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By admin: Nov. 26, 2022

India is hosting the 59th ABU General Assembly 2022 from 25th to 30th November’ 2022

Tags: place in news Summits

The government of India owned public broadcaster Prasar Bharti  which owns the All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) is hosting the 59th Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) General Assembly 2022 from 25th to 30th November 2022 in New Delhi. Prasar Bharti was set up in 1997 by an act of Parliament.

Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi said that around  300 international delegates from 40 countries representing 50 organizations are participating in the event.

Theme of the 59th ABU General Assembly is: Serving the People: Media’s Role in Times of Crisis.

The ABU (Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union) was set up in 1964 is a non-profit, professional association of the broadcasting organizations of Asia and pacific region.

The ABU has over 250 members in over 70 countries on four continents.

The headquarters of ABU: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Madras Boating club women team wins the Adyar Trophy at the 81st Annual Madras-Colombo Rowing Regatta

Tags: Sports

The Madras Boating Club women won the 81st Annual Madras-Colombo Rowing Regatta held at Colombo, Sri Lanka on 26 November 2022. They were conferred the Adyar Trophy.

However the men’s section of the race was won by the Colombo Rowing Club and they were conferred with the   Deepam trophy... 

The Madras-Colombo Rowing Regatta is organised by the Madras Boat Club and the Colombo Rowing Club. They organise it alternately and this year the event is taking place after a gap of 3 years due to the corona pandemic.

Madras-Colombo Rowing Regatta

The first-ever Madras-Colombo Rowing Regatta was held way back in 1898 and is considered the oldest sporting encounter held between India and Sri Lanka.

The main event of the Regatta is the Men’s boat race which is considered to be the second oldest boat race in the world, second only to the famous Oxford-Cambridge boat race.

The overall winners of the Men’s event are awarded the prestigious Deepam Trophy while the Adyar Trophy is awarded to the Women’s champions.

The boat race is held for a distance of 1,000 meters. 

Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan confers National Gopal Ratna Award on the occasion of the National Milk Day

Tags: Awards

Union Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairying Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan presented the National Gopal Ratna Award to the farmers, Cooperatives and technicians involved in Artificial Insemination for their exemplary contribution towards milk production in the country. 

The award was conferred during the National Milk Day function at Dr. Babu Rajendra Prasad International convention Centre, GKVK Campus, Bengaluru, Karnataka on 26 November 2022. 

The minister said, India is the highest milk producer with a 32 percent contribution to global production. There are 222 cooperatives in the country with over 17 million farmers supplying milk. 

National Gopal Ratna Award 

National Gopal Ratna Award  is one of the highest National Awards in the field of livestock and dairy sector, with an objective to recognize and encourage all individuals like Farmers rearing indigenous animals, AI Technicians and Dairy cooperative societies / Milk Producer Company / Dairy farmers Producers Organizations working in this sector.

The Award is conferred in three categories, namely,

• Best Dairy Farmer Rearing Indigenous Cattle/buffalo Breeds,
• Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) and
• Best Dairy Cooperative/ Milk Producer Company/ Dairy Farmer Producer Organization).

National Gopal Ratna Award 2022 winner 

Bangladesh film 'Agantuk' wins Prasad DI award at the Film Bazaar section of the IFFI in Goa

Tags: place in news Awards

The 5-day long Film Bazaar concluded at the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa with Bangladesh feature film 'Agantuk' being named the winner of the Prasad DI award.  The film has been directed by Biplob Sarkar.

The Film Bazaar section in the IFFI is a converging point for film buyers and sellers from all across the world with a focus on discovering, supporting, and showcasing South Asian content and talent in filmmaking, production, and distribution.

The Kannada film ‘Mithya’ bagged the Prasad Post-production award, while the multilingual Nepali, Kumaoni, and Hindi film ‘Bahadur’ won the Moviebuff Appreciation Award.

Two short movies, ‘Perianayaki’ by Bala Murali Shingade and Suchana Saha's animated film ‘Priyo Ami’, received the award under the “Film Bazaar Recommends (FBR)” category. 

The French Institute Award by the French Embassy was given to ‘Kissa - E - Circus’ by Savita Singh which was showcased in the co-production market.

The 53rd IFFI being held in Panaji from 20-28 November 2022 is being organised by National Film Development Corporation and Entertainment Society of Goa.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi virtually launches portals to read Preamble online on Constitution Day

Tags: National

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi virtually launched www.readpreamble.nic.in portals for Online reading of the Preamble and www.constitutionquiz.nic.in for Quiz on the Constitution of India on 25 November 2022 on the eve of the Constitution Day.

