1. Government withdraws export duty on steel
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
Government has withdrawn export duty on steel with effect from 19 November, 2022.
Important facts
According to the notification of the Ministry of Finance, the export duty on iron ore and various steel products has been reduced to zero, which means that now there will be no duty on the export of steel products.
The Central Government has restored the status quo ante before May 22, 2022.
Apart from this, export duty on low iron ore lumps and fines (having iron content less than 58 per cent) has also been made zero.
The following rules will be effective from November 19, 2022 -
Zero export duty on export of iron ore lumps and fines (58 percent iron content).
Export of iron ore lumps and fines (58 percent iron content) will attract 30 per cent lower export duty.
Export duty on export of iron ore pellets will be zero.
Export duty on export of pig iron and steel products classified under HS 7201, 7208, 7209, 7210, 7213, 7214, 7219, 7222 and 7227 shall be zero.
Anthracite/PCI and coking coal and ferronickel will attract an import duty of 2.5 per cent.
Coke and semi coke will attract 5 percent import duty.
What is Export Duty?
Export duty is a type of indirect tax levied on goods imported into India as well as goods exported from India.
Export means taking goods out of India to other countries.
2. MoS for Education Subhash Sarkar confers National Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2021-22
Tags: Awards National News
Minister of State for Education Dr Subhash Sarkar on 19 November, 2022 conferred National Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2021-22 in Akashwani Bhawan, Delhi.
Important facts
A total of 39 schools have been given this award, including five in the national category and 34 in the overall category.
The winners of the national category were given Rs 60,000 and the other categories were given Rs 20,000.
The National Commission Committee has selected these schools for the awards.
The Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar has been instituted by the Ministry of Education to recognize excellence in water, healthcare and sanitation in schools.
The awards were presented to rural and urban government schools, government aided schools and private schools.
Drinking water, toilets, handwashing with soap, operation and maintenance, capacity building and COVID-19 (preparedness and response) parameters have been used to measure the performance of schools.
In 2014, the Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya (SBSV) initiative was launched to ensure that all schools in India have access to separate functional toilets for boys and girls.
About National Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar
It has been established by the Ministry of Education to recognise, inspire and celebrate excellence in cleanliness and hygiene practices in schools.
The main objective of the award is to honour those schools which have taken steps to fulfil the requirement of Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan.
The award is based on IT-enabled assessment of WASH infrastructure, hygienic practices and COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
The award is based on IT-enabled assessment of WASH infrastructure, hygienic practices and COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
3. India launches official website of SCO 2023 with a theme of ‘For a SECURE SCO’
Tags: International News
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has launched the official website of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) with the theme of a SECURE SCO. The website will highlight the events that will be undertaken under the chairmanship of India next year.
During the 22nd Head of State summit meeting 2022 of the SCO at Samarkand, Uzbekistan in September, India formally received the SCO rotating presidency. India will hold the presidency of the grouping for a year until September 2023.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had floated the concept of SECURE at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China in 2018. Explaining the SECURE concept, the Prime Minister said ‘S’ for security for citizens, ‘E’ for economic development, ‘C’ for connectivity in the region, ‘U’ for unity, ‘R’ for respect of sovereignty and integrity, and ‘E' for environment protection.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a regional group of 8 countries of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan .
4. India participates in ‘4th meeting of Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan’ held in Russia
Tags: place in news Summits International News
India participated in the fourth meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan held in Moscow on 16 November 2022. Special Envoys and Senior Officials from Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan also participated in the meeting.
According to the External Affairs Ministry, the participants discussed issues related to Afghanistan. These include the current humanitarian situation and the ongoing efforts of various stakeholders to provide assistance, intra-Afghan talks, formation of an inclusive and representative government, efforts to counter threats of terrorism and ensuring regional security.
Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan
The Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, launched in 2017, is a regional platform on Afghanistan involving the special envoys of Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, China, and Pakistan.
Its mandate is to facilitate political reconciliation between the then-internationally backed Kabul government and the Taliban, establish peace, and ensure regional security.
5. Russia and Ukraine agree to further extend the Black Sea grain deal by four months
Tags: Russia-Ukraine International News
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to extend the Black sea grain deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkiye by another 120 days. The agreement which was originally signed on 22 July 2022 was set to expire on 19 November 2022. The deal allows grain exports from the designated Ukrainian Black Sea port through a safe corridor in the Black Sea.
The agreement was reached between Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye and the United Nations at Istanbul, Turkiye.
The deal faced its first major crisis when Russia announced that it was suspending the agreement on 29 October 2022 after Ukraine attacked the Russian Black Sea Fleet near Sevastopol. However later Russia agreed to continue the deal.
The deal will continue with the existing provisions. Ships will carry grain from three Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa and Yuzhny .They will travel through the humanitarian corridor set up in the Black Sea and stop in Istanbul for inspection before continuing to the final destination.
The grain deal is vital for many African countries as they face crop failure due to weather extremes and internal conflicts. The nations that will benefit from the deal include Egypt , Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan Senegal, Rwanda, Congo, Libya, Tanzania and Namibia.
6. Indians no longer need police clearance for Saudi Arabia visas
Tags: National International News
The Saudi Arabian embassy in India has announced that it will exempt Indian nationals from submitting a police clearance certificate (PCC) while applying to travel to the country. Over two million Indian citizens live in Saudi Arabia. The new rule would make visa application processing faster and easier for the Indians visiting Saudi Arabia.
According to the Saudi embassy this decision was taken as a part of the efforts of the two countries to further strengthen their relations.
