in all types of terrains, both during day and night.
• Infantry Training Weapon Simulator (IWTS).
• A project Sanction Order (PSO) has been issued to four Developing Agencies (DAs) to develop the prototype for subsequent procurement of 125 sets of IWTS under the Make II procedure.
• The IWTS is the first tri-service Make II project with the Indian Army as the lead service.
• The project is reserved for MSMEs/ Startups.
• IWTS will be utilized to augment the marksmanship skills of young soldiers on a variety of weapons used by the, providing user-friendly graphics to simulate battle scenarios.
• 155mm Terminally Guided Munitions (TGM). 
• A project Sanction Order has been issued to six Developing Agencies (DAs) for the development of 155 mm Terminally Guided Munition (TGM) under the Make II scheme.
• Medium Range Precision Kill System (MRPKS). 
• A project Sanction Order has been issued to 15 Developing Agencies (DAs) for developing a prototype of MRPKS under the Make-II category of DAP 2020.
• Post successful development of this prototype, the IA will procure 10 Sets of MRPKS. 
• The Medium Range Precision Kill System (MRPKS), once launched can ‘Loiter’ in the air for up to two hours and can acquire, designate and engage real-time high-value targets up to 40 km.
• The Indian Army is already progressing with 43 ongoing projects under the Make II procedure of Capital Acquisition.
• 22 out of 43 Make II projects are now in the prototype development stage, which is 66 % of projects by cost (Rs 18,000 Crores out of 27,000 Crores).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISRO’s RISAT-2 makes uncontrolled reentry into earth’s atmosphere at the predicted impact point

• Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-2) launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2009, made an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere at the predicted impact point in the Indian Ocean near Jakarta, Indonesia.

About RISAT-2 :

• RISAT-2, Weighing only about 300 kg.
• It is a radar imaging satellite with multiple applications and was placed in an orbit where it was 400 km above the earth at its closest approach and 550 km above the earth at its farthest approach.
• RISAT-2 Satellite carried 30 Kg of fuel for an initial designed life of four years.
• On re-entry, there was no fuel left in the satellite and hence there are no contaminations or explosion by fuel is expected

• RISAT-2 is a clear example of ISRO’s capability to carry out spacecraft orbital operations efficiently and optimally.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOUR

The French government awarded Aruna Sairam the Chevalier Award:

• Aruna Sairam, a Carnatic vocalist, composer, collaborator, humanitarian, and speaker, has received the French government’s highest honour, Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
• Aruna Sairam was chosen for this honour not only for her singing abilities but also for her contributions to the growth of the Indo-French friendship.
• Aruna Sairam began her classical training with Rajalakshmi Sethuraman, her mother.
• She later became a protégé of great vocalist Sangita Kalanidhi T. Brinda, carrying on a historic line of Tanjore women vocalists that dates back more than eight generations.
• She was afterwards tutored by various renowned maestros from our country.
• When she was the first to mix Abhang, a Western Indian musical genre, into a traditional South Indian concert, her music transcended geographical boundaries.
• Aruna connects beyond regional constraints by collaborating with national and international musicians, who use melody as a language of human expression.

Ezhuthachan Award 2022 was given to renowned Malayalam author Sethu:

• Sethu (A. Sethumadhavan), a well-known Malayalam fiction author, has been chosen for the Kerala government’s coveted “Ezhuthachan Puraskaram” this year in honour of his overall contribution to the Malayalam language and literature.
• By going beyond the concepts of movements and trends, he concentrated on modernizing literature.
• His well-known works include Pandavapuram, Kaimudrakal, Adayalangal, Kiratam, Araamathe Penkutty, and Kilimozhikalkkappuram.
• In addition to these, he was the recipient of numerous honours, including those from the Kendra Sahitya Akademi and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi.
• Numerous of his works have been adapted into films and have been translated into both Indian and international languages.

Sethu’s career:

• The 80-year-old, who works as a banker, is known for his novels “Pandavapuram” and “Atayalangal,” as well as his short stories “Petiswapnangal” and “Sethuvinte Kathakal” (short story).
• For both novels and short tales, Sethu has won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award.
• The top literary award of the state government is named after the 16th-century devotional poet Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, who is regarded as the originator of the Malayalam language.
• The award comes with a citation and a cash prize of Rs. 5,00,000.

Amit Dasgupta received an award from the Order of Australia:

• In recognition of his contributions to the bilateral connection between Australia and India, Amit Dasgupta was named an Honorary Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM).
• Dasgupta works tirelessly to advance ties between Australia and India, pressuring both countries’ leaders and citizens to see the benefits of a more solidified bilateral connection.
• Dasgupta’s significant and ongoing contributions to the bilateral relationship between Australia and India are admirable and deserving of formal national recognition through his appointment as an Honorary Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM).

About Australia

• Capital: Canberra
• Currency: Australian dollar
• Prime minister: Anthony Albanese.

KSRTC employee Grama Vandi is recognized on a national level:

• Grama Vandi wins honours at the federal level: The Award of Excellence in Urban Transport was also won by the KSRTC’s “Grama Vandi,” which was launched in cooperation with State-level local self-government organizations.
• The city circle service provided by the Kerala Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) won the national “Commentation Award in Urban Transport” for “City with the Best Public Transport System.”
• Projects aimed at enhancing public transportation in all Indian cities were taken into consideration for the prizes created by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.
• At the Urban Mobility India (UMI) conference on November 6 in Kochi, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore will present the awards.