Constitution day is observed every year on the 26th November. On this day the Indian constitution was promulgated. .

Launching these portals, Mr. Joshi stated that all fellow citizens should read the Preamble of the Constitution in a language suitable to them out of the 23 languages.

He paid rich tributes to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar for his peerless contribution in the making of the country's Constitution which has guided the destiny of India as a great democracy so far.

EGramSwaraj and Audit Online of Ministry of Panchayati Raj wins Gold Award under the National Awards for e-Governance

Tags: Awards

E-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (eGramSwaraj and AuditOnline) of Ministry of Panchayati Raj has won the Gold Award under the category "Excellence in Government Process Re-engineering for Digital Transformation" of the National Awards for e-Governance. 

The award is a recognition of the excellent and exemplary work done by Team eGovernance and supported by Team NIC-MoPR. 

The prestigious National Award was handed over to Shri Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj Union by Union Minister of State, and Dr. Jitendra Singh during the  25th National Conference on e-Governance  at Jammu on 26 November 2022.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announces Rs 146 crore winter aid for needy

Tags: State News

The Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced a winter assistance of Rs 146 crore to the needy to protect themselves from the coming winter.

Nearly 48 lakh beneficiaries of the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana and National Pension System will get Rs 300 each to buy blankets. The government will credit the amount into the beneficiaries account by 1 December 2022.

Madhu Babu Pension Yojana is a social security scheme launched by the Odisha government in 2008. Under the scheme Old and aged persons of 60 years of age and above, widows, Persons affected by Hansen’s diseases/ Leprosy with visible signs of deformity irrespective of age, unmarried women over thirty years of age ,Persons with Disabilities & AIDs patients are provided Rs 300 per month.

Odisha 

The State of Orissa was founded on 1 April 1936 after it was separated from the Bengal presidency. 

1 April is celebrated as Utkal Dibas or Odisha divas in Odisha.

Odisha was earlier called as Orissa. Its name was changed to Odisha in 2011.

Chilka Lake in Odisha is the largest brackish lake in India and the second largest lake in India after Vembanad Lake, Kerala. 

The famous Hirakud dam is on Mahanadi River in Odisha.

Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha is the largest nesting place of Olive Ridley turtles in the world.

Governor of Odisha: Ganeshi Lal 

Capital: Its capital was at Cuttack but it was shifted to Bhubaneswar on 19 August 1949.

ADB to invest Rs 200 crore in the VA Tech Wabag water company

Tags: Economy/Finance

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will invest Rs 200 crore in the VA Tech Wabag company which is in the business of treatment of municipal and Industrial wastewater and its technologies. This is the first time that ADB’s is investing in a private sector water company. The fund will be used by the company for its working capital requirements. 

The Chennai based VA Tech Wabag Company provides technologies and services for total water solutions in both municipal and industrial sectors. It employs over 1,600 professionals in 25 countries across four continents, and runs research and development centers in Austria, India and Switzerland. 

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

It is a regional multilateral financial institution which focuses on the countries of Asia and Pacific region.

It was set up after a resolution was passed at the first Ministerial Conference on Asian Economic Cooperation held by the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East in 1963.

It started functioning from 19 December 1966 with 31 member countries.

At present it has 68 members—of which 49 members are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside.

Japan is the largest shareholder of the ADB and a Japanese has always been the head of the ADB.

President of ADB: Masatsugu Asakawa 

Headquarters: Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines 

Vishwanath, Vanshaj, Devika wins gold medals at Youth World Boxing Championships 2022

Tags: place in news Sports Person in news

Indian boxers Vishwanath Suresh, Vanshaj and Devika Ghorpade won gold medals at the IBA(International Boxing Association) Youth Men's and Women's World Championships 2022 in La Nucia, Spain on 25 November 2022.

Vishwanath Suresh from Chennai won his gold medal by defeating Ronel Suyom of Philippines in the men's 48kg final.

Devika from Pune won the second gold for India on the day by defeating England’s Lauren Mackie in the women's 52kg final.

Asian Youth champion Vanshaj from Sonipat won the third gold medal by defeating Demur Kajaia of Georgia in the men's 63.5kg final.

Other medal winners 

Silver medal winner 

Bhawna Sharma won a silver medal in the women's 48 kg category.

Ashish (54kg) was the other Indian to finish with a silver medal.

Bronze medal winners

Tamanna (50kg), Kunjarani Devi Thongam (60kg), Muskan (75kg) and Lashu Yadav (70kg) won the Bronze medal for India.

