News Summary - December 4th, Merged & Compressed PDF

TCS to modernise Bank of Bhutan's digital system The government passed an amendment billin the Lok Sabha that brings about changes to five banking laws. Allow for the nomination of up to four persons, Increasing the threshold for shareholdingof a beneficial interest by an individual, etc., to Rs 2...

TCS to modernise Bank of Bhutan's digital system The government passed an amendment billin the Lok Sabha that brings about changes to five banking laws. Allow for the nomination of up to four persons, Increasing the threshold for shareholdingof a beneficial interest by an individual, etc., to Rs 2 crore from Rs 5 lakhs, To revise the reporting dates for thesubmission of statutory reports by banks to the Reserve Bank of India, Increasing the tenure of directors(excluding the chairman and whole-timedirector) in co-operative banks to 10 years from 8 years Oxford University Press (OUP) hasannounced ‘brain rot’ as the Oxford Word ofthe Year 2024. The government today launched sixteeninitiatives in New Delhi to empower Divyangjans across the nation The National Council for VocationalEducation and Training (NCVET) of theMinistry of Skill Development andEntrepreneurship has officially recognizedthe Indian National Space Promotion andAuthorization Center (IN-SPACe) as an awarding body The Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the Oilfield(Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill 2024. The Bill amends the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948. It expands the definition of Mineral oils, which include naturally occurring hydrocarbon, coal bed methane, and shale gas. Govt approves proposals worth over 21,000 crore rupees for naval defence equippments United States (US) President Joe Biden'sadministration notified the US Congress ofits decision to approve the sale of MH-60Rmulti-mission helicopter equipment andrelated supplies at an estimated cost of$1.17 billion to India. Hyundai ties up with 3 IITs for battery,electrification researchHyundai Motor Group partnered with threeIndian Institutes of Technology (IITs) toestablish a collaborative research system inthe fields of batteries and electrification. The institutes include IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay and IIT Madras.The Hyundai Center of Excellence (CoE),which will be set up within IIT Delhi, willoperate through sponsorships fromHyundai Motor Group.It will spread to hydrogen cells too Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, also known as the Accessible India Campaign, is celebrating its 9th anniversary 3rd December 2024 It is a transformative initiative aimed at creating an accessible and inclusive India for persons with disabilities. Indian Navy Day 2024 Date: 4th December International Day of Persons with DisabilitiesDate: 3rd December 2024 theme: Enhancing the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future The General Council of the World TradeOrganization (WTO) agreed by consensusto reappoint Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala(Nigeria) as Director-General for a second four-year term Murdu Fernando Becomes Sri Lanka’s 2nd Female Chief Justice West Bengal’s tourism sector has received international recognition with UNESCO declaring it a top destination for heritage tourism. India’s Pavan Kampelli has secured abronze medal in the e-football event at the 2024 Asian Esports Games in Bangkok,Thailand. Sports Ministry to provide essential support to 2781 athletes across 21 sports Amit Shah, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and the Ministry of Cooperation, attended the Diamond Jubilee(60 Years) celebrations of the National Federation of State Co-operative Banks Limited (NAFSCOB) and the national meeting of Rural Cooperative Banks at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi. The 11th edition of Indian Coast Guard (ICG)’s National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise & Workshop (SAREX-24) was held in Kochi Finance Minister unveils Rs 100 commemorative coin to mark 100 years of SBI’s Horniman Circle Branch, Mumba The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore on (most effective tactics available) Meta for abusing its dominant position through WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy. The policy made data sharing with Meta companies mandatory, removing users opt-out option PM Modi was awarded with the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA), to implement solar energy projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles. Since the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had notified guidelines to regulate Payment Aggregator- Cross Border (PA-CB) entities in 2023, only 4 companies: Cashfree Payments, Amazon Pay, BillDesk, and Adyen India have received the licence to operate This is in contrast with the 41 companies that have been approved to function as domestic online Payment Aggregators The