November 2023 Spotlight

SPOTLIGHT
Monthly Current Affairs

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RBI - NABARD - SEBI

SPOTLIGHT DAILY–
NOVEMBER, 2023
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Contents
NATIONAL NEWS .......................................................................................................................................................... 2
STATE NEWS ............................................................................................................................................................... 30
INTERNATIONAL NEWS ............................................................................................................................................ 39
BANKING AND ECONOMY........................................................................................................................................ 45
REPORTS AND INDICES ........................................................................................................................................... 82
GDP FORECASTS ...................................................................................................................................................... 87
DEFENCE NEWS ........................................................................................................................................................ 90
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ..................................................................................................... 98
AWARDS ....................................................................................................................................................................... 98
IMPORTANT DAYS .................................................................................................................................................... 110
SPORTS ...................................................................................................................................................................... 116
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING .............................................................................................................. 127
APPOINTMENTS ....................................................................................................................................................... 146
MISCELLANEOUS ........................................................................................................................................................... 157
QUESTIONS.................................................................................................................................................................... 166
pg. 1
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NATIONAL NEWS
1. 16th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2023 has been held in New Delhi.
• About Urban Mobility Conference-
o It is an event dedicated to the advancement of sustainable urban mobility solutions.
o It brings together leaders, experts, and stakeholders from across the globe to
discuss and collaborate on the future of urban transportation.
• Organised by-
o Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs through the Institute of Urban Transport
(India) and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
• Award for Excellence/ best practice projects in Urban Transport-
o Best Public Transport System- Srinagar Smart City Limited
o Innovative Financing Mechanism- Jabalpur City Transport Services Limited
o City with Best Green Transport Initiative- Kochi Water Metro Project
Source: PIB
2. India has lost 30.51 million hectares of Land to degradation between 2015-2019 as per
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)’s first data dashboard.
• Key Observations-
o Around 9.45% of India’s landmass has been degraded till 2019, this was around 4.42%
in 2015.
o The total degraded land in India is equivalent to the size of 43 million football pitches,
according to the UNCCD.
o The UNCCD data dashboard revealed that 251.71 million Indians, constituting 18.39%
of the country’s population, were exposed to land degradation during the same period.
o Globally, it was reported that the world lost at least 100 million hectares of healthy and
productive land each year from 2015 to 2019.
o The data is received from 126 parties in their 2022 UNCCD national reports.
Knowledge Nuggets
About UNCCD-
• It is sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to
sustainable land management.
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• The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas,
known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can
be found.
• Adopted in- 1994
• Headquarter- Bonn, Germany
Source: DownToEarth, UN
3. Aligarh Muslim University has received permission from Indian National Space Promotion
and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to launch its own satellite.
• It will be named after AMU’s founder Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
• It will be a 3U CubeSat type.
• Objective-
o To study economic growth in India’s poorest districts
o Implement image compression technology
o Test various in-house built sub-systems
Source: TOI
4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform for
youth of the country on the occasion of National Unity Day on 31 October.
• About Mera Yuva Baharat (MY Bharat)-
o It is an autonomous body which will benefit the youth in age group of 15-29 years.
o The beneficiaries will be in age-group of 10-19 years.
o It is a Phygital Platform (Physical + Digital)
• Objectives-
o To make it a whole of Government platform dedicated to the advancement of the
youth
o For Leadership Development in the youth
o For better alignment between the aspirations of the youth and the community needs
o To Enhance efficiency through Convergence of existing programmes
o For providing a one-stop shop for young people and Ministries
o To create a centralized youth database
o For improving two-way communication to connect youth government initiatives and
activities of other stakeholder that engage with youth
o To ensuring accessibility by creating a Phygital Ecosystem - a blend of physical and
digital experiences.
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Source: PIB
5. Gwalior and Kozhikode have joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
• Designation-
o Gwalior- UNESCO ‘City of Music’.
o Kozhikode- UNESCO ‘City of Literature’
Knowledge Nuggets
About UCCN-
• The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote
cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for
sustainable urban development.
About UNESCO-
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a
specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at promoting world peace and security
through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.
• Headquarters- Paris, France
• Established- 1945
• Director General- Audrey Azoulay
Source: ET, UNESCO
6. Central Railway has commissioned the Block Proving by Axle Counter (BPAC).
• About BPAC-
o It ensures that the track section is empty before permitting another train in that
section.
o It eliminates human error and controls safe movement of trains between stations.
o The system does not permit any other train if there is any other train, parted train,
detached wheels, rail trolley or other rail vehicle in that section.
Source: Business Standard, ME
7. National Medical Commission (NMC) is set to launch ‘One nation, one registration
platform’ for doctors.
• Objective-
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o To eliminate duplication and red tape and

o To allow the public to access information on any physician working in India
• The information on the database available for general public contains-
o Medical practitioner’s qualifications
o Date of registration
o Place of working (name of hospital/institute)
o Speciality
o Year of passing
o University (name of the institute/university where qualification was obtained)
Knowledge Nuggets
About National Medical Commission-

• The National Medical Commission (NMC) has been constituted by an act of Parliament
known as National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
• It came into force on September 25, 2020 after the dissolution of Indian Medical Council
Act,1956.
• It consists of 33 members.
• Headquarters- New Delhi
• Chairman- Dr B.N. Gangadhar
Source: The Hindu
8. President Droupadi Murmu has attended ‘Ladakh Union Territory 4th Foundation Day’ in
Leh.
• Ladakh foundation day- 31 October
• She has interacted with members of self-help groups and local tribals in Leh.
Source: The Hindu
9. India’s Deep Ocean Mission (Mission Samudrayaan): An ambitious quest to explore and
harness the depths of the ocean.
• About Deep Ocean Mission-
o It is a crewed mission to a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean using an indigenously
developed submersible with a three-member crew.
o Implemented by- Ministry of Earth Sciences
o Project approved in- 2021
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o Project cost- ₹4,077 crore over a five-year period in a phased manner

• About Matasya6000-
o It is a deep-ocean submersible designed to accommodate a crew of three members
o It is equipped with a suite of scientific sensors and tools
o It has an operational endurance of 12 hours, which can be extended to 96 hours in
the event of an emergency.
Source: The Hindu, PIB
10. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved maternity, childcare and adoption leave for
women soldiers, sailors, air warriors.
• The decision is in line with inclusive participation of all women in the armed forces,
irrespective of their rank.
• Benefit-
o It will improve the work condition for the women in military and help to maintain work-
life balance.
• Current leaves available for officers-
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• Maternity leave- leave of 180 days with full pay for each child, subject to a maximum of
two children.
• Childcare leave- leave of 360 days is granted in total service career (subject to child being
less than 18 years)
• Child adoption leave- leave of 180 days is granted after the date of valid adoption of child
below one year of age.
Source: ET
11. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated 'World Food India 2023' event, organized by
the Ministry of Food Processing Industry at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New
Delhi.
• Objective-
o To position India as the food basket of the world and commemorate 2023 as the
International Year of Millets.
• Mascot- MillInd, a probot (food processing robot)
• About Event-
o Partner country- Netherland
o Focus country- Japan
o Event is co-chaired by- Union minister of Food Processing Industries and Union
Minister of Commerce and Industry
o Event hosted by the Netherland and Japan for promoting knowledge and best
practices
o MoUs worth ₹33,129 crore were signed during the event
Source: PIB
12. Election Commission of India (ECI) has designed in-house software for complete candidate
and election management through ‘ENCORE’.
• About ENCORE-
o ENCORE stands for Enabling Communications on Real-time Environment.
o The ENCORE counting application is an end-to-end application for returning officers
to digitize the votes polled, tabulate the round-wise data and then take out various
statutory reports of counting.
o It provides a seamless facility for Returning Officers to process candidate
nomination, affidavit, Voter turnout, counting, results and data management.
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• Another application called ENCORE Scrutiny Application allows Returning Officers to do

scrutiny of the nominations filed by the candidates on-line.
• ECI also has an online portal for filling the nomination and affidavit.
Source: AIR
13. India has signed Host Country Agreement (HCA) with International Telecommunication
Union (ITU) for hosting 2024 World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly.
• About World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly-
o It is held every four years and defines the next period of study for ITU-T
o WTSA-24 is planned to take place from 15 to 24 October 2024 in New Delhi, India.
Knowledge Nuggets
About International Telecommunication Union-

• The International Telecommunication Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations
responsible for many matters related to information and communication technologies.
• Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
• Secretary-general- Doreen Bogdan Martin
Source: ITU
14. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated ‘India Manufacturing Show’ in Bengaluru,
Karnataka.
• About India Manufacturing Show-
o It is a platform for the exhibitors to showcase their technologies, equipment and
Research & Development in different sectors, such as aerospace & defence
engineering, automation, robotics & drones to the participants.
• Objective-
o To bring together best minds, best technologies and best practices while providing
business and knowledge sharing opportunities for its participants.
• Organised by- Laghu Udhyog Bharti & IMS Foundation
• Supported by- Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence
• Theme- ‘Make in India, Make for the World’
Source: PIB
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15. Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav has inaugurated 71st Foundation Day of Employees
Provident Fund Organization on 1st November at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• Key events-
o Exhibition "Amrit Kaal – Behtar Kal" showcasing 71 years of EPFO history has been
launched.
o The exhibition highlighted the organization's growth, including its chatbot and improved
MIS 3.0.
o A documentary film titled "Achievements of EPFO" was shown, emphasizing the
organization's contributions over the decades.
Knowledge Nuggets
About EPFO-
• Employees Provident Fund Organization is one of the World's largest Social Security
Organisations in terms of clientele and the volume of financial transactions undertaken.
• It was established by the Employees' Provident Funds Act, 1952.
• Central Provident Fund Commissioner- Neelam Shami Rao
Source: PIB
16. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has hosted the G20 Standards Dialogue 2023 during
India’s G20 Presidency at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• Theme- Zero Defect Zero Effect
• Organised by-
• Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has organised the event in
collaboration with Ministry of Commerce & Industry of the Government of India.
Source: PIB
17. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal has flagged off
maiden voyage of Costa Serena, first International Cruise Liner in India from Mumbai.
• Objective-
o To achieve the goal of 5 million cruise passengers in India by 2047
o To develop cruise destinations at tourism places of coastal state and islands.
• This initiative is driven by Dekho Apna Desh.
• Measures Taken by the Government:
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o Various measures have been implemented to promote cruise tourism, including

guaranteed berths, removal of Ousting charges, uniform rates, volume discounts, waiver
of cabotage, and standardization of procedures for customs, immigrations, CISF, and
ports.
o Modernization of cruise terminals with enhanced passenger facilities is underway.
• Maritime India Vision 2030:
o The Maritime India Vision 2030 aims to establish India as the premier cruise hub in the
Asia Pacific region.
• Future Goals:
o The government aims to increase the annual number of cruise passengers in India to 18
lakhs by 2030, up from the current figure of 4.72 lakhs.
o The Maritime Amritkaal Vision 2047 projects 25 operational cruise terminals with an
estimated annual passenger count of around 5 million by 2047.
Source: PIB
18. NITI Aayog has organized a workshop in partnership with the Observer Research
Foundation (ORF) on India-African Union (AU) Collaboration for a Better Inclusive World.
• The workshop concentrated on implementing commitments outlined in the New Delhi
Leaders’ Declaration (NDLD), signed at the recently concluded G20 Conference.
• Participants-
o Over 50 experts and participants from national and international think tanks,
academia, and diplomats attended the workshop.
• key themes discussed-
o Indo-AU collaboration for an inclusive world
o Indo-AU collaboration for sustainable and resilient infrastructure
o Managing migration: The role of Indo-AU Partnership
Knowledge Nuggets
About African Union-

• The African Union is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the
continent of Africa.
• The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration.
• Headquarters- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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About Observer Research Foundation-

• Observer Research Foundation is an independent global think tank.
• It provides potentially viable inputs for policy and decision-makers in the Indian
Government and to the political and business communities of India.
Source: PIB
19. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the extension of Pradhan Mantri Gareeb
Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for another five years till 2028.
• About PMGKAY-
o The scheme was launched in 2020 as a response to the economic challenges faced
during the covid pandemic.
• Objective-
o To provide 5kg of free food grains to eligible ration card holders under NFSA.
• Operated by-
o Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs,
Food and Public Distribution
Knowledge Nuggets
About National Food Security Act-

• National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 was passed on July 5, 2013 to provide food
security on right based approach.
• It covers up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population
• Beneficiaries-
• Beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act fall into two categories:
• Priority Households (PHH) and
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, each of which is entitled to 35 kg of
food grains each month (5 kg per person per month).
• Cost of grains-Wheat costs Rs. 2 per kg, rice costs Rs. 3 per kg and coarse grains cost
Rs. 1 per kg
Source: Indian Express, NFSA
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20. President Droupadi Murmu has inaugurated Navdurga Path skywalk and remodelled
Parvati Bhawan at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir.
• About Skywalk-
o It is a pedestrian flyover that is built of 20 feet above existing track to separate the to
reach and return from the Bhawan.
• About Parvati Bhawan-
o It is a free of cost luggage deposit facility for pilgrims.
o It is directly linked with the skywalk to ensure pilgrims directly reach the shrine after
depositing their luggage.
o It has costed ₹15 crore and has facilities of 1500 lockers.
Source: The Hindu
21. Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has arrived in India on a high-profile trip,
• Objective-
o To strengthen bond of friendship and cooperation between two countries.
Knowledge Nuggets
Some Hydro Electricity Projects constructed by India in Bhutan-

1. 60 MW Kurichhu HEP
2. 1020 MW Tala HEP
3. 336 MW Chukha HEP
4. 720 MW Mangdechhu HEP
Source: Business Standard
22. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched "Women for Water, Water
for Women"- Jal Diwali campaign.
• Organised by- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in in partnership with the National
Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) and Odisha Urban Academy
• Objective-
o Increase inclusion of women in water governance
o familiarizing and educating women about the AMRUT scheme and its widespread
impact
• About Jal Diwali campaign-
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o It is a transformative campaign, under the flagship scheme Atal Mission for Rejuvenation
and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).
o The campaign has witnessed participation of over 14,000 women from various parts of
the country.
o The women have embarked on visits to around 500 Water Treatment Plants (WTPs)
o Women have gained invaluable firsthand knowledge of the intricate processes involved
in delivering clean and safe drinking water to households
Source: PIB
23. 7th edition of Indian Mobile Congress has been held from 27th to 29th October at Bharat
Mandapam in New Delhi.
• Theme-
o Global Digital Innovation
• Participants-
o Around 5000 CEO-level delegates, 230 exhibitors, and 400 startups have
participated
• Key outcomes & initiatives-
• 5G Use Case Labs:
o Prime Minister awarded 100 '5G Use Case Labs' to educational institutions across
the country to encourage the development of 5G applications.
• 5G Rollout and Expansion:
o Jio has installed over 10 lakh 5G cells across all 22 circuits of India, contributing 85
percent to the overall 5G distribution.
o Airtel's 5G rollout has covered 5000 towns and 20,000 villages, with plans to cover
the entire country by March 2024.
• Digital Transformation Achievements:
o India has made significant strides in digital transformation, becoming a champion of
the Global South.
o The Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) of India is recognized globally, and the country
has grown deep roots in manufacturing, particularly for digital infrastructure.
• Startup Program - 'Aspire':
o IMC 2023 has introduced a startup program called 'Aspire' to catalyze
entrepreneurial initiatives and collaborations.
Source: PIB
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24. Government has launched India’s first AI solution ‘Krishi 24/7’ for agricultural news
monitoring and analysis.
• Developed by-
o Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare in collaboration with Wadhwani Institute
for Artificial Intelligence (Wadhwani AI)
o Google.org has also supported in development
• About Krishi 24/7-
o It will help Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to identify relevant news,
generate timely alert, and take prompt action to protect farmers’ interest.
o It will also promote sustainable agricultural growth through improved decision-making.
o The tool will scan news article in multiple languages and translates them into English.
o It extracts essential information from news article such as headline, crop name, event
type, etc.
Source: ET
25. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has concluded three-day official visit to Sri Lanka
from 1st to 3rd November.
• Key events during visit-
o She has given keynote address as the Guest of Honour at the ‘NAAM 200’ organised by
Government of Sri Lanka to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Indian-
origin Tamils (IoTs) to Sri Lanka.
o She has also addressed India Sri Lanka Business Summit on theme ‘Enhancing
Connectivity: Partnering for Prosperity’
o She has inaugurated State Bank of India’s branches in Trincomalee and Jaffna
Source: ET
26. India has emerged among top countries with high income, wealth inequality as per UNDP’s
2024 Asia-Pacific Human Development report.
• Key findings-
o India has emerged among the top countries with high income and wealth inequality.
o The share of the population living in multidimensional poverty in India fell from 25% to
15% between 2015-16 and 2019-21.
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o Between 2000 and 2022, per capita income in India increased from USD 442 to USD
2,389.
o Between 2004 and 2019, poverty rates in India (based on the international poverty
measure of USD 2.15 per day) dropped from 40% to 10%.
o Poverty remains concentrated in states that house 45% of the country's population but
contain 62% of its poor.
o Vulnerable groups, including women, informal workers, and inter-state migrants, are at
greater risk of falling back into poverty.
o Women constitute only 23% of the labour force, and income distribution has become
more skewed amid rapid growth.
o There is growing evidence of a significant rise in wealth inequality in India, particularly in
the post-2000 period.
o India is contributing significantly to the growth of the global middle class, expected to
contribute 24% (192 million people) to the global middle-class growth.
o The Asia-Pacific region is expected to account for two-thirds of global economic growth
in the current year.
o Income and wealth disparities are worsening, especially in South Asia, where the
wealthiest 10% control over half of total income.
o More than 185 million people, particularly vulnerable to economic shocks, continue to
live in extreme poverty (earning below USD 2.15 a day).
o The report emphasizes the need to prioritize investments in human development to
overcome existing challenges.
o Three New Directions for Human Development:
o The report calls for three new directions:
a. Prioritize human development
b. Generate more jobs and respect the environment
c. Turn ideas into practice for effective development.
27. IIT Kanpur has established a Centre of Excellence named ATMAN (Advanced Technologies
for Monitoring Air-quality iNdicators)
• Key features of ATMAN-
o ATMAN focuses on building indigenous low-cost sensor manufacturing and AI/ML
capabilities to enhance air quality
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o It aims to translate sustainable technologies and business models into practical products
and services with cutting edge technology
o One of the projects under ATMAN, AMRIT, will deploy a dense Sensor Ambient Air
Quality Monitor network with 1,400 nodes across rural areas in the states of Bihar and
Uttar Pradesh
Source: iitk
28. Union Finance minister has inaugurated first global conference on Cooperation in
Enforcement Matters (GCCEM) in New Delhi.
• Host-
o The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes
and Customs (CBIC) has hosted the conference in collaboration with the World
Customs Organisation (WCO).
• Theme-
o It takes a Network to fight a Network
• Objective-
o To facilitate sharing of insights and best practices
o To serve as a catalyst for enhancing collaboration with Indian Customs' partner
administrations and building new partnerships
• Participants-
o More than 75 delegates from over 40 Custom Administrations and organizations
participated
• Launch of Operation Sesha:
o Union Finance Minister launched phase IV of 'Operation Sesha' by Indian Customs, in
collaboration with RILO Asia-Pacific and RILO Middle-East, targeting illegal timber trade,
including Red Sanders.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Operation Sesha-

• It was first launched in 2015 to bust organised syndicates of smugglers of precious
woods.
• Under this initiative Directorate of Revenue Intelligence of Indian Customs work in
collaboration with probe agencies of several other countries to curb illegal trade of timber.
• The name Sesha has been derived from Seshachalam forest in Andhra Pradesh.
pg. 16
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Source: PIB, Deccan Herald
29. Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has launched the Bharat Organics brand of newly created
National Cooperative Organics Ltd (NCOL).
• Union Minister has also launched NCOL’s logo, website, brochure and membership
certificate to 5 cooperative societies.
• Website of National Diary Development Board has been launched.
• Other initiatives-
o Six organic products under Bharat Organics brand have been launched (arhar dal,
chana dal, sugar, rajma, basmati rice and sona masoori rice)
o Total of 20 organic products will be launched by December 2023
o A retail outlet network of all organic products has been initiated under ‘Organic Under
One Roof Concept’.
Knowledge Nuggets
About NOCL-
• National Cooperative Organics Ltd is created with the aim to increase profit for organic
farmer and cover the entire supply chain of organic product through cooperative network.
• Headquarters- Anand, Gujarat
• Established- 11 January, 2023
• Chairman- Meenesh Shah
30. Ministry Of Tourism has participated in World Travel Market 2023 held in London from 6th
to 8th November, 2023.
• Theme- Incredible India! Visit India Year 2023
• The event has served as an excellent platform for India to showcase its diverse tourism
offerings
• The inauguration of the Indian Pavilion has been done with the objective of promoting India
as a global tourist destination.
• Under the Incredible India Pavilion, a total of 47 participants have represented India at
WTM 2023
Source: PIB
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31. Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud has inaugurated ‘Mitti Café’ within the
Supreme Court premises.
• More about Mitti Café-
o The cafe is entirely managed by individuals with disabilities, including people who are
visually impaired, have cerebral palsy, and are paraplegic.
o ‘Mitti Cafe’ has already established 38 outlets in various parts of the country.
Knowledge Nuggets
What is Mitti Café?

• It is a non-profit organization committed to the cause of employment and livelihoods for
people with special needs.
• It works towards economic independence and dignity for adults with physical, intellectual
and psychiatric disabilities and persons from other vulnerable communities by providing
employment opportunities to differently abled people in cafes
Source: HT
32. Coal Ministry has amended SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala) policy to
expand coal linkage and promote market transparency.
• Objective-
o To create more transparent coal allocation mechanism by selling generated power
through power exchanges
o To sell power through transparent bidding processes on Discovery of Efficient Energy
Price (DEEP) portal.
• The amendment allows all private and government owned power plants to get coal linkage
for a minimum 3 months and up to a maximum of 1 year.
Source: ET
33. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has implemented Digital Advertisement
Policy 2023 to enable and empower Central Bureau of Communication.
• Objectives-
o To enable and empower the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) to undertake
digital media campaigns for disseminating information about various government
schemes, programs, and policies.
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o To responds to the evolving media landscape and the increased digitalization of media
consumption.
o To leverage the subscriber base in the digital universe and technology-enabled
messaging options for effective delivery of citizen-centric messages in a targeted
manner.
o To enable CBC to empanel agencies and organizations in the OTT and Video-on-
demand space and audio format
Knowledge Nuggets
About Central Bureau of Communication-

• The Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) operates under the Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting.
• It is responsible for creating awareness and disseminating information about various
government programs, schemes, and policies in India.
Source: Financial Express
34. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched ‘AAINA Dashboard for
Cities’ portal to create a robust database of the key performance metrics of Urban Local
Bodies.
• About AAINA Dashboard for Cities-
o It is a database where Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the country can voluntarily
submit their key data on a regular basis, through a simple, easy-to-fill, data entry form
on the portal.
o Pillars of dashboard-
o Political & Administrative Structure
o Finance
o Planning
o Citizen Centric Governance
o Delivery of Basic Services
• Objectives-
o To see how ULB’s are performing in comparison to other cities
o To inspire ULB’s by pointing to possibilities and areas of improvement
o To provide opportunity to learn and engage with frontrunners
Source: PIB
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35. Government has launched software application ‘Dashboard’ for real-time, prompt and
effective Parliament business.
• Key points-
o The portal will serve as a dashboard for all activities of DST.
o DST officials can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven technology to analyse Parliament
Questions on various parameters including member’s profile.
o The portal will facilitate real-time, prompt and effective Parliament Questions, Acts of
Parliament and Gazette Notifications of Government of India as well as cabinet notes.
• Other initiative-
o Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has also laid down the foundation stone of the new
auditorium-cum-guest house complex in the premises of the ‘Technology Bhawan’ which
is headquarter of Department of Science & Technology.
Source: ET
36. Department of Telecom has granted licenses to Jio Satellite Communication and Bharti
Enterprises backed OneWeb to provide satellite broadband internet service in India.
• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has already granted OneWeb and Jio
Satellite the global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) licence
that is required to offer satellite-based broadband services in India.
• While Jio Satellite received its ISP license a month back, OneWeb was given the ISP A
(national area) and very small aperture terminal (VSAT) licences.
37. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Pathology (NIP), Delhi
has launched Diagnostic Services in Healthcare: Availability and Geo-mapping of
Laboratory services in India (DISHA).
• Objective-
o To make diagnostic services through Geo-mapping labs services in India
• Key features-
o It is a user-friendly and comprehensive dynamic online map to make available
information of relevant laboratory services to users.
o free DISHA website that catalogues diagnostic public healthcare facilities across
country will enable increased utilisation of public health services.
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Source: The Hindu
38. Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra
Pradhan has been on a 3-day visit to United Arab Emirates from 1st to 3rd November.
• Objective-
o To foster collaboration, participation and synergy in critical areas of mutual interest in the
education and the skill domain.
• Key events during the visit-
o He had discussions with officials, academicians, representatives from the Indian
diaspora, and business leaders.
o The discussions have focused on the education and skilling roadmap between the two
countries.
• Key agreements-
o NSDC International has signed an agreement with We One to support the skill
development and employment opportunities for the front-line workforce.
o NSDC and EFS Facilities Services Group have entered into a MoU to facilitate Skilled
International Workforce Mobility for Indian nationals.
Source: PIB
39. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has co-chaired 1st Australia-India Education and
Skill Council meeting (AIESC).
• AIESC will build stronger knowledge bridges and establish knowledge vertical
• 5 MoU’s were signed-
o Innovative Research Universities consortium campus:
o The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) is a coalition of 7 public universities across
Australia: Flinders University, James Cook University, La Trobe University, Murdoch
University, Griffith University, University of Canberra, and Western Sydney University.
o Objective-
o To provide a framework for closer cooperation between parties in strengthening the
Australia-India education partnership. Under the MOU
o Deakin University and National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC):
o Deakin University has developed the 'Global Job Readiness Program' (GJRP) in
partnership with India's National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) to address
skills shortages in India.
o Deakin University and IIT Gandhinagar:
pg. 21
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o MoU is signed with the aim to provide support for a quality higher education and
research ecosystem in the local region.
o Monash University and Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad:
o This MoU is for the collaboration on academic and research activities in the area of
critical minerals and other areas of mutual interest.
o Monash University and International Centre of Excellence in Mining (ICEM):
o MoU is signed to foster research and innovation collaboration between Monash and
iCEM to in support of the mining and mineral development sector in India.
Source: PIB
40. Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) has organised the maiden INDUS-X Investors
Meet in New Delhi before the 2+2 Indo-US Ministerial Dialogue.
• About INDUS-X (Gurukul)-
o The first-ever INDUS-X Investors Event aimed to attract investors to startups and
MSMEs in the defence sector under the INDUS-X initiative.
o Stakeholders from both the US and India, including startups, investors, incubators, and
industry representatives, participated.
Source: PIB
41. India has hosted 33rd conference of the WOAH (World Organization for Animal Health)
Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific from November 13 to 16, 2023 in New Delhi.
• Organised by-
o Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry
and Dairying
• Key features-
o The event aligns Indian culture with the One Health movement, emphasizing collective
efforts for human, animal, and environmental health.
o Delegates and experts discussed issues like bird flu, rabies, and FMD, emphasizing
collaborative regional approaches and preventive measures
o The decision to host the event was made during the 90th general session of World
Assembly of Delegates of the WOAH in Paris in May 2023.
o Indonesia has expressed willingness to host the next WOAH regional conference for
Asia and the Pacific.
Source: PIB
pg. 22
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42. Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Ministry of Power has approved DPRs of SJVN projects
in Arunachal Pradesh worth ₹40,000 Crore.
• CEA has transferred concurrences of DPRs of 3,097 MW Etalin HEP & 680 MW Attunli
HEP
Source: ET
43. Government has launched financial incentive to improve financial inclusion and foster
economic empowerment of Divyang Individuals.
• Objective-
o To reduce the financial burden on Divyang individuals seeking financial assistance and
encouraging responsible repayment practices.
• Financial incentive-
o People will be provided 1% interest rate rebate under National Divyangjan Finance and
Development Corporation (NDFDC) loan for timely repayment, subject to specific terms
and conditions.
Source: PIB
44. 6th high-level meeting of the India-OPEC Energy Dialogue took place on 9 November 2023,
at the OPEC Secretariat in Vienna, Austria.
• Focus of discussion & India’s role-
o Emphasis on ensuring availability, affordability, and sustainability for the stability of
energy markets.
o Open and candid discussions centred on key issues related to oil and energy markets.
o India recognized as having a crucial role in global economic growth and energy
demand.
o World Oil Outlook 2023 highlighted India as the fastest-growing major developing
economy, projecting 6.1% long-term growth between 2022-2045.
o India expected to account for over 28% of incremental global energy demand during the
same period.
Knowledge Nuggets
About OPEC-
pg. 23
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• Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is an organization enabling the co-

operation of leading oil-producing countries in order to collectively influence the global oil
market and maximize profit.
• Headquarters- Vienna, Austria
• Secretary General- Haitham Al Ghais
Source: PIB
45. 42nd edition of India International Trade Fair 2023 has been inaugurated at Pragati maidan,
New Delhi.
• Theme of the event- ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam- United by Trade’
• Partner States- Bihar & Kerala
• Focus states- Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh
Source: AIR
46. Government has approved USD 360 million in investment in IT hardware sector under the
manufacturing incentive scheme.
• Key details-
o Applications from 27 companies have been approved.
o Companies are expected to create over 50,000 jobs in IT hardware sector.
o India has ambitious target to become a leader in global electronics supply chain, with a
target of annual output worth USD 300 billion by 2026.
Source: TOI
47. Finance Ministry has notified 7 important changes in Senior Citizens Savings Scheme
Rules.
• Changes in Senior Citizen’s Saving Scheme-
o Extended Opening Period: The time to open a Senior Citizen's Savings Scheme
(SCSS) account has been extended from 1 month to 3 months for individuals aged
above 55 but below 60.
o Scope of Retirement Benefits: Retirement benefits, such as provident fund dues,
gratuity, pension, leave encashment, and more, have been clearly defined for eligibility
to invest in SCSS.
pg. 24
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o Spouse's Eligibility: The spouse of a government employee is now permitted to invest

the financial assistance amount in the SCSS.
o Early Closure Deduction: A 1% deduction on the deposit is applicable if the SCSS
account is closed before completing one year of investment.
o Extension of Account: Account holders can now extend the SCSS account for any
number of blocks, each lasting three years. Previously, extension was allowed only
once.
o Interest Rate on Extension: If the SCSS account is extended on maturity, it will earn
the interest rate applicable to the scheme on the date of maturity or on the date of the
extended maturity.
o Deposit Withdrawal: The deposit made at the time of opening the account shall be paid
after the expiry of five years or after the expiry of each three-year block period if the
account is extended.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Senior Citizens Savings Scheme-

• It is a government-sponsored savings instrument for individuals above the age of 60.
• Objective-
o To provide senior citizens with a steady and secure source of income for their post-
retirement phase.
• Launched in- 2004
• Present Interest Rate- 8.2% per annum
48. Union Minister Piyush Goyal has participated in the Investor Forum of the Partnership for
Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) & Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for
Prosperity (IPEF).
• Hosts-
o The forum was co-hosted by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ms. Gina Raimondo and
Senior Advisor to the President Mr. Amos Hochstein.
• Focus area-
o The discussion centred on collaborative actions and shared priorities to increase private
investment in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Green Transition Fund-
pg. 25
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o Green Transition Fund, aimed at accelerating clean-energy transition projects in India,

including investments in solar, energy storage, and e-mobility.
Source: PIB
49. India has been elected as the Chair of International Sugar Organisation (ISO) for 2024 in its
63rd council meeting held in London.
• About Indian Sugar Industry-
o India is the largest consumer and the second-largest producer of sugar globally, holding
about 15% share in global sugar consumption and 20% in sugar production.
o India is a key player in the International Sugar Organisation (ISO) with around 90
countries as members.
• Ethanol Production and Commitment to Green Energy-
o India is the third-largest country in the world in ethanol production after the USA and
Brazil.
o Demonstrates commitment to green energy, using surplus sugar production for ethanol
to reduce fossil fuel imports.
o Ethanol blending percentage increased from 5% in 2019-20 to 12% in 2022-23.
• International Collaborations-
o National Sugar Institute, Kanpur has collaborated with several countries for technology
transfer and best practices.
o Collaborations with countries including Indonesia, Nigeria, Egypt, Fiji, etc., to share the
latest technologies in the sugar sector.
Knowledge Nuggets
About International Sugar Organisation-