India with 11 medals is leading the medal tallies followed by Uzbekistan.

India’s eight medals in the women’s section is also the highest for any country.

27 November is the last day of the championship and two Indian women Ravina in 63kg and Kirti in the +81kg will play in the final.

IBA Youth Men's and Women's World Championships 2022

The IBA Youth Men’s and Women’s World Boxing Championships 2022 is being held  at the Ciudad Deportiva Camilo Cano arena in La Nucía, Spain from 14 November to 27 November 2022.  Around 600 boxers from 73 countries are participating in the Championship.

Sebi brings mutual funds units buying and selling under the Insider Trading regulations

Tags: Economy/Finance

The Capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has included the buying and selling of mutual fund units under the SEBI Prohibition of Insider Trading regulations through a notification issued on 24 November 2022. Until now, such rules applied only to securities of listed companies or those proposed to be listed.

The regulations state that any person who is connected with a fund house and comes into possession of unpublished, price-sensitive information shall not be permitted to trade in MF units wherein either the net asset value (NAV) of the scheme could get impacted or the interests of unitholders may be compromised.

Definition of Insider

Insider’s has been defined as a connected person or someone in possession of or having access to unpublished price sensitive information pertaining to a scheme.

SEBI has specified a list of people who will be considered insiders and be covered under the regulations.

Connected persons include the board of directors and key management personnel of the sponsor of the mutual fund, banker of the mutual fund or asset management company, stock exchange officials, employees of fund accountant, registrars and share transfer agents, custodians or valuation agencies of the mutual funds.

What is Insider trading?

It is the use of price sensitive information which can affect the Net Asset Value (NAV) of the units by an insider to buy or sell a mutual fund unit before the news is made public. 

Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) was set up on 12 April 1988 and it was given statutory status by the SEBI Act 1992 on 30 January 1992.

• It comes under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• It is the regulator of the Capital market and Commodities market in India.
• The first SEBI chairman was Dr S A Dave (1988-90)
• Madhabi Puri Buch is the current and 10th Chairperson of the SEBI.
• Headquarters : Mumbai

Veteran actor Vikram Gokhale, no more

Tags: Person in news

Noted actor Vikram Gokhale died on November 26 after battling health-related complications over the past few days. He was 77 years old.

Vikram Gokhale who had a long career as an actor in theatre, television and movies, acted in several Marathi and Bollywood films, including "Agneepath" (1990), "Bhool Bhulaiyaa" (2007), "Natsamrat" (2015) and "Mission Mangal" (2019). His latest release was the Marathi film "Godavari".

In 2010, he received the National Award for Best Actor for his work in the Marathi film Anumati. With the Marathi film Aaghaat, he also made his directorial debut. 

His last film was Nikamma film which was released in June 2022.

ISRO launches PSLV-C54 rocket carrying earth observation satellite Oceansat & 8 nanosatellites

Tags: Science and Technology

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched PSLV C 54 and eight nanosatellites, into space from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota on 26 November.

Important facts

• This is the 56th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle of ISRO and 24th flight of the extended PSLV-XL version. 

• The mission payloads including Oceansat (PSLV C 54) and eight other nanosatellites have separated in the specified two hours in two different sun-synchronous orbits.

• Specific data from the satellite will be used by the Government departments. 

• Mission Director S.R.Biju said PSLV rockets are the workhorses of ISRO.

• the payloads are indigenous and will provide crucial Data including maritime security and  detection of cyclones in potential zones.

• The customer payloads are ISRO Nano Satellite-2 for Bhutan (INS-2B), Anand, four satellites of Astrocast, and two satellites of Thybolt.

• The mission objective is to ensure data continuity of ocean color and wind vector data to sustain the operational applications.

Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first player to score in 5 different World Cups

Tags: Sports Sports News

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in 5 different World Cups when he scored the first goal against Ghana in the FIFA World Cup on 24 November.

Important facts

• In the first match of Group H, Portugal captain Ronaldo scored the first goal in the 65th minute, becoming the first male footballer to score in five different World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022).

• With this record, Ronaldo has left behind Pele of Brazil, Uwe Seeler of Germany and Miraslov Klose who have scored goals in four World Cups.

• 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo has increased his international goal count to 118. He scored his eighth career World Cup goal in a 3–2 win against Ghana.

• Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals in 15 minutes as Portugal beat Ghana 3-2 in their FIFA World Cup Group H match to open their campaign on a winning note.

