1. Uttarakhand Government appoints Prasoon Joshi as its Brand Ambassador
Tags: Person in news State News
The Uttarakhand government has named Prasoon Joshi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of McCann Worldgroup India, the state’s brand ambassador. Padma Shri awardee Prasoon Joshi is a native of Uttarakhand and is currently the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board). He is a famous and highly awarded member of the Indian advertising and media fraternity.
Prasoon Joshi has also written the lyrics for songs in popular Bollywood movies such as Rang De Basanti, Fanaa and Taare Zameen Par. He has also written the script for the award-winning 2013 film, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Awards to Prasoon Joshi
Earlier this month, the Uttarakhand government bestowed the Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman honour to Joshi for his contributions to art, literature, culture and advertising.
He has received several prestigious international honours such as Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2006. He was also the first Asian to become the jury president at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity in 2014 for the prestigious Titanium category.
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand was formed on 9th November 2000 as the 27th State of India.
Governor: Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh
Chief Minister: Pushkar singh Dhami
Capital: Dehradun
2. KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar inaugurates the ambitious RE-HAB Project in Nainital
Tags: Environment place in news National Person in news State News
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) Chairman Manoj Kumar inaugurated the ambitious RE-HAB, Project (Reducing Human Attacks using Honey Bees) of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission at village Chausla, in Forest Range Fatehpur, Haldwani, District Nainital, and Uttarakhand on 28 November 2022. He also distributed 330 Bee-boxes, bee-colonies and toolkits along with the honey extractors to the rural beneficiaries in Chausla village.
Project RE-HAB,
Government is promoting the use of bees to discourage attacks of wild elephants on human settlements. KVIC has launched a project RE-HAB, in the states of Assam, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Orissa.
How it works
- Under Project RE-HAB, “Bee-fences' ' are created by setting up bee boxes in the passageways of elephants to block their entrance to human territories.
- The boxes are connected with a string so that when elephants attempt to pass through, a tug or pull causes the bees to swarm the elephant herds and dissuade them from progressing further.
- It is a cost-effective way of reducing human-wild conflicts without causing any harm to the animals.
- It is scientifically recorded that elephants are annoyed by the honey bees. Elephants also fear that the bee swarms can bite their sensitive inner side of the trunk and eyes. The collective buzz of the bees is annoying to elephants that force them to return.
- Project RE-HAB is a sub-mission of KVIC’s National Honey Mission.
- While the Honey Mission is a programme to increase the bee population, honey production and beekeepers’ income by setting up apiaries, Project RE-HAB uses bee boxes as a fence to prevent the elephant attacks.
- As a new initiative, the RE-HAB project will be run by KVIC at selected locations for a period of one year.
The Khadi Village and Industries Commission (KVIC)
- The Khadi Village and Industries Commission (KVIC) was set up in 1957 under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956.
- It is under the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.
- It is responsible for planning, promotion, organisation, and implementation of programs for the development of Khadi and other village industries in the rural areas along with other agencies engaged in rural development wherever necessary.
Chairperson of KVIC: Manoj Kumar
3. Spanish film ‘I Have Electric Dreams’ wins the Golden Peacock for the Best Film award at the 53rd IFFI
Tags: National Awards Person in news
The 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) came to an end at a ceremony held at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium near Panaji on 28 November 2022. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and a host of film personalities including Akshay Kumar, Asha Parekh, Ayushman Khurana, Manushi Chhillar, Rana Duggubati, Sharman Joshi, and Khushbu Sundar were present.
The 53rd IFFI being held in Panaji from 20-28 November 2022 was organised by National Film Development Corporation and Entertainment Society of Goa.
Main Highlights of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI)
Opening and closing film of the Festival
The opening film of the festival was Austrian Director Dieter Berner's film Alma and Oskar and the closing film was the Polish film ‘Perfect Number’, directed by Krzysztof Zanussi.
Awards
Celebrated Spanish film Director Carlos Saura was honoured with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award.
Actor Producer Chiranjeevi Konidela was conferred with the IFFI Indian Film Personality of the Year Award for 2022.
Golden Peacock for the Best Film:
Spanish film Tengo sueños eléctricos / I HAVE ELECTRIC DREAMS. The film has been directed by Costa Rican film maker Valentina Maurel.
Silver Peacock for Best Director:
Iranian writer and director Nader Saeivar was awarded Silver Peacock for Best Director for his Turkish film No End/ Bi Payan.
Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Male)
Vahid Mobasseri, lead actor of No End, was honoured with Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Male).
Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Female)
Daniela Marín Navarro, lead Actress of the Film ‘I Have Electric Dreams’ was honoured with Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Female).
Special Jury Award
Lav Diaz of Philippines was chosen for the Special Jury Award for When the Waves are Gone / Kapag wala nang mga alon.
Best Debut Feature Film of a Director
Asimina Proedrou of Greece was chosen for the Best Debut Feature Film of a Director. She got the award for her film Behind the Haystacks.
Special mention by Jury Award
Director, writer and cinematographer Praveen Kandregula received Special Mention by the Jury for his film Cinema Bandi. The film has been made in Telugu
The Feature Film Jury, comprising thirteen members, was headed by Vinod Ganatra, an illustrious Filmmaker and Editor and winner of 9 National and 36 International awards.
International Film Festival of India (IFFI)
The first International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was held in the cities of Bombay (now Mumbai), Delhi, Calcutta (now Kolkata), Madras (now Chennai) from 24 January to 1 February 1952.
The Delhi leg was inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It was later held in different cities of the country.
Since 2004, starting from the 35th edition, Goa has become the permanent venue of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
It is held in the month of November -December every year.