• It is the unique intergovernmental body devoted to improving conditions on the world's
sugar market through Debate, Analysis, Special Studies, Transparent Statistics,
Seminars, Conferences and Workshops.
• Headquarters- London, UK
• Members- 88
• Executive Director- Jose Orive
Source: PIB, isosugar
pg. 26
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50. Government has announced mandatory blending of Compressed Bio-Gas in CNG

(Transport) & PNG (Domestic) segments of CGD Sector.
• What CBG Blending Obligation (CBO) will do?
o It will promote production and consumption of Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) in the
country.
• Objectives-
o To stimulate demand for CBG in CGD sector
o To import substitution for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and save Forex
o To promoting circular economy and to assist in achieving the target of net zero emission
etc.
• Target for CBG Blending Obligation (CBO) -
o CBO will be voluntary till FY 2024-2025 and mandatory blending obligation would start
from FY 2025-26.
o CBO shall be kept as 1%, 3% and 4% of total CNG/PNG consumption for FY 2025-26,
2026- 27 and 2027-28 respectively.
o From 2028-29 onwards CBO will be 5%.
o A Central Repository Body (CRB) shall monitor and implement the blending mandate
based on the operational guidelines approved by Minister, PNG.
• Targets for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF/Bio- ATF)-
o 1% SAF indicative blending target in 2027 (Initially for International flights)
o 2% SAF blending target in 2028 (Initially for International flights)
Source: PIB
51. India has launched five-day ‘ASEAN-India Millets Festival’ in Indonesia to raise awareness
and create markets for millets-based products in ASEAN.
• Organised by-
o Indian Mission to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the Ministry of
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
• Venue-
o Kota Kasablanka Mall, south Jakarta, Indonesia
• Participation-
o It will involve the participation of Millet-based FPOs, start-ups and Indian chefs.
Knowledge Nuggets
pg. 27
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About ASEAN-
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a political and economic union of 10
sovereign states in Southeast Asia.
• Headquarters- Jakarta, Indonesia
• Members- Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam,
Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia
Source: The Hindu
52. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has conducted 9th National Level Pollution Response Exercise
(NATPOLREX-IX) in Vadinar, Gujarat.
• Objective-
o To test the level of preparedness and coordination between various resource agencies
to respond to a marine oil spill invoking provisions of the National Oil Spill Disaster
Contingency Plan or NOSDCP.
• More about NATPOLREX-IX-
• ICG has deployed surface as well as air platforms such as-
o Pollution Response Vessels (PRVs),
o Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs),
o indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III, and
o Dornier Aircraft configured for marine pollution response.
Source: PIB
53. Central Council for Research in Ayurveda Sciences (CCRAS) has launched “Ayurveda
Gyan Naipunya Initiative” (AGNI) for physicians practicing in the field of Ayurveda.
• Objectives-
o To provide a platform to Ayurveda practitioners for reporting their innovative practices &
and experiences in various disease conditions.
o To promote the culture of reporting evidence-based practice among Ayurveda
Practitioners.
o To document the reported successful therapeutic regimens for various disease
conditions involving Single drug/ Formulation/ Procedures for the purpose of education
and academics.
pg. 28
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o To identify the interested Ayurveda practitioners for collaboration in the creation of a

database through applications and capacity building through training in research
methods and good clinical practices.
o To undertake research for mainstreaming pragmatic practices through scientific
validation and evidence-based appraisal
Source: PIB
54. Government has renamed Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (ABHWC) as
‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’.
• New tagline-
o ‘Arogyam Parmam Dhanam’
Knowledge Nuggets
About ABHWC-
• It provides comprehensive primary healthcare, including both maternal and child health
services, and free essential drugs and diagnostic services close to people’s home.
Source: ET
55. Union Women and Child Development Minister has launched ‘Anganwadi Protocol for
Divyang Children’ at National Outreach Program in New Delhi.
• Objective-
o It provides guidelines for Anganwadi workers to track and help children with disabilities
up-to the age of 6 years.
• More about protocol-
o It is launched under Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi campaign.
o It has adopted the national Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) taskforce
recommendations for play based and activity-based learning.
o Under the campaign 13.9 lakh Anganwadi centers will be up-skilled to adopt multi-
sensory approach.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi campaign-

• It is launched to fulfil the goal of strengthening the foundations of the country’s future
generations.
pg. 29
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• In this government will target children’s development in every domain mentioned in the
National Curriculum Framework.
Source: ET
STATE NEWS
1. Manipur has celebrated Mera Hou Chongba festival.
• Organised by the Mera Hou Chongba Thoushil Lup, is an age-old festival that marks the
oneness of the growth of nationalism in the state.
Source: TOI
2. PM Modi has launched projects worth ₹5,950 crore for development boost tourism in north
Gujarat.
• Projects-
o Western dedicated freight corridor in Mehsana and an expanded railway line in
Ahmedabad.
o Mandal-Bechraji Special Investment Zone by Gujarat Railway Infrastructure
Development Corporation.
Source: Indian Express
3. Karnataka has celebrated 50 years of formation by celebrating ‘Karnataka Rajyotsava Day’

on November 1.
• Historical facts-
o Karnataka was made by separating all Kannada-speaking regions from the Mysore
Princely State.
o It is the result of Karnataka Ekikarana movement.
o Earlier it was named as Mysore and It was renamed as Karnataka by Mysore State
(Alteration of Name) Act, 1973
o Established- November 1, 1956
Source: The Hindu
4. Karnataka has launched Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyoti Yojana to provide treatment to
cardiac arrest patients.
• Objective-
pg. 30
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o To provide treatment to patients within the ‘golden hour’ the period which is crucial to
save people who suffer a cardiac arrest.
• The scheme is named after famous Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar, who died of heart
attack.
• Under the scheme patients will be provided free ECG and Tenecteplase injection will be
provided free of cost to those who are critical.
Source: Deccan Herald
5. The iconic British-era 'Throne Room' at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata has been named after
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of Independent
India.
• About Throne room-
o It has a collection of thrones of iconic historical personalities such as Lord Wellesley
and Tipu Sultan, among others.
o It a collection of oil paintings of Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal
Nehru, and former West Bengal Chief Minister B.C. Roy.
o It also displays the urn which was used to carry the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi.
Source: OTV
6. Jharkhand cabinet has approved ₹16,000 crore ‘Abua Awas Yojana’ to provide pucca
houses to homeless.
• About Abua Awas Yojana-
o Three-room houses will be made given to 8 lakhs needy in the next three years
• Cost of Each house- Rs 2 lakh
• Beneficiaries-
o People who have not been given any benefits of the housing schemes carried out by
the state and central government,
o Households living in kuccha houses,
o Homeless and destitute people,
o PVTG households,
o Legally rescued bonded labours and the households who have lost their house in
natural calamities
• Priority beneficiaries-
pg. 31
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o Households with physically or mentally handicaps members and those headed by the
women will be given priority in the allotment of houses under the scheme.
Source: IE
7. Kerala has launched multi-language microsites to boost religious tourism.

• Objective-
o To cater a diverse audience by offering content in multiple languages such as Hindi,
English, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu.
Source: TOI
8. Jharkhand Cabinet has approved ₹1,485 crore electrification scheme and pilot training
academy.
• Electrification scheme will be known as Mukhya Mantri Ujjwal Jharkhand Yojana.
• Objective of Electrification Scheme-
o To provide electricity to un-electrified rural areas and remaining urban areas.
• The pilot training academy will be established in Dumka to provide free pilot training to
eligible candidates.
Source: ET
9. 17th Jaipur Literature Festival 2024 is set to take place from February 1, 2024.
• It is gathering of smart and creative people that happens every year.
• It is also referred as ‘greatest literary show on Earth’
• Theme-
o ‘Stories Unite Us’
• Speakers-
o There will be 25 awesome speakers from different areas, like writers, thinkers, and
experts.
• Objective-
o The main goal of the festival is to have important and interesting conversations about
books, ideas, and the world.
• Venue-
o JLF usually happens in the beautiful city of Jaipur, known for its history and culture.
• Schedule-
o February 1 to February 5, 2024.
pg. 32
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Source: NDTV
10. President Droupadi Murmu has visited Uttarakhand on the occasion of Uttarakhand
Foundation Day on 9th November.
• Formation- Uttarakhand was formed 27th state of India on 9th November,2000.
Source: PIB
11. Chandigarh City has launched AI-driven interactive chatbot ‘BIRBAL’ to provide efficient
and user-friendly citizen services.
• More about ‘BIRBAL’-
o AI chatbot will also address issues related to complaint management, citizen services,
public transport services, online payment services, forms and health-related queries.
o The services are also accessible through the official CSCL website and ‘Im Chandigarh’
mobile app.
Source: ET
12. Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma has launched ‘Water Smart Kid Meghalaya’ campaign.
• About Water Smart Kid Meghalaya’ campaign-
• It is an initiative under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to create awareness about water
conservation amongst children.
• Water Guardians awards have been distributed for inspiring efforts in the conservation of
water bodies.
• Winners-
o Lumshyiap Village and Water Sanitation Community of Ri Bhoi district,
o Darechikgre Village and Water Sanitation Community of West Garo Hills District
o Dura Kantrage Village and Water Sanitation Community of West Garo Hills District
Source: ANI
13. PM Narendra Modi has visited Jharkhand from 15th to 16th November.
• Key highlights-
o He has participated in various events and addressed celebration of Janjatiya Gaurav
Diwas 2023.
o He has launched ₹24,000 crore project for development of the Particularly Vulnerable
Tribal Group (PVTGs)
pg. 33
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o He has released instalment of ₹18,000 crore under PM-KISAN scheme

o He also laid the foundation of projects worth ₹7,200 crore in state.
o PM has launched ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ and PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha
Abhiyaan (PM JANMAN).
Source: TOI
14. Uttarakhand is set to become 1st state to implement Uniform Civil Code.
• A five-member panel has been constituted to recommend on the issue.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Uniform Civil Code-

• The Uniform Civil Code aims to establish a uniform legal framework for all citizens,
regardless of their religion.
• Article 44 in the DPSP, found in Part IV of the Constitution, states that “the State shall
endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of
India”.
Source: TOI, frontline
15. Ladakh has received 4th geographical indication (GI) for Sea Buckthorn.
• Other product of Ladakh with GI tag-
o Apricot (Raktsey Karpo)
o Pashmina
o Ladakhi Wood Carving
Knowledge Nuggets
About GI tag-
pg. 34
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• A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific

geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place.
Source: AIR, WIPO
16. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu released a book titled ‘Snakes
of Himachal Pradesh’.
• Compiled by- Principals of the State Institute of Health and Family Welfare
• The book contains photographs of snakes at different locations in Himachal Pradesh.
Source: ANI
17. Telangana government led incubator T-Hub has unveiled two flagship initiatives on the
occasion of its 8th foundation day.
• About T-Bridge: It will facilitate global market access for Indian startups and help them to
expand their India’s border.
• About T-Scale: It has introduced a growth maturity model which will guide 25 qualifying
startups through a 12-month journey and prepare them for Series-A funding.
Source: TOI
18. Assam State Transport Corporation has launched ASTC city cab service and digital
payment solution through UPI to revolutionize urban transportation.
• Cabs can be booked through a dedicated mobile application.
Source: TOI
19. Uttar Pradesh government has signed an MoUs with CSIR, DRDO to make them knowledge
partner for Bulk Dugs Park in Lalitpur.
• Objective-
o To enhance research and innovation in the medical sector and will further
o To enable the development of innovative devices through new technology
o To allow for quick diagnosis of serious illness and ensure proper treatment
• State government has signed MoU with 43 labs of CSIR and 46 labs of DRDO, where
research work will be done to manufacture affordable manufacturing.
Source: ET
pg. 35
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20. Kerala Responsible Tourism (RT) mission has been selected for United Nations World
Tourism Organisation (UNWTO’s) global list of Case Studies.
• What does it mean?
o The UNWTO has commended Kerala Tourism for successfully upholding the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while promoting the travel industry in the state.
o Kerala has been recognized for its approach in employing local resources and products
while promoting Responsible Tourism (RT) destinations.
• About Inclusion in special dashboard-
o Kerala Tourism's RT Mission has earned a place among seven G20 countries in the
Special Dashboard of the UNWTO.
o Maharashtra is the only other Indian state mentioned, specifically for its Tadoba-Andhari
Tiger Reserve project.
• Global Award for Sustainable and Women-Inclusive Initiatives-
o Kerala RT Mission has recently received the Global Award in the 'Best for Local
Sourcing – Craft and Food' category.
o The award which is presented by the Responsible Tourism Partnership and International
Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) has acknowledged sustainable and women-
inclusive initiatives in the state.
Knowledge Nuggets
About UNWTO-
• The United Nations World Tourism Organization is a specialized agency of the United
Nations which promotes responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
• Headquarters- Madrid, Spain
• Secretary-General- Zurab Pololikshvili
Source: The Hindu
21. Kishtwar Saffron from Jammu & Kashmir has received Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
pg. 36
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Source: APEDA
22. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy in
Bhubaneswar.
• More details-
o A total of 50 talented football players, including 15 from Odisha, in the Under-14
category will be selected for the academy from across the country.
o The academy will be headed by a FIFA-appointed coach along with various coaches
and staff from AIFF and the Odisha government.
23. Asian Development Bank has approved USD 500 million in loan for healthcare and medical
education in Maharashtra.
• Objectives-
o To enhance the quality and affordability of tertiary health care and medical education in
Maharashtra.
o To support its vision of providing affordable and accessible tertiary healthcare to all by
2030.
• More about programme-
o It intends to construct four new medical colleges with associated tertiary care hospitals.
o These facilities will be designed to be resilient to climate and disasters, gender-
sensitive, and socially inclusive.
o The program will establish India's inaugural state-led centres of excellence in healthcare
and medical education.
Knowledge Nuggets
About ADB-
• Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank for social and economic
development.
• Headquarters- Manila, Philippines
• President- Masatsugu Asakawa
Source: livemint
pg. 37
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24. 7th edition of Bengal Global Business Summit has been held in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Key details-
o West Bengal has received investment proposals worth over ₹3.76 lakh crore.
o Around 25 Letter of Intent have been signed in the healthcare sector amounting to
proposals of around Rs 7,933 crore.
o IT & IT enabled services sector has received five MoUs with investment proposals of
around Rs 4,000 crore.
o Uber has proposed to invest $10 million by 2025 in the state and create approximately
50,000 livelihood opportunities in Kolkata in the next 5 years.
o Proposals for school education and higher education worth Rs 1,676 crore and ₹360
crore have been received respectively.
Source: The Hindu
25. Telangana has unveiled world’s first 3D printed temple in Siddipet.

• Built by-
o Hyderabad Apsuja Infratech in collaboration with additive manufacturing solutions
provider Simpliforge Creations.
Source: TOI
26. Uttar Pradesh has announced India’s first Telecom Centre of Excellence (CoE) at IIT
Roorkee campus in Saharanpur.
• Objectives-
o To develop and promote new technology in the field of telecom.
o To boost research and development in the field of telecommunication and new
employment opportunities for the youth of state.
• More about Center of Excellence-
pg. 38
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o UP government will fund 30 crores in its establishment.

o The center will function as a hub for advance research and offer assistance to experts.
o The center will focus on the intersection of 5G technology and artificial intelligence (AI).
o It will lay the groundwork for the launch of 6G technology.
o It will serve as the platform for training and skill development in the telecom sector.
Source: ET
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. China has approved world’s first flying taxi named EHang in Guangzhou.
• It is world’s first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) taxi.
Source: Economist
2. Bangladesh is building memorial to honour the Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives
in the Liberation War of Bangladesh in1971 at Ashuganj in Bangladesh.
• About Memorial-
o It will have the names of around 1,600 Indian soldiers inscribed on it.
o It will be inaugurated by Prime Minister of the both the countries.
o It will be the first memorial in Bangladesh to exclusively honour Indian soldiers from
the 1971 war.
Source: The Hindu
3. United Kingdom has hosted the AI Safety Summit 2023 on 1st and 2nd November at
Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire.
• About AI Safety Summit 2023-
o It brings together political leaders and tech experts to discuss both the promise and
potential threats of this rapidly advancing AI technology.
o The summit resulted in signing of Bletchley Declaration.
• About Bletchley Declaration-
o It lays out plans for greater transparency from AI developers regarding safety practices
and more scientific collaboration on understanding AI’s risks.
o It was agreed to by 28 countries, including US, UK, and China
pg. 39
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4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually inaugurated Agartala-Akhaura rail link
connecting India and Bangladesh.
• Objective-
o To boost tourism, trade, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
• Project Funding-
o Entire project is funded by India.
o The Ministry for Development of North East Region (DoNER) funded the work on the
Indian side, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) funded the expense for the
Bangladesh side as ‘Aid to Bangladesh’.
• Implementing Agency-
o The project is completed by The Indian Railway Construction International Limited
(IRCON) on the Indian side and Texmaco, a private Indian firm on the Bangladesh
side.
• Trains connecting India and Bangladesh-
• Bandhan Express:
o Connects Kolkata, West Bengal, India, with Khulna, Bangladesh.
o It operates via the Petrapole-Benapole border crossing.
• Maitree Express:
o Connects Kolkata, West Bengal, India, with Dhaka Cantonment, Bangladesh.
o This service has been operational since April 2008.
• Mitali Express:
o Connects Siliguri in North Bengal, India, with the capital of Bangladesh.
o This service was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Dhaka in
March 2021.
pg. 40
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5. Bhutan becomes 1st country to fully sterilise its entire street dog’s population.
• Key facts about Bhutan-
• Prime Minister- Lotay Tshering
• Currency- Bhutanese Ngultrum
• Capital- Thimphu
• National Parks in Bhutan-
o Jigme Dorji National Park
o Jigme Singye Wangchuk
o Royal Manas National Park
o Phrumshingla National Park
o Wangchuk Centennial Park
• Key development projects in Bhutan supported by the Government of India-
o Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project, Trongsa
o Punatsangchhu - 1 Hydroelectric Project, Wangdue Phodrang
o Punatsangchhu - 2 Hydroelectric Project, Wangdue Phodrang
o Kholongchhu Hydroelectric Project, Trashiyangtse
o Health Flagship Program
o Education Flagship Program
o E-Library Project
o NKN - Drukren Connect Project
o Introduction of Rupay Cards
pg. 41
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Source: IDB
6. Thailand has announced visa-free entry for Indian citizens to boost tourism.
• Visa free entry duration- From 10 November, 2023 and continue till 10 May, 2024
• Maximum stay duration- 30 days
Source: AIR
7. IIT Madras has established first international campus in Zanzibar Island, Tanzania.
• Programmes offered-
o It will offer the Institute will offer BS and MTech programmes in Data Science and
Artificial Intelligence
• In the first batch at IITM Zanzibar, students from Zanzibar, mainland Tanzania, Nepal, and
India have been admitted, with 40% of the students being women.
• The campus will have the capacity to accommodate students in dormitories and provide
various facilities.
• The programmes at IITM Zanzibar are open to students of all nationalities, including
Indians.
8. Chile has become 95th Country to ratify the International Solar Alliance treaty.
Knowledge Nuggets
About International Solar Alliance-

• ISA was conceived as a joint effort by India and France to mobilize efforts against
climate change through deployment of solar energy solutions
• It is an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform for increased
deployment of solar energy technologies as a means for bringing energy access,
ensuring energy security, and driving energy transition in its member countries.
• It strives to develop and deploy cost-effective and transformational energy
solutions powered by the sun to help member countries develop low -carbon growth
trajectories.
• Signatories- 116 countries (94 countries have ratified as of November 2023, Chile
has become 95 th country)
Source: ET, ISA
pg. 42
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9. Russia has pulled out of Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.

Knowledge Nuggets
About Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE)-

• The CFE Treaty was designed to prevent either alliance from amassing forces for a
blitzkrieg-type offensive and establish a military balance between NATO and the Warsaw
Treaty Organization, at a lower level of armaments.
• Signed on- November 19, 1990
Source: armscntr
10. UAE has inaugurated one of the world’s biggest solar plant, Al Dhafra Solar PV project.
• About Al Dhafra Solar PV project-
o It stretches over 21 square kilometres of desert.
o It will save Carbon dioxide of over 2 million tons a year.
o Production capacity- 2 gigawatts
Source: ET
11. Angkor Wat in Cambodia has become the 8th wonder of the world.
• It has competed and left behind Pompeii in Italy to become the eighth Wonder of the World.
• About Ankor Wat-
o It is a huge temple complex and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
o It is the largest religious monument in the world that attracts lakhs of visitors from across
the globe annually.
o It was originally built in 12th century by King Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple,
dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and then progressed onto become a major temple of
Buddhism.
o Angkor is also famous for its statue of eight-armed Vishnu, also revered by the locals as
their protecting deity.
pg. 43
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• List of 8 wonders of the world-

S. No. Wonders Location
1. Great Wall of China China
2. Chichen Itza Ma’an, Jordan
3. Petra Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
4. Machu Picchu Urubamba Province, Peru
5. Christ the Redeemer Yucatan, Mexico
6. Colosseum Rome, Italy
7. Taj Mahal Agra, India
8. Angkor Wat Cambodia
Knowledge Nuggets
About Cambodia-
• It is a Southeast Asian nation.
• Capital- Phnom Penh
• Currency- Cambodian Riel
• Prime Minister- Hun Manet
Source: TOI
12. Virgin Atlantic Airline has operated world’s first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel flight
from Heathrow Airport, London to John F. Kennedy International Airport, USA.
pg. 44
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Knowledge Nuggets
About Sustainable Aviation Fuel-

• SAF is a liquid fuel currently used in commercial aviation which reduces CO2 emissions
by up to 80%.
• It can be produced from a number of sources (feedstock) including waste oil and fats,
green and municipal waste and non-food crops.
Source: ET, IATA
BANKING AND ECONOMY

1. Bigbasket has topped Fairwork India 2023 report for Gig Workers.
• Fairwork India 2023 Report has evaluated 12 digital platforms.
• Fairwork assessed platforms against five principles:
o fair pay,
o fair conditions,
o fair contracts,
o fair management, and
o fair representation
Source: Business Line
2. Competition Commission of India has permitted Motilal Oswal Alternates to buy stake in
SK Finance.
Source: ET
3. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said in a Rozgar Mela that participation of Women
in workforce has raised to 37% in 2022-2023 from 23% in 2017-2018.
• About Rozgar Mela-
o A Rozgar Mela is a 1/2-day event where several employers and job seekers come
together for the purpose of applying and interviewing for jobs.
o Organised by- National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)
o NSDC comes under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
(MSDE).
Source: Deccan Herald, msde.gov.in
pg. 45
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4. The growth of eight key infrastructure sectors has been slowed down to a 4-month low of
8.1% in September 2023 against 8.3% a year ago as per data released in Index of Industrial
Production (IIP).
• About IIP-
o The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index which shows the growth rates in
different industry groups of the economy in a stipulated period of time.
o Published by- Central Statistical Organization
o Frequency- Monthly
o Base year- 2011-2012
Source: Business Standard, ET
5. Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has made ‘penny drop’
verification mandatory for the withdrawal of funds by the subscribers of National Pension
System (NPS).
• Objective- For timely money transfer and secure transaction
• Key details -
o The penny drop process is used by CRAs to verify active savings accounts, matching
the name with PRAN or submitted documents.
o Name matching during the penny drop is crucial for processing exit/withdrawal requests
and bank account modifications.
o Applicable to NPS, APY, and NPS Lite.
o PFRDA emphasizes successful penny drop verification with name matching for secure
transactions.
Knowledge Nuggets
About PFRDA-
• Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority is the regulatory body for overall
supervision and regulation of pensions in India.
• Headquarters- New Delhi, India
• Chairman- Deepak Mohanty
About Penny Drop Verification-
pg. 46
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• Penny drop is an account verification method that involves depositing a small amount in a
subscriber’s bank account for authentication before crediting funds to the beneficiary.
Source: The Hindu
6. Reserve Bank of India has decided to directly regulate entities facilitating cross border
payments transactions for the import and export of the goods and services.
• These entities will be treated as Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB).
• Key guidelines-
• Minimum Net Worth Requirement:
o Non-bank payment aggregators providing payment aggregation and payment gateway
services are required to have a minimum net worth of ₹15 crore at the time of
application for authorization from the RBI.
o By March 31, 2026, these non-bank entities must have a minimum net worth of ₹25
crore.
• Transaction Limits:
o For import and export transactions processed by payment aggregators, the maximum
value per unit of goods/services sold or purchased is capped at ₹25,00,000.
Source: livemint
7. Reserve Bank of India has prescribed norms for closure of District Central Co-operative
Banks (DCCB).
• New norms for closure of DCCBs-
o DCCBs are now permitted to close un-remunerative branches without requiring prior
permission from RBI.
o Approval from the Registrar of Cooperatives Societies in respective State is necessary.
o The decision to close down branches should be taken by the Board after taking account
of all relevant factors.
o Banks are supposed to give two-month advance notice to depositors or clients in local
newspaper.
o DCCB have to return their licence for closed branch to regional office of the RBI.
Source: ET
8. SBI card has partnered with Reliance Retail to introduce a co-branded RuPay credit card.
• Key feature-
pg. 47
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o Card will offer wide range of benefits and discounts in shopping online at Reliance
stores.
Source: TOI
9. HSBC India became the 1st foreign bank to introduce Electronic Bank Guarantee (E-BG).
• Objective-
o To facilitate digitization of trade finance
• Launched by- HSBC & National E-Governance Services Ltd (NeSL).
• About E-BG Platform-
o E-BG Platform simplifies and speed up the guarantee issuance process by using E-
stamping and E-signing, removing the need for issuance of paper document.
o Every process is digitizes beginning from application to verification and delivery.
Knowledge Nuggets
About HSBC-
• The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, India or HSBC Bank India, is
incorporated in Hong Kong SAR with limited liability.
• Headquarters- Mumbai
• CEO- Hitendra Dave
About NeSL-
• NeSL is India’s first information utility and is registered with the Insolvency and
bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under the aegis of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code,
2016 (IBC).
• MD & CEO- Debajyoti Ray Chaudhuri
Source: TOI
10. India First Life Insurance has received the registration to undertake life insurance business in
the Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City-International Financial Services Centre
(IFSC).
• Objective-
pg. 48
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o To improve the market presence and capitalize on customer outreach opportunities

at a global level.
• India First is the first life insurance company to receive GIFT City IFSC registration.
Knowledge Nuggets
About India First Life Insurance-

• It is a three-way venture with Bank of Baroda (65% share), Union Bank of India (9%
share) and private equity major Warburg Pincus (26% share).
• MD & CEO- RM Vishakha
About IFSCA-
• IFSCA has been established as a unified regulator with a holistic vision in order to
promote ease of doing business in IFSC and provide world class regulatory environment.
• Headquarters- GIFT City, Gujarat
• Chairperson- K Rajaraman
Source: ET, IFSCA
11. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has released new format of Scheme
Information Document (SID) for Mutual Funds.
• Key directives-
o SEBI has directed mutual funds to disclose scheme portfolio holdings and top 10
holdings by issuer via a functional web link.
o Funds must reveal sector-wise allocation to help investors assess risk exposure and
diversification.
o 'Skin-in-the-game' regulations require disclosure of the fund manager's investment in
the scheme.
o AMC's Board of Directors and key personnel's aggregate investment in the scheme
should be disclosed for transparency and accountability.
• New Norms for Asset Management Companies (AMC)-
o AMCs directed to disclose benchmark risk-o-meter on the front page of initial offering
documents.
pg. 49
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o New simplified SID format to be effective from April 1, 2024.

o Industry collaboration with AMFI and Mutual Fund Advisory Committee.
• Objective-
o To streamline information sharing,
o To simplify SID preparation, and
o To increase investors understanding.
Knowledge Nuggets
What is Scheme Information Document-

• A Scheme Information Document (SID) contains all the details about a mutual fund
scheme investors should know before investing.
• A SID describes the scheme's investment objectives, investment style, costs, asset
allocation and the scheme's risks.
What is Skin-in-the-game?
• It refers to the owners, executives, or principals having a significant stake in shares of the
company they manage.
Source: Hindu Business Line, Zerodha
12. Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue collection has increased 13% YoY to 1.72 lakh
crore in October.
• This is second highest GST collection of current financial year after April month.
Knowledge Nuggets
About GST-
• GST is a comprehensive indirect tax which has replaced many indirect taxes such as
VAT, services tax, etc.
• It is a comprehensive, multi-stage, destination-based tax which is levied on every value
addition.
• GST act was passed on- 29 March 2017
• It came into effect on-1 July 2017
Source: livemint, CT
pg. 50
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13. Unified Payment Interface (UPI) transactions have increased to an all-time high of ₹17.16
lakh crore in October.
Knowledge Nuggets
About UPI-
• The Unified Payments Interface is an instant payment system developed in India, by the
National Payments Corporation of India.
• The interface facilitates inter-bank peer-to-peer and person-to-merchant transactions.
• It is used on mobile devices to instantly transfer funds between two bank accounts.
Source: ET
14. Mumbai has recorded the fourth highest year-on-year growth in prime residential prices
among global cities for the quarter ended September 2023 in Knight Frank’s Prime Global
Cities Index.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Knight Frank’s Prime Global Cities Index-

• The Prime Global Cities Index is a valuation-based index tracking the movement of prime
residential prices across 46 cities worldwide.
pg. 51
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• The index tracks nominal prices in local currency.