IIT Delhi in top 50 of Times Higher Education Employability Rankings

Tags: Reports INDEX

The Global Employability University Rankings and Survey (GEURS) ranks the top 250 universities in the world for producing employable graduates according to employers.

Important facts

• This ranking has been released by Times Higher Education (THE).

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi is the only Indian educational institution in the top 50 in the ranking.

• Among Indian institutions, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru is at the second spot (58), followed by IIT-Bombay at 72. 

• The latest THE Rankings have five Indian institutions in top 200.

• Times Higher Education is a British magazine exclusively reporting on news and issues relating to higher education.

Top 5 Universities

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology - USA

• California Institute of Technology - USA 

• Harvard University - USA

• University of Cambridge - UK

• Stanford University -USA

SEBI makes it compulsory for the Mutual fund to pay dividend to investors within 7 days from record date

Tags: Economy/Finance

The Mutual fund regulator Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a circular on 25 November 2022 directing the mutual fund houses to pay the dividends within seven working days from the record date. Earlier they had to pay the amount within 10 working days to the investor. Dividend is the part of profit earned by the mutual fund which is distributed amongst the unit holders of the mutual fund. 

Record date for receiving dividend 

SEBI has also directed that the record date should be two working days from the date of a public notice, for the purpose of payment of dividend.  Record date is the date which is set by the mutual funds that determines which unit holders are eligible to receive the dividends.

In case of redemption or repurchase of units, the fund houses are told to pay out the proceeds within three working days.

Mutual Fund which invest in foreign assets  

 In the case of schemes investing at least 80 percent of the money in securities overseas, upon such redemption or repurchase, the investors should be paid within five working days from the date of redemption. Redemption means the investors sell back the units it holds of a mutual fund scheme back to the mutual fund’s Asset Management Company.

Penalty on the Mutual Funds

If the fund house fails to pay dividend or redemption or repurchase pay out within the stipulated time period then the fund house is liable to pay interest at the rate of 15 percent per annum along with the pay out of dividend or redemption.

SEBI chairman : Madhabi Puri Buch

Telangana will have first integrated rocket facility in nation

Tags: State News

Telangana IT and Industries Minister K. T. Rama Rao announced on November 25 that the country's first integrated rocket design, manufacturing and testing center 'Skyroot' would be set up in the state.

Important facts

• Rama Rao, who was the chief guest at an event organized at T-Hub in Hyderabad to celebrate the successful launch of 'Skyroot' Aerospace's Vikram-S rocket, expressed happiness that the facility would be set up in Telangana.

• Hyderabad-based startup T-Hub launched India's first private rocket on 18 November.

• He pointed out that the state government had already developed a Space Tech Policy.

• Only a few companies in the world have mastered rocket science and achieved success on the first try.

About Telangana

• Chief Minister - K. Chandrashekar Rao

• Governor - Tamilisai Soundararajan

• Capital - Hyderabad

Union Health Ministry appoints Deepa Malik as Nikshay Mitra ambassador

Tags: Person in news

Union Health Ministry designated Padma Shri, Khel Ratna Arjuna Awardee and the President of the Paralympic Committee of India Deepa Malik as Nikshay Mitra ambassador in New Delhi on November 26.

Important facts

• Nikshay Mitra is an initiative under Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

• Deepa Malik expressed her commitment to the TB Mukt Bharat (TB-free India) campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2018.

• She participated in TB awareness activities at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Pavilion at the 41st India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

• She further extended her support to the campaign by becoming a Ni-Kshay Mitra, an initiative launched by President Droupadi Murmu which strives to provide aid to TB-afflicted patients on three levels of nutritional, additional diagnostic, and vocational support.

• She himself has adopted 5 TB patients as Ni-Kshaya Mitra and encouraged people to enrol in this scheme.

About Ni-kshay Mitras initiative

• The initiative ensures three-pronged support includes: Nutritional, Additional diagnostic, and Vocational support. 

• This program was brought in the direction of Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan with the aim of eradicating TB by 2025.

• India has the world's highest burden of tuberculosis (TB), with an estimated 2.6 million people suffering from the disease and nearly 4 million dying from it every year.

Centre forms panel to revamp MGNREGA job guarantee scheme

Tags: committee

The central government has constituted a committee to improve the MNREGA scheme. This committee will examine the efficacy of MGNREGA as a means of poverty alleviation.

Important facts

• The first meeting of this committee, headed by former Rural Development Secretary Amarjit Sinha, was held on November 21. 

• It has been given three months to give its suggestions.