A police clearance certificate is a document that Indian nationals willing to go abroad for employment, residential status, or long-term visa need to apply for if required by the visa of the destination country. The document helps in knowing the criminal record of the person.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is a West Asian kingdom founded by Ibn Saud in 1923. The country is known for its oil and Islam.
- According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2020, Saudi Arabia has the world’s 2nd largest oil reserves in the world after Venezuela.
- At present it is the world's largest exporter of crude oil.
- It has two of the holiest shrine of Islam, Mecca and Medina mosque
- The world's largest mosque Al-Haram or forbidden mosques is in Mecca.
- The world's second largest mosque, Mosque of the Prophet, or Masjid al-Nabawi is in Medina.
- The Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) headquarters is also in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- The world’s largest sand area, the Rub al-Khali (“Empty Quarter”) which is spread around 647,500 square km, is also in Saudi Arabia.
Capital of Saudi Arabia: Riyadh
Currency: Saudi Riyal
King of Saudi Arabia: King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia: Mohammed bin Salman
7. APEC summit disrupted in Bangkok due to North Korean ICBM test
Tags: Summits International News
The 29th summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) being held in Bangkok, Thailand was briefly interrupted on 18 November 2022 as they condemned the North Korea for its fresh test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). ICBM is a land based nuclear capable ballistic missile with a range of 5,600 Km or more.
The two-day (18 & 19 November) summit meeting was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Thailand Prayuth Chan-ocha on 18 November 2022.
The U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called an emergency gathering of leaders from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Canada and New Zealand on the sidelines of the summit after North Korea carried out the missile test just an hour before its inauguration.
This is the third summit level meeting in the Asia Pacific region within a month after the East Asia Summit in Cambodia and G-20 summit at Bali, Indonesia.
Russia is a member of both G20 and APEC but President Vladimir Putin has stayed away from the summits. First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov is representing him at APEC.
The next Summit meeting will be held in the United States of America in 2023.
India is not a member of APEC.
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum with 21 member economies across Asia-Pacific region.
It was set up in 1989 to promote regional economic integration under a non-legally binding manner and friendly environment.
APEC group countries account for 38% of the global population, 62% of world’s gross domestic product and 48% of the world trade.
21 Member of APEC are:
Australia; Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand; United States, China; Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei(Taiwan), Mexico ,Papua New Guinea ,Chile , Peru; Russia; and Vietnam.
Headquarters: Singapore
8. India fastest growing market for Microsoft owned professional networking site LinkedIn
Tags: Economy/Finance International News
The Microsoft owned business networking service company LinkedIn Chief Executive Officer Ryan Roslansky has said that India has become LinkedIn’s fastest-growing market as more and more companies and advertisers come online, with sales in the country rising at a 50% year-on-year .
He was speaking at the sidelines of the Bloomberg New Economy Forum meeting in Singapore.
He said that LinkedIn is looking for new business opportunities outside the United States as the economic situation in the United States is expected to become worse.
The majority of LinkedIn’s growth is happening outside of the United States, he said, adding that new members are joining the networking site in markets such as India, Indonesia and Western Europe.
LinkedIn is a social network of professionals designed to help people make business connections, share their experiences and resumes, and find jobs.
9. Paralympics-IPC suspends Russian, Belarusian committees with immediate effect
Tags: Sports Sports News International News
The International Paralympic Committee has suspended the National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) of Russia and Belarus with immediate effect on November 17, 2022, dashing the hopes of para-athletes competing in the 2024 Paralympics.
Important facts
Earlier athletes from both countries were barred from competing in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics in March.
Russia's suspension was passed by 64 votes against 39 at the IPC's Extraordinary General Assembly in Berlin.
The suspension of the NPC of Belarus passed by 54 votes against 45.
Both NPCs have been suspended for "inability to comply with their membership obligations under the IPC constitution".
Due to the suspension, NPC Russia and NPC Belarus lose all rights and privileges of IPC membership, as per the IPC constitution.
The Russian team was also banned from the Rio Paralympics in 2016 over doping.
NPC Russia and NPC Belarus have the right to appeal against this decision.
About International Paralympic Committee
It was established on 22 September 1989 as an international non-profit organisation.
It is an athlete-centred organisation composed of an elected Governing Board, a Management Team and various Standing Committees and Councils.
Its objective is to enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to inspire and excite the world.
Headquartered - Bonn, Germany
President - Andrew Parsons
10. Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurates Geo Smart India 2022 Summit in Hyderabad
Tags: Summits National News
Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the Geo Smart India 2022 Summit in Hyderabad on 15 November, 2022.
Important facts
He said the country is leading the way in socio-economic prosperity driven by state-of-the-art technology and innovation.
He said the country is moving towards an era of sustainable development from the grassroots level and aims to eradicate poverty, combat climate change and improve business and living standards.
He said that the government has issued guidelines to pave the way for the use of geospatial data in various sectors of the economy.
He said that the country is facing a severe water crisis which is becoming an important issue and the government has taken several steps to solve the issue.
The three-day summit was attended by around 2500 delegates from around 500 government, private, organisations working on geospatial technology and so on.
About Geo Smart India Summit
GeoSmart India is the largest conference of Geospatial experts across the globe.
It is an interactive and collaborative platform that reflects the collective and shared vision of the Indian geospatial community.
The conference showcases how geospatial and emerging technologies can have a disruptive impact on Indian businesses.
It also serves as a meeting place for global businesses to understand the ease of doing business in India by connecting with relevant authorities and potential business partners across sectors.