15. ICICI bank has enabled transactions to merchant QR code using digital rupee app.
• Objective-
o To promote the greater acceptance of digital currency among customers
• About Digital Rupee (e₹)-
o E-Rupee is a tokenized digital version of Indian Rupee, issued by RBI as a Central Bank
Digital Currency (CBDC).
Knowledge Nuggets
About ICICI Bank-

• ICICI Bank Limited is an Indian multinational bank and financial services company
• CEO- Sandeep Bakshi
Source: ET
16. AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) and the travel booking platform ixigo have launched their
premium co-branded travel credit card.
• Key features-
o Offers up to a 10% discount on flight bookings,
o Instant discounts on hotel bookings, and
o Zero payment gateway charges for train bookings
Knowledge Nuggets
About AU Small Finance Bank Limited-

Headquarters- Jaipur, Rajasthan
Established- 1996
MD & CEO- Sanjay Agarwal
About ixigo-
Headquarters- Gurugram, Haryana
pg. 52
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Established- 2007
17. BPCL and GAIL have signed 63,000 crore worth agreement to supply Propane to GAIL’s
Propane Dehydrogenation and Polypropylene (PDH-PP) Plant project in Usar,
Maharashtra.
• More about PDHPP Plant-
o Upcoming PDH-PP plant at Usar is India’s 1st PDH plant.
o It will become functional by 2025.
o Tenure of contract- 15 Years
• About Polypropylene-
o It is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications.
• Demand of Polypropylene in India-
o The demand is projected to increase from 4.9 million tonne in 2020 to 6.3 million tonne
by 2025.
Source: ET
18. Zurich Insurance Company Ltd will acquire 51% stake in Kotak General Insurance for
₹4,051 crore.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Kotak General Insurance-

• Kotak General Insurance Company Ltd. offers non-life insurance products like motor,
health, home and others.
• MD & CEO- Suresh Agarwal
About Zurich Insurance Company Ltd.-

• Zurich Insurance Group Ltd is a Swiss insurance company.
• Headquarters- Zurich, Switzerland
• CEO- Mario Greco
Source: livemint
pg. 53
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19. RailTel has set up Centre of Excellence (CoE) to provide training on railway signalling and
telecommunications.
• The CoE will offer certification and diploma curses in collaboration with IITs and IIMs.
• Courses of training-
o Fundamental concept of automatic train protection system ‘KAVACH’
o Advanced designing of Kavach’s RFID (radio-frequency identification) network
o Onboard equipment
o Cyber security
Source: ET
20. HCLTech founder Shiv Nadar and his family tops the Hurun India Philanthropy list 2023.
• Published by- EdelGive Foundation & Hurun Report
• List of leading philanthropists-
Source: livemint, moneycontrol
21. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has launched its groundbreaking National
Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP) and Energy Efficient Fans Programme (EEFP).
• Objective-
pg. 54
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o To revolutionize cooking practices in India and emphasize on the importance and

urgency of energy efficient fans.
• Key Initiatives-
o EESL will distribute 1 crore efficient Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) fan and 20 Lakh
energy-efficient induction cook stoves nationwide.
o The National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP) introduces induction-based cook-
stoves, offering a cost advantage of 25-30% over traditional cooking methods
o The Energy Efficient Fans Programme (EEFP) focuses on deploying energy-efficient
BLDC fans, with the goal of distributing 1 crore ceiling fans.
o These demand side measures have the potential of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
by almost 40% by 2050.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Energy Efficiency Services Limited-

• Energy Efficiency Services Limited is a joint venture of state-run power companies,
responsible for implementation of the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All scheme,
formerly known as the Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme.
• Ministry- Ministry of Power
• CEO- Vishal Kapoor
Source: PIB
22. RBI has increased the minimum amount for offering non-callable term deposits to ₹1 Crore
from existing 15 lakh for banks.
• All customers will get an option to prematurely withdraw money from fixed deposits (FDs) of
up to 1 crore.
Knowledge Nuggets
About non-callable fixed deposit-

• It refers to a category of term-deposits that offer no premature withdrawal option before
the completion of tenure.
• Once the money is invested in these deposits, your money will be locked for the entire
tenure.
• The money will be accessed once the FD gets matured.
pg. 55
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Source: ET
23. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has constituted
taskforce to review existing Bancassurance norms.
• Objective-
o To review the existing Bancassurance framework and improve the efficiency of the of
Bancassurance
o To address the complaints of mis-selling and forced selling
o To boost insurance penetration in the country, aligning with the goal of ensuring
insurance for all by 2047
• About Taskforce-
o The taskforce is chaired by J Meena Kumari, Executive Director (Life) at IRDAI
o The taskforce is required to submit its recommendations within a period of two months
from the order.
Knowledge Nuggets
About IRDAI-
• It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• It is tasked with regulating and licensing the insurance and re-insurance industries in
India.
• It was established under Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.
• Headquarters- Hyderabad, Telangana
• Chairperson- Debasish Panda
24. Ageas Federal Life Insurance has launched Super Cash plan for regular income and
security.
• About Super cash plan-
o It is a non-linked, participating savings plan for retail customers.
o It offers a combination of immediate liquidity and financial stability
o The plan starts providing you return from the first policy month itself.
o The plan provides guaranteed boosters after every fifth policy year designed to enhance
savings
o The policyholder also receives a lumpsum maturity benefit at the end of the policy term.
pg. 56
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o Exclusive Benefits for Females – With an aim to drive life insurance penetration, the
plan offers female purchasers, an increase of up to 12% on the sum assured on maturity
depending on the premium payment term.
o Rebate on High Sum Assured or Premium – Policyholders are offered additional
benefits, especially if the annualized premium exceeds Rs 3 lakh.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Ageas Federal Life Insurance-

• Ageas Federal Life Insurance Co Ltd. is a joint-venture of Federal Bank, which is a
private sector banks in India and Ageas.
• CEO- Vighnesh Shahane
Source: FE
25. 5th edition of The Business Line Changemaker Award held in New Delhi.
• Winner’s list-
Category Winner
Changemaker of the Year 2023 Reserve Bank of India
Iconic Changemaker AMUL
Changemaker: Social Transformation HerKey
Educate Girls
Changemaker: Digital Transformation Stellapps Technologies
Changemaker: Financial Transformation Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
Young Changemaker Shrinidhi RS
Source: Hindu Business Line
26. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman has inaugurated State Bank of India branch in
Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.
• It will play an important role by supporting corporates in international trade.
• Finance Minister also held the 12th round of the Economic and Technology Cooperation
Agreement (ETCA) with Sri Lanka.
• 12th ECTA covered goods, services, rules of origin, trade remedies, customs procedures
and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade and a range of topics, a press release said.
pg. 57
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Source: livemint
27. National Basketball Association has partnered with Bhanee Private Limited to drive its e-
commerce platform in India.
• Bhanee Private Limited is an Indian clothing brand, will operate NBAStore.in offering a
large selection of official NBA merchandise in India.
• Online store offers player jerseys, apparel, footwear, accessories, etc. from major brands.
• Fans can also participate in contests to win prizes including tickets to NBA games in USA.
Knowledge Nuggets
About National Basketball Association-

• The National Basketball Association is a professional basketball league in North America
composed of 30 teams.
• Headquarters- USA
Source: ET
28. RBI has imposed penalty on Punjab National Bank, Federal Bank, Kosamattam Finance
and Mercedes Benz Financial Services India for violating regulatory norms.
• Details of penalty-
o PNB has been fined Rs 72 lakh for non-compliance with certain provisions related to
'interest rate on advances' and 'customer service in banks.'
o Federal Bank has been fined Rs 30 lakh for contravention of certain provisions of Know
Your Customer (KYC) norms.
o Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India Private Ltd (formerly known as Daimler
Financial Services India Private Ltd) has been penalized with a Rs 10 lakh penalty for
non-compliance with certain provisions of the KYC Direction, 2016.
o Kosamattam Finance Ltd, based in Kottayam, has received a monetary penalty of Rs
13.38 lakh for non-compliance with certain provisions of the 'Non-Banking Financial
Company - Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking Company and Deposit taking
Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016.'
Source: TOI
pg. 58
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29. COLORS, India's leading Hindi General Entertainment Channel (GEC), has announced its
collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development's 'Beti Bachao, Beti
Padhao' initiative.
• Objective-
o To generate popular conversation and raise awareness about the issue of girl child
abandonment in society through the launch of a new fiction show named "Doree.
• About collaboration-
o As part of the collaboration, COLORS will actively promote the 24-hour emergency toll-
free Child Helpline number (1098).
o This helpline is intended to assist anyone seeking help for any abandoned girl child
across the nation.
• About the Show ‘Doree’-
o The social drama "Doree" revolves around a six-year-old girl named Doree, who fights
against a patriarchal society for her rights. The show features popular television actors
such as Amar Upadhyay, Sudhaa Chandran, and child actor Mahi Bhanushali.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative-

• Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao is a campaign of the Government of India that aims to
generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls.
• It mainly targets the clusters in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Bihar and
Delhi.
• Launch date- 22 January, 2015
• Objectives-
o To prevent gender biased sex selective elimination
o To ensure survival and Protection of the girl child
o To ensure education and empowerment of girl child
Source: PIB, wcdhry
30. Swedish firm Saab AB has become India’s first 100% FDI in defence sector.
• More about FDI-
o The permission is given for manufacture of latest system Carl-Gustaf M4 rocket system.
o The FDI proposal is valued at less than 500 Crore.
pg. 59
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o FDI will be done through Saab FFV India Private Limited, a subsidiary of Saab
incorporated in 2022.
• Current FDI rules in defence sector-
o Automatic route- FDI up to 74%
o Clearence from Central government- FDI more than 74%
Knowledge Nuggets
About Saab AB-

• Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company.
• Headquarters- Stockholm, Sweden
• CEO- Micael Johansson
Source: TOI
31. NTPC Renewable Energy Limited has started commercial operation of its first project, 50 MW
Dayapar wind project in Kachch, Gujarat.
• It is the first capacity in India to be declared commercial under new Indian Electricity Grid
code and General Network Access Regime.
• Also, there are 15 other renewable energy projects under different stages of execution
totalling to a capacity of 6,210 MW.
• In addition to solar and wind capacity, NTPC REL is also investing in Green Hydrogen
technologies.
• The total installed capacity of NTPC Group has become 73,874 MW and the total RE
operational capacity of NTPC Group now stands at 3,364 MW.
Knowledge Nuggets
About NTPC REL-

• It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NTPC Limited.
• It has been formed with an objective to accelerate the Renewable Energy Growth of the
Company and increase the green footprint across country, Offshores and overseas.
Source: PIB, ntpcrel
pg. 60
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32. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has acquired Mercator Petroleum for 148 crores in an
insolvency proceeding.
• The resolution plan submitted by IOC for 100% stake in Mercator Petroleum Limited has
been approved by National Company Law Tribunal.
• Mercator Petroleum Limited has an onland oil and gas exploration block in Cambay Basin,
Gujarat.
Knowledge Nuggets
About IOC-
• Indian Oil Corporation Limited is an Indian multinational oil and gas company under the
ownership of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.
• Chairman- Shrikant Madhav Vaidya
Source: ET
33. United Nation Environment Programme has released Adaptation Gap Report 2023.
• Title-
o UNEP’s Adaptation Gap Report 2023: Underfinanced
• Key findings-
• Adaptation Finance Needs:
o The adaptation finance needs of developing countries are estimated to be 10-18 times
larger than international public finance flows.
o The modelled costs of adaptation in developing countries are projected at US$215
billion per year for this decade.
• Adaptation Finance Gap:
o Due to growing adaptation finance needs and declining flows, the current adaptation
finance gap is estimated to be in the range of US$194-366 billion per year.
• Domestic Priorities:
o The adaptation finance required to implement domestic adaptation priorities is estimated
to be US$387 billion per year.
• Decline in Public Finance Flows:
o Despite the increasing needs, public multilateral and bilateral adaptation finance flows to
developing countries has decreased by 15% to US$21 billion in 2021.
• Plateauing Adaptation Planning and Implementation:
pg. 61
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o Adaptation planning and implementation appear to be plateauing, posing significant

challenges to addressing the needs and mitigating losses and damages, especially for
the most vulnerable populations.
• Implications for Vulnerable Communities:
o The failure to adapt has massive implications for losses and damages, particularly
affecting the most vulnerable communities.
• Seven Ways to Increase Financing:
o The report identifies seven strategies to enhance financing for adaptation:
1. Domestic Expenditure: Encourage and increase domestic expenditure on adaptation
actions.
2. International Finance: Mobilize increased international public finance to support
adaptation efforts in developing countries.
3. Private Sector Finance: Promote and leverage private sector finance for adaptation
projects.
4. Remittances: Explore the role of remittances as a potential source of funding for
adaptation initiatives.
5. SME Finance: Increase and tailor finance to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
involved in adaptation activities.
6. Global Financial Architecture Reform: Advocate for reforms in the global financial
architecture to better support adaptation efforts.
7. Innovative Financing Mechanisms: Develop and implement innovative financing
mechanisms, including the new Loss and Damage fund, to scale up investment.
Source: UNEP
34. Bharat Botanics has opened India’s largest Cold Press Oil production facility in Gujarat.
• Location- Gondal, Rajkot district in Gujarat.
• What is Cold Press Oil Production method?
o In these seeds are crushed using traditional "Wooden Ghani's" with the cold-pressed
technique, resulting in natural, chemical-free edible oils rich in healthy nutrients, natural
flavour, and a scintillating aroma.
• About Bharat Botanics-
o Bharat Botanics is a wood-pressed edible oil (B2C) brand, known for its pure, chemical-
free, and natural oils.
Source: cnbc
pg. 62
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35. Mundra has become the first port of India to handle cargo volumes of 16 million metric
tonnes in a month.
• The port has witnessed double-digit growth in handling containers, liquids, and gas, and
has expanded its cargo portfolio.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Mundra Port-

• Mundra Port is India's first private port, largest container port and largest commercial
port.
• Location- Mundra, Kutch district, Gujarat
• Owned by- Adani Group
Source: TOI
36. Canara HSBC has launched ‘Guaranteed Assured Income’ (GAIN)life insurance for
Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank customers.
• Objective-
o To provide guaranteed benefits and income for life.
Source: Hindu Businessline
37. IndusInd Bank has launched ‘IndusInd Bank Platinum RuPay Credit Card’ with Unified
Payments Interface (UPI) integration.
• The credit card is launched in collaboration with National Payment Corporation of India
(NPCI).
• It will enable customers to make payments through RuPay network using Point of Sale
(POS) devices and e-commerce websites.
• Card will provide facility to convert reward points into statement credit, and air miles, or
choose from multiple voucher options through IndusMoments.
Knowledge Nuggets
About NPCI-
• The National Payments Corporation of India is an umbrella organization for operating
retail payments and settlement systems in India
pg. 63
[Type here]
• It is an initiative of RBI and Indian Bank Association (IBA)

• It was set up under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007
• MD & CEO- Dilip Asbe
Source: npci.org
38. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has launched Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) portal for enhancing transparency in its CSR initiatives.
• Objective-
o To facilitate transparency in receipt and disposal of CSR requests from various
organizations and institutions
• About portal-
o Portal will be accessible to all 24x7, with a CSR policy and proposal checklist for
examination of CSR requests.
o It was launched during Vigilance Awareness Week observed from 31 st October to 5th
November.
Knowledge Nuggets
About IREDA-
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited is formed in 1987 as a Mini
Ratna Government of India Enterprise under Government of India and administratively
controlled by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• CMD- Pradip Kumar Das
Source: PIB
39. Maharashtra has highest Mutual Fund penetration in July-September quarter of FY24 as per
Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) data.
• Maharashtra is followed by Gujarat and Karnataka.
pg. 64
[Type here]
Knowledge Nuggets
What is Mutual Fund penetration?

• AMFI calculates MF penetration as the ratio of the states' assets under management in
MFs and the gross state domestic product (GSDP).
About AMFI-
• Association of Mutual Funds in India is the association of all the asset management
companies of SEBI registered mutual funds in India.
• CEO- NS Venkatesh
40. Sephora has partnered with Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL) to redefine India’s
beauty retail segment.
• As part of the partnership Reliance Beauty & Personal Care Limited will take over
Sephora’s 26 stores across 13 Indian cities from Arvind Fashions Limited.
• The new partnership gives RRVL exclusive rights to build up Sephora’s presence in India
across channels and add to the retailer’s existing beauty portfolio under its Tira retail brand
• Valuation of Indian beauty and personal care market- USD 17 billion
pg. 65
[Type here]
Source: livemint
41. US has announced USD 553 Million investment in Adani’s Sri Lanka Port Terminal Project.
• Objective-
o To boost private-sector investments that support economic development and strategic
partnerships in the region.
• The financing has been done through International Development Finance Corp (DFC).
• It is US government agency’s largest infrastructure investment in Asia.
Knowledge Nuggets
About DFC-
• DFC was launched under President Donald Trump to aid developing nations while
advancing US foreign policy.
Source: ET
42. PayGlocal has received in-principle approval from RBI for Payment Aggregator license.
• Benefit of licence-
o This license will allow PayGlocal to onboard merchants onto its platform for online
payment processing.
Knowledge Nuggets
About PayGlocal-
• PayGlocal offers a technology platform that facilitates secure online payments through
various instruments, including cards and global alternative payment methods.
What is Payment Aggregator?

• Payment aggregators (also known as merchant aggregators) mean third-party service
providers that allow merchants to accept payments from customers by integrating them
into their websites or apps.
43. India has highest number of universities QS Asia University Ranking 2024.
• Key highlights-
o 148 universities of India found their place in QS Asia University Ranking 2024.
pg. 66
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o Seven Indian universities were amongst the top 100 Asian universities.
o 37 new entrants are from India
o Total of 857 institutions from 25 Asian countries are ranked
o Highest Indian Institution rank- IIT Bombay (40th rank)
o Best Private University- Chandigarh University
o Top 3 performers in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2024 are
Ranks University Location
1 Peking University Beijing, China
2 The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong
3 National University of Singapore
Singapore (NUS)
Source: livemint
44. Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) has launched LEAP Ahead initiative for startup
to get access to investment, mentorship and global connect.
• About LEAP Ahead-
• Objective-
o To provide a holistic support system for startups, addressing both financial and
knowledge-based needs
• LEAP Ahead is a joint collaboration of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and The
Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Delhi-NCR.
• Funding Support:
o Startups can receive funding support of up to ₹1 Crore
o The objective of financial assistance is to aid startups in various stages such as scaling,
growth, product diversification, and expansion into new geographical locations.
• Mentorship Program:
o A comprehensive three-month mentorship program will be provided
o The program integrates virtual and in-person sessions to offer a well-rounded learning
experience for the participating startups.
o With this initiative, technology startups will gain entry into the market, experience rapid
growth and diversify into new horizons.
• Learning Experience:
pg. 67
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o The mentorship program is designed to cover various aspects crucial for startup
success.
o It provides practical insights and knowledge to navigate challenges commonly faced
during scaling, growth, and expansion phases.
Knowledge Nuggets
About STPI-
• STPI is an organization under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology engaged
in promoting software exports, nurturing tech startup ecosystem and working for the
dispersal of the IT/ITES Industry.
• STPI has been actively involved in strengthening the startup ecosystem in India through
its Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS) and 22 domain-specific Centers of
Entrepreneurship innovation by providing requisite support and resources to the startups.
About TiE Delhi-NCR-

• TiE Delhi-NCR has continuously taken the lead in creating an increasingly positive
ecosystem for entrepreneurs and investors.
• TiE Delhi-NCR conducts a wide range of programs to help entrepreneurs.
• These include TiEcon, Startup Expo, TiE Institute, TiE Young Entrepreneurs along with
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) across sectors.
Source: PIB
45. Flying Wedge has become the first company to get Directorate General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA) type certification for indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology.
• The certificate is given to Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) called FWDA10.
46. Samsung has unveiled Its Generative AI Model named Samsung Gauss.
• About Samsung Gauss-
o It is named after the renowned mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss, who is credited with
establishing the normal distribution theory.
o It includes a generative AI model, a coding assistant, and an image generator and
editor.
o It can answer question and help with composing e-mails, summarizing documents and
translating content.
pg. 68
[Type here]
Source: livemint
47. InterGlobe Enterprises has partnered with US-Based Archer for providing Air Taxi service.
• Objective-
o To introduce and operate an all-electric air taxi service in India
o To transform mobility across Indian cities, providing quick and efficient transportation
solutions
• Archer Aviation Inc, a US-based company specializing in electric vertical take-off and
landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
• Initial focus cities- Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
• The parties plan to finance the acquisition of up to 200 Archer Midnight aircraft for
operations in India.
Source: livemint
48. RBI has allowed NRIs to buy Sovereign Green Bonds without any restrictions in 2023-24.
• RBI has decided to designates all Sovereign Green Bonds issued in 2023-24 as ‘specified
securities’ under the Fully Accessible Route (FAR).
• The directions are effective with immediate effect.
• Government will borrow ₹20,000 crore through Green Bond in current financial year.
Source: ET
49. Italian luxury menswear brand Brioni has entered Indian market through its partner.
• It is launched in India by DS Luxury.
• The first store of the brand will be opened in Delhi’s The Chanakya mall.
Source: livemint
50. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) have
announced the establishment of Natural Capital Fund (NCF).
• Objective-
o to support projects that enhance food security while also protecting and restoring natural
capital in ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs)
• Funding amount-
o GEF is supporting the NCF with an investment of $15 million.
Knowledge Nuggets
pg. 69
[Type here]
About ADB-
development.
About Global Environment Facility-

• The Global Environment Facility is a multilateral environmental fund that provides grants
and blended finance for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international
waters, land degradation, etc.
• Headquarters- Washington, D.C.
• CEO- Carlos Manuel Rodriguez
• Source: ADB
51. ICICI Bank has received approval from RBI to make ICICI Securities a wholly owned
subsidiary.
Source: ET
52. Ashok Leyland has become the first Indian Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to
unveil an in-house LNG engine.
• The engine is complaint with BS6 Stage 2 emission norms.
Source: ET
53. National Highway Authority of India has accepted first Insurance Surety Bond for the
monetization program of the upcoming bid of Toll Operate Transfer (TOT) Bundle.
• For the first time Insurance Surety Bond has been utilized as a Bank Guarantee (BG) in the
road infrastructure sector for monetization of bids.
• This initiative is implemented by SBI General Insurance and AON India Insurance.
Knowledge Nuggets
pg. 70
[Type here]
What is Insurance Surety Bonds-

• Insurance Surety Bonds are instruments where insurance companies act as ‘Surety’ and
provides the financial guarantee that the contractor will fulfil its obligation as per the
agreed terms.
• Ministry of Finance, Government of India has made e-BG and Insurance Surety Bonds at
par with Bank Guarantees for all Government procurements.
Source: PIB
54. Federal Bank has launched UPI Lite for small-value digital payment.
Knowledge Nuggets
About UPI Lite-

• It is an 'on-device wallet' feature integrated into existing UPI apps.
• It enables users to make real-time small-value payments without the need for a UPI PIN.
• Transaction Limits in UPI Lite:
o Per Transaction Limit: Up to ₹500
o Maximum Cumulative Usage per Day: ₹4,000
o Maximum Balance in UPI LITE Account: ₹2,000
About Federal Bank-

• Federal Bank Limited is an Indian private sector bank
• Headquarters- Kochi, Kerala
• CEO- Shyam Srinivasan
Source: livemint
55. InCred holding has become the 2nd Unicorn of 2023.

• It has raised Rs 500 crore in its latest round of Series D funding.
• The first company to become unicorn in 2023 is Zepto.
Knowledge Nuggets
What is meant by Unicorn?

• Unicorn refers to a privately held startup company with a value of over $1 billion.
pg. 71
[Type here]
• The term was first popularized by venture capitalist Aileen Lee.
About InCred-
• InCred is a new-age financial services group that leverages technology & data-science to
make lending quick & easy.
56. RBI has barred Bajaj Finance from lending under its two products due to non-compliance
with digital lending guidelines.
• Products under ban- eCom and Insta EMI Card
Source: livemint
57. Punjab National Bank has launched Digital Gold Loan during the bank’s Digital Mahotsav
event.
• Objective-
o To provide a hassle-free credit to customers to quickly meet their personal as well as
agriculture credit requirements by using gold jewellery and/or ornaments as collaterals.
• Schemes launched-
o PNB Gold Loan for the retail segment
o Scheme allows individuals to borrow amounts ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 25
lakh for personal needs
o PNB Swarnim for the agriculture segment
o Borrowers seeking short-term production and/or investment credit for agriculture
activities are eligible for loans of minimum Rs 10,000 to maximum Rs 2 lakh
Source: outlook
58. Goldman Sachs has upgraded its outlook on Indian equities and cuts rating for China.
• Reason for upgrade in Indian outlook-
o Due to stock market's strategic appeal that is driven by the large domestic market of the
fast-growing economy amid a global slowdown.
• Reason for decrease in rating of China-
o Goldman Sachs has downgraded its rating g on Hong Kong-traded China stocks due to
low earnings growth
pg. 72
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Knowledge Nuggets
About Goldman Sachs-

• Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational investment bank and financial
services company.
• Headquarters- Lower Manhattan, New York City
• CEO- David M. Solomon
Source: Business Insider
59. Morgan Stanley has forecasted Indian Economy to grow by 6.5% in FY 2024 and FY 2025 in
its recently released ‘2024 India Economics Outlook’.
• Reason for strong growth-
o This growth rate is due to strong domestic fundamentals, supported by corporate and
financial sector strength and policy reform measures.
• Other Economic Forecasts:
o Moody's Investor Services-
o Growth rate- 6.7% for 2023,
o Reason- Due to resilience amid a global slowdown.
o IMF has raised its 2023-24 growth projection for India.
o Growth rate- 6.3%,
o Reason- Due to stronger-than-expected consumption in Q1
o The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) estimates growth at 6.5% for FY24.
• Inflation and Current account deficit:
o Morgan Stanley expects headline inflation to moderate to 4.9% in FY2025 from 5.4% in
FY2024.
o Current account deficit is expected to remain in the range of 1.5-1.7% of GDP in
FY2025-26.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Morgan Stanley-

• It is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company.
• Headquarters- New York, USA
pg. 73
[Type here]
• CEO- James P. Gorman
Source: livemint
60. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has launched ‘Sumpoorn’ MSME
Economic Activity Index in collaboration with Jacota.
• Objective-
o To capture and reflect the state of India's MSMEs, which contribute significantly to the
country's Gross Value Added (GVA) and total exports.
• About the Index-
o The index is described as a "relative amplitude adjusted composite diffusion index."
o It is developed using consent-led and anonymized monthly sales data from official
GSTN returns of more than 50,000 credit-seeking MSMEs.
o This is a departure from currently available macro indices that often rely on opinion or
survey-based data.
Knowledge Nuggets
About SIDBI-
• It is the regulatory body for overall licencing and regulation of micro, small and medium
enterprises companies in India.
• Headquarters- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• Chairman & MD- Sivasubramanian Ramann
• Ministry- Ministry of Finance
About Jacota-
• Jocata is a digital lending transformation platform
61. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chief Madhabi Puri Buch has officially
launched the Investor Risk Reduction Access (IRRA) platform at Bombay Stock Exchange
(BSE).
• Objective of IRRA platform-
pg. 74
[Type here]
o To provide trading members with a mechanism to swiftly address and recover from
technical glitches impacting client service across exchanges.
o It will work from both the Primary site and the Disaster Recovery site.
• It is not available for algo trading and institutional clients
Knowledge Nuggets
About SEBI-
• It is the regulatory body for securities and commodity market in India under the
administrative domain of Ministry of Finance within the Government of India.
• Established- April 12, 1988
• Chairperson- Madhabi Puri Buch
62. Competition Commission of India has approved the acquisition of a 27.18% stake in
jewellery retailer CaratLane by TATA Group company Titan.
Source: ET
63. Greenway Grameen Infra has secured USD 6.5 million loan from Asian Development Bank
(ADB) for clean cookstove initiative.
• Objective of fund-
o To produce and distribute 1 million improved cookstoves to rural households in India's
Madhya Pradesh and Odisha states
o To offer financial assistance to families for adopting cleaner cooking methods
• Key benefits of project-
o Replacing traditional mud chulhas or indoor stoves with these improved stoves can lead
to a 65% reduction in fuel consumption and a 70% decrease in smoke generation.
o The project anticipates a total reduction of 22.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Asian Development Bank-

• Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank.
pg. 75
[Type here]
Source: outlook
64. RBI has superseded Abhyudaya Co-operative bank Board for 12 months due to poor
governance standards.
• A three-member committee of advisors has been appointed to assist the administrator.
• Administrator will streamline the governance and secure proper management of the bank.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Abhyudaya Co-operative bank-

• Abhyudaya Co-operative Bank Ltd is an urban multi-state Cooperative banking institution.
• It is operating as a co-operative bank since 1965.
• Headquarters- Maharashtra
Source: Business Standards
65. RBI has imposed monetary penalty on Citibank, Bank of Baroda and Indian Overseas
Bank for non-compliance with its direction.
• Details of penalty-
• Citibank-
o Amount- 5 crore
o Reason- contravention of the provisions of the BR Act and non-compliance with its
directions on ‘Managing Risks and Code of Conduct in Outsourcing of Financial
Services by banks read with Know Your Customer (KYC) Direction, 2016
• Bank of Baroda-
o Reason- BoB failed to ensure accuracy and integrity of data on large exposures
submitted to RBI with respect to some accounts and negligence in sanctioning a term-
loan.
o Amount- 4.34 crore
• Indian Overseas Bank-
o Amount- 1 crore
o Reason- For non-compliance with its Directions on ‘Loans and Advances – Statutory
and Other Restrictions
pg. 76
[Type here]
66. Mastercard has partnered with MSME lender U GRO Capital.

