NATIONAL:
1. Ending Urea Imports
Why in news - India aims to end imports of urea by 2025.
Key Points –
• 5 new urea plants –
A. Gorakhpur (UP)
B. Ramagundam (TS)
C. Talcher (OD)
D. Barauni (BR)
E. Sindri (JH).
• Production of indigenous local urea containing nanoparticles would rise to 5 MT by 2025
• India is the biggest importer of urea in the world.
2. C-295 Manufacturing Plant
Why in news - PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing plant in Vadodara.
Key Points –
• 40 aircrafts would be manufactured by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) between 2026 to 2031.
• First IAF squadron of C-295 transport aircraft would also be based in Vadodara.
• Originally, aircraft’s manufacturing takes place at Airbus’s plant in Spain.
• By 2025, India’s defence manufacturing would cross $25 billion.
• Defence corridors are being established in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Ethiopia's Tigray Conflict
Why in news - The parties in the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray have agreed on a “permanent cessation of hostilities”.
Key Points –
• The war broke out in Nov 2020 between regional forces from Tigray against Ethiopia’s federal army.
• The peace talks began formally in Pretoria on Oct. 25, 2022.
• African Union mediator Olusegun Obasanjo brokered signing ceremony in the South African capital Pretoria.
2. World First Oral Covid Vaccine
Why in news – Shanghai (China) started administering an inhalable Covid vaccine
Key Points –
• It was developed by Cansino Biologics Inc.
SECURITY:
1. AD-1 (Air Defence) Missile
Why in news - India conducted the first successful flight test of the Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) interceptor missile AD-1.
Key Points –
• It is a long-range interceptor missile capable of neutralising long-range missiles and aircraft.
• It is designed for both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception
• Test was conducted by DRDO from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.
• It has been developed under the Ballistic Missile Defence program.
2. 29th SIMBEX
Why in news - Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) began at Visakhapatnam from Oct 26 to 30.
Key Points –
• Harbour Phase – Visakhapatnam, Sea Phase - Bay of Bengal.
• SIMBEX began in 1994 and was initially known as Exercise Lion King.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. World Hindi Conference
Why in news – Fiji (city - Nadi) would host the 12th World Hindi Conference from Feb 15-17, 2023.
Key Points –
• EAM S Jaishankar launched the logo and website of Vishwa Hindi Diwas.
• Fiji is the first country in the Pacific to host the event.
• Hindi is enshrined in the Fiji Constitution as one of its official languages.
PERSON IN NEWS:
1. Elaben Bhatt
Why in news - Renowned women’s rights activist Ela Bhatt, died due to age-related issues.
Key Points –
• In 1972, she founded SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association).
• In 1974, Bhatt started SEWA Bank which gave birth to the microfinance movement across the world.
• She was awarded -
A. Niwano Peace Prize (2010).
B. Ramon Magsaysay Award (1977).
C. Right Livelihood Award (1984).
D. Padma Bhushan (1986)
STATES/UTs:
1. SAMRIDDHI 2022-23
Why in news - Delhi Lt Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena launched "SAMRIDDHI 2022-23” scheme.
Key Points –
• It is a one-time property tax amnesty scheme.
• SAMRIDDHI - Strengthening and Augmentation of Municipal Revenue for Infrastructure Development in Delhi.
BIHAR:
1. Seema Dhundia
Why in news – IPS Seema Dhundia has been made the new Inspector-general (IG) of Bihar Sector of CRPF.
Key Points –
• For the first time in the country, CRPF has appointed a woman officer on the post of IG.
• Till now, IPS Amit Kumar of Bihar cadre had the additional charge of IG, Bihar Sector of CRPF.
2. Development of Tourist Places
Why in news – 160 tourist places to be developed in Bihar within three years.
Key Points –
• 4 models have been fixed for road facilities. i.e., Premium, standard, basic and existing.
• In 2019, the number of domestic tourists increased to 3.40 crores and foreign tourists to 11 lakhs. (2015 - 2.80 crore domestic and 9.24 lakh foreign tourists).
3. 554th Prakash Parv
Why in news – The festival of Guru Nanak Dev Ji has been organized at Gurdwara Nanak Sheetal Kund Rajgir from Nov 3 to 5.
POINTERS:
• Which group has urged India to join a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) – G7.
• Which countries/bodies agree to implement Black Sea Food Agreement - United Nations, Turkey and Ukraine.
• Which department on the occasion of the National Unity Day has launched the HARIT Aaykar initiative to increase greenery and create micro forests - Income Tax Department.
• Which body has released the World Energy Outlook 2022 - International Energy Agency (IEA).
• National Tribal Dance Festival (NTDF) was organized in which city - Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
• Which country assumed the presidency of UN Security Council on Nov 1, 2022 – Ghana.
• A new species of damselfly has been discovered from which hills - Western Ghats (Brahmagiri hills).
• Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina conferred the prestigious 'Friends of Liberation War' honour posthumously to whom - Edward M Kennedy.
• Who has released the first-ever list of fungal infections "priority pathogens" - World Health Organisation (WHO).
• The 3-day India Space Congress 2022 was organized in which city from Oct 26 to 28 - New Delhi.