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By admin: Nov. 5, 2022

Kotian, Sarfaraz stars in the Mumbai first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Tags: place in news Sports

A power packed performance from Sarfraz Khan and Tanush Kotian propelled Mumbai cricket team to its maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.  The Mumbai team beat Himachal Pradesh by 3 wickets in the final played at the Eden Garden Stadium, Kolkata on 5 November 2022. Sarfaraz scored an unbeaten 36 off 31 balls, while Kotian claimed three wickets as Mumbai lifted the trophy at the Eden Gardens.

The Mumbai team led by Ajinkaya Rahane won the toss and invited Himachal to bat first. The Himachal team made 143 for the loss of 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

The Mumbai team achieved the target with a score of 146 for the loss of 7 wickets and won the match by 3 wickets.

Tanush Kotia was declared as the player of the match.

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 

The Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy is organized by the  BCCI (Board for Control of Cricket in India). It is a premier domestic T20 cricket tournament which was launched in 2006-07 season.

Initially it was named as T20 Inter- State Championship but it was renamed later as Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy.

Tamil Nadu has won it maximum 3 times.

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Hari Kumar arrives in Japan to witness International Fleet review and Malabar exercise

Tags: Defence

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral R Hari Kumar arrived in Japan on a 5 day visit.  During his visit from 5 -9 November 2022 he will attend the International Fleet Review and witness the 26th Malabar Naval Exercise. The visit of the CNS to Japan signifies a high level of bilateral defence engagements with Japan.

Official engagement of the CNS in Japan 

• The CNS has a packed schedule in Japan. He will witness the International Fleet Review (IFR) conducted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) at Yokosuka on 06 Nov 22 to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of its formation.  Japan’s Navy is called the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force.
• He will attend the 18th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS), to be held on 7th and 8th November 2022 at Yokohama, Japan. India is an observer at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium.
• He will witness the inauguration of the 26th edition of the Malabar naval exercise being held at Yokosuka with the participation of Australia, Japan and the USA. The Malabar Naval exercise started in 1992, is observing its 30th anniversary.
• Two Indian Naval Ships INS Shivalik and INS Kamorta have also arrived at Yokosuka, Japan to participate in the IFR and Exercise MALABAR – 2022. Both the naval ships have been built in India.

G-7 Foreign ministers meet held in the historic town of Muenster , Germany

Tags: place in news Summits International News

The Group of 7 (G7) Foreign Minister’s meeting was held at the German town of Muenster on 4th and 5th November 2022. The historic Treaty of Westphalia was signed in 1648 in the city, which not only ended the 30 years’ war in Europe but also laid the foundation of the modern nation - state system.

German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, hosted the foreign ministers of, United States, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Italy and Canada. Germany is currently the President of the G-7 group.

Germany invited Ghana, Kenya and the African Union to join the G7 meeting for discussions on climate change, infrastructure, democracy and addressing conflict and humanitarian crises.

At the end of the meeting the foreign ministers agreed to provide aid to Ukraine so that it can deal with the harsh winter climate. Around 30% of Ukraine’s electricity grid has been destroyed due to the Russian Invasion of the country since 24 February 2022.

They also urged China to abstain from issuing “threats, coercion, intimidation, or the use of force," in the Taiwan straits. The United States considers China as a serious rival and wants the G7 countries to take a tough stand against China’s policy on Taiwan and its trade policy.  

Interestingly the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was on a one day visit to China to meet the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the day the G-7 foreign minister’s meeting started in Germany. He is the first G7 leader to visit China since the covid-19 pandemic. 

G-7 or Group of Seven countries

The G7 (Group of Seven) is an organisation of the world's seven largest advanced economies, which dominate global trade and the international financial system. 

• They are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• Russia joined in 1998, creating the G8, but was excluded in 2014 for its annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine.
•  It has no permanent secretariat.
• The 2021 summit meeting was held in  England 
• The 2022 summit meeting was held in Germany.
• The 2023 summit will be held in Japan .

Indian Navy concludes Maritime Partnership Exercise with the Australian Naval Ship

Tags: Defence

The Maritime Partnership Exercise (PASSEX) between the Indian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy concluded on 3 November 2022 in Bay of Bengal. The PASSEX involving the India Naval Ship Jalashwa and Kavaratti and the Royal Australian Navy ships HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Anzac was held on 2nd and 3rd November 2022.

The Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Anzac visited Visakhapatnam from 30 Oct to 01 Nov 2022. This was part of Australia’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022 (IPE 22). 

What is PASSEX?  

A passing exercise is done by two navies so as to ensure that two navies participating in it are able to smoothly coordinate and communicate in times of any disaster or war.

Indian Navy 

The Indian Navy was founded on 26 January 1950.

It comes under the Union Ministry of Defence 

President is the supreme commander of the Indian Navy.