• Objective-
o To offer short-term loans as a digital supply chain financing solution to
dealers/distributors and last-mile retailers, among other small merchants and women
entrepreneurs.
• How partnership will work?
o Mastercard will bring together the demand and supply side ecosystem stakeholders to
facilitate support to small businesses using its vast network.
o U GRO Capital will leverage its proprietary underwriting and cash flow-backed
assessment model to offer credit.
• Mastercard’s inclusion target-
o Mastercard’s has announced to get 1 billion people and 50 million micro and small
businesses, including 25 million female entrepreneurs into the digital economy by 2025.
Source: FE
67. Berkshire Hathaway has sold its entire 2.46% stake in Paytm for ₹1,371 crore.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Paytm-
• Paytm is an Indian multinational financial technology company, that specializes in digital
payments and financial services.
• Headquarters- Noida, Uttar Pradesh
• CEO- Vijay Shekhar Sharma
About Berkshire Hathaway-

• It is an American multinational conglomerate holding company.
• Headquarters- Omaha, Nebraska, United States
• Established- Warren Buffet
• CEO- 1839
Source: ET
pg. 77
[Type here]
68. Asian Development Bank has approved a USD 170 million loan to modernize water supply
services in Kochi, Kerala.
• Objective-
o To elevate urban living standards, ensuring clean water access, and bolstering climate
resilience.
• More about project-
o Project involves the rehabilitation and upgrade of five existing water treatment plants
with a cumulative production capacity of 325 million litres per day (MLD).
o A new plant with a capacity of 190 MLD will be constructed.
Knowledge Nuggets
About ADB-
development.
Source: ET
69. RBI has added 19 unauthorised forex trading platforms in Alert list.
• What is Alert list?
o It contains the names of entities, which are neither authorised to deal in forex under the
Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) nor to operate electronic trading
platforms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2018.
Source: ET
70. Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL) has become first listed depository to register
more than 10 crore demat accounts.
Knowledge Nuggets
About CDSL-
• It is the largest depository in the country in terms of active demat accounts and allows
investors to deposit securities by opening an account in electronic form (dematerialised).
pg. 78
[Type here]
• It maintains and services more than 10 crore demat accounts of Investors or Beneficial
Owners (BOs) spread across the country.
• MD & CEO- Nehal Vora
Source: livemint
71. National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) has instructed payment apps to deactivate
inactive UPI IDs by December 31, 2023.
• Objective-
o To prevent the inadvertent transfer of money to unintended recipients in case customer
change their mobile number without disassociating their old number from banking
system.
• More about guidelines-
o UPI IDs who have not performed any financial (debit or credit) or non-financial
transaction for more than 1 year will be deactivated for inward credit transaction.
o Customers with inward credit block UPI IDs and phone numbers will have to re-register
in their UPI app.
o UPI apps will perform Requester validation (ReqValAd) before initiating ‘Pay to contact’
and ‘Pay to mobile number’.
Knowledge Nuggets
About NPCI-
Source: ET
72. Tata AIG has introduced new insurance plan ‘Health Supercharge’ offering enhanced
coverage for overall well-being.
pg. 79
[Type here]
• Key features of plan-

• Enhanced Coverage Bonus:
o It Provides a 5X supercharge bonus with each renewal.
o Bonus accumulates up to 500% of the base sum insured in any policy year, irrespective
of claims.
• Persistent Young Family Discount:
o Additional 5% discount for families under 40 years old at the initiation of their first policy.
o Discount applies not only at the beginning but also during policy renewals.
• Tailored Premiums:
o Specifically designed to accommodate Tier III and Tier IV populations.
o Focuses on the economically accessible customer segment in Tier I and Tier II cities.
• Customization Options:
o Offers two plan variants (Value Plan & Geo Plan) based on geographical location.
o Additional optional benefits, including unlimited restoration and reduced Pre-Existing
Disease waiting period for specified ailments.
• Coverage Range:
o Provides a sum insured ranging from ₹5 lakhs to ₹20 lakhs
o It covers 10,000 hospitals nationwide.
Source: livemint
73. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has constituted an 11-
member taskforce to examine the implications of the Digital Personal Data Protection
(DPDP) Act 2023.
• Chairperson of Taskforce-
o Randip Singh Jagpal, Executive Director (Non-Life) at IRDAI
• Task force is expected to submit the report within a period of 1 month from the issuance of
the order.
Knowledge Nuggets
About DPDP Act 2023-

• It is an act of the Parliament of India to provide the framework for the processing of digital
personal data in a manner that recognises both the right of individuals to protect their
personal data.
• It includes the monetary penalty for non-compliance with the directions.
pg. 80
[Type here]
• Scope- It covers the processing of digital data within India and data processing outside
the country if it is done for providing goods or services for individual profiling in India.
About IRDAI-
• It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• It is tasked with regulating and licensing the insurance and re-insurance industries in
India.
• It was established under Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.
• Headquarters- Hyderabad, Telangana
• Chairperson- Debasish Panda
74. SEBI has introduced important amendments in 203rd meeting of SEBI board.
• Major amendments-
• Social Stock Exchange (SSE) Framework Amendments:
o Reduction in minimum issue size for Zero Coupon Zero Principal Instruments (ZCZP) by
NPOs from Rs. 1 Crore to Rs. 50 lakhs.
o Reduction in minimum application size for ZCZP by NPOs from Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs.
10,000 to encourage wider participation.
• Regulatory Framework for Index Providers:
o Approval of a regulatory framework for Index Providers to enhance transparency and
accountability.
o Applicability to "Significant Indices" based on objective criteria in line with IOSCO
Principles for Financial Benchmarks.
• Facilitation of Small & Medium REITs (SM REITs):
o Amendments to REIT Regulations for the creation of a regulatory framework for SM
REITs with an asset value of at least Rs. 50 crores.
• Amendment to AIF Regulations:
o Fresh investments by AIFs, beyond September 2024, to be held in dematerialized form.
Knowledge Nuggets
About SEBI-
• It is the regulatory body for securities and commodity market in India.
pg. 81
[Type here]
• Chairperson- Madhabi Puri Buch
Source: SEBI
REPORTS AND INDICES

1. WHO has released Global TB report 2023.
• Key findings of the reports-
• TB Incidence in India:
o India continues to have the highest incidence of tuberculosis globally, accounting for
27% of the total TB cases worldwide.
• Positive Trends for India:
o The report has highlighted two positive trends for India-
o an increase in reporting of TB cases, reaching 24.2 lakh cases in 2022
o an improvement in treatment coverage, reaching 80%
• Mortality Drop:
o Mortality has decreased from 4.94 lakhs in 2021 to 3.31 lakhs in 2022 based on
India’s Sample Registration System dataset for calculations
• Global Contribution:
o India's contribution to global TB mortality dropped from 36% in previous years to
26% in 2022
• National TB Prevalence Survey:
o India was the only country to complete a National TB prevalence survey since 2019,
and the results have contributed to estimates of TB incidence in the WHO report.
• Treatment Coverage:
o India has witnessed a 19% increase in TB treatment coverage over the previous
year, with over 80% treatment coverage achieved.
o Only four out of 30 high-burden countries globally achieved this level of treatment
coverage
• TB Elimination Target:
o India's target for TB elimination is set for 2025, aiming for no more than 44 new
TB cases per lakh population by that year.
o current incidence of cases- 199 cases per lakh in 2023.
pg. 82
[Type here]
• World Perspective-
o Globally, an estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with TB in 2022, up from 10.3 million
the previous year.
o The majority of the people were in the WHO Regions of Southeast Asia, Africa, and
the Western Pacific, which together accounted for nearly 90%.
o Smaller proportions were reported in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Americas, and
Europe.
Knowledge Nuggets
About WHO-
• World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for
international public health.
• Director General- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
2. World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) have jointly
released research in journal ‘Environment International’ on serious workplace hazard.
• Key findings-
o Approximately 1 in 3 non-melanoma skin cancer death are related to occupational sun
exposure
o 1.6 billion people of working age (15 years or older) were exposed to solar ultraviolet
radiation while working outdoors in 2019, equivalent to 28% of all working-age people.
o Almost 19,000 people from 183 countries died from non-melanoma skin cancer due to
having worked outdoors in the sun
o Majority (65%) were male
Source: WHO
3. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has released 1st flagship publication of the Centre for
Advanced Financial Research and Learning (CAFRAL) titled India Finance Report (IFC)
2023.
• Theme-
o Connecting the Last Mile: Non-Banking Financial Companies in India
pg. 83
[Type here]
• Key observations-
o Indian fintech sector can potentially emerge as a substitute for traditional banking in the
near future
o There is a need for regulation to ensure growth of digitalization and financial stability
Knowledge Nuggets
About CAFRAL-
• It is an independent body set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in the backdrop of
India’s evolving role in the global economy, in the financial services sector and its position
in various international fora.
• It is a not-for-profit organisation
• Chairman- BP Kanungo
Source: CAFRAL, ET
4. India has been ranked 117th among 129 nations in inclusiveness index published by
Othering and Belonging Institute (OBI) at California University, United States.
• Top 3 performers-
o New Zealand (Rank 1), Portugal (Rank 2), Netherland (Rank 3)
• Bangladesh has been ranked 106 and Iran is placed at bottom 129 th rank.
Knowledge Nuggets
About inclusiveness index by OBI

• The index examines inclusivity in terms of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation,
disability, and the general population using several measures.
• The measures include out-group violence, political representation, income inequality,
anti-discrimination laws, rate of incarceration, and immigration/asylum policies.
Source: TOI
5. WHO has unveiled a new Operational framework for building climate resilient and low carbon
health systems.
• It is designed to enhance the resilience of health systems while simultaneously reducing
greenhouse gas emissions to help safeguard the health of communities worldwide.
• The key objectives of the WHO Framework are:
pg. 84
[Type here]
o to guide health sector professionals in addressing climate-related health risks through

collaboration;
o to strengthen health system functions for climate resilience and low carbon health
approaches;
o to support development of specific interventions for climate risk reduction and emissions
reduction; and
o to define roles and responsibilities for health decision-makers in climate resilience.
Knowledge Nuggets
About WHO-
• The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible
for international public health.
• Director General- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Source: WHO
6. Clean energy has overtaken fossil fuels in global job market as per the International Energy
Agency (IEA) World Energy Employment 2023 (WEE 2023) report.
• Clean Energy Job Growth Surpasses Fossil Fuels:
o In 2021, clean energy jobs worldwide exceeded those in the traditional fossil fuel
sector for the first time, totalling 35 million compared to 32 million in fossil fuels.
• Global Trends in Job Growth:
o Clean energy jobs are growing at more than 3.6 times the rate of fossil fuel jobs.
o Clean energy sectors globally added 4.7 million jobs, outpacing the slower recovery
of fossil fuel jobs after layoffs in 2020.
o India and West Asia were the only major regions to experience growth in both clean
energy and fossil fuel employment from 2019 to 2022.
• Global Ranking of Energy Workers:
o India has the third-highest number of workers in the energy sector, following China
and the Asia-Pacific regions.
• India's Employment Scenario:
pg. 85
[Type here]
o Fossil fuel employment in India rose above pre-pandemic levels, while the country
also saw the fourth-highest number of new clean energy jobs generated.
• Major Contributors to Clean Energy Job Growth:
o More than half of the job growth in clean energy since 2019 is attributed to five
sectors: solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, wind, electric vehicle (EV) and battery
manufacturing, heat pump, and critical mineral mining.
• Key Clean Energy Sectors:
o Solar PV is the largest among these sectors, with around 4 million jobs.
o Manufacturing of EVs and their batteries is a significant source of growth, adding
well over 1 million jobs globally since 2019.
Knowledge Nuggets
About IEA-
• The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental
organisation, established in 1974, that provides policy recommendations, analysis and
data on the entire global energy sector.
• Executive Director- Fatih Birol
Source: Business Standard, IEA
7. State education achievement survey 2023 PARAKH has been conducted.

• Objective-
o To understand the baseline performance in the development of the competencies at the
end of the foundational, preparatory, and middle stages.
• Coverage-
o It covered approximately 80 lakh students from 3 lakh schools at 5917 blocks across the
nation.
• Participation-
o All States and UTs participated except Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan
and West Bengal
• Assessment methodology-
o Assessment methodology employed a paper-pen-based approach with OMR technology
for data capture and analysis.
pg. 86
[Type here]
• Key observation-
o It observed a significant achievement in the assessment of educational competencies
among students at the block level in India at grades 3, 6, and 9.
Knowledge Nuggets
About PARAKH-
• PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic
Development) has been set up as a body for setting norms, standards, and guidelines for
student assessment and evaluation for all recognized school boards of India.
Source: PIB
GDP FORECASTS
1. International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released baseline forecast indicating a slowdown in
global growth.
• Global Growth Projections:
o The IMF projects global growth to remain stagnant at 3% in 2023, with a further
decline to 2.9% in 2024, which is notably lower than the historical average of 3.8%
recorded between 2000 and 2019.
• Advanced Economies' Growth:
o Advanced economies are expected to experience a significant decline in growth, with
projections dropping from 2.6% in 2022 to 1.5% in 2023 and 1.4% in 2024.
• Emerging Markets and Developing Economies:
o These economies are projected to witness a marginal decrease in growth, dropping
from 4.1 percent in 2022 to 4 percent in both 2023 and 2024.
• Inflation Trends:
o The IMF expects a gradual decrease in global inflation, projecting a decline from
8.7% in 2022 to 6.9% in 2023 and 5.8% in 2024.
Knowledge Nuggets
About IMF-
pg. 87
[Type here]
• International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an UN agency that promotes global economic

growth and financial stability, encourages international trade, and reduces poverty.
• Headquarter- Washington DC, USA
• MD- Kristalina Georgieva
Source: livemint
2. Fitch Ratings has raised its mid-term potential growth estimate for India by 0.7% points to
6.2% for the period of 2019-2027.
• Reason for revision-
o This upward revision is attributed to factors such as higher employment, a larger
working-age population, and increased labour productivity expected during this
timeframe.
• Global Comparisons and Emerging Markets Outlook:
o Fitch made upward revisions to potential growth estimates for Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia,
Poland, and Turkey due to swift recoveries in labour force participation rates.
• Reduction in China's Growth Prospects:
o Fitch lowered its growth estimate for China to 4.6% from 5.3%, citing a sharp slowdown
in growth in recent years.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Fitch Ratings-

• Fitch Ratings Inc. is an American credit rating agency and is one of the Big Three credit
rating agencies.
• CEO- Paul Taylor
Source: livemint
3. UBS has revised India's GDP growth forecast by 10 basis points to 6.3% and increased the
FY25 GDP growth forecast by 20 basis points to 6.2%.
• Factors responsible for near-term growth:
o UBS expects near-term growth to be supported by higher household spending during
the festive season
pg. 88
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o buoyant credit growth

• Growth Projections for Coming Years:
o UBS has anticipated India's growth for long-run average of 6.2% and 6.5% in FY26 and
FY27
• Export Outlook:
o As per the report, while exports could see marginal improvement, they are expected to
remain tepid and dependent on global growth uncertainty
4. Moody’s has retained India’s GDP growth rate at 6.7% in its Global Macro Outlook 2024-25
report on the basis of strong domestic demand.
• GDP Growth Projections for India:
o The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by 6.7% in the year 2023
o The growth rate is expected to slightly slow down to 6.1% in 2024
o The GDP growth is then anticipated to rebound to 6.3% in 2025
• Growth Projection of G20 emerging markets:
o Moody's anticipates a slowdown in the growth of G20 emerging markets, with a
projected growth rate of 3.7% in 2024.
o This marks a decline from the growth rate of 4.3% forecasted for 2023.
o The growth is expected to rebound slightly to 3.8% in 2025.
• Overall Trend:
o The projections indicate a general deceleration in economic growth for both advanced
G20 economies and emerging markets in the specified time frame.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Moody’s-
• Moody's Investors Service provides international financial research on bonds issued by
commercial and government entities.
• Moody's CreditView is flagship solution for global capital markets that incorporates credit
ratings, research and data from Moody's Investors Service.
Source: livemint
pg. 89
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5. Credit rating agency S&P Global has increased India’s FY24 growth forecast to 6.4%. from
6% based on strong domestic demand.
• Growth estimate about next fiscal-
o It has reduced the growth estimates for the next fiscal (2024-25) to 6.4%, from 6.9% due
to higher base and weak global growth.
• Forecast for Asia-Pacific-
o It has predicted that the strongest economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region for the
current and next year will be in emerging market economies.
o Countries with solid domestic demand, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the
Philippines, are expected to lead in this growth.
Knowledge Nuggets
About S&P Global-

• It is an American credit-rating agency.
• Headquarters- Douglas L. Peterson
• CEO- New York, USA
Source: The Hindu
DEFENCE NEWS
1. India has submitted ‘Letter of Request’ to France for buying 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for
Indian Navy.
• About Letter of Request-
o The LoR is like a tender document in which the Indian government has specified all
its requirements and capabilities which it want to have in Rafale Marine Aircraft
• It will be a government-to-government deal.
• The cost of the deal is Euro 5.5 billion.
Source: ET
2. Indian Airforce has deployed three S-400 missile system along China and Pakistan border.
• About S-400-
o The S-400 Missile System is an anti-aircraft missile defence system developed by
Russia’s Almaz Central Design Bureau.
Source: livemint
pg. 90
[Type here]
3. Indian Airforce has phased out Mig-21 Bison aircraft in a ceremony held at Air Force
Station Uttarlai, Barmer, Rajasthan.
• Key Facts-
o These aircrafts have served for almost six decades after being inducted in1966.
o It was designed by Soviet Union.
o These aircrafts will be replaced by the Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-1A.
o Tejas LCA Mark-1A aircraft are manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Knowledge Nuggets
About HAL-
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is an Indian public sector aerospace and defence
company.
• Headquarters- Bangalore
• Chairman & Managing Director- C.B. Ananthakrishnan
Source: ET, HAL
4. Project Kusha: India’s indigenous air defence system.

• About Kusha-
o It consists of the development of Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (LR-SAM).
o It is capable of detecting and destroying incoming stealth fighters, aircraft, etc. up to 350
km.
o It consists a range of up to 350 km.
o Indian Airforce will procure 5 squadron for ₹21,700 crore.
• Target Ranges-
o 150 km, 250 km, and 350 km ranges
• Developed by-
o It will be jointly developed by Defence Research and Development Organization and
Israel Aerospace Industries
Source: The Print
5. Indian Navy has decommissioned Ilyushin-38 Sea Dragon long-range maritime patrol
aircraft.
pg. 91
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• About Ilyushin-38 Sea Dragon-

o It is a maritime patrol aircraft and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
o Designed by- Soviet Union
o Commissioned in Indian Navy- October 1, 1977
6. Indian Army has successfully conducted inaugural firing of 70mm rocket and 20mm turret
guns of light combat helicopter (LCH) Prachand.
• About LCH Prachand-
o Developed by- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
o Prachand is India’s first indigenous multi-role combat helicopter.
o It is fitted with Shakti Engine which is co-developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
(HAL) by and France’s Safran
o It is designed to meet the needs of the Indian armed forces operating in different terrain
such as deserts and mountainous areas.
Source: Print
7. US Air Force has unveiled nuclear capable Minuteman III.

• About Minuteman III-
o The nuclear-capable Minuteman III, made by Boeing Co.
o The missile has a range of 6,000-plus miles (9,660-plus km) and can travel at a speed
of about 15,000 miles per hour (24,000 kph).
Source: Reuters
8. Indian Army’s aviation unit has successfully tested a new generation rocket and turret
ammunition system from Rudra attack helicopter.
• About Rudra helicopter-
o It is the first indigenous attack helicopter.
o It is an advanced version of the Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv).
o Usage- Reconnaissance, troop transport, anti-tank warfare and close troop support
o Manufactured by- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Source: TOI
9. ‘Surat’ has become the first warship to be named after a city in Gujarat.
pg. 92
[Type here]
• About Surat-
o It is the fourth ship of the indigenously designed and constructed Project 15B
(Visakhapatnam Class) destroyers.
o The warship carries indigenous BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missiles and indigenous
Torpedo tube launchers.
• About the Ship’s crest-
o The crest of Indian Navy’s latest guided missile destroyer ‘Surat’ has been unveiled by
Chief Minister of Gujarat in presence of Chief of Naval Staff.
o The crest of under-constriction warship depicts the famous Hazira lighthouse that was
built in 1836 at the southern entrance of Khambhat and an Asiatic lion which symbolises
majesty and strength.
Source: ET
10. Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2023 organised by Indian army in collaboration with Centre for
Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) has been concluded.
• Theme- ‘Serving India and Indo Pacific Region- Collaborating for Comprehensive Security’
• Venue & Date- Manekshaw Centre & 3-4 November
• Key takeaways- Security Challenges in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific
• Sessions-
Session Session Title
No.
Session 1 Neighbourhood First; South Asia Prognosis
Session 2 Indo Pacific
Session 3 Collaborative Partnership for Security
Session 4 How Emerging Technology Impact Defence
and Security
Session 5 Indian Defence Industry as Enabler for
Collaborative Capacity Building
Session 6 Comprehensive Deterrence
Source: PIB
11. Eastern Air Command has conducted its annual exercise ‘Poorvi Akash’ from September 30
to November 5.
• Details of Exercise-
pg. 93
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o Exercise will involve application of Air Power in all its role.

o It will be conducted by day and night.
o It also consists of joint operations with Eastern command of Indian Army in the
challenging mountainous terrain.
o Special Forces will also participate in the exercise, activating whole Eastern Sector.
Source: ET
12. India and Bangladesh navies have conducted 4th edition of Bilateral Exercise between Indian
Navy and Bangladesh Navy (BONGOSAGAR-23), and the 5th edition of Coordinated Patrol
(CORPAT).
• Location- Northern Bay of Bengal
• Date of exercise- 7th -9th November
• Military assets participated-
o Indian Navy Ships involved: INS Kuthar, INS Kiltan, and Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA)
Dornier.
o Bangladesh Navy Ships involved: Abu Bakr, Abu Ubaidah, and MPA.
• Key features of Exercise-
o Navies undertook joint patrolling along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL)
o CORPAT-23 (Coordinated Patrol) included the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster
Relief (HADR) drills for the first time.
o The HADR drills involved a Search and Rescue scenario at sea, showcasing joint
capabilities in responding to humanitarian crises.
Knowledge Nuggets
About INS Kuthar & INS Kiltan-

• INS Kuthar: It is an indigenously built guided-missile Corvette
• INS Kiltan: It is an indigenously built anti-submarine Corvette
Source: PIB
13. India and Russia have signed a contract on supply and production of Igla Air Defence
Systems.
• Under the contract Russia will supply Igla-S hand-held anti-aircraft missiles to India and
allow production of the Igla there under licence.
pg. 94
[Type here]
14. India and Sri Lanka have commenced 9th edition of joint military exercise ‘MITRA SHAKTI-
2023’.
• Location- Aundh, Pune
• Objectives-
o To jointly rehearse the conduct of Sub Conventional operations under Chapter VII of the
United Nations Charter.
o To further strengthen strong bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka
• Focus area-
o The exercise focuses on synergizing joint responses during counter-terrorist operations.
o Tactical actions such as raids, search and destroy missions, heliborne operations, etc.,
will be practiced.
• Participating Forces-
o Indian contingent- 120 personnel from the MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY Regiment & 15
personnel from the Indian Air Force
o Sri Lankan contingent- 53 Infantry Division & five personnel from the Sri Lankan Air
Force
Source: PIB
15. Indian Navy has launched 4th anti-submarine Warcraft named ‘Amini’ at L&T Shipbuilding’s
facility in Kattupalli, Tamil Nadu.
• Key features-
o 'Amini' is designed to specialize in anti-submarine operations in coastal waters.
o It is also equipped for low intensity maritime operations (LIMO) and mine-laying
operations.
o Why the ship has been named 'Amini'?
o To signify the strategic maritime importance of the island of Amini at Lakshadweep,
which is located about 400 km west of Kochi.
o Manufactured by- Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE)
16. Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD), annual apex-level international conference of the
Indian Navy has been held in New Delhi from November 15 to 17, 2023.
• What is IPRD?
pg. 95
[Type here]
o IPRD is the principal manifestation of the Indian Navy’s international engagement at the
strategic level, focusing on 'holistic' maritime security issues across the Indo-Pacific.
o It is preceded by the Goa Maritime Conclave 2023, which emphasizes cooperative
engagement at the strategic-operational level in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Organizers-
o National Maritime Foundation (NMF) is the Indian Navy’s knowledge partner and chief
organizer of each edition of IPRD.
• Theme of IPRD-2023-
o Geopolitical Impacts upon Indo-Pacific Maritime Trade and Connectivity
• Participation-
o International participation from 16 countries, offering diverse regional perspectives
Source: PIB
17. 14th edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise “VAJRA PRAHAR 2023” has
commenced at the Joint Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya.
• Objective-
o To share best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and
operational tactics.
• Participating forces-
o US contingent- 1st Special Forces Group (SFG) of US Special Forces
o Indian Army- Special Forces personnel from the Eastern Command
Knowledge Nuggets
About Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR-

• It is a joint exercise conducted between Indian Army and US Army Special Forces.
• The first edition was conducted in the year 2010 in India.
• The current edition is being conducted in Umroi Cantonment, Meghalaya from
21st November to 11th December 2023.
Source: PIB
18. Indian Navy and DRDO have tested first indigenously developed Naval Anti-ship Missile
from Seaking 42-B helicopter.
• Missile has the expected range of 500 kilometres.
Knowledge Nuggets
pg. 96
[Type here]
About DRDO-
• It is the main research & development agency under the Ministry of Defence.
• Chairman- Samir V Kamat
Source: livemint
19. Indian Armed Forces contingent has participated in the second edition of Joint Military
Exercise AUSTRAHIND-23 conducted in Perth, Australia from 22nd November to 6th
December 2023.
• Objectives-
o To foster collaborative partnership and share best practices between the two sides.
o To promote interoperability while undertaking multi-domain operations in Urban and
Semi- Urban terrain under Chapter VII of United Nations on peace keeping operations.
• Focus areas of cooperation-
o Exercise will promote exchange of ideas and jointly rehearse tactics, technique and
procedures for conducting tactical operations
o It will also focus on casualty management and evacuation.
Knowledge Nuggets
About AUSTRAHIND-
• It is an annual training event to be conducted between armed forces of India and
Australia.
• It will be held alternatively in India and Australia.
• Exercise AUSTRAHIND was instituted in 2022.
• The first edition was conducted in Mahajan, Rajasthan.
Source: PIB
20. India-Nepal joint military exercise SURYA KIRAN- XVII has commenced in Pithoragarh,
Uttarakhand.
• More about Surya Kiran-
• Objective-
pg. 97
[Type here]
o To enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter terrorism operations in

mountainous terrain and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief under United
Nations Charter on peace keeping operations.
• Participating forces-
o Indian Army- Battalion from the KUMAON Regimen
o Nepal Army- Tara Dal Battalion
• The exercise will focus on employment of drones and counter drone measures, medical
training, aviation aspects and also environment conservation.
Source: PIB
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Central Government has launched PM-Kisan Bhai (Bhandaran Incentive) scheme on a
pilot basis to break traders’ monopoly.
• Key benefit-
o Scheme is expected to empower farmers, allowing them to retain their crops for a
minimum of three months post-harvest.
• Pilot launch of the scheme (need not be remembered as of now)-
o In the first phase, the scheme may be implemented on pilot basis in Andhra Pradesh,
Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
o Estimated expenditure- 170 Crore in three years including current fiscal
AWARDS
1. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has conferred ‘Durga Ratna’ awards on four pujas.
• Winners-
o Kalyani ITI Durga puja in Nadia district
o Tala Prattoy Durga puja in Kolkata
o Bandhudal Sporting Club, Baranagar and
o Netaji Colony in North 24 Parganas district
• About Durga Ratna Award-
pg. 98
[Type here]
o The Durga Ratna awards instituted by the Honourable Governor of West Bengal to
recognise the most outstanding Durga Pandal, which reflects the essence of
Bengaliana, is shared by four Pandals of the state, based on people’s choice.
o Awards consists of the cash prize of Rs 5 lakhs.
Source: IndianExpress
2. India-born author Nandini Das has won 111th British Academy Book Prize for Global
Cultural Understanding 2023.
• She has won the award for her debut book titled-
o ‘Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire’
• About British Academy Book Prize-
o The British Academy Book Prize (earlier known as Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize) was
established in 2013 to reward and celebrate the best works of non-fiction.
o It includes the work that demonstrate rigour and originality and have contributed to
public understanding of other world cultures and their interaction.
o The prize is worth British Pound Sterling (GBP) 25,000.
Source: The Hindu
3. Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Adm R Hari Kumar has presented the maiden ‘NIB’ (Navy’s
Intellectual Beacon) to Cdr M Arun Chakravarthy.
• Cdr M Arun Chakravarthy has won Indian Navy’s Sardar KM Panikkar ‘NIB’ essay
competition.
• It was introduced to promote reading, writing and thinking skills amongst the Naval
community.
Source: PIB
4. Dinanath Rajput, a social worker from Bastar, Chhattisgarh has won Second Annual
Rohini Nayyar Prize for Rural Development.
• He has led the establishment of a Farmers Producers Organization (FPO) that has grown
to include over 6,000 tribal women in four districts.
• He helped women to sell and market their produce in the Naxal-affected state of
Chhattisgarh.
Knowledge Nuggets
pg. 99
[Type here]
About Rohini Nayyar Prize-

• The prize is awarded in memory of the late economist-administrator Rohini Nayyar who
contributed various academic journals on rural development and served as principal
advisor in the Planning Commission.
• This prize is awarded annually to a person under 40 years.
• Prize consists a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, a trophy and a citation
Source: Wire
5. Vihaan Talya Vikas, a 10-year-old boy from Bengaluru has won prestigious ‘Wildlife
Photographer of the Year’ award in London.
• About ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’-
o It gives a global platform for showcasing the world's most exceptional wildlife photography.
o Organized by- Natural History Museum
o It is also referred to as the 'Oscars of Photography'
Source: TOI
6. United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has announced Champions of Earth

Awards 2023.
• The award honours individuals, groups, and organizations whose actions have a
transformative impact on the environment.
• The 2023 laureates are implementing solutions and policies to eliminate plastic pollution.
• Winners list for 2023-
Category Winners Country
Policy Leadership Josefina Belmonte, Mayor of Philippines

Quezon City
Inspiration and Action Ellen Macarthur Foundation United Kingdom
Entrepreneurial Vision Blue Circle China
Jose Manuel Moller Chile
Science and Innovation Council for Scientific and South Africa

Industrial Research
Source: UNEP
pg. 100
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7. Eminent writer T. Padmanabhan has been awarded the Kerala Jyothi award instituted by
the Kerala government.
• He is awarded the highest civilian honour by the government considering his contributions
in the field of Malayalam literature.
Source: The Hindu
8. Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission has been awarded the Global Responsible Tourism
Award 2023 in the category of "best for local sourcing, food, and craft.
• The award is a recognition of the sustainable and women-inclusive initiatives promoted by
Kerala's Responsible Tourism Mission (RTM).
• The RTM has been actively involved in implementing responsible tourism practices in the
state.
Source: The Hindu
9. Indian solar powered tech venture Science for Society Techno Services Private Limited
(S4S Technologies) is among the winners of Earthshot prize 2023.
• About Earthshot prize-
o The Earthshot Prize is a global environmental award that is rewarded to five winners
each year for their contributions towards environmentalism.
o It is also known as Eco Oscars.
o Each winner receives a grant of £1 million to continue their environmental work.
o Award- £1 million per winner
o Established- 2021
• Winners for 2023-
Category Winner
Protect & Restore Nature Acción Andina
Clean Our Air GRST
Revive Our Ocean WildAid Marine Program
Build a Waste Free World S4S Technologies
Fix Our Climate Boomitra
Source: Earthshot.org, cnbc
pg. 101
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10. Union Forest Minister has presented 'Eco Warrior Awards 2023' in India's First Ever
Dedicated Awards Show for Indian Forest Service Officers.
• The award is presented to honour exceptional individuals and initiatives that have made
significant contributions to environmental conservation and sustainable practices.
• Organised by- Indian Masterminds and Indian Forest Service Association
• Awards-
Category Awardee
Forest Protection Vasu Kanojia
Wildlife Conservation Dr Mohan Ram
Wildlife Protection Ritesh Sarothiya
Best use of Technology for Conservation Biswajit Mishra
Award for Community Connect Millo Tassar
11. Konkani singer, lyricist, and composer Apolinaris D’Souza has been honoured with the 19th
edition of the ‘Kalakar Puraskar’ Award.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Kalakar Puraskar-

• It was established by linguist Pratap Naik under the name of his Carvalho (Carval) family.
• It is presented every year to a Konkani individual of Karnataka region in recognition of
his/her achievement in field of music, dance, drama or folklore.
• Award money- ₹50,000
Source: mglrn
12. Falguni Shah’s ‘Abundance in Millets’ has been nominated in the best global music
performance category at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
• The song 'Abundance in Millets' features Prime Minister Narendra Modi and it is sung by
Falguni Shah and her husband Gaurav Shah.
• Abundance in Millets was created to raise awareness of the super-grain as another
potential key to minimizing world hunger.
Knowledge Nuggets
pg. 102
[Type here]
About Grammy Award-

• The Grammy Awards, or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the
Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the
music industry.
• They are regarded by many as the most prestigious and significant awards in the music
industry worldwide.
Source: livemint
13. International Olympic Committee has awarded Olympic Cup 2023 to Taekwondo
Humanitarian Foundation.
• Why?
o To recognize its long-term commitment for supporting refugee athletes and refugees
worldwide through taekwondo.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation-

• It was formed to empower refugees worldwide through Taekwondo, helping to improve
their quality of life, develop skills, learn the Olympic values, and pursue their dreams.
• Founder- Chungwon Choue
Source: olympics, thfaid
14. 15th edition of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)
Healthcare Excellence Award has been held in New Delhi.
• Objective-
o To felicitate organisations and individuals for their invaluable contributions to the
healthcare space in different categories on Thursday.
• Categories of award-
o Excellence in Patient Safety & Care
o Excellence in Patient Service Delivery
o Excellence in Community Engagement
o Digital Transformation Initiative of the Year
o Training & Skill Development Initiative of the Year
pg. 103
[Type here]
Knowledge Nuggets
About FICCI-
• It is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group.
• It draws its membership from the corporate sector, both private and public, including
SMEs and MNC’s
• President- Subhrakant Panda
Source: ficci
15. International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE) has awarded Indian Economist and
Padma Shree awardee Bina Agarwal with 2023 Kenneth E. Boulding Memorial Award for
Ecological Economics.
• She shared the prize with David Barkin, a professor at the Metropolitan University in Mexico
City.
• She is Professor of Development Economics and Environment at the Global Development
Institute, University of Manchester, and ex-director of the Institute of Economic Growth
Delhi.
Knowledge Nuggets
About ISEE-
• The ISEE is a transdisciplinary partnership of scholars, professionals, and activists from a
broad range of backgrounds.
• It aims create an equitable and ecologically sustainable society with respect for the rights
of people and nature, biological and cultural diversity.
• It is a not-for-profit and member-governed.
About Kenneth E. Boulding Memorial Award-

• It is awarded to individuals who embody the exceptional qualities of Kenneth E. Boulding,
aiming to preserve and perpetuate the wisdom he imparted to ISEE members and
beyond.
Source: Indian Express, iseeco.org
pg. 104
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16. GAIL (India) Limited has won two prestigious awards at the Asian Oil and Gas Awards event
held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• About awards won by GAIL-
1) The Innovation Award – Awarded for the reduction in LNG shipping cost and emissions
through Ship-to-Ship (STS) transfer of LNG with backhauling.
2) Midstream Project of the Year – India- Awarded for the installation of the first floating
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station at Varanasi.
• About Asian Oil and Gas Awards-
o The award recognizes the outstanding players in Asia’s oil and gas sector.
Source: psuwatch
17. Government of Maharashtra has awarded veteran playback singer and Padma Shri awardee
Suresh Ishwar Wadkar with 2023 ‘Gansamragini Lata Mangeshkar Award’.
• About Gansamragini Lata Mangeshkar Award-
o It is an annual award given by the Directorate of Cultural Affairs of the Maharashtra
Government in memory of Playback singer Lata Mangeshkar.
Source: ETV
18. Deepti Babuta has become first woman to bag Dahan Prize for Punjabi literature.
• She has been awarded for her short story collection ‘Bhukh Eon Sah Laindi Hai’ (‘Hunger
Breathes Like This’).
• Award- 25,000 Canadian Dollar and a trophy
Knowledge Nuggets
Dahan Prize for Punjabi literature-

• Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature celebrates the rich culture and transnational heritage
of Punjabi literature and language.
• The prize aims to promote the growth of Punjabi language globally, as well as encourage
new, emerging, and established writers working in the two Punjabi scripts, Gurmukhi and
Shahmukhi.
Source: HT
19. Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua has won the title of Miss Universe 2023.
Source: TOI
pg. 105
[Type here]
20. Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, 2022 has been awarded to
Indian Medical Association and the Trained Nurses Association of India as representatives
of the COVID-19 warriors in India.
Knowledge Nuggets
Anout Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace-

• It was set up by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, it is given yearly to recognize individuals
or organizations contributing to international peace, disarmament and development.
• Prize- ₹25 lakh cash and a citation
Source: ET
21. India’s Vir Das has won Emmy for Comedy and Ekta Kapoor has won Directorate award at
51st International Emmy Awards event held in New York.
Category Winner/s
Best Actress Karla Souza in La Caida (Dive)
Best Actor Martin Freeman in The Responder
Best Comedy Vir Das for Vir Das: Landing and Derry Girls season 3
Best Documentary Mariupol: The People's Story
Source: HT
22. BrainAlive co-founder Dr Sujit Roy has won ‘NASA IMPACT Planet Award 2023’ for his
outstanding contribution to the Geospatial AI Foundation Model project.
• About BrainAlive-
o BrainAlive AI (BAAI) is an AI Engine that leverages data transformation approach to
convert raw interaction data into real-time user engagement insights.
Knowledge Nuggets
About NASA IMPACT Planet Award 2023-

• These Nasa Impact Planet awards highlights exceptional performance of (Interagency
Implementation and Advanced Concepts Team) IMPACT members who have excelled
and demonstrated a commitment to excellence.
Source: The Print
pg. 106
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23. Tamil writer Perumal Murugan has won the JCB Prize for literature for the novel Fire Bird,
which is English translation of his Tamil novel Aalanda Patchi.
• More about Fire Bird-
o The book is translated in English by Janani Kannan
o Published by- Penguin
o Award money- ₹ 25 lakh cash prize
Knowledge Nuggets
About JCB Prize for Literature-

• It is an Indian literary award established in 2018.
• It is awarded annually with ₹2,500,000 prize to a distinguished work of fiction by an
Indian writer working in English or translated fiction by an Indian writer.
Source: The Hindu
24. 4 Indians have featured on BBC 100 Women’s List 2023.