M. T. Vasudevan Nair received a Kerala Jyothi award:

• The first Kerala Jyothi award, which was established by the state government in the spirit of the Padma awards to honour persons who have made priceless contributions to society, has been given to renowned Malayalam author and Jnanpith laureate M T Vasudevan Nair.
• Delhi-based The first “Kerala Prabha” awards, announced by the government, will be given to Malayalam megastar Mammootty Omcheri N. N. Pillai, a dramatist, and Madhava Menon, a former civil officer, and social worker.
• According to a statement made on the eve of Kerala Piravi, the first “Kerry Sree” awards have been given to the amphibian biologist Sathyabhama Das Biju (Dr. S D Biju), magician Gopinath Muthukad, sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman, businessman Kochouseph Chittilappilly, scientist M P Parameswaran, and singer Vijayalakshmi.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND ORDERS

India is at the top of the list of nations with the lowest manufacturing costs:

• A survey places India ahead of China and Vietnam as the country with the lowest manufacturing costs.
• India has earned the 31st spot in the overall Best Countries rating among 85 countries, according to US News and World Report.
• India is ranked number one on a list of the top 10 nations with the lowest manufacturing costs, followed by Thailand (fourth), the Philippines (fifth), Bangladesh (sixth), Indonesia (seventh), Cambodia (eighth), Malaysia (ninth), and Sri Lanka (tenth).
• According to the survey, China, India’s main economic opponent in the South Asian area, has an overall ‘Open for Business’ score of 17.
• When it comes to low manufacturing costs, however, it ranks second only to India.
• Vietnam, which has attracted a spate of garment and footwear manufacturers in recent years, has been ranked third in the category of countries with the lowest production costs.
• It is ranked 47th in the overall ‘Open for the Business’ category.
• Switzerland topped the overall Best Countries list, followed by Germany, Canada, the United States, and Sweden.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched the ‘Baji Rout National Football Tournament.’:

• The “Baji Rout National Football Tournament” was launched at Dhenkanal, Odisha, by Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.
• Sports and games have been promoted across the nation by the government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, through programs like Khelo India and Fit India.
• The government wants to get the younger generation, which is engrossed with the internet and television, to join the game.
• The “Football for School” initiative has been launched by the Indian government in collaboration with FIFA and the All India Football Federation.
• According to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the campaign aims to attract roughly 2.5 million school pupils interested in football.
• Through the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, ten lakh footballs would be provided to public and private schools throughout the nation’s districts.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARIES

Arunachal Pradesh MLA Jambey Tashi Passes away                                              

• Arunachal Pradesh legislator Jambey Tashi passed away at the age of 48 in Guwahati, Assam.

About Jambey Tashi :

• Tashi was an Indian politician of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Arunachal Pradesh, serving as the MLA from the Lumla assembly constituency three times since 2009
• He was also a member of the National Minority Morcha in the BJP
• He is also the cousin of Chief Minister Pema Khandu
• He had been a member of the Indian National Congress and People’s Party of Arunachal Pradesh.
• He was holding the post of Advisor to the Planning and Investment Minister of the state.

Daily CA on November 6 & 7:

• International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict 2022 is observed on 6th November 2022.
• Infant Protection Day 2022 is observed on the 7th of November 2022.
• National Cancer Awareness Day 2022 is observed on the 7th of November 2022.
• Adani New Industries Ltd. has built India’s tallest wind turbine in Mundra, Gujarat, as part of its renewable energy growth goals.
• Aruna Sairam, a Carnatic vocalist, composer, collaborator, humanitarian, and speaker, has received the French government’s highest honour, Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
• Sethu (A. Sethumadhavan), a well-known Malayalam fiction author, has been chosen for the Kerala government’s coveted “Ezhuthachan Puraskaram” this year in honour of his overall contribution to the Malayalam language and literature.
• In recognition of his contributions to the bilateral connection between Australia and India, Amit Dasgupta was named an Honorary Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM).
• Grama Vandi wins honours at the federal level: The Award of Excellence in Urban Transport was also won by the KSRTC’s “Grama Vandi,” which was launched in cooperation with State-level local self-government organizations.
• The first Kerala Jyothi award, which was established by the state government in the spirit of the Padma awards to honour persons who have made priceless contributions to society, has been given to renowned Malayalam author and Jnanpith laureate M T Vasudevan Nair.
• A survey places India ahead of China and Vietnam as the country with the lowest manufacturing costs.
• The “Baji Rout National Football Tournament” was launched at Dhenkanal, Odisha, by Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.
• The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Adaptation Gap Report 2022 titled “Too Little, Too Slow: Climate adaptation failure puts the world at risk”, the report has pointed out that global efforts in adaptation planning, financing, and implementation are not keeping pace with the growing risks.
• Vadodara, Gujarat became the second Indian city to issue a municipal bond with assistance from the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Technical Assistance.
• Unity Small Finance Bank Limited (Unity Bank) has launched Shagun 366, a 1 year, 1 day fixed deposit, promising retail customers an alluring return of 7.80% p.a., while senior citizens will earn 8.30% p.a. for a 366-day tenure.
• Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has won the 25th elections of the Israeli Parliament defeating the interim PM Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid, a centre-left political party.
• Meta Platforms Inc’s (formerly Facebook) vice-president and managing director (MD) of the India unit, Ajit Mohan, has quit the company after a 4-year stint.
• The Indian Army has registered the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of its new design and camouflage pattern uniform & the new digital pattern combat uniform for Army soldiers was unveiled on Army Day on January 15, 2022.
• Indian Army has approved project sanction orders for five Make -2 projects providing Impetus to Atma Nirbhaarta.
• Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-2) launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2009, made an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere at the predicted impact point in the Indian Ocean near Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Arunachal Pradesh legislator Jambey Tashi passed away at the age of 48 in Guwahati, Assam.