1. India joins MAC, at 27th session of COP27 in Egypt
Tags: National Summits National News
India has joined the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) at the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.
Important facts
After joining the alliance, India called for the integration of mangrove conservation with reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) programs for carbon sequestration.
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said studies have shown that mangrove forests can absorb four to five times more carbon emissions than landed tropical forests.
What are Mangroves?
These are small trees and shrubs that grow along the coast and thrive in salt water and develop into unique forests on land and sea shore.
Mangrove ecosystems are one of the most productive and ecologically important ecosystems in the world.
They offer significant climate change mitigation and adaptation co-benefits because they are able to store carbon up to 400 percent faster than land-based tropical rainforests.
They protect coastal areas from rising sea levels, erosion and storms and provide breeding grounds for marine biodiversity.
About 80 percent of the world's fish population depend on these ecosystems for their survival.
India contributes about half of the total mangrove cover in South Asia and the Sundarbans in West Bengal has the highest percentage of mangrove cover in India.
West Bengal has the highest percentage of mangrove cover in India. It is followed by Gujarat and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Kerala also have mangroves.
About Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC)
MAC is an intergovernmental coalition that seeks to accelerate the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems.
India is among the first five countries to join the MAC, which includes Australia, Japan, Spain and Sri Lanka.
2. Kochi to host 18th International Telemedicine Conference
Tags: place in news Summits National News
The 18th International Telemedicine Conference organised by Telemedicine Society of India (TSI) in association with TSI Kerala Chapter will be held in Kochi, Kerala from 10-12 November.
Important facts
More than 200 scientists and academic scholars from India and around the world are expected to come together in this three-day event.
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman S Somnath will participate in this conference as the chief guest and deliberate on how the latest technologies in our country will improve telemedicine facilities.
The conference will be held at Amrita Hospital, Kochi.
“The core theme of the event ‘Strengthening Health Systems Through Sustainable Telemedicine and Digital Health’.
The conference aims to build a platform involving health regulators, health funding authorities, service providers and international experts.
The conference will examine emerging telehealth models, explore breakthrough technologies and entrepreneurship.
The conference will also highlight the socioeconomic impact of telehealth on healthcare and equity.
About International Telemedicine Conference
Telemedicine-2022 is an annual global conference for healthcare professionals, providers, health insurance providers, online pharmacy chains, industrialists, academic scientists, research scholars and scientists.
The conference is organised in collaboration with government agencies, private organisations and national and international professional societies.
3. Urban Affairs Ministry launches Transport 4 All Challenge Stage-2 and Citizen Perception Survey 2022
Tags: National National News
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the “Transport 4 All Challenge” Stage-2 and Citizen Perception Survey 2022 on 9 November, 2022.
About Transport 4 All Challenge Stage-2
It is an initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, aimed at enhancing the mobility experience of citizens.
The challenge focuses on digital innovation and invites cities, citizens and innovators to join hands to develop relevant digital solutions to improve formal and informal public transport to better meet the mobility needs of all citizens.
More than 130 cities signed up for Phase 1 of the challenge launched on April 15, 2021.
Stages of Transport 4 All Challenge’ Stage-2
Stage I - Problem Identification : Cities, with the support of NGOs, identify key recurring problems that citizens and public transport operators face.
Stage II - Solution Generation : Startups, develop prototypes of solutions to improve public transport with inputs from cities and NGOs.
Stage III Pilot Testing : Cities engage Startups for large-scale pilots and refine the solutions based on citizen feedback.
Citizen Perception Survey 2022
The Citizen Perception Survey (CPS) is conducted as part of the Ease of Living Index. It was conducted for the first time in 2020.
The Survey aims to understand citizens' perceptions about the quality of life in their cities.
It tries to understand the perception of citizens on public transport, education facilities, health services, availability of water, cost of housing, employment opportunities, etc.
Citizen Perception Survey 2022 will be conducted from November 9 to December 23 this year.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the Urban Outcomes Framework 2022 in April 2022 as an initiative to conduct transparent and comprehensive assessment of cities based on cross-city outcomes in key sectors.
The Ease of Living Index, in the form of a 360-degree assessment, evaluates India's cities on the basis of quality of life, economic potential and sustainability.
4. Urban Affairs Ministry launches Transport 4 All Challenge Stage-2 and Citizen Perception Survey 2022
Tags: National National News
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the “Transport 4 All Challenge” Stage-2 and Citizen Perception Survey 2022 on 9 November, 2022.
About Transport 4 All Challenge Stage-2
It is an initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, aimed at enhancing the mobility experience of citizens.
The challenge focuses on digital innovation and invites cities, citizens and innovators to join hands to develop relevant digital solutions to improve formal and informal public transport to better meet the mobility needs of all citizens.
More than 130 cities signed up for Phase 1 of the challenge launched on April 15, 2021.