• List contains 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2023.
• List of Indians-
Harmanpreet Kaur Cricketer
Arati Kumar-Rao Hhotographer
Dia Mirza Actress
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo Buddhist nun
Source: EFE
25. REC Limited has been awarded “Best Employer for Policies in Diversity & Inclusion”
award at the 4th Diversity & Inclusion Excellence Awards and Conclave organized by
ASSOCHAM.
Knowledge Nuggets
About REC Limited-
• It is a Government of India enterprises under Ministry of Power with Maharatna status
pg. 107
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About ASSOCHAM -
• The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) is a non-
governmental trade association and advocacy group based in New Delhi, India.
• The organisation represents the interests of trade and commerce in India, and acts as an
interface between issues and initiatives.
Source: PIB
26. Ministry of Steel has presented National Metallurgist Award 2022 to recognize excellence
& contribution of Metallurgists in Iron & Steel Sector.
• Awardees and category-
Awardee Name Award category
Dr Kamachi Mudali Uthandi Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr Debashish Bhattacharjee National Metallurgist Award
Dr Rameshwar Sah R&D in Iron & Steel Sector
Dr Niloy Kundu Young Metallurgist (Environment) Award
Agilan Muthumanickam Award Young Metallurgist (Metal Science)
Award
Source: PIB
27. Irish author Paul Lynch has won Booker Prize 2023 for his novel ‘Prophet Song’.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Booker Prize-

• It is a literary award conferred each year for the best novel written in the English
language, which was published in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
• Awarded by- Booker Prize Foundation
Source: The Wire
pg. 108
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28. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced Abdullahi
Mire, a former refugee from Somalia as 2023 Global Laureate of UNHCR Nansen Refugee
Awards.
• About the award-
o The prestigious award is given to people who have gone above and beyond to help
forcibly displaced or stateless people.
• The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Geneva.
• Several regional winners will also be honoured this year-
Elizabeth Moreno Barco A human rights defender who has advocated for
(Americas) communities affected by armed internal conflict
in Colombia
Asia Al-Mashreqi (Middle East & Founder and chairperson of the Sustainable
North Africa) Development Foundation which has assisted
nearly 2 million individuals in Yemen affected by
conflict
Abdullah Habib, Sahat Zia Hero, Four Rohingya storytellers who have
Salim Khan and Shahida Win documented the experiences of stateless
(Asia-Pacific) Rohingya refugees
Lena Grochowska and Władysław A Polish couple whose hotel chain and
Grochowski (Europe) foundation has provided shelter and training to
refugees
Knowledge Nuggets
About UNHCR-
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is a United Nations agency mandated to
aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to
assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country.
• High Commissioner- Filippo Grandi
Source: UNHCR
pg. 109
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29. Persian film ‘Endless Borders’ has won Golden Peacock Award for Best Film at the 54th
International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.
• Directed by- Abbas Amini
• About Endless Borders-
o Endless Borders shows the journey of Ahmad, an exiled teacher in Iran whose destiny
collides with a Hazara Afghan family feeling the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Knowledge Nuggets
About IFFI-
• It is held annually in the state of Goa.
• It provides a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excellence of
the film art.
• It contributes to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations.
• Conducted by-National Film Development Corporation of India (under the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting) and the state Government of Goa
Source: The Hindu
IMPORTANT DAYS
1. October 27- World Occupational Therapy Day; Theme- Unity through Community
Source: wfot
2. October 31- National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas)

• It is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of ‘Iron Man of India’ Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel.
Source: livemint
3. October 31- World Cities Day; Theme- Financing sustainable urban future for all
Source: unhabitat
4. October 31- World Saving Day (World Thrift Day); Theme- Conquer your Tomorrow
• In India it is observed on October 30.
Source: guidely
pg. 110
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5. October 31- Halloween Day 2023

Source: guidely
6. November 1- World Vegan Day

Source: vegan day
7. November 2- International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
Source: UNESCO
8. November 1- Zozila Day

Source: AIR
9. November 3- International Day for Biosphere Reserve
Source: UNESCO
10. November 5- World Tsunami Awareness Day; Theme- Fighting inequality for a resilient future
Source: UN
11. November 6- International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and
Armed Conflict
Source: UN
12. November 7- National Cancer Awareness Day

Source: livemint
13. November 7- CV Raman Birth Anniversary

Source: FPJ
14. November 8- International Day of Radiology

• Objective-
o To building greater awareness of the value that radiology contributes to safe patient care
and improving public understanding of the vital role radiologists and radiographers play
in the healthcare continuum.
Source: IDR
pg. 111
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15. November 8- World Urbanism Day (World Town Planning Day); Theme- Learn Globally, Apply
Locally
Source: APA
16. November 9- National Legal Services Day; Theme- Access to Justice for All: Empowering the
Marginalised through Legal Awareness
• The day marks the anniversary of the enactment of the Legal Services Authorities Act in 1995.
Source: cnbc
17. November 6-10- World Quality Week; Theme- Quality: realising your competitive potential
Source: quality.org
18. November 10- World Science Day for Peace and Development; Theme- Building Trust in
Science
• November 9-14- International Week of Science and Peace
Source: UN ,ITD
19. November 10- National Ayurveda Day; Theme- Ayurveda for One Health
Source: PIB
20. November 9- World Usability Day; Theme- Collaboration and Cooperation

Source: wud
21. November 11- National Education Day; Theme- Embracing Innovation

• It is observed every year after the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who was
the first Educational Minister of Independent India.
Source: gdly
22. November 12- Public Service Broadcasting Day

Source: PB
23. November 12- World Pneumonia Day; Theme- Every Breath Counts: Stop Pneumonia in its
Track
Source: PH
pg. 112
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24. November 14- World Diabetes Day

Source: UN
25. November 13- World Kindness Day; Theme- Be Kind Wherever Possible
26. November 14- Children’s Day (Bal Diwas)

• It is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of 1st Prime Minister of Independent India
Bharat Ratna Jawaharlal Nehru.
• 14 November, 2023 marks 134th birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Source: HT
27. November 15-21- National Newborn Week; Theme- Safety, Quality and Nurturing care- Birth
Right of Every Newborn
Source: nhm
28. November 16- International Day of Tolerance

Source: UNESCO
29. November 16- National Press Day; Theme- Media in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
Source: AIR
30. November 16- World Philosophy Day

Source: unesco
31. November 17- National Epilepsy Day 2023

• Epilepsy is a brain disorder that can cause seizures due to abnormal brain activity or
temporary changes in the brain's electrical functioning.
Source: HT
32. November 17- International Students’ Day

Source: HT
pg. 113
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33. November 18- National Naturopathy Day

Source: PIB
34. November 18-24- World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week; Theme-
Preventing antimicrobial resistance together
Source: unep
35. November 11- Bima Lokpal Day

Source: ET
36. November 17- World Prematurity Day 2023; Theme- Small Actions BIG IMPACT: Immediate
Skin-to-Skin Care for Every Baby, Everywhere.
Source: efcni
37. November 19- World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims; Theme- Remember.
Support. Act.
Source: WHO
38. November 19- Women Entrepreneurship Day 2023

Source: wdo
39. November 19- International Men’s Day; Theme- Zero Male Suicide
Source: inmd.org
40. November 19- November 25- World Heritage Week

41. November 21- World Fisheries Day; Theme- ‘Celebrating the Wealth of Fisheries and
Aquaculture’
Source: ETV
42. November 21- World Television Day; Theme- Accessibility

pg. 114
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43. November 15- World Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; Theme- Breathing is Life - Act Earlier
Source: gpd
44. November 18- World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation,
Abuse and Violence
Source: UN
45. November 19- World Toilet Day; Theme- Accelerating Change

• Hummingbird is the symbol of World Toilet Day 2023.
Source: worldtoiletday
46. November 20- World Children’s Day; Theme- For Every Child, Every Right
Source: UNICEF
47. November 20- Africa Industrialization Day; Theme- “Accelerating Africa’s Industrialization
Through the Empowerment of African Women In Processing For An Integrated Market.”
Source: UN
48. November 25- International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women; Theme- UNITE!
Invest to prevent violence against women and girls
Source: UNWomen
49. November 26- National Constitution Day

Source: AIR
50. November 26- National Milk Day

• The day honours the birth anniversary of Dr Verghese Kurien, the "Father of the White
Revolution in India," highlighting the achievement and importance of the dairy sector in our
country.
Source: PIB
51. November 26- 75th NCC Raising Day

• National Cadet Corps (NCC), the largest uniformed youth organisation in the world raised in
1948
pg. 115
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Source: PIB
52. November 26- World Sustainable Transport Day

Source: UN
53. November 29- International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2023
Source: UN
SPORTS
1. Argentina’s Lionel Messi has won Best Men’s Player award for the 8th time in 67th Ballon
d’Or Award at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.
• Aitana Bonmati of Spain has won the best women’s player award.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Ballon d’Or Awards-

• The Ballon d'Or is an annual football award presented by French news magazine France
Football since 1956.
• Location- Paris, France
Source: SportsStar
2. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has won F1 Mexico City Grand Prix 2023.
• Winners of F1 Mexico City Grand Prix-
Rank Driver Team
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
3 Charles Leclerc Ferari
Knowledge Nuggets
About Formula 1-
• Formula One is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater
formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
pg. 116
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• President- Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Source: Outlook
3. Jyothi Yarraji has won gold medal in 100 metres hurdles race in athletics in National
Games 2023.
• Tejas Shirse has won gold medal in 110 metres hurdles race.
4. Zahid Hussain from Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir has won silver medal at Asian Shooting
Championship in South Korea.
Source: Greater K
5. PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated National Games 2023 at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
Stadium in Goa.
• Motto of National Games 2023- ‘Get Set Goa’
Source: livemint
6. Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 Men’s FIFA World Cup.
Knowledge Nuggets
About FIFA World Cup-

• FIFA World Cup is an international competition between the senior men’s national
team of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
• The tournament has been held every 4 years.
7. All India Football Federation (AIFF) has won Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
President Recognition Bronze Award for promoting football at grassroot level.
• Other Awards-
o AFC President Gold Award- Australia
o AFC President Silver Award- Guam
pg. 117
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Knowledge Nuggets
About AIFF-
• President- Kalyan Chaubey
About AFC-
• Headquarters- Kuala Lumpur
• President- Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa
Source: AIFF, AFC
8. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar has won gold medal in men’s 50m rifle 3 positions individual
event at the Asian Shooting Championship in Changwon, South Korea.
• India ended the championships in second place in the medals tally with 55 medals including
21 gold, 21 silver and 13 bronze.
Source: AIR
9. Life-sized statue of Sachin Tendulkar has been unveiled at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
• It is the venue where India has won the 2011 edition of the ICC World Cup.
• Statue made by-
o Pramod Kamble, who is a painter-sculptor from Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.
Source: livemint
10. England pacer David Willey has announced retirement from international cricket.
• He will stop playing international cricket after ODI World Cup 2023.
Source: India Today
11. Mohammad Shami has become the highest wicket-taker for India in One Day International
World Cup History.
• He has taken 14 wickets from just three matches to become the highest wicket taker for
India.
• He has taken a total of 45 wicket in ODI World Cup so far.
Source: TOI
pg. 118
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12. India has won 55 medals in 15th edition of Asian Shooting Championships 2023 held in
Changwon, South Korea.
• India has finished second in the medal tally.
• Medal tally-
Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 China 33 21 22 76
2 India 21 21 13 55
3 South Korea 16 22 19 57
Source: Olympics.com
13. New York City has won the First US National Gatka Championship.
• Organised by- Gatka Federation USA
• Runner up- Kansas Gatka Association
Source: The Print
14. Sri Lankan player Angelo Mathews has become the first cricketer to get ‘Timed Out’ in
International Cricket.
• The incident happened during the world cup match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in
New Delhi.
• What is timed out rule?
o According to the men’s cricket World Cup 2023 playing conditions, “After the fall of a
wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been
called, be ready to receive the ball or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next
ball within 2 minutes of the dismissal or retirement.”
o If the batsman fails to do so, he will be considered out.
15. Indian men hockey team has won bronze medal at Sultan of Johar Cup 2023.
• The junior Indian men's hockey team beat Pakistan 6-5 in a shootout.
• Venue- Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
• Germany has won the gold medal by defeating Australia.
• Number of teams- 8
Knowledge Nuggets
pg. 119
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About Sultan of Johar Cup

• The Sultan of Johor Cup is an annual, international under-21 men's field hockey
tournament held in Malaysia.
• Started- 2011
16. Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi has won the 3rd edition of Federation Internationale des
Echecs (FIDE) Grand Swiss 2023 title held in Villa Marina, Douglas, Isle of Man.
• He has also qualified for Candidates 2024 tournament.
• He became the second Indian after R Praggnanandhaa to qualify for this tournament.
Knowledge Nuggets
About FIDE-
• Headquarters- Lausanne, Switzerland
• President- Arkady Dvorkovich
Source: sportstar
17. Indian Women’s hockey team has won women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2023 by
defeating Japan in the final match held in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
• China has won bronze medal by defeating South Korea in Bronze medal match.
• Participants-
o Six teams- India, Japan, China, Malaysia, Thailand, and South Korea
• Winners’ list-
Rank Country Medal
1 India Gold
2 Japan Silver
3 China Bronze
Knowledge Nuggets
About Women’s Asian Champions Trophy-
pg. 120
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• The Women's Asian Champions Trophy is a biennial women's international field hockey
competition contested by the best six women's national teams of the member
associations of the Asian Hockey Federation.
18. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has won F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix (GP) 2023 held in Sao
Paulo, Brazil.
Source: Business Today
19. Tennis player Serena William has become the first player to receive Council of Fashion
Designers of America’s (CFDA) Fashion Icon Award in 2023.
• Presenting partner of CFDA Fashion award- Amazon Fashion
• About Serena Williams-
o Serena Jameka Williams is a former American professional tennis player.
o Grand slam wins- 23
Source: ET
20. Punjab has defeated Baroda to win Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy-

• Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a domestic Twenty20 cricket championship in India
• It is played among the teams from the Ranji Trophy
• It is named after former Test cricketer Syed Mushtaq Ali
• Organised by- Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
Source: sportstar
21. Archer Deepika Kumari has won 2 Gold and 1 Silver Medal in National Games.
• She is representing Jharkhand state.
Source: sportstar
22. Maharashtra has won Raja Bhalindra Singh Trophy after scoring the highest medal tally at
the National Games 2023.
• National Games 2023 top 3 ranking-
pg. 121
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Rank State/UT/Team Gold Silver Bronze Total

1 Maharashtra 80 69 79 228
2 Services 66 27 33 126
3 Haryana 62 55 75 192
Knowledge Nuggets
About National Games 2023-

• It is India's own multi-sport event inspired by the Olympics
• Athletes from 28 states, eight Union Territories and Services Sports Control Board
(SSCB) competed at the 37th National Games
• It was held in five cities in Goa - Mapusa, Margao, Panjim, Ponda and Vasco.
• Date- October 26, 2023 to November 9, 2023.
23. Australian women’s national team captain Meg Lanning has announced retirement from
international cricket.
Source: livemint
24. India has won 7 medals in Asian Archery Championship 2023 held in Bangkok, Thailand.
• India has been ranked 2nd in overall tournament, South Korea has secured 1st place.
• Rank and Medal tally-
2 India 3 1 3 7
3 Kazakhstan 1 2 0 3
25. Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag, Diana Edulji and Sri Lanka’s Aravinda de Silva have
been inducted into ICC Hall of Fame.
• Former captain Diana Edulji has become the first Indian woman cricketer to be inducted
into the ICC Hall of Fame.
Knowledge Nuggets
pg. 122
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About ICC Hall of Fame-

• ICC hall of Fame recognises the achievements of he legends of the game from cricket’s
long and illustrious history.
• Launched- 2 January 2009
Source: HT
26. Australian men cricket team has won the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s One
Day International (ODI) Cricket World Cup 2023 by defeating India in Narendra Modi
Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• About ICC CWC 2023-
o It was hosted by India 10 venues from 5th October to 19th November 2023.
o Virat Kohli has broken the record of Sachin Tendulkar’s 49 centuries in ODI by scoring
50th ODI century against New Zealand.
• Awards in the event-
o Player of the Tournament- Virat Kohli
o Player of the match (Finals)- Travis Head (Australia)
o Highest overall run scorer- Virat Kohli (765 runs)
o Highest overall wicket taker- Mohammed Shami (24 wickets)
Knowledge Nuggets
About ICC-
• The International Cricket Council is the global governing body of cricket.
• Headquarters- Dubai, UAE
• Chairman- Greg Barclay
Source: FP
27. Max Verstappen of Red Bull racing has won Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Formula 1-
pg. 123
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• Formula One is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater
formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
• President- Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Source: sportsstar
28. International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced ‘Stop Clock’ in Men’s One Day
International and T20 International cricket to regulate time taken between overs.
• Details of rule-
o If the bowling fails to bowl the next over within 60 seconds of the previous over being
completed, a 5-run penalty will be imposed the third time it happens in an innings.
o It will be introduced on trial basis from December 2023 to April 2024
Source: ET
29. Novak Djokovic of Serbia has defeated Jannik Sinner from Italy to win seventh Nitto ATP
Finals title.
Knowledge Nuggets
About ATP-
• The Association of Tennis Professionals is the governing body of the men's professional
tennis circuits – the ATP Tour, the ATP Challenger Tour and the ATP Champions Tour.
• Headquarters- London, UK
Source: atptour
30. Nongthombam Maipak, former Mr India title holder and veteran body builder of Manipur has
passed away.
Source: HT
31. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur has launched the logo and mascot
of First-ever Khelo India Para Games 2023 to be held in Delhi.
• About Para Games 2023-
o Mascot- ‘Ujjwala’- a sparrow
pg. 124
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o Schedule- December 10-17

o Venue-
o Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi
o Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, Delhi
o Indira Gandhi Stadium, Delhi
o Sports -Para-athletics, Shooting, Archery, Football, Badminton, Table tennis and
Weightlifting
Source: The Hindu
32. India has won 3 medals in World Wushu Championship 2023 held in Texas, USA.
Winner Medal
Naorem Roshibina Devi Silver
Kushal Kumar Bronze
Chhavi Ruhela Bronze
Knowledge Nuggets
About Wushu Game-

• It is a competitive Chinese martial art.
• It integrates concepts and forms from various traditional and modern Chinese martial
arts, including Shaolin kung fu, tai chi, and Wudangquan.
Source: TOI
33. Indian Para-Archery team has won 9 medals in 2023 Asian Para Archery Championship
and Continental Qualifying Tournament 2024 held in Bangkok, Thailand from 16 to 25
November.
• Medal tally and rank-
1 India 4 4 1 9
3 China 2 1 1 4
Source: Print
pg. 125
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34. Bengaluru has hosted Namma Kambala on 25-26 November.

Knowledge Nuggets
About Kambala-
• Kambala is an annual buffalo race held in the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka.
• In this buffalo are driven through a slushy paddy field by farmers.
Source: HT
35. Indian badminton player Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have got 2nd rank in
China Masters 2023.
• They have lost to the World No 1 pair of Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.
Source: sportstar
36. Italy has defeated Australia in Davis Cup 2023 World Championship held in Malaga, Spain.
• This is Italy’s 2nd title after first win in 1976.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Davis Cup-

• It is an international men’s tennis tournament.
• Organised by- International Tennis Federation (ITF)
• Most titles- United States
Source: reuters
37. Punjab has defeated Haryana to clinch 13th senior men’s national hockey championship.
Knowledge Nuggets
About senior men’s national hockey championship-

• It is a state-level national field hockey competition contested by the state associations
and government institutions.
Source: AIR
pg. 126
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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
1. Nokia has partnered with TATA Play Fiber to launch India’s first WiFi6-Ready broadband
network.
• About WiFi6-Ready broadband-
o It offers an improved indoor experience, can be set up in a mesh or interconnected
router system.
o It ensures faster internet over vast areas, supporting low-latency tasks like gaming,
and offering enhanced gigabit speeds to numerous devices.
Source: livemint
2. Election Commission of India has signed an MoU with Ministry of Education to bring
electoral literacy to classroom across the country.
• Key objectives-
o To extend the ECI’s flagship Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation
(SVEEP) in schools and colleges.
o NCERT will introduce and update textbooks to include content on electoral literacy
o To include electoral literacy into curricular framework, from 6 to 12 in all schools.
o School and college students will be taught about their future role and duties as
voters in election process.
o To fulfil the aspirational goal of ECI to handover voter ID cards to every student
immediately after attaining the age of 18
Knowledge Nuggets
About Election Commission of India-

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutional body.
• It was established by the Constitution of India to conduct and regulate elections in the
country.
• Article 324 of the Constitution provides that the power of superintendence, direction, and
control of elections to parliament, state legislatures, the office of the president of India,
and the office of vice-president of India shall be vested in the election commission.
• Chief Election Commissioner- Rajiv Kumar
pg. 127
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Source: ET
3. India and UAE have signed an MoU to strengthen ties in education sector.
• Objectives-
o To facilitate student and faculty transfer
o To launch joint research programme
o To design courses
o To organise and participate in conferences, lectures, symposia, etc.
o To organise scientific and educational exhibitions in areas of mutual interest
Source: ET
4. India and France have signed Letter of Intent (LoI) in Public Administration and
Administrative reforms.
• Signatories-
o Department of Administrative Reforms on behalf of Government of India and Public
Grievances, and H.E. Mr. Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India.
• Objective-
o Strengthen the bilateral partnership between India and France in the field of public
administration and administrative reforms over next 3 years.
• Areas of Collaboration-
o Exchange visits focusing on administrative reforms.
o Conducting good governance webinars.
o Collaborating on research publications.
o Institutional exchanges and capacity building programs.
o Replication of good governance practices.
• Key Initiatives-
o Both sides agreed to strengthen the relationship through high-level exchanges in the
coming months.
o India presented its vision of Next Generation Reforms, emphasizing the policy
"Maximum Governance – Minimum Government" and the digital transformation of public
institutions.
Source: PIB
pg. 128
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5. CSIR-National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) and

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) have signed an MoU for indigenisation and import
substitution.
• Objective-
o To strengthen the indigenisation and import substitution program for India's aerospace
and defence sectors.
• Areas of Collaboration:
o Collaboration covers human resource utilization, facility utilization, technology support
services, consultancy services, and collaborative research in the field of light alloys.
o Specific areas include the manufacture of aeronautical grade magnesium alloy castings
using low-pressure casting (LPC) process, design and development of filler materials for
salvage welding of aluminium and magnesium alloy castings, and other mutually
interesting research areas.
Source: The Hindu
6. India and Italy have signed the Mobility and Migration Partnership Agreement.
• About agreement-
o The agreement will facilitate the smooth movement of workers, students, and
professionals between the two countries.
• Indian diaspora in Italy-
o Indian diaspora in Italy is third-largest in Europe, following the United Kingdom and
Netherland.
o Indians are mostly employed in sectors like agriculture, dairy farming, leather industry,
construction and service sector
Source: ET
7. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has
signed an MoU with Lulu hypermarket to promote Indian Agri-products in global markets.
• Key highlights of MoU-
o Lulu group will allocate dedicated shelf space within Lulu Group's stores for the
prominent display and visibility of APEDA's agricultural products, including millets.
o The collaboration aims to facilitate promotional activities for agricultural and processed
food products within APEDA's portfolio.
pg. 129
[Type here]
o APEDA has facilitated the signing of MoUs between regional agricultural bodies and
Lulu Group to enhance export potential from the Himalayan and North Eastern states.
o Lulu Group will provide assistance in labelling products according to the requirements of
various importing countries, ensuring compliance with international standards.
Knowledge Nuggets
About APEDA-
• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority is an Indian
Apex-Export Trade Promotion Active government body.
• APEDA is the premier body of export promotion of fresh vegetables and fruits.
• Ministry- Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Source: The Print
8. Solvent Extractor’s Association of India (SEA) has signed an MoU with Brazilian
Association of Vegetable Oil Industries (ABIOVE) for soyabean oil import.
• Objective-
o To create a common platform to facilitate the joint interaction of both institutions under
the governmental spheres of both countries
o To promote public-private partnerships of mutual interest towards economic integration
between two countries in oilseed sector
• India is the largest importer of edible oil in the world.
Source: ET
9. Axis Bank and the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) have signed an MoU.
• Objective-
o To accelerate the process of the advancement of financial inclusion (FI) and financial
literacy in India.
o To conduct research, facilitate closer collaboration between industry and academia
o To promote thought leadership, and advocate for policy development
• Details of MoU-
o An axis bank Chair for Financial Inclusion will be set at IRMA for the duration of 5
years.
pg. 130
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o The Chair will lead and manage field-based research efforts contributing to the
development of national and state-level financial inclusion policies.
o IRMA and Axis Bank will establish a Joint Advisory Committee responsible for managing
the Chair’s selection process, defining operational terms, and regularly evaluating
performance.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Axis Bank-

• CEO- Amitabh Chaudhry
About IRMA-
• Headquarters- Anand, Gujarat
• Director- Umakant Dash
Source: livemint
10. India and Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) to cooperate on medical
product regulation and enhance the quality of medical products and healthcare services
for both countries.
• More about MoI-
o The MoI has been signed during a meeting of Bhagwant Khuba, Union Minister of State
for Chemicals and Fertilizers with Ernst Kuipers Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports
of the Kingdom of Netherlands.
o An Indian delegation led by the Minister has participated in the second World Local
Production Forum (WLPF) meeting being held in The Hague from 6 to 8 November
2023.
• What is World Local Production Forum (WLPF)?
o It is a platform created at the initiative of WHO with the aim of increasing access to
medicines and other health technologies.
Source: PIB
pg. 131
[Type here]
11. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Indian Institute of
Corporate Affairs (IICA) and the FSR Global at IICA Campus in Manesar, Gurugram.
• Objective-
o To promote collaboration in academia and research on regulatory issues of the energy
sector.
o To enhance operational capabilities within the regulatory landscape of the energy sector,
both in India and worldwide.
Knowledge Nuggets
About IICA-
• The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) is an institution established by the Ministry
of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India as an autonomous body to act as a think-
tank and a centre of excellence to support the growth of the corporate sector in India
through an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach.
About FSR Global

• The FSR Global is an independent and neutral regulatory hub of excellence focused on
the Global South. FSR Global fosters collaborations with energy stakeholders from around
the world to improve the quality of infrastructure regulation and policy by co-creating
knowledge that is accessible and actionable.
Source: PIB
12. IBM and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have joined hands to launch Generative AI
Innovation Lab in Bengaluru.
• Kay features-
o Customers will be able to test prototypes of joint IBM-AWS solution
o Under the partnership 10,000 IBM consultants will be skilled and trained.
o Both companies will provide joint solution with generative AI capabilities for critical use
cases.
Knowledge Nuggets
What is Generative AI-

• Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence technology that can produce various types
of content, including text, imagery, audio and synthetic data.
pg. 132
[Type here]
About IBM-
• The International Business Machines Corporation (nicknamed Big Blue) is an American
multinational technology corporation.
• Headquarters- Armonk, New York
• CEO- Arvind Krishna
About AWS-
• Amazon Web Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud
computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a
metered, pay-as-you-go basis.
• Headquarters- Seattle, Washington, US
• CEO- Adam Selipsky
Source: Businesstoday
13. Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) has signed pact with RailTel to finance projects in
telecom, IT and railway signalling.
• REC will extend financial assistance up to ₹30,000 crore for infrastructure projects to be
executed by RailTel in next 5 years.
• Projects under financial assistance-
o Data centre products and services
o Telecom
o IT products & Services
o Railways & metro projects
o KAVACH train collision prevention system
• Financial assistance will also be provided for projects in Southeast Asia and Eastern Africa
Knowledge Nuggets
About REC-
• It is a Government of India enterprises under Ministry of Power with Maharatna status
pg. 133
[Type here]
About RailTel Corporation-

• It is a Mini Ratna Public Sector Undertaking
Source: ET
14. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the
Ministry of Rural Development and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
• Objectives-
o To promote women-led enterprises among experienced members of Self-Help Groups
(SHGs).
o To demonstrate on-the-ground activities that establish a reliable and sensitive support
structure for the capacity enhancement of Women Entrepreneurs.
• Some of the expected outcomes of the collaboration:
o Improved capacity and ability of State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLM) teams to
promote the graduation of seasoned SHG members into micro-entrepreneurs
o Establishment of a reliable and sensitive support architecture for women-led enterprises,
involving a network of field cadres, mentors, and experts
o Implementation of standardized protocols within DAY-NRLM to support women-led
enterprises
o Formation of partnerships with financial institutions and a network of financiers
Source: PIB
15. Indian Institute of Skill Kanpur has signed MoU with IIT Kanpur, Dassault Aircraft
Services India (DASI) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to build capacities among
youth in future skills.
• The partnership focuses on holistic development of youth in Uttar Pradesh and provide
them access to quality modules in new-age courses in Aviation and Defence sectors.
• The collaboration is done under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020
• Indian Institute of Skill centres-
• Mumbai, Kanpur and Ahmedabad
Source: ET
pg. 134
[Type here]
16. The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) has signed an MoU with Lean Campus
Startups (Trust) & WEICI India to empower corporate and women entrepreneurs through
various training programmes.
• Objective-
o To enhance various aspects of entrepreneurship such as-
o knowledge about industry trends,
o skills relevant to effective business management,
o strategies needed to establish and manage a diverse workforce
o and competencies required for success in a dynamic business environment.
Knowledge Nuggets
About IICA-
• The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) is an institution established by the Ministry
of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India.
• It is an autonomous body to act as a think-tank and a centre of excellence to support the
growth of the corporate sector in India through an integrated and multi-disciplinary
approach.
• Headquarters- Gurugram, Haryana
• Director-General & CEO- Praveen Kumar
About Lean Campus Startup-

• Lean Campus Startups is a brand of Mission Catalyst which is a pioneering trust
dedicated to shaping the future of India through transformative initiatives in education,
skill development, and entrepreneurship.
• Objective-
o to inspire and empower the youth, Mission Catalyst operates pan India, touching lives
and fostering positive change with help of Startups, Corporates & Government.
• Established- Established in the year 2014
Source: PIB
17. Government of India has signed a $400 million policy-based loan with Asian Development
Bank (ADB).
• Objective-
pg. 135
[Type here]
o To support its urban reform agenda for creating high quality urban infrastructure,
improving service delivery, and promoting efficient governance systems
• It is signed under sub-programme 2 for supporting investment planning and reform actions
at the state and urban local body (ULB) levels.
• The development will be done under flagship programme of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation
and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 targeted for universal access of water supply and
sanitation
• It also includes integrated town planning.
Source: PIB
18. Odisha government has signed an MoU with Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel (AMNS) to
establish a High-Performance Centre in Kho-Kho at Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneshwar.
• Under the agreement Odisha will contribute infrastructure support and AMNS will provide
experienced and dedicated coaches to elevate the level of Kho-Kho in state.
Source: ANI
19. Samarkand Institute of Economics and Services, Uzbekistan has signed an MoU with
University of Delhi.
• Objective-
o To unlock a range of prospects for students, faculty and researchers hailing from
Samarkand and Delhi, according to an official release.
o This partnership will make significant contributions to the overarching objectives of
global education and research, it added.
Source: Financial Express
20. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Technology Development Board
(TDB) has signed a MoU to strengthen MSME sector in India.
• Objective:
o To facilitate easier access to credit for enterprises involved in the development and
commercial application of indigenous or imported technology.
• About MoU-
o TDB and SIDBI will provide financial support to eligible MSMEs based on their
respective policy guidelines.
pg. 136
[Type here]
o The parties plan to promote the initiative and reach a wider audience through mutually
agreed-upon outreach/marketing activities.
Knowledge Nuggets
About SIDBI-
• It is the regulatory body for overall licencing and regulation of micro, small and medium
enterprises companies in India.
• Headquarters- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• Chairman & MD- Sivasubramanian Ramann
• Ministry- Ministry of Finance
About TDB-
• The TDB provides financial assistance to Indian industrial concerns and other agencies,
attempting development and commercial application of indigenous technology, or
adapting imported technology to wider domestic applications.
• Chairperson- Dr Abhay Karandikar
Source: PIB
21. WHO and Ministry of Ayush have signed the Traditional and Complementary Medicine
‘Project Collaboration Agreement’.
• Objectives-
o To integrate aspects like standardization, quality, and safety of Traditional and
Complementary Medical Systems into the National Health System and to disseminate
them at the international level.
o To preserve the rich heritage of Traditional and Complementary Medicine as well as
making it modern, authentic, and global.
• Timeline-
o WHO (World Health Organization) and the Ministry of Ayush will jointly complete the
work of formulation of the Traditional Medicine Global Strategy 2025-34.
o First phase of project will be completed by- 2023-28
Knowledge Nuggets
About WHO-
pg. 137
[Type here]
Source: PIB
22. National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD),
Dehradun has signed MoUs with Nation Book Trust & Daisy Forum of India.
• About MoU with Nation Book Trust-
o It paves the way for the establishment of a Universal Design Centre for Reading in
Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
o This centre will showcase the National Book Trust's extensive collection of publications
and learning materials in various accessible formats.
o Objective-
o to make reading materials more accessible to individuals with visual disabilities,
ensuring equal opportunities for learning and education.
• About MoU with Daisy Forum India-
• Objective-
o To facilitate the provision of an online library containing accessible books and related
resources tailored for persons with print disabilities.
o It seeks to create and disseminate accessible books through SugamyaPustakalaya, an
online library designed for persons with print disabilities in India.
Knowledge Nuggets
About NIEPVD-
• It is a premier Institute in the field of visual disability working under the administrative
control of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
• Objective- to promote rights and dignity of persons with visual impairments
• Director- Er Manish Verma
Source: PIB
23. Survey of India has partnered with Genesys International to digitally develop India’s
mapping landscape.
pg. 138
[Type here]
• Objective-
o To create Digital Twins of major cities and towns using advance mapping technology of
Genesys
Knowledge Nuggets
What are Digital Twins?