4. Government extends the term of foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra
Tags: Person in news
The Government of India has extended the term of Vinay Mohan Kwatra as Foreign Secretary. In an order issued on 28 November 2022 the IFS officer's term has been extended beyond the date of his superannuation on 31st December of this year up to 30th April 2024 or until further orders.
Kwatra became the 34th foreign secretary of India on 1 May 2022 after the retirement of Harsha Vardhan Shringla.
Foreign Secretary of India
Foreign Secretary is the head of the Department of the Foreign Affairs, Government of India. He helps the Foreign minister in making the foreign policy of India and advises on the administrative matters within the ministry.
The first Foreign Secretary of India was KPS Menon senior.
First woman Foreign Secretary: Chokila Iyer (2001-2002)
Union Foreign Minister: S.Jaishankar
5. Rajnath Singh co-chairs 4th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue with French Minister Sebastien Lecornu in New Delhi
Tags: place in news Defence Person in news
The Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the visiting French Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu jointly chaired the 4th India France Annual Defence Dialogue in New Delhi on 28 November 2022. Sebastien Lecornu is also scheduled to meet the External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar and the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval today.
The French defence minister who is officially known as Minister for the Armed Forces is on a two day (27-28 November) visit to India to strengthen the bilateral defence ties with India. It is his first official visit to India.
On 27 November 2022 Sebastien Lecornu visited the Southern Naval Command Headquarters at Kochi and saw India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
According to the Defence Ministry, India and France have close and friendly relations. In 1998, the two countries entered into Strategic Partnership, marking convergence of their views on a range of international issues apart from a close and growing bilateral relationship.
The areas of Defence & Security cooperation, Space cooperation and civil nuclear cooperation constitute the principal pillars of India’s Strategic Partnership with France.
India and France military exercises.
The 20th Indian and French navy’s joint exercise “VARUNA” was conducted in the Arabian Sea from 30 March to 3 April 2022.
The 'Garuda VIl' exercise was held from 26 October to 12 November 2022 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
6. PT Usha will be the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association
Tags: Sports Person in news Sports News
High-flying PT Usha is all set to become the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as she has emerged as the only candidate in the election for the post to be held on December 10.
Important facts
November 27 was the last day for filing nominations and none other than PT Usha filed a claim.
PT Usha has won the Asian Games gold medal. At the same time, in the 1984 Olympics, she finished fourth in the final of the 400 meters hurdles.
PT Usha, the first woman President of the Indian Olympic Association, is 58 years old.
PT Usha has won 11 medals in Asian Games and 23 medals in Asian Championships in her career. These include 18 gold medals.
PT Usha has won 4 gold medals in Asian Games and 14 gold medals in Asian Championships.
She is currently the committee head of the Pratibha Sangh of India. This committee conducts national level Indian Talent Olympiad exams in schools all over India.
PT Usha, who hails from Kerala, has studied at Providence Women's College, Kozhikode.
In 1991, she was married to Inspector V. Srinivasan of the Central Industrial Security Force.
Apart from the post of President, elections will also be held for the posts of Vice President (Women), Joint Secretary (Women). Twelve candidates are in the fray for four members of the executive council.
Ajay Patel of National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is set to be the senior vice-president as he is also the lone candidate for the post.
7. Ravina wins gold and Kirti settle for silver as Indian campaign ends with 11 medals at the IBA Youth Men's and Women's World Championships 2022
Tags: place in news Sports Person in news
The Indian boxers ended their campaign in the IBA (International Boxing Association) Youth Men's and Women's World Championships 2022 with 11 medals with Ravina winning a gold while Kirti had to settle for the silver medal on the final day of the championship. The Indian won 4 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 4 bronze medals.
In the final day of the championships 2022 Asian Youth gold medallist Ravina (63Kg) won the gold medal for India by defeating Megan deCler of the Netherlands.
Kirti (81+kg) lost her final match against the 2022 European Youth champion Cliona Elizabeth D’Arcy of Ireland, and secured the silver medal.
Medal winners of India
Gold medal winners
Vishwanath Suresh in the men's 48kg,
Devika in the women's 52 kg,
Vanshaj in the men's 48 kg,
Ravina in the women's 63 Kg.
Silver Medal winner
Bhawna Sharma in the women's 48 kg category,
Ashish in the men's 54 kg category,
Kirti in the women's 81+kg category
Bronze medal winner
Tamanna (50kg), Kunjarani Devi Thongam (60kg), Muskan (75kg) and Lashu Yadav (70kg) won the Bronze medal for India. All are women boxers.
IBA Youth Men's and Women's World Championships 2022
The IBA Youth Men’s and Women’s World Boxing Championships 2022 was 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 participated in the Championship.
8. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attend Manipur's Sangai Festival as a chief guest
Tags: Festivals Person in news State News
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended Manipur's Sangai festival as a chief guest on 27 November 2022 under the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' initiative of the Government of India. Manipur’s biggest festival Sangai is being held from 21 -30 November 2022.Under the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' Manipur and Madhya Pradesh are partner states.
Artist of Madhya Pradesh will perform traditional dance form of Manipur’s like Mao tribe’s Naurata dance, Thai dance troupes etc. Before this, Imphal had participated in the Lokrang Mahotsav of Bhopal and now Bhopal is participating in Sangai Mahotsav of Imphal.
The theme of this festival is the 'Festival of Oneness.' Sangai is the state animal of Manipur, which is found only in Manipur.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme was launched by the Prime Minister Modi on 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
- The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme is a unique initiative by the Government to promote the spirit of national integration and to strengthen the fabric of emotional bonds between the people of our country.
- Every State and UT in the country would be paired with another State/UT for a time period, during which they would carry out a structured engagement with one another in the spheres of language, literature, cuisine, festivals, cultural events, tourism etc.
9. 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.
10. 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.
