1. India, Cambodia sign 4 MOUs in the areas of culture, wildlife & health
Tags: International Relations International News
On November 12 India and Cambodia signed 4 MoUs in areas of health, technology, biodiversity conservation and preservation of ancient buildings.
Important facts
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar holds a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on the sidelines of the ongoing ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on November 12.
The two had extensive discussions on bilateral relations including human resources, mining and development projects.
Cambodia also stressed on enhancing cooperation on mine clearance to help Cambodia reach the goal of "a mine-free Cambodia by 2025".
Four memorandum of understanding (MoU)
MoU between the Institute of Technology of Cambodia and the Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur for digitalisation of Cambodian heritage sites.
MoU regarding reintroduction of tigers in Cambodia between the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, India and Ministry of Environment, Cambodia for Cooperation in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Wildlife Management.
MoU between the Ministry of Health and the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on cooperation in the fields of health and medicine.
MoU on Financing Agreement on the Preservation of Wat Raja Bo Pagoda Paintings in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
2. Western Air Command Commanders’ Conference held at New Delhi
Tags: Defence National News
Western Air Command Commanders' Conference was held in New Delhi on 10 and 11 November 2022.
Important facts
The chief guest of the conference was Air Chief Marshal VR Chowdhary, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS).
VR Choudhary stressed on the need to maintain operational preparedness, ensure serviceability of assets and physical and information security.
Speaking on the occasion, he directed all the commanders present to ensure operational readiness of all platforms, weapon systems and assets at all times.
Air Command in India
The Western Command, headquartered at New Delhi, looks after the Ladakh sector, among other areas.
There is a standoff between Indian and Chinese troops at several points in eastern Ladakh.
The Air Force has seven commands (Western, Eastern, Southern, Southwestern, Central, Training and Maintenance).
3. India to host 'No Money For Terror' Ministerial Conference in Delhi
Tags: National Summits National News
Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India will organize the 3rd Ministerial Conference on 'No Money for Terror' in New Delhi on 18th and 19th November.
Important facts
Representatives from 75 countries and international bodies will attend the two-day conference for deliberations.
The purpose of this conference is to take forward the discussions on combating terrorist financing held by the international community in the previous two conferences in Paris (2018) and Melbourne (2019).
It will also discuss technical, legal and regulatory aspects of all aspects of terrorism financing.
The conference will discuss diverse topics such as global trends in terrorism and terrorist financing, use of formal and informal channels of funding for terrorism, emerging technologies, international cooperation to address challenges in combating terrorist financing and terrorist financing.
The participating countries will also deliberate on how to effectively implement the standards mandated by the Financial Action Terror Force (FATF) and UN listing on terrorist groups and terrorists.
India had hosted two global events in October, 2022 - Interpol's annual general assembly in Delhi and a special session of the United Nations Anti-Terrorism Committee in Mumbai and Delhi.
4. COP27 presidency launches Sharm-el-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda
Tags: Environment International News
At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt, the COP27 Presidency launched the Sharm-el-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda to enhance resilience for the four billion people living in the most climate-sensitive communities by 2030.
Important facts
The Sharm-el-Sheikh adaptation agenda represents a significant contribution to elevating global action on adaptation and resilience as a top priority.
Each outcome presents a global solution that can be adopted locally to respond to local climate contexts, needs and risks
This will help bring about the necessary changes in mechanisms to protect vulnerable communities from increasing climate hazards, such as extreme heat, drought, floods, or extreme weather.
Developing countries also demanded that the fund should be easily accessible.
It aims to reduce the devastating effects of climate change.
The presidency sought to raise $140 billion to $300 billion to advance these goals.
Developing countries, including India, are asking rich countries to agree to a new global climate finance target, also known as the New Collective Quantitative Target on Climate Finance.
These actions will be carried out in five impact systems – Food and Agriculture, Water and Nature, Coastal and Ocean, Human Settlements, and Infrastructure.
These actions will include enabling solutions to plan and finance these areas.
5. Sahitya Akademi organises 8-day Book Fair at Rabindra Bhavan in New Delhi
Tags: Festivals National National News
Sahitya Akademi has organised an 8-day Book Fair at Rabindra Bhawan in New Delhi on 11 November. The book fair will run till 18th November.
Important facts
During the Book Fair, the Academy will organise several literary activities like book release, book discussion, children's literature, symposium, cartoon making and creative writing competitions for children.
30 eminent authors writing for children will participate in various literary activities during the fair.
About Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi was formally inaugurated by the Government of India on 12 March 1954.
It actively works for the development of Indian literature and setting high literary standards, promoting and coordinating literary activities in all Indian languages and promoting the overall cultural unity of the country through them.
The Sahitya Akademi, India's national literary academy, is the central institution for literary dialogue, publication and promotion in the country and the only institution that undertakes literary activities in 24 Indian languages, including English.
Head Office - Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi
Secretary - Dr K Srinivasan
6. Anamalai Tiger Reserve initiated elephant adoption scheme
Tags: Environment National News
The 'Elephant Adoption Scheme' has been unveiled by Tamil Nadu-based Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in November 2022.
Important Facts:
ATR has started an elephant adoption program in which NGOs, institutions, trusts or individuals can sponsor the cost of elephants in the forest department's camp.
Lima Rose Martin, Director of Martin Group of Companies, Martin Trust and District Coordinator of Rotary Club of Coimbatore Aakriti's 'Go Green' program, adopted two elephants Abhinay and Sanjeev from Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp for one year.
