NATIONAL:
1. Fast-track Special Courts
Why in news: Union Cabinet approved continuation of Fast-track Special Courts up to March 2026
Key points:
• The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs) for a further three years.
• It has been extended till 31st March 2026 with financial implications of over 1952 crore rupees.
• The Central share is to be funded from Nirbhaya Fund.
Value Addition:
• The scheme was launched in 2019.
• The FTSCs are expected to ensure swift dispensation of justice, offering quick relief to victims while strengthening the deterrent framework for sexual offenders.
• Thirty States and Union Territories have participated in the Scheme, operationalizing 761 FTSCs, including 414 exclusive POCSO Courts.
2. Indian Housing Project
Why in news: India to construct 10,000 houses in Sri Lanka's plantation regions as part of Phase IV of Indian Housing Project
Key points:
• The High Commission of India penned agreements for the construction of ten thousand houses in Sri Lanka's plantation regions as part of Phase IV of the Indian Housing Project.
• The agreements signed involved Sri Lanka’s National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) and the State Engineering Corporation (SEC) as the implementing agencies.
• Housing stands as a focal point in India's people-centric development collaboration with Sri Lanka.
3. Rat Hole Mining Method
Why in news: Rat Hole Mining method used to rescue workers in Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse
Key points:
• This method was used for horizontally drilling for the remaining 10 - to 12 - meter stretch of debris in the collapsed section of the under-construction Silkyara tunnel on the Char Dham route in Uttarakhand.
• Rat Hole Mining involves digging of narrow pits dug into the ground, typically just large enough for one person to descend and extract coal.
• It is mostly prevalent in Meghalaya because of thinness of coal found there.
• Once the pits are dug, miners descend using ropes or bamboo ladders to reach the coal seams.
• The coal is then manually extracted using primitive tools such as pickaxes, shovels, and baskets.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Henry Kissinger
Why in news: Henry Kissinger, former United States Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize winner, passed away.
Key points:
• Henry Alfred Kissinger was the 56th Secretary of State of the United States from 1973 to 1977.
• He was given Nobel peace prize in 1973.
REPORTS:
1. Title - Gender-Related Killings of Women and Girls (Femicide/ Feminicide) Report
Why in news: Published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women
Key points:
• Femicide can broadly be defined as intentional killings committed on the grounds of gender- related factors.
Key findings of the Report:
• In 2022, about 88,900 women and girls were homicide victims worldwide.
• Around 55% of total female homicide victims are killed by family.
• In India deaths related to dowry, accusations of witchcraft and gender-related factors have been slowly declining over the past decade.
Value Addition:
About UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC):
• Established in 1997 by merging the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme.
• It has 20 field offices covering over 150 countries and works directly with Governments and non-governmental organizations.
• It is committed to achieving security and justice for all by making the world safer from drugs, crime, and terrorism.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Kerala’s mega parking project Near Mullaperiyar Dam
Why in news: Supreme Court orders Survey of India to assess Kerala’s mega parking project Near Mullaperiyar Dam
Key points:
• Survey of India will determine if the mega parking project encroaches on Periyar Lake Lease Agreement (1886) territory.
Value Addition:
About Mullaperiyar Dam:
• It was constructed during 1887-1895 and owned, operated, and maintained by Tamil Nadu Government.
• It is located in upper reaches of river Periyar, which flows into Kerala after originating in Tamil Nadu.
• The reservoir is within Periyar Tiger Reserve.
About the dispute:
• The Dam was constructed based on Periyar Lake Lease Agreement (1886) for a lease of 999 years.
• Agreement signed between Maharaja of Travancore and Secretary of State for India (during British rule).
• Earlier, Kerala Government claimed that dam is unsafe and a threat to people living downstream and pitched for building a new dam.
• Whereas, Tamil Nadu government denies it and is utilizing the dam to its full capacity after structural strengthening.
2. Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS)
Why in news: Recently, National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the state government to resolve the issues in the delay in the notification of eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) status for SWS.
Key points:
• ESZ is a designated area around a protected area where certain activities are regulated to minimize human impact and protect the surrounding environment.
About SWS:
• Location- Shimoga District of Karnataka.
• Declared Wildlife Sanctuary in 1974.
ECONOMY:
1. PMGKAY
Why in news: Centre to provide Free Foodgrains to over 81 crore beneficiaries for another five years under PMGKAY
Key points:
• The Government has extended the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) for another five years from 1st of January 2024.
• Under the scheme, five kg of free food grains are being provided per month to over 81 crore poor in the country and Antyodaya households get 35 kg of free food grains per month.
• PMGKAY is amongst the World’s biggest social welfare schemes aimed at ensuring food and nutrition security at an estimated cost of 11.80 lakh crore rupees over a 5 year period.
• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)is a food security welfare scheme announced by the Government of India on March 26 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
2. National Outreach Programme
Why in news: Ministry Of Women & Child Development launched the National Outreach Programme on the Anganwadi Protocol.
Key points:
• Protocol embodies a Social Model for Divyangjan inclusive care under the POSHAN Abhiyan.
• The protocol is in line with the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage 2022.
DEFENCE:
1. Exercise Austra Hind 2023
Why in news: Indian and Australian armed forces conducted Joint Military Exercise AustraHind 2023 in Australia
Key points:
• The exercise is being conducted in Western Australia’s Perth from November 22 to December 6.
• The aim of the exercise is to foster collaborative partnership and share best practices between the two nations.
• The exercise will help in promoting understanding between the militaries of India and Australia while also strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:
1. Tritonal
Why in news: Israel has been accused of using Mk-84 bombs in the ongoing conflict in Gaza which are generally felled with Tritonal.
Key points:
• Tritonal is a mix of one part Aluminium and three parts trinitrotoluene or TNT.
• It is a dangerous explosive, especially when exposed to heat.
• Transport of Tritonal by aircraft or railways is forbidden due to its explosive characteristics.
POINTERS:
• To enhance safety Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has planned to upgrade Kavach anti-collision system to get which generation technology-4G/5G technology
• Name the nationwide initiative to inform and empower citizens about Central Government’s flagship schemes-Viksit Bharat Yatra
• Who has been has been named the 2023 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award Global Laureate for his work championing the right to education for displaced children-Abdullahi Mire, a Somali refugee,
• Nitin Gadkari virtually marked the inauguration of ‘Classic Imperial,’ a luxury cruise vessel at which place-Kochi.
• What is the name of the Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) being conducted by Indian Air Force at Air Force Station Agra-Exercise ‘Samanvay 2022’
• Who has been appointed as the UPSC Member-Former IAS officer Preeti Sudan
• Government has lifted ban on exports of which commodity-Organic non-basmati rice
• What is the name of the world’s first intranasal vaccine by Bharat Biotech which received approval from CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation)-iNCOVACC
• Who has been elected as the president of AAAI (Advertising Agencies Association of India)-GroupM Media’s CEO Prashanth Kumar
• YouTube removed how many videos in India in July-Sept, most in world-1.7 mn
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