Current Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral R. Hari Kumar 

Navy Day: 4 December 

The Headquarters of the Indian Navy is at New Delhi 

Naval Command and its Headquarters 

Cordy gold nanoparticles

Tags: Science and Technology

Cordi Gold nanoparticles (Cor-AuNPs) which is the result of research by scientists from four Indian institutes have recently earned an international patent from Germany.

What are Cordy gold nanoparticles?

• These nanoparticles, derived from the synthesis of the extracts of Cordyceps militaris and gold salts, could make drug delivery in the human body faster and safer.

• Cordyceps militaris is a parasitic fungus. Gold salts are ionic chemical compounds of gold generally used in medicine. 

• Cordyceps militaris, known as the super mushroom for its tremendous medicinal properties, combines bioactive components in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles.

• The wild Cordyceps mushroom is found in the eastern Himalayan belt.

• Biosynthesized nanogold particles indicate a new application of nanoparticles in the development of therapeutic drugs that can be made into ointments, tablets, capsules and other forms.

World Tsunami Awareness Day

Tags: Important Days

World Tsunami Awareness Day is observed every year on November 5.

Important facts 

• Its aim is to create awareness about this deadly disaster.

• Japan is credited with starting this day because of the bitter experiences of repeated tsunamis.

• According to the United Nations, there have been 58 tsunamis in the past 100 years, killing more than 260,000 people (an average of 4,600 deaths per disaster), more than any other natural disaster.

• The highest number of deaths during this period was in the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004.

• The theme of this 2022 day in Asia-Pacific is 'Early warning and early action before every tsunami'.

Background of World Tsunami Awareness Day

• In December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly designated 5 November as World Tsunami Awareness Day.

• The United Nations called on countries, civil societies and international bodies to share innovative strategies to increase tsunami awareness and reduce risk.

• The day was established on the suggestion of the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) countries which included Japan.

• The first World Tsunami Awareness Day was observed worldwide on 5 November 2016.

• This awareness day was organised in New Delhi in collaboration with the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction 2016 and the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi.

“Aibawk cluster” in Mizoram becomes the first cluster to be completed under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission

Tags: place in news Government Schemes

According to the Government of India, Aibawk cluster in the Aizawl district of Mizoram has become the first cluster to be completed under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM). 

SPMRM was launched by the Government of India with a vision to provide amenities to rural areas which are perceived to be urban and have the potential to stimulate local economic development. 

300 clusters has been selected under the mission for well-planned and holistic development.

Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM)

The Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) scheme was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kurubhat, in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh on February 21, 2016.  The mission is of five years duration.

The mission follows a cluster based approach for rural development instead of focusing on a single village unit.

Aim of the Scheme 

The Aim of the Mission are: 

• Bridging the rural-urban divide in the economic, technological and those related to facilities and services. 
• Stimulating local economic development with emphasis on reduction of poverty and unemployment in rural areas. 
• Spreading development in the region. 
•  Attracting investment in rural areas.

What is a Rurban Cluster? 

A ‘Rurban cluster’ is a cluster of geographically contiguous villages with a population of about 25000 to 50000 in plain and coastal areas and with a population of 5000 to 15000 in desert, hilly or tribal areas. 

Under the Mission, presently, out of 300 selected clusters spread across the country, 109 are tribal clusters and 191 non-tribal clusters. 

Nodal ministry for the SPMRM scheme 

The Union Ministry of Rural Development is the nodal ministry for the implementation of the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission.

Who identify the Rurban Clusters?

The Union Rural Development Ministry proposes a suggestive list of sub districts to the State. The State Governments then select the clusters following a set of indicated principles included in the Framework for Implementation of the scheme.

Funding pattern of the scheme 

Various rural development schemes of the Central and the State government are converged in the clusters. The funding meant for those schemes are spent into the cluster.

The SPMRM also provides an additional funding support of upto 30 percent of the project cost per cluster as Critical Gap Funding (CGF) as Central Share to enable development of such Rurban clusters.

Union Minister for Rural Development: Giriraj Singh 

Indian Army approves five Make-II projects to promote 'self-reliance'

Tags: National Defence National News

The Indian Army on November 4 has given approval for development of  five Make-II Projects niche technology by Indian industry under the Make-II route of defence procurement.

What are Make-Category Projects?

• The provision of 'Make' category of capital acquisition in the Defense Procurement Procedure (DPP) is an important pillar for realising the vision of 'Make in India' initiative.

• It aims to promote indigenous capabilities through design and development of defence equipment/products/systems/sub-systems/components/parts required by both public and private sectors within a fast time frame.

Sub-categories of ‘Make’ Project

1. Make-I (Government Funded)

• Make-I refers to the projects funded by the government.

