NATIONAL:
1. ‘Blue Flag’ Tag
Why in news – Two more Indian beaches have been accorded the coveted International eco-label ‘Blue Flag’.
Key Points –
• New beaches (both in Lakshadweep) - Minicoy Thundi beach and Kadmat beach.
• Together the two beaches have taken India’s tally of Blue Beaches to 12.
• Other Indian ‘Blue Flag’ beaches – Shivrajpur (GJ), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (KA), Kappad (KL), Rushikonda (Andhra), Golden (OD), Radhanagar (A&N), Kovalam (TN) and Eden (Puducherry).
• Blue Flag beaches meet 33 criteria as mandated by the Foundation for Environment Education (FEE).
2. Jio 5G Services
Why in news – Reliance Jio chairman Akash Ambani launched 5G services at Nathdwara town of Rajsamand (RJ).
Key Points –
• Jio would expand 5G services to every part of the country by December 2023 (Bharti Airtel by March 2024).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Beidou Satellite System (BDS)
Why in news – China plans to further expand the global reach of its home grown Beidou navigation system.
Key Points –
• In November 2020, it was launched for global services.
• Pakistan in 2014 became the first foreign country to set up a Beidou network.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Expo 2022
Why in news – The 15th edition of UMI Conference & Expo 2022 held at Kochi, Kerala on Nov 4 to 6, 2022.
Key Points –
• It was organized by the M/o Housing and Urban Affairs in collaboration with Govt. Of Kerala.
• India currently has the fifth-largest metro network in the world.
• National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) 2006 lays down the guidelines for developing equitable and sustainable urban transport systems.
2. Conference of the Parties 27 (COP27) 2022
Why in news – COP27 is set to be held from November 6 to 18, 2022 at Sharm el-Sheikh (Red Sea coast city), Egypt.
Key Points –
• It is convened annually by the United Nations.
• COP is the apex decision-making body responsible for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of UNFCCC.
• This is the first climate summit in Africa since 2016 (First COP - Berlin in 1995).
• Glasgow Pact (COP26) - It “requested” countries to “revisit and strengthen” their emissions targets by the end of 2022.
• Bhupender Yadav will lead Indian delegation to attend the COP 27.
IMPORTANT DATES:
1. World Polio Day
Why in news – It is observed on Oct 24 to raise awareness about the polio vaccination and eradication of polio.
Key Points –
• Theme - A healthier future for mothers and children.
• Jonas Salk developed the inactivated poliovirus vaccine, which first came into use in 1955.
• Albert Sabin developed as the oral polio vaccine which came into use in 1961.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Pather Panchali Movie
Why in news – Pather Panchali was declared the best Indian film of all time by the International Federation of Film Critics.
Key Points –
• It is a 1955 Bengali-language drama film written and directed by Satyajit Ray.
• The movie is based on Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s 1929 Bengali novel Pather Panchali.
2. Ezhuthachan Award 2022
Why in news – Malayalam writer, Sethu (A. Sethumadhavan) has been selected for the 'Ezhuthachan Puraskaram'.
Key Points –
• He is also the recipient of Kendra Sahitya Akademi and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi awards.
• His works include Pandavapuram, Kaimudrakal, Adayalangal, Kiratam, Araamathe Penkutty etc.
3. Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Award
Why in news – Aruna Sairam has been honoured with the French government's highest honour, Chevalier award.
Key Points –
• She is also the recipient of Padma Shri and the Sangita Kalanidhi by the Music Academy.
• She also received the US Congressional Award of Excellence and was also conferred appreciation by the Mayor of the City of New York and the city of San Diego.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Terai Elephant Reserve (TER)
Why in news – The Centre has approved the setting up of TER at Dudhwa-Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh.
Key Points –
• It would be the 33rd elephant reserve to be set up in India.
• Location-Joint Forest regions of Dudhwa and Piliphit tiger reserves.
• Previous two (latest) elephant reserve are Lemru in Chhattisgarh and Agasthymalai in Tamil Nadu.
2. India’s Largest Wind Turbine
Why in news – Adani New Industries Ltd (ANIL) installed India’s largest wind turbine in Gujarat's Mundra.
Key Points –
• It stands 200 meters tall and has a capacity to generate 5.2 MW of electricity.
• It has been set up by Mundra Windtech Ltd (MWL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL).
COMMITTEE:
1. K Radhakrishnan Committee
Why in news – The government panel chaired by K Radhakrishnan has laid down action plan for campuses abroad.
Key Points –
• It is a 16-member committee with a mandate to devise a plan for setting up offshore campuses of Indian institutions.
BIHAR:
1. Parliamentarians' Conference
Why in news – Bihar BJP President Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal attended the conference of MPs of African countries held in Cairo, Egypt.
Key Points –
• He was there as the Chair of the South Asian Delegation to the Climate Parliament.
POINTERS:
• Which state has bagged the SKOCH award for Lakshmir Bhandar in the women and child development category - West Bengal.
• Which invasive species is spreading rapidly in the buffer zone Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) - Senna spectabilis.
• Which company has been recognised as a National Resource Organization (NRO) by M/o Rural Development – Patanjali.
• M/o Textiles has cleared how many projects under National Technical Textiles Mission - 20 strategic research projects.
• Who has been rewarded with the National e-Governance Award for Excellence in Government Process Re-engineering for Digital Transformation in the Year 2020 and 2021 -Sanjeev Chopra.
• As per UNHCR report, how many people were forcibly displaced worldwide due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations - 103 million.
• Who addressed the opening ceremony of Global Investors Meet 'Invest Karnataka 2022' via video conference – PM Modi.
• What is the name of is the largest object potentially hazardous to Earth to have been discovered in the last eight years - 2022 AP7.
• Who took over as the first woman director of ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute - Dr G Hemaprabha.
• Which author has recently released his latest book 'Nuclearization of Asia' in Geneva - Rene Naba.