Under the Elephant Adoption Scheme, any donor who is desirous of adopting elephants is said to be exempted under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act 1961.
On 7 November 2022, Lima Rose Martin handed over a demand draft of Rs 1,86,720 to meet the expenses of 2 elephants for 3 months.
Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR):
ATR is one of the four tiger reserves of Tamil Nadu. It is a part of the Southern Western Ghats. It is part of the Anamalai Parambikulam Elephant Reserve declared in the year 2003.
It is surrounded by Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in the east and Eravikulam National Park and Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in the southwest.
The reserve is also surrounded by the Nenmara Vazhachal, Malayattur and Marayur reserve forests of Kerala.
The mountain ranges found in this sanctuary include Amaravati, Udumalpet, Pollachi, Uledi and Valparai etc.
The tribes found in this region include Kadar, Malasar, Malmalsar, Pulayar, Muduvar and Eravalan.
The main mammals found here include Asian Elephant, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Gaur, Nilgiri Tahr, Tiger, etc.
7. Global Investors Summit-2023' to be held in Visakhapatnam
Tags: Economy/Finance Summits National News
On 8 November 2022, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy unveiled the logo of the 'Global Investors Summit-2023' to be held in Visakhapatnam at his camp office.
Important Facts
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed to organise 'Global Investors Summit' to be held in Visakhapatnam on March 3 and 4 in the year 2023.
Investment summits could not be held in the state in the last three years.
Other states are just starting to do so and the AP government has also focused on MSMEs providing infrastructure for the development of campuses in the state.
Machilipatnam and Bhavanapadu ports are being constructed, Visakha and Kakinada ports are being developed as well as five shipping ports are in progress.
Leading industrialists from across the world will also be invited to the summit at the Global Investors Summit to be held in Visakhapatnam.
Andhra Pradesh
Capital: Amaravati
Governor: Vishwa Bhushan Harichandan
Chief Minister: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
8. 53rd International Film Festival of India 2022
Tags: Festivals National National News
The 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be held in Goa from 20 to 28 November 2022. The 53rd edition of IFFI will begin with the Austrian film 'Alma & Oscar' on 20 November 2022.
Important Facts
The organisers of the festival believe that the film will be screened at INOX, Panaji.
IFFI is jointly organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals and the State Government of Goa. It is monitored by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
The film 'Alma and Oscar' is directed by Austrian director Dieter Berner. This is a biopic. The film is based on the relationship between artist Alma Mahler and Austrian painter Oscar Kokoschka.
The 110-minute film is written by Berner and Hilde Berger.
Other points related to IFFI
A total of 15 films will compete for the coveted Golden Peacock at the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India.
From the first Golden Peacock given at the 3rd edition of IFFI, the award has been one of the most sought after film awards in Asia.
The jury for the 53rd edition includes Israeli writer and film director Nadav Lapid, American filmmaker Ginkgo Gotoh, French film editor Pascal Chavans, French documentary filmmaker, film critic and journalist Javier Angulo Barturen and India director Sudipto Sen.
Among the films in the competition category this year are Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Zanussi's Perfect Number, Mexican filmmaker Carlos Eichelmann Kaiser's Red Shoes, Iranian drama No End and Hindi film Kashmir Files.
9. DMRC, BEL sign pact for development of indigenous train control system
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
In November 2022, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has signed an MoU with Public Sector Undertaking 'Bharat Electronics Limited' (BEL) for development of 'Indigenous Communication-Based Train Control System' (I-CBTC).
Important Facts
The MoU was signed by Om Hari Pandey (Director, Power) DMRC and Manoj Jain, Director BEL in the presence of senior officials at Metro Bhawan, New Delhi.
DMRC is developing this indigenous system along with BEL and C-DAC as part of the 'Make in India' initiative of the Government of India under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Features of i-CBTC:
The system is being widely adopted by most countries around the world, especially for its characteristic of moving blocks that allow a high frequency of trains.
I-CBTC is a major step towards development of indigenously manufactured signalling systems in India towards achieving self-reliance in Metro Signalling and Train Control Systems.
I-CBTC is efficient in utilising metro infrastructure and provides secure operation that facilitates innovation, enhances local skills and reduces deployment costs for metros.
DMRC and BEL have also jointly developed indigenous Automatic Train Supervision System (I-ATS) which is currently under implementation.
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
Established: 1954
Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Chairman and Managing Director: Bhanu Prakash Srivastava
10. Year 2022 declared as ASEAN-India Friendship year
Tags: International News
The year 2022 has been declared as the ASEAN-India Friendship Year, as ASEAN and India celebrate 30 years of partnership.
Important facts
A series of events have been planned to celebrate the occasion throughout the year.
An Indian media delegation is visiting Singapore and Cambodia as part of the ASEAN-India Media Exchange Program from November 8 to 13.
In the first leg of the visit, the delegation visited the Singapore-India Chambers of Commerce and Industries (SICCI).
The delegation exchanged views on India-Singapore relations with a special focus on business-friendly policies and business expectations.
Evolution of India -ASEAN relationship
India was initially made a sectoral partner by ASEAN in 1992. With the increasing depth in the relationships the status was changed to a Dialogue Partner in 1996.
In 2022 the relationship was further upgraded to Summit level
And finally in 2012 it was elevated to Strategic partnership.
Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN)
It was set up in 1967 as a group of South-East Asian nations.
At present there are 10 members in the group.
They are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The headquarters of ASEAN: Jakarta, Indonesia.