• The committee has been asked to review the work demand in MGNREGA, spending patterns, variation in demand across states and the incremental cost of providing employment since inception of the scheme.

• Also, this committee will suggest what changes can be made to make this scheme more effective.

• The committee will also have to submit recommendations for better implementation of the scheme in poor areas.

• This scheme was brought as a means of poverty alleviation in rural areas, but states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where the level of poverty is high, have not been able to get the proper benefits of this scheme.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme

• MNREGA Act was passed by the Indian Parliament on 23rd August 2005 but it came into force on February 6, 2006.  

• On 2nd October 2009 an amendment was made in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005, to change the nomenclature of the Act from NREGA to MGNREGA

• The mandate of the MGNREGA is to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. 

• The scheme is under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of  Rural Development.

Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj - Giriraj Singh

Constitution Day

Tags: Important Days

Constitution Day or National Law Day is celebrated in India every year on 26 November as it marks the day when the Indian Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1949.

Important facts

• On 19 November 2015, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment notified the decision of the Government of India to celebrate 26 November as 'Constitution Day'.

• The day was declared in the year which marked the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution. 

• In early 1948, Dr. Ambedkar completed the draft of the Indian Constitution and presented it to the Constituent Assembly.

• This draft was adopted on November 26, 1949.

• The Indian Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, which is celebrated as Republic Day.

• It took 2 years 11 months and 18 days to make the constitution.

• Originally the Constitution of India was written in English and Hindi.

Names of constitution making committees and their heads

• Drafting Committee: B.R. Ambedkar

• Union Power Committee: Jawaharlal Nehru

• Central Constitution Committee: Jawaharlal Nehru

• Provincial Constitution Committee: Vallabhbhai Patel

• Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas: Vallabhbhai Patel

• Rules of Procedure Committee : Rajendra Prasad

• Rajya Samiti (Committee to negotiate with the states): Jawaharlal Nehru

• Steering Committee: Rajendra Prasad

Indian Navy launches new survey vessel ‘Ikshak’

Tags: Defence

The Indian Navy launched 'Ikshak', the third of the four Survey Ships (Large) being built by GRSE/L&T at Kattupalli, Chennai on 26 November.

Important facts

• In keeping with the Naval maritime tradition, Smt Madhumati Hampiholi, spouse of VAdm MA Hampiholi, launched the ship to the chanting of invocation from Atharva Veda. 

• It was launched in the presence of VADM MA Hampiholi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command.

• The ship has been named ‘Ikshak’ which means ‘Guide’. 

• The ship has been named to signify the contribution of the Survey ships towards facilitating safe passage for Mariners at Sea.  

• Contract for building four SVL ships was signed between MoD and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata on 30 Oct 18 for a total cost of Rs 2435 Cr. 

•  The first of class ship ‘Sandhayak’ was launched on 5 Dec 21 at GRSE, Kolkata, by Smt Pushpa Bhatt, wife of Ajay Bhatt, Raksha Rajya Mantri, who was the Chief Guest for Launching Ceremony.

• SVL ships will replace the existing Sandhayak Class survey ships with new generation hydrographic equipment to collect oceanographic data. 

• Survey vessels (large) vessels are 110 meters long and 16 meters wide with a deep displacement of 3400 tons.

• The Survey Vessels Large will have over 80% indigenous content by cost. 

National Milk Day

Tags: Important Days

National Milk Day is celebrated every year on 26 November to raise awareness about the importance of milk and its benefits.

Important facts

• This day is the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, who is called the father of White Revolution.

• 2022 is the 101st birth anniversary of the “Milkman of India”, Dr. Verghese Kurien. 

• India is the largest producer of milk. Milk is such a food item that not only humans but animals also take it as food.

• India contributes 23 per cent of global milk production. 

• Milk production in India increased from 17 MT in 1950-51 to 209.96 MT in 2020-21. 

• World Milk Day is also celebrated every year on June 1, which was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization.

• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is observing this year's “National Milk Day” as a part of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” on 26th November 2022 in the silicon city of India, Bengaluru.

Background of the day

• The day was initiated by the Indian Dairy Association (IDA) in 2014.

• In the year 1970, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) started a rural development program called Operation Flood.

• This program was considered one of the largest and aimed to develop a milk grid throughout the country. 

• This made India the largest producer of milk and milk products. Later it came to be known as the White Revolution.

• White Revolution or Operation Flood focused on the objective of increasing the production of milk and augmenting the income of rural households.

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying - Parshottam Rupala