• A digital twin is a virtual representation of an object or system that spans its lifecycle
which is updated from real-time data.
• It uses simulation, machine learning and reasoning to help decision making.
About Survey of India-

• The National Survey and Mapping Organization of the country under the Department of
Science & Technology.
• Headquarters- Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Source: FE
24. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has signed an MoU with Amazon Seller
Services Private Limited (Amazon) for promoting cargo movement using river Ganga
(National Waterway 1)
• More about MoU-
o The partnership seeks to harness the efficiency and sustainability of water transport to
optimize logistics, diminish environmental footprints, and promote economic
development.
o First ship with e-commerce cargo will be flagged off from Patna to Kolkata soon.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Inland Waterways Authority of India-

• Inland Waterways Authority of India is the statutory authority in charge of the waterways
in India.
• It was constituted under IWAI Act-1985 by the Parliament of India.
• Headquarters- Noida, Uttar Pradesh
pg. 139
[Type here]
• Chairman- Sanjay Bandopadhyay

Source: PIB
25. Blue Dart has partnered with India Post to provide automated digital parcel lockers.
• How it will work?
o New lockers will provide customers with an alternative delivery method that does away
with the need for personal receipts or signing upon package delivery.
o Recipients can access their packages by entering a designated code and opening the
locker.
o This allows for flexible delivery and collection times.
26. Directorate General of Foreign Trade has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU)
with Amazon India to enable micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and boost e-
commerce exports from the country.
• Objective-
o The core objective is to leverage e-commerce platforms to support local exporters,
manufacturers, and MSMEs in reaching potential international buyers.
• More about MoU-
o Amazon and DGFT will co-create capacity-building sessions, training, and workshops
for MSMEs in districts identified under the initiative.
o The collaboration aligns with the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, which identifies e-
commerce as a focus area to amplify India's exports.
o The MoU with Amazon India initially covers 20 districts for capacity-building and
handholding sessions.
o The overarching goal is to make substantial strides towards the target of achieving $1
trillion in goods exports by the year 2030.
Source: PIB
27. HSBC India and UK Export Finance have tied up for 100-million-pound financing programme.
• Objective-
o To support Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and corporates for
financing their imports from Britain.
• About India-UK trade relation-
pg. 140
[Type here]
o India was the UK's 12th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q2
2023, accounting for 2.1 per cent of total UK trade.
o In 2021, 7,500 UK SMEs, with 317,300 employees, exported goods worth £1.2 billion to
India, making up 85% of all UK businesses exporting to India.
28. World Bank and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (the Global
Fund), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen health systems in
countries of the Global South.
• Objective-
o To support more efficient, effective, and sustainable financing to improve health
outcomes in the face of climate change.
• More about MoU-
o The collaboration focuses on climate and health priorities to alleviate the burden of
diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis (TB).
o Focus is placed on strengthening health systems, ensuring better access to primary
healthcare services for the most vulnerable populations.
Source: global fund
29. Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff & Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
has signed MoU on for technical collaboration and joint research and development in the field
of Defence Technology.
• Objective-
o To provide an umbrella framework for initiating collaborative interaction between CSIR
Labs, HQ IDS and Armed Forces for enhancing scientific understanding of technologies
related to defence and undertaking joint research and development in dual use
technologies.
Source: PIB
30. Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has signed MoU with International
Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) for Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
• Objective-
o To synergize efforts in control drug usage, especially among the youth and to create
addiction-free nation.
pg. 141
[Type here]
Knowledge Nuggets
About Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan-

• Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan was launched on 15th August 2020 by the Ministry of
Social Justice and Empowerment.
• It is presently being implemented in 372 identified most vulnerable districts.
• Objective-
o The aim of the Abhiyaan is to create awareness about the ill effects of substance
abuse among the youth, with a special focus on higher education institutes, university
campuses and schools.
Source: AIR
31. IndusInd Bank has partnered with Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) to use India’s Digital
Rupee at select IGL stations in New Delhi.
• Customers will be able to use the Digital Rupee for transaction through a user-friendly app
on both iOS and Android Platform.
Knowledge Nuggets
About IndusInd Bank-

• CEO- Sumant Kathpalia
Source: ET
32. Indigo has signed a MoU with Noida Airport become the first airline to starts flights from
Noida International Airport (Jewar Airport).
• More about agreement-
o NIA and Indigo will work together towards developing and strengthening air connectivity
in Uttar Pradesh and beyond.
o The partnership and innovative ideas for achieving operational efficiency and enhanced
customer experience.
Knowledge Nuggets
pg. 142
[Type here]
About Noida International Airport (NIA)-

• It is located in Jewar area Gautam Buddh Nagar district in Western Uttar Pradesh
• It will be the second international and overall, third commercial airport in National Capital
Region (NCR)
Source: ET
33. India and European Union have signed MoU on cooperation on the semiconductor
ecosystem.
• Objective-
o To facilitate investments, joint ventures and technology partnership including
manufacturing facilities.
• More about MoU-
o It is signed at the second India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting held
virtually is for deepening cooperation on semiconductors ecosystem, supply chain and
innovation.
o It is in line with India’s plan to provide incentives worth $10 billion for chip manufacturing
in the country.
Knowledge Nuggets
About European Union-

• It is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in
Europe.
• It was formed under Maastricht treaty on 1 November,1993.
• Members- 27
• Capital- Brussels, Belgium
• Currency- Euro
34. NASSCOM has signed a MoU with NRW Global to establish launchpad in Germany.
• Objective-
o To promote innovation, investment and technological exchange between North Rhine-
Westfalia (NRW) in Germany and India.
• More about launchpad-
o This program serves as a tangible commitment to facilitate on-the-ground trade ties.
pg. 143
[Type here]
o The arrangement will provide Indian tech companies, interested in setting up their
presence in NRW to have access up to 180 days rent-free office space.
o Offices will be based in 5 cities in NRW namely: Cologne, Düsseldorf, Essen, Krefeld
and Solingen, where a number of tech-focused companies are already based.
o Companies will also be assisted with eco-system connects, introductions across
stakeholders and other hand-holding mechanisms to aid in “Faster Go-To-Market”.
Knowledge Nuggets
About NASSCOM-
• National Association of Software and Service Companies is an Indian non-governmental
trade association and advocacy group that primarily serves the Indian technology
industry.
• Headquarters- Noida, Uttar Pradesh & New Delhi
• Chairperson- Krishnan Ramanujam
35. National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and The Energy Resources Institute
(TERI) have formed strategic partnership for disaster risk reduction.
• Objective-
o To increase knowledge and innovation in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and cultivate a
culture of safety.
• More about collaboration-
o The collaboration will use the expertise and resources of both institutions to address
critical challenges posed by disaster and climate-related risks
Source: ET
36. Karnataka Government has signed a Letter of Intent with Meta for digital safety and
awareness.
• About Online Safety Initiative-
o This initiative targets young people (18-24 years) from 100 colleges and universities
across the state.
o Meta will train and deploy master trainers across these educational institutions.
• Objective-
pg. 144
[Type here]
o To provide digital awareness training and make them more mindful of evolving trends
in digital safety.
• About Digital Citizenship Initiative-
o It is a joint program between the Ministry of ITBT (Information Technology and
Biotechnology) and Meta,
o This initiative focuses on developing a WhatsApp chatbot for delivering information
services across various government departments.
• Objective-
o To streamline citizen communications and create a Digital Safety Chatbot for citizen
awareness.
37. Bharat Biotech has signed a MoU with University of Sydney to collaborate on vaccine
research & infectious disease.
• More about MoU-
o The partnership aims to build strong sectoral and cross-organisational collaborations to
design new methods to tackle future epidemics and infectious diseases.
o Also, it will leverage academia-industry strengths for advancing the science of vaccine
and biotherapeutics.
Source: TOI
38. Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for
procurement of 16 Upgraded Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) at a total cost of ₹2956.89
Crore.
• About Super Rapid Gun Mount-
o It is a medium caliber anti-missile/anti-aircraft point defence weapon system which
provides a sustained rate of fire and high accuracy.
o It is capable of multiple engagements in multi-threat scenarios and has a proven record
of very good performance against missiles and highly maneuverable fast attack crafts.
o Manufactured by- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Haridwar
Knowledge Nuggets
About BHEL-
• It is a Central Public Sector Undertaking with Maharatna status.
pg. 145
[Type here]

• Chairman & Managing Director- Koppu Sadashiv Murthy
Source: PIB
APPOINTMENTS
1. Koppu Sadashiv Murthy has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director
(CMD) of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).
Knowledge Nuggets
About BHEL-
• BHEL is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
Source: BHEL
1. Collins Dictionary has named the abbreviation of Artificial Intelligence ‘AI’ as Word of the
Year 2023.
• Definition of AI as per Collins Dictionary- Modelling of human mental functions by
computer programs.
Source: ET
2. ISRO Chairman S Somnath has written his autobiography in Malayalam titled ‘Nilavu
Kudicha Simhangal’.
• About book-
o ‘Nilavu Kudicha Simhangal’ can be translated as ‘Lions that drank the moonlight’.
o The book focuses on the power of hard work and perseverance in face of difficulties.
o The book is inspired from the success of Chandrayaan-3 mission.
o Published by- Lipi Publication
2. Reserve Bank of India has appointed Manoranjan Mishra as Executive Director with effect
from November 1.
pg. 146
[Type here]
• He will look after three departments- Enforcement, Risk Monitoring, and External
Investment and Operations.
3. Deepesh Nanda has been appointed as President- Renewables and CEO and MD of Tata
Power Renewable Energy.
Source: ET
4. Bangladesh’s Saima Wazed has been elected as WHO Regional Director for South-East
Asia.
• She is daughter of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
• She is the chairperson of Bangladesh’s National Advisory Committee on Autism and
Neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Headquarter of WHO South-East Asia- New Delhi
Knowledge Nuggets
About WHO-
Source: The Hindu
5. Justice Rajendra Menon has been re-appointed as Chairman of Armed Forces Tribunal.
• He will serve as the Chairman till he attains the 70 years on June 6, 2027.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Armed Forces Tribunal-

• AFT with the power provided for the adjudication or trial by Armed Forces Tribunal of
disputes and complaints with respect to commission, appointments, enrolments and
conditions of service in respect of persons subject to the Army Act, 1950, The Navy Act,
1957 and the Air Force Act, 1950.
pg. 147
[Type here]
• It was established under the Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007

Source: BB, AFT
6. Bank of Baroda has appointed Kadgatoor Sheetal Venkatesmurt as head of Digital

Channels and Operations and Digital Lending Business.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Bank of Baroda-

• It is the second largest public sector bank in India after State Bank of India.
• Headquarters- Vadodara, Gujarat
• MD & CEO- Debadatta Chand
7. Indian candidate Surendra Kumar Adhana has been re-elected on the Administrative and
Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) for the term 2024-26.
• About Administrative and Budgetary Questions-
o It reviews and provides recommendations on the organization’s budget, administrative
policies, and financial matters.
o Committee plays an important role in maintaining transparency, efficiency, and
accountability in the UN’s administrative and budgetary process.
Source: TOI
8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been elected as the Chairman of Shree Somnath Trust
for Five Years.
• The religious charitable trust owns and manages the Somnath temple.
9. Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the extension of the term of two
public sector banks.
• The term of office of AS Rajeev, MD & CEO of Bank of Maharashtra has been extended for
six months till his superannuation.
pg. 148
[Type here]
• The term of MV Rao, MD & CEO of Central Bank of India has been extended till July 31,
2025.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Bank of Maharashtra-

• It is an Indian Public Sector bank.
• Headquarters- Pune
About Central Bank of India-

About ACC-
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet appoints several top posts within the
Government of India.
• Chairperson- Prime Minister
Source: ET
10. Centre has appointed 12 nodal officers in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
and Central Bureau of Film Certification (CBFC) to act against film piracy.
• The complaints related to film piracy can be lodged and action will b taken within 48 hours.
• The officers are empowered to issue direction to take down the pirated content from digital
platform.
• Working Mechanism-
o Any original copyright holder or any person authorised by them for the purpose can file
complaint with the nodal officers to take down the pirated content from online platforms.
o The copyright holder will have to submit the proof of ownership
Source: ET
11. Dabur India has appointed former Chief Election Commissioner as new non-executive
independent director.
• Tenure- 5 years
pg. 149
[Type here]
Knowledge Nuggets
About Dabur India-

• Dabur Ltd is an Indian multinational consumer goods company, founded by S. K.
Burman.
• It manufactures Ayurvedic medicine and natural consumer products, and is one of the
largest fast-moving consumer goods companies in India.
• Headquarters- Ghaziabad
• CEO- Mohit Malhotra
12. Rohit Rishi has been appointed as the Executive Director of Bank of Maharashtra.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Bank of Maharashtra-

• Headquarters- Pune
Source: ET
13. Heeralal Samariya has been appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner.
• President Droupadi Murmu has administered the oath of office to Samariya at the
Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Source: livemint
14. Goverdhan S. Rawat and Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood have been appointed as the Deputy
Managing Directors of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
Knowledge Nuggets
About NABARD-
• NABARD is India’s apex development bank, established under an Act of Parliament to
promote sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural development.
pg. 150
[Type here]
• It is the apex regulatory body for overall regulation of regional rural banks and apex
cooperative banks in India.
• Chairman- Shaji KV
Source: OD
15. Government has appointed Sanjay Kallapur and R. Narayanaswamy as part-time members
of National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA).
• Tenure of Appointment- 3 Years
Knowledge Nuggets
About National Financial Reporting Authority-

• National Financial Reporting Authority is an independent regulator set up to oversee the
auditing profession and the Indian Accounting Standards under the Companies Act 2013.
• Duties of NFRA-
o Recommend accounting and auditing policies and standards to be adopted by
companies for approval by the Central Government;
o Monitor and enforce compliance with accounting standards and auditing standards;
o Oversee the quality of service of the professions associated with ensuring compliance
with such standards and suggest measures for improvement in the quality of service;
o Perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary or incidental to the
aforesaid functions and duties.
• Chairperson- Ajay Bhushan Pandey
Source: ET, nfra.gov
16. National Payment Corporation of India has appointed Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi as
‘UPI Safety Ambassador’.
• Objective-
o To strengthen safety awareness on digital payment platform
• He will tell users about the several initiatives taken by NPCI's such as UPI, RuPay, and
IMPS to make digital payments easy and secure.
pg. 151
[Type here]
Knowledge Nuggets
About NPCI-
Source: livemint
17. Hitesh Kumar S Makwana has been appointed as Surveyor General of India.
Source: PTI
18. Santosh Kumar Jha has been appointed as the next CMD of Konkan Railway.
• The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) panel has recommended the name of
Santosh Kumar Jha for the post of CMD of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL).
Knowledge Nuggets
About Konkan Railway-

• The Konkan Railway is one of the 19 railway zones in India.
• Headquarters- Belapur in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
Source: psuwatch
19. Venkat Nageswar Chalasani has been appointed new Chief Executive of Association of
Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).
Knowledge Nuggets
About AMFI-
• Association of Mutual Funds in India is the association of all the asset management
companies of SEBI registered mutual funds in India.
pg. 152
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• CEO- NS Venkatesh
Source: moneycontrol
20. Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer N. Srikant has been appointed as the Additional Secretary
of the Union Ministry of Power and New and Renewable Energy.
Source: DC
21. Rear Admiral CR Praveen Nair has been appointed has been appointed as the Commander
of the Western Fleet of Indian Navy.
• Western fleet s also known as ‘Swords Arm’.
• Headquarters of Western Fleet- Mumbai
Source: PIB
22. Ashok Vaswani has been appointed as Director, Managing Director and CEO of the Kotak
Mahindra Bank.
• Tenure of appointment- 3 Years (From January 1, 2024)
Knowledge Nuggets
About Kotak Mahindra Bank-

• It is a private Indian banking and financial services company.
• MD & CEO- Dipak Gupta (Interim)
Source: ET
23. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Isha Ambani, Anshuman
Thakur and Hitesh Kumar Sethia as directors of Jio Financial Services.
Source: Business Today
24. Three new judges have taken the oath of office in Supreme Court of India.
• New appointments-
o Justice Satish Chandra Sharma
o Justice Augustine George Masih
pg. 153
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o Sandeep Mehta
Source: Deccan Herald
25. Javier Milei has been elected as the new President of Argentina.
Source: reuters
26. Central government has appointed Vinay M Tonse as the Managing Director of State Bank
of India till November 30, 2025.
Knowledge Nuggets
About State Bank of India-

• State Bank of India is an Indian multinational public sector bank and financial services
statutory body.
• Chairman- Dinesh Kumar Khara
Source: livemint
27. Luc Frieden has been named as the 23rd Prime Minister of Luxembourg.
Source: reuters
28. Former cricketer Saurav Ganguli has been named as the Brand Ambassador of West
Bengal.
• Before his appointment Actor Shahrukh Khan has been serving as the brand ambassador
of West Bengal since 2012.
29. Lakshmi Ramakrishna Srinivas has been appointed as the Additional Director of South
Indian Bank.
• Tenure of Appointment- 3 years (from November 20, 2023)
Knowledge Nuggets
About South Indian Bank-

• South Indian Bank Limited is a major private sector bank.
pg. 154
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• Headquarters- Thrissur, Kerala

• MD & CEO- PR Seshadri
Source: ET
30. Girish Chandra Murmu, Comptroller and Auditor General of India has been elected as the
Vice-Chair of UN Panel of Auditors for 2024.
• About Panel of External Auditors-
o The panel comprises heads of 12 Supreme Audit Institutions globally.
o It oversees the external audits of UN Secretariat, Funds and Programmes and
Specialised Agencies.
Source: TOI
31. Former 110m hurdles world record holder Colin Jackson has been appointed as International
Event Ambassador of the eighth edition of the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Tata Steel Kolkata 25K-

• It is a running event which is organised in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Date- 17 December, 2023
• Prize money- USD 100,000
Source: TI, TSK
32. Microsoft has appointed Aparna Gupta as Global Delivery Center leader.
33. Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja has been appointed as the brand ambassador of AS-IT-IS
Nutrition.
Source: ANI
34. Managing director and CEO of the Mahindra Group, Anish Shah has been appointed as
president-elect of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).
• He is currently the Senior Vice-President of FICCI.
pg. 155
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Knowledge Nuggets
About FICCI-
• It is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation.
• It serves its members from the Indian private and public corporate sectors and
multinational companies, drawing its strength from diverse regional chambers of
commerce and industry across states, reaching out to over 2,50,000 companies.
Source: Hindu Business Line, ficci
35. Rajneesh Goyal has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of Karnataka.
Source: The Hindu
36. Rajat Kumar Jain has been appointed as the part-time Chairman of the Fino Payment
Bank.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Fino Payment Bank-

• Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO- Rishi Gupta
37. Andry Rajoelina has been re-elected as the President of Madagascar for 3rd time.
Source: BBC
38. Atal Dulloo has been appointed as chief secretary of Jammu & Kashmir.
Source: IE
39. Puneet Vidyarthi has been appointed as the President of Rural Marketing Association of
India (RMIA) for 2023-2025.
Source: ET
pg. 156
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MISCELLANEOUS
1. Eminent Bangladeshi climate change expert Prof. Saleemul Huq has passed away.
• He shared 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with US Vice President Al Gore.
• He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2022 New Year
Honours for services to combating international climate change.
Source: DD
2. Collins Dictionary has named the abbreviation of Artificial Intelligence ‘AI’ as Word of the
Year 2023.
• Definition of AI as per Collins Dictionary- Modelling of human mental functions by
computer programs.
Source: ET
3. ISRO Chairman S Somnath has written his autobiography in Malayalam titled ‘Nilavu
Kudicha Simhangal’.
• About book-
o ‘Nilavu Kudicha Simhangal’ can be translated as ‘Lions that drank the moonlight’.
o The book focuses on the power of hard work and perseverance in face of difficulties.
o The book is inspired from the success of Chandrayaan-3 mission.
o Published by- Lipi Publication
4. Padma Shri Musician and Musicologist Leela Omchery has passed away
• Awards-
o Padma Shri in Art field in 2009
o Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 1991
• Books-
o Immortals of Indian Music,
o Gleanings in Indian Music, I
o Indian Music and Allied Arts (5 volumes),
o Abhinayasangeetham,
o Keralathile Laasya Rachanakal and
o Leela Omcheriyude Pathangal.
pg. 157
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Source: The Hindu
5. NASA astronaut Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II has passed away.

• He has served as the pilot of spacecraft’s command module during NASA’s Apollo 16
mission to moon.
Knowledge Nuggets
About NASA-
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the U.S.
federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and
space research.
• Headquarters- Washington D.C., USA
Source: ET
6. New technology for converting CO2 to CO has been developed to aid in the production of
eco-friendly steel.
• About Technology-
o Technology is developed by Department of Science and Technology backed National
Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilization at IIT Bombay.
o Method converts carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide using electro catalytic condition at
ambient temperature.
o The patented technology operates in presence of water.
Source: ET
7. NASA has launched Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscope Experiment (INFUSE) mission
to study the Cygnus Loop.
• What is Cygnus Loop?
o Cygnus Loop is a supernova remnant that took place 20,000 years ago.
o It is about 2,600 light years away from the Earth.
• Objective-
o To study the Cygnus Loop and try to understand the life cycle of stars
• What will INFUSE mission do?
o The INFUSE mission is expected to collect information about the remnant for a few
minutes from a height of 150 miles (240 km).
pg. 158
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o Specifically, the instrument will gather light streaming from the Cygnus Loop in far-
ultraviolet wavelengths.
o INFUSE will observe how the supernova dumps energy into the Milky Way by catching
light given off just as the blast wave crashes into pockets of cold gas floating around the
galaxy.
Source: WION
8. Indian poet Gieve Patel has passed away.

• He was famous in artistic field as a playwright, a poet and a painter.
Source: TOI
9. UN and International Atomic Energy Agency have collaborated to launch a new collection
of stamps on Marie Curie on her 120th birth anniversary on 7th November.
• Objective-
o To honour the anniversary of her birth and recognize her significant contributions to
nuclear science.
• About Marie Sklodowska-Curie-
o Marie Sklodowska-Curie is renowned for her pioneering breakthroughs in radioactive
research and the discovery of radium and polonium.
o She coined the term 'radioactivity,' fundamentally transforming our understanding of the
atomic and subatomic worlds.
o She is also the only person ever to receive two Nobel Prizes in different fields of
science, one in physics in 1903 and one in chemistry in 1911.
Knowledge Nuggets
About International Atomic Energy Agency-

• The International Atomic Energy Agency is an intergovernmental organization that seeks
to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military
purpose, including nuclear weapons.
Source: iaea.org
10. Former SBI Chairman Dhruba Narayan Ghosh has passed away.
pg. 159
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• He was the Chairman of SBI from 1985 to 1989.

• He has been credited for many financial reforms in the country.
• Books authored-
o Governance and Accountability: Essays on Indian Financial and Corporate Sectors
(2007)
o Business and Polity: Dynamics of a Changing Relationship (2011)
o No Regrets (2015)
Source: TOI
11. Dictator, a spirit brand based in Colombia’s Cartagena has appointed world’s first robot CEO
‘Mika’
• It can make swiftly and accurately data-driven decision based on advanced AI and Machine
learning algorithms.
12. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has incorporated a joint venture (JV) with France-based
Safran Helicopter Engines under the name "Safhal Helicopter Engines Pvt Ltd".
• Objective-
o To design, develop, certify, produce, sell, and support helicopter engines.
• First project under JV-
o The first project is identified are engines for the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) and
Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH)
13. SpaceX has launched next robotic cargo mission to the International Space Station—Crew
Supply Mission-29 (CRS-29).
• The mission has been launched on a Falcon 9 from the Launch Complex 39A at the
Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
14. International Atomic Energy Agency has launched Open Data Platform to make scientific
data more accessible to decision makers, experts and the public.
• Objectives-
o for stronger transparency and enhanced international knowledge sharing
pg. 160
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• About IAEA Data Platform-

o It centralizes access to various publicly shared datasets on a single platform.
o The data can be maintained and standardized more efficiently and data users such as
Member States, researchers and scientists can visualize and download data in a variety
of formats.
• IAEA Data Platform categorizes datasets according to three main topics:
o Nuclear Safety and Security
o Nuclear Technology and Applications
o Safeguards and Verification
• Unique features of IAEA Data Platform-
o The application programming interface (API) option, which allows access to the data
through systems.
o It contains useful tools such as filtering options and tags for different datasets as well as
an activity panel which tracks how the data has changed over time.
Knowledge Nuggets
About IAEA-
• The International Atomic Energy Agency is an intergovernmental organization that seeks
to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military
purpose, including nuclear weapons.
• Director General- Rafael Mariano Grossi
Source: IAEA
15. Sahara India Pariwar founder And Chairman Subrata Roy has passed away.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Sahara India Pariwar-

• It is an Indian conglomerate.
• It operates in business sectors such as finance, infrastructure & housing, real estate, etc.
• Headquarters- Lucknow
Source: livemint
pg. 161
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16. Padma Vibhushan Awardee and hospitality icon Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi has passed
away.
• He was the chairman emeritus of Oberoi Group
17. Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has set a target for its members to adopt 5%
sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) usage by 2030.
• Objective-
o to reduce carbon emissions, signalling demand to fuel producers
• The target was announced at the association's 67th assembly of presidents.
Knowledge Nuggets
About Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines-

• It is a trade association of major scheduled international airlines based in the Asia-
Pacific region.
• Headquarters- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Director-General- Subhas Menon
Source: livemint
18. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar has released new book titled “Building Partnership”
during the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue in New Delhi.
• Book name: Building Partnership: India & International Cooperation for Maritime Security
• Authored by: Capt Himadri Das
Source: PIB
19. World Health Organization has launched Commission on Social Connection (2024–2026)
to improve global connection and to address loneliness as a significant health threat globally.
• About commission-
o It will focus on analyzing the central role social connection plays in improving health
across all age groups and outlining solutions to build social connections at scale.
o The Commission is co-chaired by U.S. Surgeon General, Dr Vivek Murthy, and African
Union Youth Envoy, Chido Mpemba.
pg. 162
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o It consists of 11 leading policy-makers, thought leaders, and advocates from various

backgrounds.
• Duration: 3 years (2024-2026)
• Objective-
o To establish social connection as a global health priority, recognizing its impact on well-
being and its role in fostering economic progress, social development, and innovation.
• Observation about Loneliness and social isolation-
o Loneliness and social isolation are identified as widespread issues affecting people of all
ages across the world, with one in four older people experiencing social isolation.
Source: WHO
20. Booker Prize winning author Dame Antonia Byatt has passed away.
• She has been awarded Booker Prize for Fiction in 1990 for her novel ‘Possession: A
Romance’.
• Some other books written by her-
o The Children’s book (2009)
o Medusa’s Ankles: Selected Stories (2021)
Source: ET
21. Indian art historian, a world authority on miniature paintings and a Padma Awardee, Brijinder
Nath Goswamy has passed away.
• He was best known for his path-breaking work on the Pahari style of paintings.
• Few of his books & essays-
o Pahari Painting: The Family as the Basis of Style (Essay)
o The Spirit of Indian Painting
o Wonder of the Age, Master Painters of India, 1100-1900
o The India Cat: Stories, Paintings, Poetry and Proverbs
22. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has launched ‘ISRO Robotics Challenge-
URSC 2024 (IRoC-U 2024)’, a robotic challenge for aspirants interested in space mission.
• Objectives-
o To provide an opportunity for students in the area of space robotics
o To provide a standardised platform for exploring the area of space robotics;
pg. 163
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o To develop a deeper understanding of space robotics and its applications among the
student community, and
o To co-develop (students and ISRO) future technologies needed in the area of space
robotics.
• Tagline- Let's build a space robot
Knowledge Nuggets
About ISRO-
• Indian Space Research Organisation is the national space agency of India.
• Headquarters- Bengaluru
• Chairman- S Somanath
23. Former RBI Governor S Venkitaramanan has passed away.

