NATIONAL:
1. Baliyatra
Why in news - The historic Cuttack Baliyatra has found a place in the Guinness book of World Records.
Key Points –
• It achieved the feat of making 22,000 paper boats in 35 minutes.
• The Guinness book of World Record was awarded for ‘the most people folding origami sculptures simultaneously’.
2. Development of Great Nicobar
Why in news – MoEFCCgave environmental clearance for the ambitious Rs 72,000 crore development project on the Great Nicobar Island.
Key Points –
• It is to be implemented in 3 phases over the next 30 years.
• Proposals - A “greenfield city”, International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT), a greenfield airport and a power plant.
• Great Nicobar, the southernmost of the A&N islands, are a cluster of about 836 islands.
3. Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (RRIUM)
Why in news - The first institute of Unani medicine in the Northeast region of India was inaugurated in Silchar, Assam.
Key Points –
• It was inaugurated by Union AYUSH minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. UK-India Young Professionals Scheme
Why in news – It was announced by UK PM Rishi Sunak during the G20 Summit held in Bali, Indonesia.
Key Points –
• It will offer 3,000 visas to 18-30-year-old degree-educated Indians every year to live and work in the UK for up to two years.
• It was signed as part of the UK-India Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP).
• It made India the first visa-national country to benefit from such a scheme.
2. Blue Diamond Affair
Why in news – A high-profile jewellery theft, also known as the Blue Diamond Affair, snapped Saudi-Thai ties.
Key Points –
• In January 2022, both countries resumed full diplomatic ties.
• A Thai worker stole precious gems worth $20 million from Saudi Prince Faisal’s home (1989) including a rare 50-carat blue diamond, which is still missing.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
Why in news – Uttar Pradesh has cited the latest rankings released on the Jal Jeevan Mission website.
Key Points –
• Shahjahanpur has topped across the country in the “aspirant districts as well as best performing district” category in October.
• JJM launch - August 2019.
• Aim - to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual tap connections to the all households in rural India by 2024.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Gandhi Mandela Award 2022
Why in news - The 14th Dalai Lama was conferred the award at Dharamshala by the Himachal Pradesh governor.
Key Points –
• He received the peace prize from the New Delhi-based Gandhi Mandela Foundation.
• It was instituted on the 150thbirth anniversary of MK Gandhi.
• Dalai Lama is the recipient of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize.
2. JCB Prize for Literature 2022
Why in news - Author Khalid Jawed has won the 5thJCB Prize for Literature.
Key Points –
• His book - “The Paradise of Food”,
• It was translated by Baran Farooqi from Urdu.
• The book was originally published as “Ne’matKhana” in 2014.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. Network Readiness Index 2022 (NRI 2022)
Why in news - The report prepared by Portulans Institute based in Washington DC was released recently.
Key Points –
• India has improved its position by 6 slots and is now placed at 61st rank.
• It is based on their performances in 4 different pillars: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact.
• India has improved its score to 51.19 in 2022 (49.74 in 2021).
• India is ranked 3rd out of 36 in the group of lower-middle-income countries after Ukraine (50) and Indonesia (59).
• Top 5 – USA (1st), Singapore (2nd), Sweden (3rd), Netherlands (4th), Switzerland (5th).
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Heritage Week 2022
Why in news - India began the celebrations of world Heritage week from Nov 19-25.
Key Points –
• It is celebrated by UNESCO.
• In India it is celebrated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• ASI founder - Alexander Cunningham.
SECURITY:
1. Air Fest 2022
Why in news - Indian Air Force held the fest 2022 showcasing manoeuvres of planes & helicopters on Nov 19.
Key Points –
• Venue - Headquarters Maintenance Command, Vayusena Nagar in Nagpur.
• It was held in line with ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Arun Goel
Why in news - Retired IAS officer Arun Goel took charge as Election Commissioner.
Key Points –
• Goel was secretary, Union Ministry of Heavy Industries, till he took voluntary retirement on Nov 18.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. Book “The World: A Family History”
Why in news - British Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore has released a new book titled ‘The World: A Family History’.
SPORTS:
1. FIFA World Cup 2022
Why in news - Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar attended the FIFA world cup inauguration in Qatar.
STATES/UTs:
1. Pension of Freedom Fighters
Why in news - Maharashtra has decided to double the pension of freedom fighters from Rs 10000 to Rs 20000 pm.
BIHAR:
1. Film Production in Bihar
Why in news - To encourage film production in Bihar, the state government has decided to give it industry status.
Key Points –
• Art, culture and youth department has made Film Development Corporation the nodal agency for this.
• Bihar Pavilion was built for the first time in the 53rd IFFI held in Goa.
• Actor Pankaj Tripathi inaugurated the Bihar Pavilion.
POINTERS:
• Which bank has signed a loan agreement of 150 million euros (₹1,240 crore) with German development bank KFW to finance solar projects – SBI.
• Kashi Tamil Sangam started on Nov17, 2022 in Varanasi. It is being organized as a part of which programme –Azadi ke Amrit Mahotsav.
• Which scheme/schemes will be launched by the Telangana government in the states from January 18, 2023 –Kanti Velugu.
• NHRC issued notice to which state over reported lack of proper access to the education facilities for children - Punjab.
• Which state government has selected 3 transgenders as teachers in government schools – Karnataka.
• In which state did PM Narendra Modi inaugurate the Doni Polo Airport - Arunachal Pradesh.
• Who has won Pro-Am event of Servo Masters Golf tournament - Vinay Yadav.
• ISRO has conducted Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT) Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme at which place - Babina Field Fire Range (BFFR), Jhansi district (UP).
• Who has bagged the 'Superstar of the Decade' at Filmfare Middle East awards - Ranveer Singh.
• World Television Day is observed on which date - Nov 21.