• This includes the development of big-ticket platforms such as light tanks and communication equipment with Indian security protocols.

2. Make-II (Industry Funded)

• Industry-funded programs are covered under 'Make-II'.

• The Make-II category includes the development of prototypes of military hardware or its up-gradation for import substitution, for which no government funding is provided.

• The Army is already working on 43 projects under the Make II process of capital acquisition.

Union Minister Piyush Goel calls for deepening of economic ties with Kyrgyzstan

Tags: International News

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goel called for boosting bilateral trade and deepening cultural relations between India and Kyrgyzstan .He was speaking at the 10th Session of the India-Kyrgyz Republic Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation (IKIGC).

The 10th session of IKIGC was held in a virtual format. It was co-Chaired by Piyush Goyal and  Imanov Talantbek Oruskulovich, Minister of Digital Development of the Kyrgyz Republic. 

Both sides discussed mutual cooperation and steps to further enhance them in the fields of Trade & Economy, Development Partnership, Investment, Digitalization, Intellectual Property, Agriculture, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Textiles, Education, Environment, Standardization & Metrology, Banking, Transport, Labour, Mining and Power sectors. Emphasis was given to increase the bilateral trade and investment opportunities.he sides agreed to take necessary measures to increase the interaction of exporters and importers of the two countries and expand the trading basket.  

India- Kyrgyzstan relations 

Kyrgyzstan which was part of the Soviet Union declared its Independence on 31 August 1991 and India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations on 18 March 1992.

The India- Kyrgyz Republic Inter Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation was set up in 1992. 

According to the Ministry of External Affairs the bilateral trade between India and Kyrgyz Republic in 2017-18 was about USD 59.53 million. India’s exports to Kyrgyzstan was USD 28.59 million and imports were at USD 30.94 million.

India and Kyrgyzstan conduct an annual military exercise’ Khanjar’,where the special forces of both the countries take part. The 9th  Khanjar exercise 2022 was held at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh in March-April 2022 .

Kyrgyzstan 

It is an Central Asian country 

Capital : Bishkek

Currency :Kyrgyzstan som

President :Sadyr Japarov

Army Commanders’ Conference to take place from November 7 in New Delhi

Tags: National Defence Summits National News

The Army Commanders' Conference will be held in New Delhi from 7-11 November to deliberate on the current and emerging security and administrative aspects and to chart the future for the Indian Army.

Important facts

• During the conference, the top leadership of the Indian Army will deliberate on current/emerging security and administrative aspects to chart the future for the Indian Army.

• Other activities planned during the conference will also include talks by eminent subject matter experts on "Contemporary India-China Relations" as well as "Technical Challenges to National Security".

• During the conference, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will address and interact with Army Commanders on 10 November 2022.

• The Chief of Defense Staff and the Chiefs of the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force will also address the senior leadership of the Indian Army to promote tri-services synergy.

About Army Commanders’ Conference

• It is an apex level biennial event which is an institutional forum for ideological level discussions and helps in taking important policy decisions for the Indian Army.

• It is an apex level biennial event which is an institutional forum for ideological level discussions and helps in taking important policy decisions for the Indian Army.

• It is also a formal forum for the senior leadership of the Indian Army to interact with senior officials from the Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Defence.

Indian Men’s’ team wins maiden Asian Squash Team Championship Title

Tags: place in news Sports

The Indian men’s squash team led by Saurav Ghosal won its first ever title at the 21st Asian Squash Team Championships 2022. The Indian team had earlier lost in the final three times but they finally won the title in their fourth final appearance. 

The 21st Asian Squash Team Championships was organized by the Asian Squash Federation at Cheongju, South Korea from 31st October to 4 November 2022.

In the final held on 4 November 2022, the Indian men’s team defeated Kuwait 2-0. The Hong Kong and Malaysian teams jointly  shared the third position.

Women’s Team Championship 

The women's title was won by Hong Kong which defeated Malaysia in the final.  The Indian and South Korean team shared the third spot.

Asian Squash Federation 

It is the governing body of Squash in Asia. It was founded in 1980 at a meeting in Karachi, Pakistan.

Member countries: 24 

Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

President: David Y Y Mui (Hong Kong)

Novelist Sethu wins Ezhuthachan Puraskaram 2022

Tags: Awards State News

Noted Malayalam novelist Sethu (A. Sethumadhavan) has been honoured with the prestigious Ezhuthachan Award for the year 2022.

Important facts

• It is the highest literary award of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi and is given for lifelong contribution to literature.

• Sethu was selected for the award by a committee headed by Kerala Sahitya Akademi president K Satchidanandan.

• M K Sanu, Vaishakhan, MV Narayanan and Rani George, Principal Secretary, Department of Cultural Affairs, were the other jury members.

• His writings cover innumerable streams of literature including short stories, novels and children's literature.