• He was the 18th RBI Governor who served for a time period of two years from 1990 to
1992.
Source: livemint
24. Padma awardee Dr SS Badrinath, founder of Sankara Nethralaya has passed away.
• He was one of India’s topmost ophthalmologists.
• Awards won-
o Padma Shri- 1983
o Padma Bhushan- 1999
25. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) has launched the book ‘Mapping of the
Archives in India’ in New Delhi.
• More details-
o Authored by- Prof. Ramesh Chandra Gaur and Vismay Basu
o Published by- IGNCA and UNESCO
o The book contains 424 directories of archives of India.
• Also, during the event Descriptive e- Catalogue of ‘Aagam- Tantra- Mantra- Yantra, Khand-
3, Bhag – 1-5’.
pg. 164
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Source: PIB
26. India’s first Female Supreme Court Judge Justice Fathima Beevi has passed away.
• She has served as SC judge from 1989 to 1992.
Source: DH
27. Kapil Dev has released a book titled ‘Thread by Thread’ on the life of Shambhu Kumar or the
S Kumar.
• Author- Sathya Saran
• Publisher- Penguin Random House
• About book-
o It is a personal look into the tale of Shambhu Kumar, who has built one of India’s most
successful textile empires starting from scratch.
Source: The Print
28. Photo Journalist and Padma Shri Awardee Zaverilal Mehta has passed away.
• He was awarded Padma Shri award in the field of literature and education-journalism in
2018.
29. Indian violinist & Carnatic Musician B. Sasikumar has passed away.
Source: The Hindu
30. ‘Authentic’ is Merriam-Webster’s word for 2023.

• The dictionary defines authentic as “not false or imitation.
31. Major shareholder and Director of Dhanlaxmi Bank, CK Gopinathan has passed away.
Source: mtr
32. High Commissioner of India to UK, Vikram K Doraiswami has launched a book ‘India's
Moment: Changing Power Equations Around the World’ in London.
• Author of Book-
pg. 165
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o Professor Mohan Kumar, Dean, Strategic and International Initiatives, OP Jindal Global
University
Source: ANI
QUESTIONS
Q.1) 16th Urban Mobility India (UMI)
Conference & Exhibition 2023 has been Q.3) Which educational institute has
recently organized in New Delhi. It is an event received permission from Indian National
dedicated to the advancement of sustainable Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre
urban mobility solutions. During the event (IN-SPACe) to launch its own satellite?
award for Excellence/ best practice projects [A] Banaras Hindu University
in Urban Transport were also distributed. [B] Aligarh Muslim University
Which Smart City Limited has won Best [C] Indian Institute of Science
Public Transport System award? [D] IIT Kanpur
[A] Pune Smart City Limited [E] IIT Delhi
[B] Srinagar Smart City Limited
[C] Jaipur Smart City Limited Q.4) Which country has approved world’s
[D] Indore Smart City Limited first electric vertical take-off and landing
[E] Coimbatore Smart City Limited (eVTOL) flying taxi?
[A] Japan
Q.2) India has lost 30.51 million hectares of [B] USA
Land to degradation between 2015-2019 as [C] China
per United Nations Convention to Combat [D] Germany
Desertification (UNCCD)’s first data [E] France
dashboard and around 9.45% of India’s Q.5) Fairwork India 2023 Report has
landmass has been degraded till 2019, this evaluated 12 digital platforms. Fairwork
was around 4.42% in 2015. Where is the assessed platforms against five principles:
headquarter of UNCCD located? fair pay, fair conditions, fair contracts, fair
[A] New York, USA management, and fair representation. Which
[B] Paris, France company has topped the list?
[C] Washington DC, USA [A] Ola
[D] Bonn, Germany [B] Bigbasket
[E] Geneva, Switzerland [C] Uber
pg. 166
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[D] Zomato [C] November 1

[E] Blinkit [D] December 30
[E] November 26
Q.6) Argentina’s Lionel Messi has won Best
Men’s Player award for the 8th time in 67th Q.9) __________________ has celebrated
Ballon d’Or Award at the Theatre du Chatelet the Mera Hou Chongba festival, which is an
in Paris, France. Who has won the best age-old festival that marks the oneness of the
women’s player award? growth of nationalism in the state?
[A] Birgit Prinz [A] Arunachal Pradesh
[B] Alexia Putellas [B] Nagaland
[C] Aitana Bonmati [C] Manipur
[D] Christine Sinclair [D] Mizoram
[E] Abby Wambach [E] Sikkim
Q.7) The World Federation of Occupational Q.10) International Monetary Fund (IMF) has
Therapists (WFOT) is the international voice recently released baseline forecast indicating
of the occupational therapy profession which a slowdown in global growth. In the report the
globally comprises of 107 national IMF projects global growth to decline further
occupational therapy professional to _______ in 2024.
organizations. It is celebrated on October 27. [A] 3.5%
What is the theme for the year 2023? [B] 2.9%
[A] Belong, Be You [C] 3.1%
[B] Unity through Community [D] 2.8%
[C] Reimagine Doing [E] 3.3%
[D] Improving World Health and Wellbeing
[E] Celebrating Our Global Community Q.11) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
launched Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat)
Q.8) Every year National Unity Day platform for youth of the country on the
(Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) is celebrated to occasion of National Unity Day. On which day
commemorate the birth anniversary of ‘Iron National Unity Day is celebrated?
Man of India’ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. On [A] 31 November
which day it is celebrated? [B] 29 October
[A] October 30 [C] 31 October
[B] October 31 [D] 29 October
pg. 1
[Type here]
[E] 1 November [A] Japan

[B] USA
Q.12) The UNESCO Creative Cities Network [C] United Kingdom
(UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote [D] Germany
cooperation with and among cities that have [E] France
identified creativity as a strategic factor for
sustainable urban development. Recently Q.15) Recently, Bletchley Declaration has
Gwalior district in Madhya Pradesh has been been in news. It is related to which field?
designated as UNESCO [A] Space Exploration
_________________. [B] Environment
[A] City of Folk Art [C] Green Energy
[B] City of Film [D] Artificial Intelligence
[C] City of Culture [E] Blue Economy
[D] City of Music
[E] City of Literature Q.16) Pension Fund Regulatory and
Development Authority (PFRDA) has made
Q.13) Recently, National Medical _________________________ mandatory
Commission has decided to launch for the withdrawal of funds by the subscribers
____________________ platform for doctors of National Pension System (NPS).
to eliminate duplication and to allow public to [A] Service tenure verification
access information on any physician working [B] Penny drop verification
in India. [C] Service verification
[A] One nation, one registration [D] Bank verification
[B] One country, one registration [E] Person verification
[C] One country, one entry
[D] Single entry, single country Q.17) Who has won 111th British Academy
[E] Single entry, single territory Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding
2023?
Q.14) AI safety summit brings together [A] Alia Trabucco Zeran
political leaders and tech experts to discuss [B] Sujit Sivasundaram
both the promise and potential threats of this [C] Tobby Green
rapidly advancing AI technology. Recently, [D] Nandini Das
_____________ has hosted the AI Safety [E] Kapka Kassabova
Summit 2023.
pg. 2
[Type here]
Q.18) _______________, a social worker an indigenously developed submersible with

from Bastar, Chhattisgarh has won Second a three-member crew. Which agency is
Annual Rohini Nayyar Prize for Rural implementing this mission?
Development for the establishment of a [A] Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Farmers Producers Organization (FPO) that [B] Department of Science and Technology
has grown to include over 6,000 tribal women [C] Ministry of Earth Sciences
in four districts. [D] Ministry of Environment, Forest and
[A] Ramesh Vidhyarthi Climate Change
[B] Sethrichem Sangtam [E] Department of Biotechnology
[C] Dinanath Rajput
[D] Vihaan Sriniwas Q.22) Which state has launched Puneeth
[E] Kapil Bhargava Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyoti Yojana to provide
treatment to cardiac arrest patients?
Q.19) Which country has won the right to [A] Andhra Pradesh
host 2034 Men’s FIFA World Cup? [B] Tamil Nadu
[A] Oman [C] Karnataka
[B] Qatar [D] Hyderabad
[C] Saudi Arabia [E] Telangana
[D] UAE
[E] Germany Q.23) ___________________ has become
1st foreign bank to introduce Electronic Bank
Q.20) Who has won prestigious ‘Wildlife Guarantee (E-BG).
Photographer of the Year’ award 2023 in [A] Deutsche Bank
London? [B] Citibank India
[A] Laurent Ballesta [C] DBS Bank
[B] Marsel van Oosten [D] Barclays Bank PLC
[C] Vihaan Talya Vikas [E] HSBC India
[D] Karine Aigner
[E] Aishwarya Sridhar Q.24) Which life insurance company has
become the first life insurance company to
Q.21) India’s Deep Ocean Mission is an receive the registration to undertake
ambitious quest to explore and harness the insurance business in the Gujarat
depths of the ocean. It is a crewed mission to International Finance Tec (GIFT) City-
a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean using
pg. 3
[Type here]
International Financial Services Centre [A] Prachand

(IFSC)? [B] Kusha
[A] HDFC Life Insurance [C] Dhaal
[B] Max Life Insurance [D] Tarkash
[C] India First Life Insurance [E] Kamaan
[D] Bharti AXA Life Insurance
[E] Aviva Life Insurance Q.28) Who has won gold medal in men’s
Q.25) _______________ has recorded the 50m rifle 3 positions individual event at the
fourth highest year-on-year growth in prime Asian Shooting Championship in Changwon,
residential prices among global cities for the South Korea?
quarter ended September 2023 in Knight [A] Saurabh Chaudhary
Frank’s Prime Global Cities Index. [B] Vijay Kumar
[A] New Delhi [C] Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar
[B] Bangaluru [D] Jitu Rai
[C] Mumbai [E] Anjali Bhagwat
[D] Gurugram
[E] Noida Q.29) On which day ‘International Day to
End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’
Q.26) Who has been recently appointed as is observed?
the Executive Director of the Reserve Bank of [A] October 31
India? [B] November 1
[A] Vivek Deep [C] November 2
[B] Jayant Kumar Das [D] October 30
[C] Manoranjan Mishra [E] November 4
[D] Rohit Jain
[E] R Subramanian Q.30) All India Football Federation (AIFF)
has won Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
Q.27) India has recently approved the President Recognition _________ for
manufacturing of its own long-range air promoting football at grassroot level.
defence system with a range of up to 350 km. [A] Silver Award
It will be developed jointly by Defence [B] Gold Award
Research and Development Organization and [C] Bronze Award
Israel Aerospace Industries under Project [D] Diamond Award
_____________. [E] Platinum Award
pg. 4
[Type here]
of International Telecommunication Union is

Q.31) Recently, Prime Minister Narendra located in ___________.
Modi has inaugurated 'World Food India [A] Paris
2023' event organized by the Ministry of Food [B] London
Processing Industry at Bharat Mandapam, [C] Washington DC
Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Which country is [D] Geneva
the partner country for the event? [E] Shanghai
[A] Australia
[B] Netherland Q.34) Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath
[C] Japan Singh has inaugurated ‘India Manufacturing
[D] France Show’ in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The objective
[E] United Kingdom of the event is to bring together best minds,
best technologies and best practices while
Q.32) Election Commission of India (ECI) providing business and knowledge sharing
has designed in-house software for complete opportunities for its participants. What is the
candidate and election management through theme for the event?
‘ENCORE’, which is an end-to-end [A] Make in India for World
application for returning officers to digitize the [B] Make India manufacturing hub
votes polled, tabulate the round-wise data [C] Made in India, For the World
and then take out various statutory reports of [D] Make in India, Make for the World
counting. ENCORE stands for [E] Make in India, Manufacture for World
______________ Communications on Real-
time Environment. Q.35) Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has
[A] Efficient hosted the G20 Standards Dialogue 2023
[B] Ensuring during India’s G20 Presidency at Bharat
[C] Enabling Mandapam, New Delhi. The theme for the
[D] Effective event is ________________.
[E] Enforcing [A] No defect, Better Product
[B] Zero Defect, Zero Effect
Q.33) India has signed Host Country [C] No Defect, Best Effect
Agreement (HCA) with International [D] Zero Defect, Best Effect
Telecommunication Union (ITU) for hosting [E] Better Effect, No Defect
2024 World Telecommunication
Standardization Assembly. The headquarters
pg. 5
[Type here]
Q.36) Which state cabinet has approved transformative impact on the environment.
₹16,000 crore ‘Abua Awas Yojana’ to provide The 2023 edition of the award honours the
pucca houses to homeless? laureates for implementing solutions and
[A] Assam policies to eliminate _____________.
[B] Jharkhand [A] Ozone depleting substance
[C] Orissa [B] Ocean pollution
[D] West Bengal [C] Plastic pollution
[E] Bihar [D] Single use plastic
[E] Water polluting substances
Q.37) _____________ has launched multi-
language microsites to boost religious tourism Q.40) Who has become the highest wicket-
by catering a diverse audience by offering taker for India in One Day International World
content in multiple languages such as Hindi, Cup History?
English, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu. [A] Ravindra Jadeja
[A] Karnataka [B] Jasprit Bumrah
[B] Kerala [C] Mohammad Shami
[C] Tamil Nadu [D] Mohammad Siraj
[D] Andhra Pradesh [E] Shardul Thakur
[E] Hyderabad
Q.41) Union Minister of Ports, Shipping &
Q.38) Edelgive Foundation and Hurun Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal has
Report have released Hurun India flagged off maiden voyage of
Philanthropy List 2023, the list is topped by _______________, first International Cruise
HCLTech founder Shiv Nadar and his family. Liner in India from Mumbai.
Who has got the 3rd rank on the list? [A] MV Vrinda Cruise
[A] Bajaj Family [B] Costa Serena
[B] Azim Premji & Family [C] Nefertiti Cruise
[C] Mukesh Ambani & Family [D] M.V. Mahabaahu Cruise
[D] Kumar Mangalam Birla & Family [E] Alaknanda Nordic Cruise
[E] Anil Agarwal & Family
Q.42) NITI Aayog has organized a workshop
Q.39) The Champions of Earth Award in partnership with the __________________
honours individuals, groups, and on India-African Union (AU) Collaboration for
organizations whose actions have a a Better Inclusive World.
pg. 6
[Type here]
[A] Centre for Policy Research (CPR) finished 2nd in the medal tally. _________
[B] Observer Research Foundation (ORF) has received 1st rank.
[C] Research and Information System for [A] Japan
Developing Countries (RIS) [B] South Korea
[D] The Energy and Resources Institute [C] China
(TERI) [D] Malaysia
[E] Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) [E] Indonesia
Q.43) Non-callable fixed deposit refers to a Q.46) India has recently signed the Mobility
category of term-deposits that offer no and Migration Partnership Agreement with
premature withdrawal option before the which country to facilitate the smooth
completion of tenure. RBI has increased the movement of workers, students, and
minimum amount for offering non-callable professionals between the two countries?
term deposits to __________ from existing [A] Germany
___________ for banks. [B] France
[A] ₹2 Crore, ₹50 lakhs [C] Italy
[B] ₹50 lakhs, ₹15 lakhs [D] Japan
[C] ₹1 Crore, ₹25 lakhs [E] Australia
[D] ₹50 lakhs, ₹25 lakhs
[E] ₹1 Crore, ₹15 lakhs Q.47) India and __________ have recently
signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in Public
Q.44) 5th edition of The Business Line Administration and Administrative reforms to
Changemaker Award has been recently held Strengthen the bilateral partnership between
in New Delhi. Which organization has won India and France in the field of public
the award in Iconic Changemaker category? administration and administrative reforms
[A] NITI Aayog over next 3 years.
[B] Reserve Bank of India [A] Japan
[C] NAFED [B] France
[D] AMUL [C] USA
[E] APEDA [D] Germany
[E] UK
Q.45) India has won 55 medals in 15th
edition of Asian Shooting Championship 2023 Q.48) International Day on Biosphere
held in Changwon, South Korea. India has Reserve is observed on _______________.
pg. 7
[Type here]
[A] October 28 National Food Security Act (NFSA),

[B] November 3 ________.
[C] November 4 [A] 2012
[D] October 26 [B] 2014
[E] October 31 [C] 2013
[D] 2010
Q.49) Every year World Tsunami Awareness [E] 2011
Day is observed on 5th November. What is
the theme for the day in 2023? Q.52) 17th Jaipur Literature Festival 2024 is
[A] Early Warning and Early Action Before set to take place from February 1, 2024. It is
Every Tsunami gathering of smart and creative people that
[B] Enhancing International Cooperation for happens every year and referred as ‘greatest
developing countries to raise tsunami literary show on Earth’. What is the theme for
awareness the festival?
[C] Fighting inequality for a resilient future [A] Utsav: Celebrating Colours of Literature
[D] Reduce Emission to Safeguard lives [B] Stories Unite Us
[E] Securing a Safer Future by Safeguarding [C] Reading for Wisdom
Ocean [D] Connected through reading
[E] Art of Storytelling
Q.50) National Basketball Association has
partnered with ________________ to drive Q.53) Recently, COLORS, India's leading
its e-commerce platform in India. Hindi General Entertainment Channel (GEC),
[A] Pantaloons has announced its collaboration with the
[B] Bhanee Private Limited Ministry of Women and Child Development's
[C] Biba Apparels 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' initiative. In which
[D] Cosco Sports year the government has launched 'Beti
[E] Nivia Sports Bachao, Beti Padhao' initiative?
[A] 2017
Q.51) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has [B] 2016
announced the extension of Pradhan Mantri [C] 2014
Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for [D] 2015
another five years till 2028. The objective of [E] 2018
the scheme is to provide 5kg of free food
grains to eligible ration card holders under
pg. 8
[Type here]
Q.54) Recently Government has given banks. Who holds the position of the
permission to a firm for the manufacture of Chairperson of Appointment Committee of the
latest system Carl-Gustaf M4 rocket system, Cabinet?
allowing India’s first 100% FDI in defence [A] Cabinet Secretary
sector. Which firm has received this [B] RBI Governor
permission? [C] Finance Minister
[A] Saab AB [D] Prime Minister
[B] Northrop Grumman Corp [E] Finance Secretary
[C] Lockheed Martin
[D] Rafael Defence Limited Q.58) NTPC Renewable Energy Limited has
[E] Howitzer Corp LLC started commercial operation of its first
project, 50 MW Dayapar wind project. In
Q.55) Recently, Kerala Responsible Tourism which state this project is situated?
Mission has been awarded the Global [A] Gujarat
Responsible Tourism Award 2023 in the [B] Rajasthan
category of _______________________. [C] Maharashtra
[A] Best for Tackling Plastic Waste [D] Orissa
[B] Best for local sourcing, food, and craft [E] West Bengal
[C] Addressing Climate Change
[D] Best for Diversity and Inclusion Q.59) To increase inclusion of women in
[E] Best for Nature-Positive Tourism water governance,___________________
has launched "Women for Water, Water for
Q.56) Which player has become the first Women"- Jal Diwali campaign in partnership
cricketer to get ‘Timed Out’ in International with the National Urban Livelihood Mission
Cricket? (NULM) and Odisha Urban Academy.
[A] Shakib Al Hasan [A] Ministry of Jal Sakti
[B] Joe Root [B] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[C] Angelo Mathews [C] Department of Drinking Water &
[D] Mohammad Nabi Sanitation
[E] Sikandar Raja [D] Central Ground Water Board
[E] National Water Mission
Q.57) Recently, Appointment Committee of
the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the Q.60) On which date International Day for
extension of the term of two public sector Preventing the Exploitation of the
pg. 9
[Type here]
Environment in War and Armed Conflict is programmes in Data Science and Artificial
observed? Intelligence.
[A] November 7 [A] Nampula, Mozambique
[B] November 6 [B] Soroti, Uganda
[C] October 29 [C] Zanzibar Island, Tanzania
[D] November 5 [D] Kibuye, Rwanda
[E] October 30 [E] Nairobi, Kenya
Q.61) Department of Agriculture & Farmers Q.64) The adaptation finance needs of
Welfare in collaboration with Wadhwani developing countries are estimated to be 10-
Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Wadhwani 18 times larger than international public
AI) have developed India’s first AI solution finance flows as per the recently released
___________ for agricultural news monitoring Adaptation Gap Report 2023. Which
and analysis. organization has released this report?
[A] Krishi AI [A] UNEP
[B] Krishi 24/7 [B] WTO
[C] Agri AI [C] WEF
[D] Agri 24/7 [D] UNWTO
[E] Krishi live [E] UNESCO
Q.62) IIT Kanpur has established a Centre of Q.65) Recently, Mundra has become the first
Excellence named ATMAN for building port of India to handle cargo volumes of 16
indigenous low-cost sensor manufacturing million metric tonnes in a month. It has
and AI/ML capabilities to enhance air quality. witnessed double-digit growth in handling
What does ‘A’ stand for in ATMAN? containers, liquids, and gas, and has
[A] Artificial expanded its cargo portfolio. In which state
[B] Advanced this port is located?
[C] Air [A] Maharashtra
[D] Aero [B] Gujarat
[E] Arial [C] Kerala
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Q.63) IIT Madras has established first [E] Odisha
international campus in ____________ for
offering the Institute will offer BS and MTech
pg. 10
[Type here]
Q.66) Fitch Ratings has raised its mid-term ______________ to facilitate promotional
potential growth estimate for India by 0.7% activities for agricultural and processed food
points to _________ for the period of 2019- products within APEDA's portfolio.
2027. This upward revision is attributed to [A] D Mart
factors such as higher employment, a larger [B] Max Global
working-age population, and increased labour [C] Spencer
productivity. [D] Big Bazar
[A] 6.0% [E] Lulu Hypermarket
[B] 6.2%
[C] 5.9% Q.70) Who has been appointed as the Chief
[D] 6.4% Information Commissioner recently.
[E] 6.1% [A] Shanth Kumar
[B] Heeralal Samariya
Q.67) National Cancer Awareness Day is [C] Manoranjan Mishra
observed on which date? [D] Navneet Munot
[A] November 8 [E] Sandip Garg
[B] November 7
[C] October 28 Q.71) Union Finance minister has
[D] December 9 inaugurated first global conference on
[E] October 27 Cooperation in Enforcement Matters
(GCCEM) in New Delhi. The objective of the
Q.68) Indian Women’s hockey team has won conference is to facilitate sharing of insights
women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2023 by and best practices & to serve as a catalyst for
defeating ____________ in the final match enhancing collaboration with Indian Customs'
held in Ranchi, Jharkhand. partner administrations and building new
[A] South Korea partnerships. What is the theme of the
[B] Malaysia conference?
[C] China [A] Adaptive Strategies for Networked
[D] Japan Success
[E] Germany [B] Decentralized Decision-Making for
Organizational Agility
Q.69) Recently, Agricultural and Processed [C] It takes a Network to fight a Network
Food Products Export Development Authority [D] Agile Operations: Emulating Network
(APEDA) has signed a MoU with Efficiency
pg. 11
[Type here]
[E] Global Connectivity as the Organizational

Nerve Center Q.75) ______________ has become
____________ Country to ratify the
Q.72) Recently, Union Finance Minister has International Solar Alliance treaty.
launched phase IV of 'Operation Sesha'. [A] Vietnam, 96th
What is the purpose of ‘Operation Shesha’? [B] China, 93rd
[A] To curb illegal cross-border trade [C] South Africa, 94th
[B] To curb black money [D] Chile, 95th
[C] To curb illegal timber trade [E] Argentina, 98th
[D] To curb tax evasion
[E] To curb money laundering Q.76) Indian Renewable Energy
Development Agency (IREDA) has launched
Q.73) Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) portal
launched the Bharat Organics brand of newly for enhancing transparency in its CSR
created National Cooperative Organics Ltd initiatives to facilitate transparency in receipt
(NCOL). Where is the headquarter of NCOL and disposal of CSR requests from various
is located? organizations and institutions. Where is the
[A] Haryana headquarter of IREDA located?
[B] Maharashtra [A] Mumbai
[C] Gujarat [B] New Delhi
[D] Uttar Pradesh [C] Gurugram
[E] Rajasthan [D] Hyderabad
[E] Chennai
Q.74) Ministry of Tourism has participated in
World Travel Market 2023 held in _________ Q.77) India has highest number of
from 6th to 8th November, 2023 in which the universities in recently released QS Asia
inauguration of the Indian Pavilion has been University Ranking 2024. Which
done with the objective of promoting India as university/institute has received the highest
a global tourist destination. rank from India?
[A] Paris [A] Delhi University
[B] London [B] IIT Delhi
[C] New York [C] Indian Institute of Science
[D] Seoul [D] IIT Bombay
[E] Singapore [E] Jawaharlal Nehru University
pg. 12
[Type here]
Q.81) Which City has launched AI-driven

Q.78) WHO has released Global TB report interactive chatbot ‘BIRBAL’ to provide
2023, India continues to have the highest efficient and user-friendly citizen services to
incidence of tuberculosis globally, accounting address issues related to complaint
for 27% of the total TB cases worldwide. India management, citizen services, public
has set the target for TB elimination by the transport services, online payment services,
year _____________, aiming for no more forms and health-related queries?
than 44 new TB cases per lakh population by [A] Indore
that year. [B] Chandigarh
[A] 2025 [C] Lucknow
[B] 2028 [D] Jaipur
[C] 2030 [E] Ahmedabad
[D] 2027
[E] 2024 Q.82) Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces
in Europe was designed to prevent either
Q.79) Indian solar powered tech venture alliance from amassing forces for a blitzkrieg-
Science for Society Techno Services Private type offensive and establish a military
Limited (S4S Technologies) has won the balance between NATO and the Warsaw
Earthshot prize 2023. In which category it has Treaty Organization, at a lower level of
won the prize? armaments. Which country has recently
[A] Protect & Restore Nature pulled out of this treaty?
[B] Clean Our Air [A] France
[C] Revive Our Ocean [B] USA
[D] Build a Waste Free World [C] United Kingdom
[E] Fix Our Climate [D] Russia
[E] Poland
Q.80) On which day National Legal Services
day is observed? Q.83) ________________ has become the
[A] November 8 first company to get Directorate General of
[B] October 11 Civil Aviation (DGCA) type certification for
[C] October 6 indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
[D] September 27 technology.
[E] November 9 [A] Flying Wedge
[B] Droni
pg. 13
[Type here]
[C] Garuda [A] International Labour Rights Forum

[D] Antrix corporation [B] Fair Labour Association
[E] Boeing Aerospace [C] International Labour Organization (ILO)
Q.84) Samsung has unveiled Its Generative [D] International Centre for Trade Union
AI Model _____________ named after the Rights
renowned mathematician, who is credited [E] United Nations Development Programme
with establishing the normal distribution (UNDP)
theory. It includes a generative AI model, a
coding assistant, and an image generator and Q.87) RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has
editor. released 1st flagship publication of the Centre
[A] Naive Bayes for Advanced Financial Research and
[B] Gauss Learning (CAFRAL) titled India Finance
[C] Neural Report (IFC) 2023. What is the theme of this
[D] Lambda report?
[E] Azure [A] Towards a Greener Cleaner India
[B] Good Financial Behaviour - Your Saviour
Q.85) ______________ has partnered with [C] Connecting Every Indian
US-Based Archer for providing Air Taxi [D] Revive and Reconstruct
services and transform mobility across Indian [E] Connecting the Last Mile: Non-Banking
cities, providing quick and efficient Financial Companies in India
transportation solutions service.
[A] Vistara Q.88) Which state has won Raja Bhalindra
[B] InterGlobe Enterprises Singh Trophy after scoring the highest medal
[C] TATA air cargo services tally at the National Games 2023?
[D] Air India [A] Karnataka
[E] Spice Jet [B] Maharashtra
[C] Punjab
Q.86) World Health Organization (WHO) and [D] Uttar Pradesh
_____________________ have jointly [E] Haryana
released research in journal ‘Environment
International’ on serious workplace hazard Q.89) ___________________ has been
which states that approximately 1 in 3 non- appointed new Chief Executive of Association
melanoma skin cancer death are related to of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).
occupational sun exposure. [A] Navneet Munot
pg. 14
[Type here]
[B] NS Venkatesh [E] Allowing power plants a minimum of 6