Stages of Transport 4 All Challenge’ Stage-2
Stage I - Problem Identification : Cities, with the support of NGOs, identify key recurring problems that citizens and public transport operators face.
Stage II - Solution Generation : Startups, develop prototypes of solutions to improve public transport with inputs from cities and NGOs.
Stage III Pilot Testing : Cities engage Startups for large-scale pilots and refine the solutions based on citizen feedback.
Citizen Perception Survey 2022
The Citizen Perception Survey (CPS) is conducted as part of the Ease of Living Index. It was conducted for the first time in 2020.
The Survey aims to understand citizens' perceptions about the quality of life in their cities.
It tries to understand the perception of citizens on public transport, education facilities, health services, availability of water, cost of housing, employment opportunities, etc.
Citizen Perception Survey 2022 will be conducted from November 9 to December 23 this year.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the Urban Outcomes Framework 2022 in April 2022 as an initiative to conduct transparent and comprehensive assessment of cities based on cross-city outcomes in key sectors.
The Ease of Living Index, in the form of a 360-degree assessment, evaluates India's cities on the basis of quality of life, economic potential and sustainability.
5. S Jaishankar holds bilateral talks with Foreign Minister of Belarus, Vladimir Makei
Tags: International Relations International News
External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar held bilateral talks with his Belarus counterpart Vladimir Makei in New Delhi on 9 November, 2022.
Important facts
The Foreign Minister of Belarus, Vladimir Makei arrives in New Delhi on November 9, 2022 for a two-day visit to India.
Both leaders held talks on a range of issues including bilateral economic ties, Ukraine conflict and multilateral cooperation.
India - Belarus Relations
India’s relations with Belarus have been traditionally warm and cordial.
India was one of the first countries to recognize Belarus as an independent country in 1991.
After formal diplomatic relations were established, the Indian diplomatic mission was opened in Minsk in 1992 and Belarus opened its mission in New Delhi in 1998.
Cooperation between the two countries is reflected in several multilateral fora such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Belarus helped consolidate India's candidature for a temporary seat at the UNSC in July 2020.
India has supported Belarus in various international fora such as membership of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and other international and multilateral groups such as the IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union).
The two countries have established mechanisms for the exchange of views on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues through the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC), and the Joint Commission on Military Technical Cooperation.
The two countries signed several MoUs on various subjects including defence and technical cooperation, trade and economic cooperation, culture, education, media and sports, tourism, science and technology, agriculture, textiles, avoidance of double taxation, promotion of investment.
In the economic sphere, the annual bilateral trade turnover in 2019 is USD 569.6 million.
About Belarus
President - Alexander Lukashenko
Prime Minister - Roman Golovchenko
Capital - Minsk
Currency - Belarusian ruble
6. S Jaishankar holds bilateral talks with Foreign Minister of Belarus, Vladimir Makei
Tags: International Relations International News
External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar held bilateral talks with his Belarus counterpart Vladimir Makei in New Delhi on 9 November, 2022.
Important facts
The Foreign Minister of Belarus, Vladimir Makei arrives in New Delhi on November 9, 2022 for a two-day visit to India.
Both leaders held talks on a range of issues including bilateral economic ties, Ukraine conflict and multilateral cooperation.
India - Belarus Relations
India’s relations with Belarus have been traditionally warm and cordial.
India was one of the first countries to recognize Belarus as an independent country in 1991.
After formal diplomatic relations were established, the Indian diplomatic mission was opened in Minsk in 1992 and Belarus opened its mission in New Delhi in 1998.
Cooperation between the two countries is reflected in several multilateral fora such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Belarus helped consolidate India's candidature for a temporary seat at the UNSC in July 2020.
India has supported Belarus in various international fora such as membership of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and other international and multilateral groups such as the IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union).
The two countries have established mechanisms for the exchange of views on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues through the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC), and the Joint Commission on Military Technical Cooperation.
The two countries signed several MoUs on various subjects including defence and technical cooperation, trade and economic cooperation, culture, education, media and sports, tourism, science and technology, agriculture, textiles, avoidance of double taxation, promotion of investment.
In the economic sphere, the annual bilateral trade turnover in 2019 is USD 569.6 million.
About Belarus
President - Alexander Lukashenko
Prime Minister - Roman Golovchenko
Capital - Minsk
Currency - Belarusian ruble
7. Atal Innovation Mission launches women centric challenges under ANIC program
Tags: National National News
Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog launched the Women centric challenges under the 2nd edition of Atal New India Challenge (ANIC) on 9 November.
Important facts
Women centric challenges address the major issues faced by women from all walks of life.
These include promoting women's hygiene through innovation, innovations to improve women's safety, professional networking opportunities for women, innovations that improve the lives of working mothers and make the lives of rural women easier.
It aims to seek, select, support and nurture technology-based innovations that solve regional challenges of national importance and social relevance through a grant-based arrangement of up to Rs 1 crore.
ANIC's women centric challenges address the major issues faced by women from all walks of life.
