NATIONAL:
1. ASEAN-India Millet Festival in Jakarta
Why in news: Indian Mission to ASEAN Hosting ASEAN-India Millet Festival in Jakarta
Key points:
• The Indian Mission to ASEAN, along with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, is hosting the ASEAN-India Millet Festival in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta from November 22-26, 2023, as part of the 'International Year of Millets 2023'.
• Objective: Showcasing culinary skills through innovative millet dishes and featuring participation from Millet-based Food Producer Organisations, and start-ups.
• The five-day festival is organized in line with the ASEAN-India Joint Leaders’ Statement on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises, adopted at the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on 07th September 2023.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Houthi Rebels
Why in news: India-bound cargo ship hijacked by Houthi rebels in Red Sea
Key points:
• Saudi-led coalition (an alliance of nine countries from West Asia and North Africa, led by Saudi Arabia ) termed this as an act of armed group of “piracy”.
• The ship called Galaxy Leader is British-owned and Japanese-operated and was heading from Turkey towards Pipavav in Gujarat.
• The hijacking occurred approx. 150 km off the coast of Yemen’s port city of Hodeida, near the coast of Eritrea.
• Red Sea is, a narrow strip of water extending southeastward from the Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects with the Gulf of Aden and then with the Arabian Sea.
2. World's Largest Single-site Solar Power Plant
Why in news: UAE inaugurated world's largest single-site solar power plant ahead of COP28
Key points:
• The 2-gigawatt Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic Independent Power Project (IPP) is located 35 kilometers from Abu Dhabi city.
• The plant is expected to displace 2.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
• As the UAE prepares to host COP28, this pioneering project reflects the country’s ongoing commitment to raising its share of clean energy, reducing its carbon emissions, and supporting the global efforts on climate action.
• The project is also a testament to the UAE's commitment to hosting a successful COP28.
• The country will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference from November 30th to December 12 this year.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:
1. Atmospheric Wave Experiment (AWE)
Why in news: NASA set to launch Atmospheric Wave Experiment (AWE) mission to the International Space Station (ISS)
Key points:
• AWE is a pioneering NASA experiment designed to explore the interplay between terrestrial and space weather.
• It will examine airglow (colourful bands of light in Earth’s atmosphere) to determine what combination of forces drives space weather in the upper atmosphere.
• It will also measure Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGWs) at mesopause (an atmospheric layer that begins some 87 km in altitude).
2. Hypersonic Weapons Force
Why in news: China sets up Near-Space Command for Hypersonic Weapons Force
Key points:
• Near space is a region above and adjacent to the national airspace, it extends from 18 km above sea level up to 160 km above sea level.
• The recent establishment of Near-Space Command and the incident of U.S. shooting down Chinese spy balloon earlier this year underscore growing belief that space may be next battleground.
• At present, Near Space region is a “no man’s land.”
• In this region air is too thin to support flight by most operational military aircraft, and yet gravity is too strong for a satellite to sustain itself in orbit.
• Hence, very few aircraft fly there.
3. Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE Mission)
Why in news: European Space Agency’s (ESA) JUICE probe will use double gravity assist, for the frst time, from Earth and Moon to propel itself towards Jupiter.
Key points:
Double Gravity assist is a technique by which a spacecraft, with the help of the gravitational feld of two celestial bodies, gets a speed boost.
About JUICE:
• The spacecraft was launched earlier this year, to study Jupiter and its three icy and potentially ocean-bearing moons – Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.
• Objectives: Fnd out whether there could be places where the necessary conditions prevail (water, biological essential elements, energy, and stability) to sustain life are present.
• Period: It has embarked on an eight-year cruise and will reach in 2031.
REPORTS:
1. Health and Climate Change Report 2023
Why in news: Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change report 2023
Key points:
• Global potential loss of income from the reduction in labour capacity due to extreme heat was $863 billion in 2022.
• It affected low and medium Human Development Index countries the most (particularly agricultural sector), exacerbating global inequities
• Climate change is exacerbating food insecurity by undermining crop yields, threatening food security of populations dependent on marine resources, etc.
ECONOMY:
1. Geographical Indication (GI) Tag
Why in news: Saffron grown in Kishtwar area of Jammu and Kashmir saffron has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag
Key points:
• Kishtwar saffron is cultivated and harvested in the Kishtwar Region of Jammu and Kashmir.
• This spice, locally known as “KUNG” and nationally as “KESAR,” is a vital cash crop in this isolated district.
• Kishtwar is renowned for producing the most expensive harvest of saffron, popularly known as Kumkum.
SPORTS:
1. First Edition of Khelo India Para Games
Why in news: Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur announced first edition of Khelo India Para Games to be held from 10 to 17 December
Key points:
• Over 1350 participants from across the country will participate in 7 disciplines of the sport.
STATES:
(A) GUJARAT:
1. Ghol or Black Spotted Crocker
Why in news: Gujarat declared Ghol species as the state fish at the Global Fisheries Conference India 2023
Key points:
• Ghol fish is widely distributed in Indo-Pacifc from Persian Gulf to Pacifc Ocean.
• Its swim bladders are highly priced because of their medicinal and commercial values.
• It is exported to countries of south-east Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia).
(B) BIHAR:
2. Ninth Schedule
Why in news: Bihar for inclusion of 65 pc quota in 9th Schedule to make it immune to legal scrutiny
Key points:
• The Bihar government has decided to urge the Centre to incorporate the hiked reservation for deprived castes from 50 to 65 per cent in the 9th schedule of the Constitution to make it immune to legal scrutiny.
• The Ninth Schedule of the Constitution includes a list of Central and state laws that cannot be challenged in courts.
• In 1992, the Supreme Court capped reservations for the backward classes at 50 per cent.
POINTERS:
• Who has been elected as the Vice-Chair Of UN External Auditors’ Panel-Girish Chandra Murmu
• Which naval ship has been deployed by Indian Navy in Mozambique to boost Interoperability-INS Sumedha
• Which player has won the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023-Max Verstappen
• Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have made a significant discovery by detecting the presence of which flu in the Antarctic region for the first time-Avian flu
• In which Indian state two ancient temple caves were discovered recently-Maharashtra.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina together inaugurated which rail link recently-The Agartala-Akhaura cross-border rail link project.
• Which state government has issued an order to establish a fact-checking unit (FCU) as a measure to counter the dissemination of misinformation, hate speech, and fake news- Tamil Nadu Government
• Which two Indian cities have recently become part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network-Gwalior and Kozhikode
• Which pest Infestation has devastated paddy crops in Assam-Mythimna separata
• Scientists identified a new species of ‘music frog’ recently in which Indian state-Arunachal Pradesh
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