[C] Venkat Nageswar Chalasani months for coal linkage
[D] Subhrakant Panda
[E] Sandip Somany Q.92) The Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs (MoHUA) has introduced the 'AAINA
Q.90) Dictator, a spirit brand based in Dashboard for Cities' portal, focusing on
Colombia’s Cartagena has appointed world’s creating a comprehensive database of key
first robot CEO ____________, which can performance metrics for Urban Local Bodies
make swiftly and accurately data-driven (ULBs). What are the primary objectives of
decision based on advanced AI and Machine this initiative?
learning algorithms. [A] To restrict data submission to ULBs within
[A] Sophia specific regions
[B] Mika [B] To monitor the political and administrative
[C] Flippy structure of ULBs
[D] Atlas [C] To compare ULBs' performance with
[E] Spot other cities across the country
[D] To compare performance of ULB with
Q.91) The recent amendment to the SHAKTI NITI Aayog’s national metrics
policy by the Coal Ministry aims to achieve a [E] To monitor ULB on the basis of
more transparent coal allocation mechanism. performance of top rated ULB’s in state
What specific measures does the amended
policy introduce to promote transparency in Q.93) Recently, a song ‘Abundance in
coal linkage for power plants? Millets’ has been nominated in the best global
[A] Implementing an open bidding and music performance category at the 2024
negotiation process Grammy Awards. Who has composed this
[B] Extending the maximum coal linkage song?
duration to 2 years [A] Amit Trivedi
[C] Introducing transparent bidding [B] Haresh Jayraj
processes on the Discovery of Efficient [C] Falguni Shah
Energy Price portal [D] Anirudh Ravichander
[D] Restricting coal linkage to government- [E] Alokananda Dasgupta
owned power plants and private firms with
high ratings Q.94) The Asian Development Bank (ADB)
and the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
pg. 15
[Type here]
have jointly initiated the Natural Capital Fund [E] It establishes a new government agency
(NCF) with a specific objective. What is the for overseeing toll operations
primary goal of the NCF, as stated by ADB
and GEF? Q.96) According to the inclusiveness index
[A] To exclusively focus on projects related to published by the Othering and Belonging
renewable energy Institute (OBI) at California University, India
[B] To support projects enhancing food has been ranked 117th among 129 nations.
security while protecting and restoring natural Which country secured the top position in this
capital inclusiveness index?
[C] To promote infrastructure development in [A] Portugal
developed member countries [B] New Zealand
[D] To provide financial aid for education and [C] France
healthcare in developing member countries [D] Netherlands
[E] To invest in projects that exclusively focus [E] Germany
on marine conservation
Q.97) According to Moody's Global Macro
Q.95) Recently, National Highway Authority Outlook 2024-25 report, what is the projected
of India (NHAI) has taken a significant step in GDP growth rate for India in the year 2025?
the monetization program by accepting the [A] 6.1%
first Insurance Surety Bond for the upcoming [B] 6.3%
bid of Toll Operate Transfer (TOT) Bundle. [C] 6.7%
What makes this initiative noteworthy in the [D] 3.7%
road infrastructure sector? [E] 4.3%
[A] It marks the first-time usage of a Credit
Surety Bond in the road infrastructure sector Q.98) Renowned Konkani artist Apolinaris
[B] It introduces a novel method of toll D’Souza was recently honoured with the 19th
collection in the TOT Bundle program edition of the 'Kalakar Puraskar' Award. In
[C] It signifies the first acceptance of a which artistic domain did Apolinaris D’Souza
Surety Bond as a Bank Guarantee (BG) in has made significant contributions to earn this
the sector recognition?
[D] It is the first instance of involving [A] Painting and Sculpture
international insurers in road infrastructure [B] Literary Works
monetization [C] Performing Arts (Music)
[D] Sports and Athletics
pg. 16
[Type here]
[E] Scientific Innovations [C] To enhance medical research in

pathology
Q.99) In the Asian Archery Championship [D] To promote awareness about diagnostic
2023 held in Bangkok, Thailand, India services in rural areas
secured the 2nd position in the overall [E] To establish a national database of
tournament. How many medals, in total, did healthcare professionals
India win in the championship?
[A] 7 Q.102) According to the International Energy
[B] 6 Agency (IEA) World Energy Employment
[C] 4 2023 (WEE 2023) report, what significant
[D] 3 milestone did clean energy achieve in 2021
[E] 11 compared to the traditional fossil fuel sector?
[A] Clean energy jobs worldwide surpassed
Q.100) World Pneumonia Day, observed on 35 million, exceeding those in fossil fuels
November 12, carried the theme "Every [B] Fossil fuel jobs grew at a rate 2 times
Breath Counts: Stop Pneumonia in its faster than clean energy jobs
_____." Which word completes the theme? [C] Global clean energy job growth remained
[A] Progress stagnant
[B] Track [D] India became the global leader in clean
[C] Stride energy employment ranking first
[D] Journey [E] Fossil fuel jobs globally exceeded 55
[E] Path million for the first time
Q.101) The Indian Council of Medical Q.103) On November 16, National Press
Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Day was observed with what specific theme
Pathology (NIP) in Delhi has launched the related to the role of media and technology?
Diagnostic Services in Healthcare: Availability [A] "Media in the Age of Innovation"
and Geo-mapping of Laboratory services in [B] "Journalism in the Digital Era"
India (DISHA) initiative. What is the primary [C] "Press Freedom and Digital
objective of DISHA? Transformation"
[A] To provide free healthcare services to the [D] "Media in the Era of Artificial Intelligence"
public [E] "Technological Advances in Journalism"
[B] To create a comprehensive online map of
laboratory services in India
pg. 17
[Type here]
Q.104) InCred Holding has recently achieved [E] Challenges and Opportunities in Media
the status of the 2nd unicorn of 2023 by Industry
securing Rs 500 crore in its latest Series D
funding round. Which company was the first Q.107) Recently, Samarkand Institute of
to become a unicorn in 2023? Economics and Services has signed an MoU
[A] InCred Holding with University of Delhi to unlock a range of
[B] Zepto prospects for students, faculty and
[C] NoBroker researchers hailing from Samarkand and
[D] Unacademy Delhi. Samarkand Institute of Economics
[E] Meesho belongs to which country?
[A] Turkey
Q.105) The 15th edition of the Federation of [B] Uzbekistan
Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry [C] Afghanistan
(FICCI) Healthcare Excellence Award was [D] Kazakhstan
recently held in New Delhi. What was the [E] Turkmenistan
primary objective of this event?
[A] To promote international trade in the Q.108) International Atomic Energy Agency
healthcare sector (IAEA) has launched Open Data Platform to
[B] To recognize organizations and make scientific data more accessible to
individuals for their contributions to the decision makers, experts and the public for
healthcare space stronger transparency and enhanced
[C] To facilitate research in healthcare international knowledge sharing. The
innovation headquarters of IAEA is situated at
[D] To discuss policy changes in the ________________.
pharmaceutical industry [A] London, UK
[E] To address challenges in healthcare [B] Vienna, Austria
financing [C] Washington DC, USA
[D] Bern, Switzerland
Q.106) What was the theme of National [E] New York, USA
Press Day observed on November 16?
[A] Press Freedom and Democracy Q.109) Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines
[B] Journalism Ethics in the Digital Age (AAPA) has set a target for its members to
[C] Media Literacy for a Better Society adopt ________ sustainable aviation fuel
[D] Media in the Era of Artificial Intelligence (SAF) usage by __________ to reduce
pg. 18
[Type here]
carbon emissions, signalling demand to fuel [C] To decrease the financial burden on
producers at the association's 67th assembly Divyang individuals and promote responsible
of presidents. repayment practices
[A] 2%, 2024 [D] To provide cash incentives for Divyang
[B] 3%, 2025 individuals irrespective of their financial
[C] 5%, 2030 needs
[D] 10%, 2030 [E] To encourage Divyang individuals to
[E] 5%, 2025 borrow from banks
Q.110) The International Olympic Committee Q.112) The 6th high-level meeting of the
has recently awarded the Olympic Cup 2023 India-OPEC Energy Dialogue took place,
to which organisation for its long-term focusing on ensuring availability, affordability,
commitment to supporting refugee athletes and sustainability for the stability of energy
and refugees worldwide? markets. What role has India been
[A] Boxing Humanitarian Aid Group recognized for in these discussions?
[B] FIFA community for Refugee Aid [A] India's role as a leading oil exporter
[C] Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation [B] India's role in establishing energy market
[D] Judo Foundation for Refugees regulations
[E] UN Humanitarian Aid for Refugees [C] India's crucial role in global economic
growth and energy demand
Q.111) The government has introduced a [D] India's role in limiting energy
financial incentive to enhance the financial consumption
inclusion and empower Divyang Individuals. [E] India's role in developing renewable
Under the scheme individuals will be provided energy technologies
1% interest rate rebate under National
Divyangjan Finance and Development Q.113) The 42nd edition of India International
Corporation (NDFDC) loan for timely Trade Fair 2023 has been held at Pragati
repayment. What is the primary objective of Maidan, New Delhi. The theme for the event
this initiative? is 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam- United by
[A] To offer financial assistance to all Divyang Trade.' Which states were designated as
individuals partner states for this edition?
[B] To reduce the interest rates on all types of [A] Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir
loans for Divyang individuals [B] Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh
[C] Jharkhand and Delhi
pg. 19
[Type here]
[D] Bihar and Kerala [E] To evaluate the financial literacy levels of
[E] Jammu & Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh MSME entrepreneurs
Q.114) Ladakh has recently obtained its 4th Q.116) Where is the 9th edition of the joint
geographical indication (GI) for Sea military exercise 'MITRA SHAKTI-2023'
Buckthorn. What fundamental role does a between India and Sri Lanka has been held?
geographical indication (GI) play in the [A] Colombo, Sri Lanka
context of products? [B] Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
[A] To facilitate global trade of generic [C] Aundh, Pune
products [D] Jaffna, Sri Lanka
[B] To denote products originating from a [E] Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
specific geographical location with unique
qualities or reputation Q.117) The Central Government has recently
[C] To enforce exclusive trademarks for introduced the PM-Kisan Bhai scheme on a
regional products pilot basis. The scheme is launched for
[D] To establish uniform standards for addressing which specific challenge faced by
products across all regions farmers?
[E] To mark certain kind of goods which are [A] Inadequate irrigation facilities in rural
helpful for promoting trade in a region areas
[B] Providing financial aid to farmers during
Q.115) What is the primary objective of the harvest
'Sumpoorn' MSME Economic Activity Index [C] Enhancing global collaborations for
launched by SIDBI in collaboration with agricultural research
Jacota? [D] Promoting organic farming techniques
[A] To determine the stock market [E] Breaking the monopoly of traders
performance of MSMEs
[B] To capture and reflect the state of India's Q.118) What is the theme of the World
MSMEs in terms of GVA and total exports Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness
[C] To assess the technological readiness of Week observed from November 18 to 24,
MSMEs in India 2023?
[D] To rank MSMEs based on the basis of [A] Combating Global Health Threats
economic turnover and observe profitability [B] Antibiotic Awareness: A Global Challenge
trend [C] Uniting Against Superbugs
pg. 20
[Type here]
[D] Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS)

Together regarding the opening period for individuals
[E] Building a Resilient Future aged above 55 but below 60?
Q.119) Where is the headquarters of the [A] The opening period has been reduced to
Small Industries Development Bank of India two weeks.
(SIDBI), the regulatory body overseeing [B] The opening period has been extended
licensing and regulation for micro, small, and from 1 month to 3 months.
medium enterprises in India is situated? [C] The opening period has been restricted to
[A] New Delhi, Delhi individuals aged exactly 60.
[B] Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh [D] The opening period has been abolished.
[C] Mumbai, Maharashtra [E] The opening period remains unchanged.
[D] Kolkata, West Bengal
[E] Chennai, Tamil Nadu Q.122) Uttar Pradesh government is building
Bulk Drug Parks with the objective of
Q.120) For which achievement did GAIL enhancing research and innovation in the
(India) Limited has received the "Midstream medical sector. With which institutions Uttar
Project of the Year" award at the Asian Oil Pradesh government has signed MoUs to
and Gas Awards? make them knowledge partners for the Bulk
[A] Development of new oil exploration Drugs Park in Lalitpur.?
techniques [A] IIT Delhi and ISRO
[B] Installation of the first floating [B] CSIR and DRDO
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station at [C] UNESCO and WHO
Varanasi [D] NITI Aayog and BARC
[C] Implementation of advanced LNG [E] AIIMS and ICMR
shipping technologies Q.123) Recently, Indira Gandhi Prize for
[D] Reduction in carbon emissions through Peace, Disarmament and Development, 2022
innovative practices has been awarded to
[E] Pioneering efforts in sustainable energy ______________________ and
production _______________________ as
representatives of the COVID-19 warriors in
Q.121) Recently, Finance Ministry has India.
notified 7 important changes in Senior [A] Indian Red Cross Society and UNICEF
Citizens Savings Scheme Rules. What India
significant change has been made in the
pg. 21
[Type here]
[B] Doctors Without Borders and Global [B] Elon Musk

Nurses United [C] Sundar Pichai
[C] Indian Medical Association and Trained [D] Dr. Sunita Williams
Nurses Association of India [E] Mark Zuckerberg
[D] World Health Organization (WHO) and
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Q.127) Who has won the Player of the
[E] Red Crescent Society and International Tournament award in the ICC Men’s One Day
Council of Nurses International Cricket World Cup 2023?
[A] Virat Kohli
Q.124) Who has won the Emmy for Comedy [B] Travis Head
at the 51st International Emmy Awards event [C] Mohammed Shami
held in New York? [D] Shubman Gill
[A] Zakir Khan [E] Aaron Finch
[B] Vir Das
[C] Anubhav Singh Bassi Q.128) The World Health Organization
[D] Kapil Sharma (WHO) and the Ministry of Ayush have
[E] Tanmay Bhat entered into a 'Project Collaboration
Agreement' focusing on Traditional and
Q.125) What was the theme of World Complementary Medicine. What is the
Fisheries Day celebrated on November 21? primary objective of this collaboration?
[A] 'Sustainable Aquaculture for Future [A] To exclusively promote Traditional and
Generations' Complementary Medicine within India
[B] 'Celebrating the Wealth of Fisheries and [B] To establish a global supply chain on
Aquaculture' Traditional and Complementary Medicine
[C] 'Preserving Marine Biodiversity' [C] To integrate aspects like standardization,
[D] 'Global Collaboration for Ocean quality, and safety into the National Health
Conservation' System
[E] 'Enhancing Livelihoods through Fisheries' [D] To enhance the dissemination of
Traditional and Complementary Medicine
Q.126) Who has won the 'NASA IMPACT internationally
Planet Award 2023' for outstanding [E] To enhance the use of Traditional and
contribution to the Geospatial AI Foundation Complementary Medicine in treatment of
Model project? serious illness
[A] Dr Sujit Roy
pg. 22
[Type here]
Q.129) Who has been recently appointed as [C] For successfully upholding the
the Managing Director of the State Bank of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
India by the central government in the month while promoting the travel industry in the
of November? state.
[A] Vinay M Tonse [D] For receiving highest inbound revenues
[B] Rakesh Sharma in tourism sector among all the states of India
[C] Rajnish Kumar with the help of sustainable tourism
[D] Sanjay Kulshrestha [E] For promoting healthy environmental
[E] Aditya Puri practices with the help of Miyawaki method of
urban forestry
Q.130) Recently ICC World Cup 2023 has
concluded in India. Which team emerged Q.132) Kishtwar Saffron from Jammu &
victorious and won the ICC Men’s One Day Kashmir has received Geographical
International Cricket World Cup 2023? Indication (GI) tag. Which among the
[A] India following GI product given below is not from
[B] Australia Jammu & Kashmir?
[C] New Zealand [A] Kani Shawl
[D] England [B] Paper Machie
[E] South Africa [C] Walnut Wood Carving
[D] Hand Knotted Carpet
Q.131) Recently, Kerala Responsible [E] Kinnauri Shawl
Tourism (RT) mission has been selected for
United Nations World Tourism Organisation Q.133) Securities and Exchange Board of
(UNWTO’s) global list of Case Studies and India (SEBI) chief Madhabi Puri Buch has
Kerala Tourism's RT Mission has earned a officially launched the Investor Risk
place among seven G20 countries in the Reduction Access (IRRA) platform at Bombay
Special Dashboard of the UNWTO. For which Stock Exchange (BSE). What is the main
reason Kerala Tourism is included in this objective of IRRA platform?
special dashboard? [A] To save investors from fake promises of
[A] For promoting environment conservation high return and make them aware of
and cultural practices of India in the world fraudulent activities
[B] For achieving net zero target before the [B] To provide trading members with a
stipulated time-frame mechanism to swiftly address and recover
pg. 23
[Type here]
from technical glitches impacting client

service across exchanges Q.136) Tamil writer Perumal Murugan has
[C] To provide members with a mechanism to won the JCB Prize for literature for the
reduce their risk in Option trading novel_____________, which is English
[D] To provide retail investors a tool to limit translation of his Tamil novel Aalanda Patchi.
their losses during a particular trade The book is translated in English by Janani
[E] To provide investors with a list of less Kannan and it is published by Penguin.
risky stocks to invest and get modest return [A] The Secret of More
[B] Everything the Light Touches
Q.134) Greenway Grameen Infra has [C] Fire Bird
secured USD 6.5 million loan from [D] The Colony of Shadows
________________ for clean cookstove [E] The Nemesis
initiative to produce and distribute 1 million
improved cookstoves to rural households in Q.137) Four Indians have featured on BBC
India's Madhya Pradesh and Odisha states. 100 Women’s List 2023 recently. Who among
[A] Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank the following is not in the list?
[B] World Bank Group [A] Harmanpreet Kaur
[C] Asian Development Bank [B] Arati Kumar-Rao
[D] European Bank for Reconstruction and [C] Dia Mirza
Development [D] Mary Kom
[E] UNDP [E] Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
Q.135) 14th edition of the Indo-US Joint Q.138) Every year, World Children’s Day is
Special Forces exercise “VAJRA PRAHAR celebrated on _______________. The theme
2023” has been recently conducted. The main for the World Children’s Day 2023 is
purpose of the exercise is to share best ____________________.
practices and experiences in areas such as [A] November 20, For Every Child, Every
joint mission planning and operational tactics. Right
The exercise is conducted at which place? [B] November 14, A Better Future for Every
[A] Umroi, Meghalaya Child
[B] Jaisalmer, Rajasthan [C] December 12, A Better Future for Every
[C] Kutch, Gujarat Child
[D] Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar [D] November 20, Reimagining a better
[E] Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh future for every child
pg. 24
[Type here]
[E] November 14, For Every Child, Every statement is correct about Indian Sugar
Right Industry?
[A] India is the largest consumer and the 2nd
Q.139) Novak Djokovic of Serbia has largest producer of sugar globally
defeated ___________ to win seventh Nitto [B] India is the 3rd largest consumer and the
ATP Finals title which is the season-ending 2nd largest producer of sugar globally
championship of the ATP Tour. [C] India is the largest consumer and the
[A] Rafael Nadal largest producer of sugar globally
[B] Jannik Sinner [D] India is the 2nd largest consumer and the
[C] Pete Sampras largest producer of sugar globally
[D] Carlos Alcaraz [E] India is the 2nd largest consumer and the
[E] Daniil Medvedev 2nd largest producer of sugar globally
Q.140) Survey of India has partnered with Q.142) Asian Development Bank has
Genesys International to digitally develop approved USD 500 million in loan for
India’s mapping landscape. What is the healthcare and medical education in
primary objective of this partnership? Maharashtra. The funding is provided to fulfil
[A] To create maps of critical infrastructure which objective?
projects of India [A] To upgrade the infrastructure of health
[B] To create Digital Twins of major cities and institutions and make them world class by the
towns using advance mapping technology year 2025
[C] To create digital model of all the big [B] To support the vision of providing free
economic hubs so that it can help in better quality medical education in medical colleges
management and action during emergency and improve technical knowledge
[D] To form digital model of all the historical [C] To support the vision of providing
sites which are older than 100 years in India affordable and accessible tertiary healthcare
[E] To develop a digital model of any project to all by 2030.
and analyse it for feasibility before starting [D] To provide universal health coverage to
work on it all Ayush card holders in state by December,
2024.
Q.141) India has been elected as the Chair [E] To provide affordable healthcare facilities
of International Sugar Organisation (ISO) for to the patients suffering from AIDS
2024 in its 63rd council meeting held in
London. Which among the following
pg. 25
[Type here]
Q.143) Which State has recently unveiled conducted in _______________ from 22nd
world’s first 3D printed temple in India? November to 6th December 2023. The first
[A] Uttar Pradesh edition of this exercise was conducted in
[B] Telangana _____________.
[C] Andhra Pradesh [A] Jaisalmer, Rajasthan & Visakhapatnam,
[D] Gujarat Andhra Pradesh
[E] Maharashtra [B] Kutch, Gujarat & Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
[C] Perth, Australia & Mahajan, Rajasthan
Q.144) UAE has inaugurated one of the [D] Sydney, Australia & Perth, Australia
world’s biggest solar plant, Al Dhafra Solar [E] Kutch, Gujarat & Sydney, Australia
PV project. The project has the production
capacity of ____________ and it will save Q.147) International Day for Elimination of
Carbon dioxide of over _____________a Violence against Women is observed on
year. __________. The theme for the year 2023 is
[A] 2 gigawatts, 3 million tons __________________.
[B] 1.5 gigawatts, 1 million tons [A] November 15 & UNITE! Activism to End
[C] 2 gigawatts, 2 million tons Violence against Women and Girls
[D] 1 gigawatt, 2 million tons [B] December 24 & Orange the World: Fund,
[E] 2 gigawatts, 1 million tons Respond, Prevent, Collect!
[C] November 25 & UNITE! Invest to prevent
Q.145) RBI has recently superseded the violence against women and girls
board of a cooperative bank headquartered in [D] October 27 & Orange the World:
Maharashtra for 12 months. This action is Generation Equality Stands Against Rape
taken due to poor governance standards. [E] December 17 & Orange the World:
What is the name of the bank against which #HearMeToo
this action is taken?
[A] Citizen Credit Co Operative Bank Q.148) Union Minister of Youth Affairs and
[B] Abhyudaya Co-operative bank Sports, Anurag Thakur has launched the logo
[C] The Bharat Co-Operative Bank and mascot of First-ever Khelo India Para
[D] The Saraswat Co-Operative Bank Games 2023. The venue state and mascot for
[E] The Kapol Co Operative Bank First-ever Khelo India Para Games 2023 is
Q.146) Indian Armed Forces contingent has _______________ respectively.
participated in the second edition of Joint [A] Goa & ‘Moga’- an Indian Bison
Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND-23 [B] Delhi & ‘Ujjwala’- a sparrow
pg. 26
[Type here]
[C] Gujarat & ‘Savaj’- an Asiatic Lion [E] 15%

[D] Goa & ‘Rubigula’- Flame- throated Bulbul
[E] Rajasthan & ‘Mewari’- A camel Q.152) In which country, Indian Mission to
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian
Q.149) Indian Para-Archery team has won 9 Nations) and the Ministry of Agriculture and
medals in 2023 Asian Para Archery Farmers’ Welfare have launched five-day
Championship and Continental Qualifying ‘ASEAN-India Millets Festival’ to raise
Tournament 2024 held in Bangkok, Thailand awareness and create markets for millets-
from 16 to 25 November. Which country has based products in ASEAN?
achieved 1st rank in the tournament? [A] Philippines
[A] South Korea [B] Singapore
[B] China [C] Indonesia
[C] India [D] Myanmar
[D] Japan [E] Vietnam
[E] Indonesia
Q.150) Who has been recently appointed as Q.153) Central Council for Research in
president-elect of Federation of Indian Ayurveda Sciences (CCRAS) has launched
Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)? an initiative ‘AGNI’ for physicians practicing in
[A] Mahendra Dohare the field of Ayurveda to provide a platform to
[B] Uday Shankar Ayurveda practitioners for reporting their
[C] Anish Shah innovative practices & and experiences in
[D] Deepesh Nanda various disease conditions. What does AGNI
[E] Ravinder Bhakar stand for?
[A] Ayurveda Griha Nyay Initiative
Q.151) Government has announced [B] Ayurveda Grameen Naipunya Initiative
mandatory blending of Compressed Bio-Gas [C] Ayurveda Gyan Naipunya Initiative
in CNG (Transport) & PNG (Domestic) [D] Ayurveda Gyan Nirvaan Initiative
segments of City Gas Distribution (CGD) [E] Ayurveda Griha Navodaya Initiative
Sector. What is the target for CBG Blending
Obligation from 2028-29 onwards? Q.154) Angkor Wat in Cambodia has
[A] 10% become the 8th wonder of the world. Which
[B] 5% among the following statement is not correct
[C] 8% about Ankor Wat?
[D] 3%
pg. 27
[Type here]
[A] It has competed and left behind Pompeii [D] France

in Italy to become the eighth Wonder of the [E] Australia
World.
[B] It was originally built in 15th century by Q.157) Credit rating agency S&P Global has
King Vijay Varman II as a Hindu temple, increased India’s FY24 growth forecast to
dedicated to Lord Vishnu. _____ from ______ based on strong
[C] Angkor is also famous for its statue of domestic demand.
eight-armed Vishnu, also revered by the [A] 6.5%, 6%
locals as their protecting deity. [B] 6.3%, 5.8%
[D] It is a huge temple complex and a [C] 6.4%, 6%
UNESCO World Heritage Site. [D] 5.8%, 5.5%
[E] In later period of time it become a major [E] 5.9%, 5.5%
temple of Buddhism.
Q.158) What is the deadline set by National
Q.155) Which organisation has approved a Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) for
USD 170 million loan to modernize water payment apps to deactivate inactive UPI IDs
supply services in Kochi, Kerala to elevate for preventing the inadvertent transfer of
urban living standards, ensuring clean water money to unintended recipients in case
access, and bolstering climate resilience? customer change their mobile number without
[A] Asian Development Bank disassociating their old number from banking
[B] United Nations Development Program system?
[C] World Bank [A] March 31, 2024
[D] International Finance Corporation [B] December 1, 2023
[E] International Bank for Reconstruction and [C] December 31, 2023
Development [D] March 1, 2024
[E] 1 January, 2024
Q.156) With which country/organisation India
has signed an MoU for cooperation on the Q.159) Booker Prize is a literary award
semiconductor ecosystem to facilitate conferred each year for the best novel written
investments, joint ventures and technology in the English language, which is published in
partnership including manufacturing facilities? the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is awarded
[A] USA by Booker Prize Foundation. Recently, Irish
[B] European Union author Paul Lynch has been awarded Booker
[C] Germany Prize 2023 for which novel?
pg. 28
[Type here]
[A] A Spell of Good Things [A] To enhance nutritional support for

[B] The Bee Sting pregnant women to reduce birth related
[C] Western Lane disability in children
[D] Prophet Song [B] To promote early childhood vaccination
[E] Pearl for Divyang Children
[C] To provide guidelines for Anganwadi
Q.160) Davis Cup is an international men’s workers to track and assist children with
tennis tournament organised by International disabilities up to the age of 6 years
Tennis Federation (ITF). Which country has [D] To establish a national taskforce for
defeated Australia in Davis Cup 2023 World development and social inclusion of Divyang
Championship held in Malaga, Spain? Children
[A] USA [E] To implement a new guideline for
[B] Italy enrolment of Divyang Children in primary
[C] Canada schools.
[D] Spain
[E] Croatia Q.163) Which airline has recently operated
the world's first 100% Sustainable Aviation
Q.161) The government has renamed Fuel (SAF) flight from Heathrow Airport,
Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness London to John F. Kennedy International
Centres (ABHWC) as 'Ayushman Arogya Airport, USA?
Mandir.' What is the new tagline for the [A] British Airways
Ayushman Arogya Mandir? [B] Emirates Airlines
[A] Arogya Kendra, Bharat's Pride [C] Virgin Atlantic Airline
[B] Wellness for All, Everywhere [D] Delta Air Lines
[C] Arogyam Parmam Dhanam [E] Lufthansa
[D] Swasthya Seva, A New Beginning
[E] Health Harmony, Our Priority Q.164) Tata AIG has recently introduced a
new insurance plan called 'Health
Q.162) The Union Women and Child Supercharge' with several key features.
Development Minister launched the Which among the following is not one of the
'Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang Children' key features mentioned in the plan?
during the National Outreach Program in New [A] Bonus accumulates up to 500% of the
Delhi. What is the primary objective of this base sum insured in any policy year,
protocol? irrespective of claims.
pg. 29
[Type here]
[B] Additional 5% discount for families under [A] Increase in the minimum issue size for
40 years old at the initiation of their first Zero Coupon Zero Principal Instruments
policy. (ZCZP)
[C] 5X Supercharge Bonus with each [B] Reduction in minimum application size for
renewal ZCZP by NPOs from Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs.
[D] Provides a sum insured ranging from ₹5 10,000 to encourage wider participation
lakhs to ₹20 lakhs [C] Introduction of a minimum asset value for
[E] Cashback for Healthy Lifestyle Choices Small & Medium REITs (SM REITs)
[D] Mandate for all AIFs to invest in physical
Q.165) The Insurance Regulatory and assets
Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has [E] Alignment of the Regulatory Framework
formed an 11-member task force to assess for Index Providers with global cryptocurrency
the implications of the Digital Personal Data standards
Protection (DPDP) Act 2023. Who is the
chairperson of this task force? Q.167) Who has been announced as the
[A] Debasish Panda, Chief Executive Officer 2023 Global Laureate of the UNHCR Nansen
of IRDAI Refugee Awards by the United Nations High
[B] Meera Sanyal, Director of Data Protection Commissioner for Refugees?
[C] Randip Singh Jagpal, Executive Director [A] Amina Mohamed from Libya
(Non-Life) at IRDAI [B] Ibrahim Hassan from Syria
[D] Sunita Sharma, Chairperson of the Digital [C] Abdullahi Mire from Somalia
Security Committee [D] Maria Rodriguez from Venezuela
[E] Varun Kapoor, Chief Information Officer of [E] Ahmed Khan from Afghanistan
IRDAI
Q.168) At the 54th International Film Festival
Q.166) In its 203rd meeting, SEBI has of India (IFFI) in Goa, which Persian film won
introduced significant amendments, including the Golden Peacock Award for Best Film?
changes to the Social Stock Exchange (SSE) [A] Silent Echoes
Framework and regulatory framework for [B] Borderless Dreams
Index Providers. Which is one of the [C] Endless Borders
amendments related to the Social Stock [D] Horizon of Hope
Exchange (SSE)? [E] Eternal Journeys
pg. 30
[Type here]
Q.169) The Karnataka Government has [D] To launch a state-wide campaign for
signed a Letter of Intent with Meta for a digital digital literacy
safety and awareness initiative. What is the [E] To provide free internet access to
primary objective of the Digital Citizenship students in colleges and universities
Initiative mentioned in the announcement?
[A] To develop a social media platform for Q.170) Which state emerged victorious in the
government communications 13th senior men’s national hockey
[B] To establish a cybersecurity task force for championship by defeating Haryana in the
educational institutions final?
[C] To create a WhatsApp chatbot for [A] Uttar Pradesh
delivering information services across various [B] Maharashtra
government departments and streamline [C] Punjab
citizen communications [D] Karnataka
[E] Tamil Nadu
Q.1) B Q.51) C Q.101) B Q.151) B

Q.2) D Q.52) B Q.102) A Q.152) C
Q.3) B Q.53) D Q.103) D Q.153) C
Q.4) C Q.54) A Q.104) B Q.154) B
Q.5) B Q.55) B Q.105) C Q.155) A
Q.6) C Q.56) C Q.106) D Q.156) B
Q.7) B Q.57) D Q.107) B Q.157) C
Q.8) B Q.58) A Q.108) B Q.158) C
Q.9) C Q.59) B Q.109) C Q.159) D
Q.10) B Q.60) B Q.110) C Q.160) B
Q.11) C Q.61) B Q.111) C Q.161) C
Q.12) D Q.62) B Q.112) C Q.162) C
Q.13) A Q.63) C Q.113) D Q.163) C
Q.14) C Q.64) A Q.114) B Q.164) E
Q.15) D Q.65) B Q.115) B Q.165) C
Q.16) B Q.66) B Q.116) C Q.166) B
Q.17) D Q.67) B Q.117) E Q.167) C
Q.18) C Q.68) D Q.118) C Q.168) C
Q.19) C Q.69) E Q.119) B Q.169) C
Q.20) C Q.70) B Q.120) B Q.170) C
Q.21) C Q.71) C Q.121) B
pg. 31
[Type here]
Q.22) C Q.72) C Q.122) B

Q.23) E Q.73) C Q.123) C
Q.24) C Q.74) B Q.124) B
Q.25) C Q.75) D Q.125) B
Q.26) C Q.76) B Q.126) A
Q.27) B Q.77) D Q.127) A
Q.28) C Q.78) A Q.128) C
Q.29) C Q.79) D Q.129) A
Q.30) C Q.80) E Q.130) B
Q.31) B Q.81) B Q.131) C
Q3.2) C Q.82) D Q.132) E
Q.33) D Q.83) A Q.133) B
Q.34) D Q.84) B Q.134) C
Q.35) B Q.85) B Q.135) A
Q.36) B Q.86) C Q.136) C
Q.37) B Q.87) E Q.137) D
Q.38) C Q.88) B Q.138) A
Q.39) C Q.89) C Q.139) A
Q.40) C Q.90) B Q.140) B
Q.41) B Q.91) C Q.141) A
Q.42) B Q.92) C Q.142) C
Q.43) E Q.93) C Q.143) B
Q.44) D Q.94) B Q.144) C
Q.45) C Q.95) C Q.145) B
Q.46) C Q.96) B Q.146) C
Q.47) B Q.97) B Q.147) C
Q.48) B Q.98) C Q.148) B
Q.49) C Q.99) A Q.149) C
Q.50) B Q.100) B Q.150) C
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November 2023 Spotlight

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November 2023 Spotlight

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SPOTLIGHT

Monthly Current Affairs

RBI - NABARD - SEBI

o To eliminate duplication and red tape and

About National Medical Commission-

o Project cost- ₹4,077 crore over a five-year period in a phased manner

Source: The Hindu, PIB

• Another application called ENCORE Scrutiny Application allows Returning Officers to do

About International Telecommunication Union-

o Various measures have been implemented to promote cruise tourism, including

About African Union-

About Observer Research Foundation-

About National Food Security Act-

Some Hydro Electricity Projects constructed by India in Bhutan-

About Operation Sesha-

Source: PIB, Deccan Herald

What is Mitti Café?

About Central Bureau of Communication-

Source: The Hindu

• Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is an organization enabling the co-

o Spouse's Eligibility: The spouse of a government employee is now permitted to invest

About Senior Citizens Savings Scheme-

o Green Transition Fund, aimed at accelerating clean-energy transition projects in India,

About International Sugar Organisation-

50. Government has announced mandatory blending of Compressed Bio-Gas in CNG

o To identify the interested Ayurveda practitioners for collaboration in the creation of a

About Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi campaign-

3. Karnataka has celebrated 50 years of formation by celebrating ‘Karnataka Rajyotsava Day’

7. Kerala has launched multi-language microsites to boost religious tourism.

o He has released instalment of ₹18,000 crore under PM-KISAN scheme

About Uniform Civil Code-

• A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific

25. Telangana has unveiled world’s first 3D printed temple in Siddipet.

o UP government will fund 30 crores in its establishment.

Source: Indian Express

About International Solar Alliance-

9. Russia has pulled out of Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.

About Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE)-

• List of 8 wonders of the world-

About Sustainable Aviation Fuel-

BANKING AND ECONOMY

About Penny Drop Verification-

o To improve the market presence and capitalize on customer outreach opportunities

About India First Life Insurance-

o New simplified SID format to be effective from April 1, 2024.

What is Scheme Information Document-

About Knight Frank’s Prime Global Cities Index-

• The index tracks nominal prices in local currency.

About ICICI Bank-

About AU Small Finance Bank Limited-

About Kotak General Insurance-

About Zurich Insurance Company Ltd.-

Source: livemint, moneycontrol

o To revolutionize cooking practices in India and emphasize on the importance and

About Energy Efficiency Services Limited-

About non-callable fixed deposit-

About Ageas Federal Life Insurance-

About National Basketball Association-

About Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative-

About Saab AB-

About NTPC REL-

o Adaptation planning and implementation appear to be plateauing, posing significant

About Mundra Port-

• It is an initiative of RBI and Indian Bank Association (IBA)