These include promoting women's hygiene through innovation, innovations to improve women's safety, professional networking opportunities for women, innovations that improve the lives of working mothers and make the lives of rural women easier.
NITI Aayog currently runs the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), which was launched in 2018, to help women become entrepreneurs, scale up their innovations and create sustainable, long-term strategies for their businesses.
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
This is an important initiative taken by the Government of India to promote the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
Objective of AIM
Developing new programs and policies to promote innovation in various sectors of the economy
Providing forums and opportunities for collaboration for various stakeholders
To create an umbrella structure to create awareness and monitor the innovation ecosystem of the country.
8. Atal Innovation Mission launches women centric challenges under ANIC program
Tags: National National News
Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog launched the Women centric challenges under the 2nd edition of Atal New India Challenge (ANIC) on 9 November.
Important facts
Women centric challenges address the major issues faced by women from all walks of life.
These include promoting women's hygiene through innovation, innovations to improve women's safety, professional networking opportunities for women, innovations that improve the lives of working mothers and make the lives of rural women easier.
It aims to seek, select, support and nurture technology-based innovations that solve regional challenges of national importance and social relevance through a grant-based arrangement of up to Rs 1 crore.
ANIC's women centric challenges address the major issues faced by women from all walks of life.
These include promoting women's hygiene through innovation, innovations to improve women's safety, professional networking opportunities for women, innovations that improve the lives of working mothers and make the lives of rural women easier.
NITI Aayog currently runs the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), which was launched in 2018, to help women become entrepreneurs, scale up their innovations and create sustainable, long-term strategies for their businesses.
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
This is an important initiative taken by the Government of India to promote the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
Objective of AIM
Developing new programs and policies to promote innovation in various sectors of the economy
Providing forums and opportunities for collaboration for various stakeholders
To create an umbrella structure to create awareness and monitor the innovation ecosystem of the country.
9. Improvement in the ground water conditions in 909 assessment units as compared to 2107:Jal Shakti ministry report
Tags: Environment National
According to the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2022, there has been an improvement in ground water condition in the 909 assessment units of the country as compared to the assessment done in 2017.
The Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2022 was released by the Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 9 November 2022 at New Delhi. The assessment was carried out jointly by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and with the State and Union Territories.
Such joint exercises between CGWB and the State and Union Territories government were carried out earlier in 1980, 1995, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2020.
India is the largest user of groundwater in the world. Ground water is a major source of drinking water and for irrigation in India.
Highlights of the 2022 report
- As per the 2022 assessment report, the total annual ground water recharge for the entire country is 437.60 billion cubic meters (BCM)
- The annual ground water extraction for the entire country is 239.16 BCM.
- Out of the total 7089 assessment units in the country, 1006 units have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’.( It means that the rate at which water is extracted exceeds the rate at which the aquifer is able to recharge))
- Analysis indicates improvement in ground water conditions in 909 assessment units in the country compared with 2017 assessment data
- Assessment indicates an overall increase in ground water recharge
Reason for increase in ground water increase
According to the report following were the reasons for increase in ground water recharge:
- increase in recharge from canal seepage,
- return flow of irrigation water and
- Recharges from water bodies/tanks & water conservation structures.
What is Groundwater?
Groundwater is freshwater (from rain or melting ice and snow) that soaks into the soil and is stored in the tiny spaces (pores) between rocks and particles of soil.
It is also called subsurface water to distinguish it from surface water, which is found in large bodies like the oceans or lakes or which flows overland in streams.
10. India has 2.49 lakh voter aged above 100 years: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar
Tags: place in news National Person in news
According to the Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar there are 2.49 lakh voters aged above 100 in India and 1.80 crore voters are over 80 years of age.
He was speaking after flagging off a bicycle rally in Maharashtra's Pune city on 9 November 2022 to create an awareness about voter registration as part of the national level launch of a special summary revision of the voters' list.
He also mentioned the first voter of Independent India Shyam Saran Negi who died at the age of 106 years after casting his postal ballot for the forthcoming Himachal Legislative Assembly election.
What is Special summary revision of voters list?
Election commission of India prepares the voters list of eligible Indian citizens who are 18 years or above of age.
Any eligible citizen who has attained the age of 18 years on 1 January of that year (for this year it will be 1 January 2022) can enrol himself/herself as General Voter by filling form number 6.
To include anyone who has been left and not included as a voter, are included through the Special Summary Revision initiative.
The Election Commission of India conducts Special Summary Revision to enrol unenrolled eligible citizens during the month of Oct-Nov every year.
This year the Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls with reference to January 01, 2022 as qualifying date, will start from 01.11.2021.
Important points to Know
Whenever an election takes place, a public holiday is announced by the government on the polling day to encourage people to vote. The holiday is given under the Negotiable Instrument Act 1881.
National Voters day is observed in India on 25 January. It was on this day in 1950 the Election Commission of India came into being.