• He also held key positions in the banking and publishing sector such as the Chairman of South Indian Bank, Director of State Bank of Travancore and Chairman of National Book Trust of India.

• He has been honoured with Kendra Sahitya Akademi and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards.

• His famous works include Pandavapuram, Kaimudrakal, Adayalangal, Kiratam, Aramathe Penkutty and Kilimozhikalkapppuram.

About Ezhuthachan Puraskaram

• It is the Kerala state government’s highest literary honour. 

• It has been named after Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, a 16th century devotional poet, considered to be the father of Malayalam language.

• The award carries Rs 5 lakh and a citation.

Joint Military Training-2022 With Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) at Air Force Station Kalaikunda

Tags: Defence

Singapore Air Force (RSAF) began their six-week-long 11th annual Joint Military Training (JMT) on 3 November, 2022, at Air Force Station, Kalaikunda.

Important facts

• The air forces of these two countries have resumed this training after a gap of two years.

• This training could not take place during the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The bilateral phase of the exercise will be conducted from November 9 to 18, 2022 and both the air forces will engage in advanced air warfare exercise.

• RSAF is participating with F-16 aircraft in JMT- 2022.

• Apart from this, the IAF will field Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, MiG-29 and LCA Tejas aircraft in this exercise.

• The exercise underlines the strong and long standing ties between India and Singapore in the field of defence cooperation.

Objective of Joint Military Training

• It aims to provide an opportunity to the participating crews to share valuable operational knowledge, experience and best practices while strengthening the professional relationship between the two Air Forces.

India's Joint Military Exercise with other countries

• Mitra Shakti - India & Sri Lanka

• Maitree Exercise - India & Thailand

• Yudh Abhyas    - India and US

• Vajra Prahar - India and US

• Garuda Shakti - India & Indonesia

• Nomadic Elephant - India & Mongolia

• Shakti Exercise - India & France

• Surya Kiran - India and Nepal

• SIMBEX - India and Singapore

• CORPAT - India and Thailand

Guyana President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali to be chief guest at 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention at Indore

Tags: Festivals National National News

Guyana President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali will be the chief guest at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention. It will be held from 8th to 10th January 2023 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. 

Important facts

• Zaneta Mascarenhas, Member of Parliament of Australia, will be the guest of honour at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas which will be held on 8th January 2023.

•  Last year, the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conference was organised on 9 January despite the Covid pandemic. The convention was held in virtual format.

• The theme of the 16th Convention 2021 was “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.

• The Young Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan was celebrated on January 8, 2021 with the theme "Bringing together Young Achievers from India and the Indian Diaspora".

17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention

• The 17th PBD Convention is being organized from 08-10 January 2023 at Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh. 

• The 17th PBD Convention will be held in a physical format after a gap of four years. 

• The last PBD Convention in 2021 was held virtually during the Covid pandemic.

• The theme of PBD Convention 2023 is "Diaspora: Reliable partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal”.

• The PBD Convention 2023 will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 09 January 2023.

• The Youth PBD will be held on 08 January 2023, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. 

• On 10 January 2023, President Droupadi Murmu will confer Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards and preside over the Valedictory Session.

Organiser of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

• The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with a state government  and an Industry body, either  Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) or Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) . It is normally organised on 9 January.

Significance of  9 January  

• On this day in 1915 the greatest pravasi of India , Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa  in 1915 from South Africa  to India .

• His ship SS Arabia  docked in Bombay (now Mumbai)  on 9 January 1915.To honour and celebrate the occasion the government of India decided to start  Pravasi Bharatiya Divas  in 2003.

Independent India's first voter Shyam Saran Negi dies at the age of 106

Tags: Person in news

Independent India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi passed away at the age of 106 on 5 November, 2022 morning in Himachal Pradesh.

Important facts

• Shyam Saran Negi, exercising his right to vote, had voted for the 34th time in his life on 2 November 2022.

• He had cast his vote in the 14th Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election through postal ballot paper at his home in Kalpa, Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.

• Born on 1 July 1917, Shyam Saran Negi voted for the first time in India's general elections in 1951 and has voted sixteen times in the Lok Sabha elections.

• He worked as a school teacher in Kalpa.

• When the first general elections were held in India in 1951 after the end of British rule in 1947, Negi was the first to vote on 25 October.

• Shyam Saran Negi also made a special appearance in the Hindi film Sanam Re.

• He was also made the brand ambassador by the Election Commission.

• Negi had refused to take the Election Commission's 12-D facility that allows voters aged 80 and above to vote from home.

• The Election Commission has started the facility of 12-D form for people above 80 years.

• Under this scheme, any person above 80 years of age who wants to vote by staying at home can do it and the department will provide the facility of vote from home.

• This facility is also available for people with disabilities and COVID-19 patients.