World Bank (WB) has approved USD 225.5 million funding for the Enhancing Landscape and Ecosystem Management (ELEMENT) Project, aimed at improving forest management and enhancing economic opportunities in Tripura and Nagaland. The project will also receive a complementary grant of USD 2.4 million from the Global Partnership for Sustainable and Resilient Landscapes (PROGREEN The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), under the Quality Council of India (QCI), signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (CREDAI) to enhance quality standards in temporary site testing laboratories 52nd International Emmy Awards 2024; Vir Das became 1st Indian to Host Event Vir Das won the Emmy’s Best Comedian award 2023 for ‘Landing’, a Netflix special. He became the first Indian comedian to win Emmy award Name the Mobile Application (app) that was recently (in November ‘24) launched to strengthen the fight against doping in sports, urging athletes, coaches, and the entire sporting community to embrace the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).-Know your Medicine Who will be hosting the 97th Oscar awards in 2025?- Conan O’Brien Public Sector Banks (PSBs) have received approval from the finance ministry to raise ₹25,200 crore in FY25 from the equity markets. Punjab National Bank (PNB): PNB has raised ₹5,000 crore by diluting 3.15% of the government stake. Bank of Maharashtra (BoM): BoM has raised ₹3,500 crore in the current financial year. Bank of India (BoI) raised Rs 5,000 crore through a 10-year infrastructure bond issuance at a 7.41% coupon rate. Bank of Baroda (BoB) raised Rs 3,500 crore through the issuance of Basel III-compliant Tier-2 bonds, also at a 7.41% coupon rate. The government's fiscal deficit in FY25 is expected to be 4.75% of GDP, The government's capital expenditure is projected to be ₹62,000 crore lower than the budgeted amount of ₹11.11 lakh crore, The railways and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways are expected to exceed their capex allocations for FY25. Gross tax revenue is expected to be 12.02% of GDP, and net taxrevenue is estimated at 8.08% of GDP, State Bank of India (SBI) has raised a total of Rs 50,000 crore in the current financial year through various bond issuances. Axis Bank announced that the asset book of its IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) has doubled from $2 billion in 2019 to $4 billion. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) praised India for adopting policies that reduce fossil fuel subsidies and create fiscal space for renewable energy initiatives and electric vehicles. India has implemented a “remove, target, and shift” approach to reduce subsidies on petroleum products, effectively lowering fiscal subsidies in the oil and gas sector by 85% since 2010 The Government of India has initiated the ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign to eradicate child marriage, one of the most pressing social evils in the country.The campaign is complemented by the launch of the Child Marriage Free Bharat portal to support its objectives. Inaugurated By: Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annpurna Devi. The Dwarka region of Delhi is set to host India's longest golf course, The e-Daakhil portal, an innovative platform designed to provide a speedy, inexpensive, and hassle-free mechanism for filing consumer complaints, is now operational across all states and union territories, including Ladakh. The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), in collaboration with Thales, revealed the top six teams in the Carbon Zero Challenge (CZC) 4.0, a nationwide contest promoting eco-innovationA special mention was awarded to YoTuh Energy for their electrified refrigeration technology for cold logistics vehicles At the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 024, the Ministry of Mines Pavilion secured the First Position (Gold) award for its outstanding display Google has appointed Mitul Shah, a former Apple India executive, as the Managing Director for its Devices and Services business in India. Kim Kyung-Ah has been appointed as the first female Chief Executive Officer (CEO) outside the founding family of Samsung Group The Indian Army has received Sabal 20 logistics drones from EndureAir Systems, procured for deployment in the Eastern sector. Payload capacity: Up to 20 kg. A recent study by Bengaluru-based staffing company Xpheno highlights Karnataka as the leading state in India for Positive Talent Balance (PTB) Haryana and Telangana secured 2nd and 3rd positions, respectively Tech Mahindra has entered a multi-year Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to develop the Autonomous Networks Operations Platform (ANOP). Red Planet Day is Observed annually on November 28, This year’s theme, "Planet vs. Plastics HDFC Bank market cap briefly crossed the Rs 14 lakh crore mark for the first time ever, HDFC Bank is India's third most-valuable listed company after IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which has a market cap of ₹15.60 lakh crore and Reliance Industries (RIL) with a market cap of ₹17.50 lakh crore South Africa Declares 'National Disaster' Over Food Poisonings Plans to increase India’s Nuclear power capacity to 22,480 MW by 2031-32. Iron ore production grows 4.1% to 158.4 MT in FY 2024-25 The 13th National Seed Congress (NSC) 2024 inaugurated by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The three-day Congress, to be held from 28 to 30 November 2024, at the International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) in Varanas Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General, Upendra Dwivedi launched Eklavya, an online digital platform for officers training The India-Singapore bilateral military exercise, AgniWarrior 2024 started in MaharashtraIndia carried out the test firing of the nuclear-capable 3,500-kilometre-range K-4 submarine- launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the Indian Navy's newly inducted nuclear submarine, INS Arighaat. A three-day national postal exhibition BIPEX-2024 started at Gyan Bhawan inPatna.Inauguratedby: Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar Gujarat Launches Cottage and Rural Industries Policy 2024-29 Dr. Thomas Schinecker, CEO of Roche, has been appointed the new President of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), effective January 1, 2025. UK’s John Tinniswood, World’s Oldest Man, Passes Away at 112 A Book Titled ‘My Beloved Life’ By Amitava Kumar India’s Rinchen Youdol wins historic Bronze at first World Para Poomsae Taekwondo Championships in Bahrain Which bank acted as a partner of the G20 in 2024?-New development Bank Who has been recently (in November ‘24) announced as the international event ambassador of the Tata Steel World 25K?-Cambel President Murmu Inaugurated 125th Birth Anniversary celebration of Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab.19th G20 Summit held in Brazil from 18th to 19th November 2024.theme “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet” Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil officially launched the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty during the opening session of G20 Leaders’ summit India, Brazil and South Africa launched a landmark joint declaration on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data for governance. PM Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni jointly unveiled the “Italy-India Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29” during their bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the G20 summit. PM Anthony Albanese held the 2nd India Australia Annual Summit on the sidelines of G20 summit. Brazil hands over G20 Presidency to South Africa as 19th G20 Summit Concludes USA tops Network Readiness Index 2024; India ranked 49th Technology United States of America People Republic of KoreaGovernance DenmarkImpact Finland According to the State of the World’s Children (SOWC 2024) report which is a global flagship report of United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), titled “The Future of Childhood in a Changing World”, the global child population will stabilize at around 2.3 billion by 2050 Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs(MEA), inaugurated the first overseas of Symbiosis International University’s (SIU) campus at Dubai Knowledge Park, the United Arab Emirates(UAE). He also launched his book titled “Why Bharat Matters” in English at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library in Dubai, the UAE. According to the S&P Global Ratings’ Global Bank Outlook Report, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is projected to grow between 6.5% to 7% PM Modi Honored with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Global Peace Award at AIAM Launch in Maryland, USA Former Euro Hockey President and former Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH – International Hockey Federation) Executive Board (EB) Member Marijke Fleuren(Netherlands)was honoured with the FIH Honorary Member Award by FIH President Tayyab Ikram during the 49th FIH Statutory Congress held in Muscat, Oman Gintautas Paluckas appointed as Prime Minister of Lithuania In November 2024, Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi was appointed as the Brand Ambassador for Madhya Pradesh’s (MP) tourism, aiming to promote the state’s diverse attractions. Blue Origin Completes 28th Mission to Space; Emily Calandrelli becomes the 100th woman in space China’s J-35 becomes Second 5th-Generation Fighter Formula 1: George Russel(Mercedes) won the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (Britain) finished 2nd and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. (Spain) finished 3rd Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the Dutch and Belgian racing driver, secured his 4th consecutive Formula One (F1) Drivers’ Championship after his 5th place finish at the Las Vegas GP 2024. He leads the F1 2024 Driver Standings with 403 points followed by McLaren Mercedes’ Lando Norris (Britain) with 340 Kushal Pal Singh & Aparna Jain released a New Book ‘Why the Heck Not World Heritage Week 2024 – November 19 to 25. i.WHW began with a special event held at the Sitaram temple in Soronji, Uttar Pradesh(UP) First-Ever UN’s World Conjoined Twins Day 2024 – November 24 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2024 – November. “Every 10 Minutes, a woman is killed. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women Sri Lanka secured approval for the fourth tranche of the $2.9 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). About IMF : Formation : 1 July 1944 Headquarters : Washington, D.C., United States Managing Director : Kristalina Georgieva Membership : 191 countries (190 UN countries and Kosovo) ICICI Prudential Life Insurance launched the industry’s first "Increasing Income" feature in its regular pay annuity product, ICICI Pru Guaranteed Pension Plan Flexi. Feature Details: The Increasing Income feature provides a 5% annual increase in the annuity pay-out, helping retirees combat inflation and maintain their standard of living About ICICI Prudential Life Insurance : Founded : 2000 Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India MD & CEO : Anup Bagchi The Ministry of Agriculture has approved the integration of 21 additional mandis in Rajasthan into the e-NAM (electronic National Agriculture Market) platform. This expansion brings the total number of physical markets linked to e-NAM to over 1,400 mandis across 27 states and union territories. Sin ince its launch in April 2016, State-wise mandi integration: Tamil Nadu: 157 Education Loans Witness Strong Growth Amid New Reforms 17.6% YoY growth in education loans Pradhan Mantri Vidyalaxmi Scheme. Offers collateral-free, guarantor-free education loans via a digital, student friendly platform. 3% interest subvention on loans up to ₹10 lakh for families earning up to ₹8 lakh annually Full interest subvention for families with annual incomes up to ₹4.5 lakh India is set to modernize its aviation regulations by replacing the outdated Aircraft Act of 1934 with the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 The bill, which the Lok Sabha already passed, will be presented in the Rajya Sabha for consideration by Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu India is working on the draft for the “UDAN 2.0” scheme, an upgraded version of the original UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) initiative. The new scheme will focus on underutilised airstrips, with plans to develop over 100 airstrips that can support financially viable air operations Since its launch in 2016, the UDAN scheme COP OP29 climate talks concluded in Azerbaijan with a deal offering $300 billion for climate finance by 2035 This amount is seen as insufficient by developing countries and activists, who had sought $600 billion. India's Reaction:India, led by negotiator Chandni Raina expressed disappointment Assam will host a two-day business summit, Advantage Assam 2.0 – the Global Infrastructure and Investors’ Summit, in February 2025, aimed at attracting investment and developing the state's infrastructure The summit will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24, 2025, and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman About Assam National Park: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri National Park Wildlife Sanctuary: Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary National Park: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri National Park ,Wildlife Sanctuary: Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary,Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary Chhattisgarh topped the list of Indian states and Union Territories (UTs) with the highest inflation rate of 8.8% er 2024, according to data National Statistical Office from the (NSO) The national retail inflation rate also surged to 6.2%, breaching the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) upper tolerance limit of 6%, driven primarily by rising food prices. Highest Inflation Rates: o Chhattisgarh: 8.8% o Bihar: 7.8% Lowest Inflation Rates: o Delhi: 4% o West Bengal and Maharashtra: India's Electronic Exports Surge by 23.6% in FY24 India’s electronics sector showed remarkable growth in FY24, with exports reaching $29.12 billion, a 23.6% increase The he top five destinations for India’s electronics exports were: United States United Arab Emirates Netherlands Tamil Nadu emerged as the top-performing state in electronic exports with $9.56 billion, reflecting a 78% growth year-on-year. China as a Trading Partner: China retained its position as India's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade amounting to $118.4 billion in FY24 Hemant Soren set to be sworn in as Jharkhand Chief Minister on November 28, 2024 About Jharkhand : Tiger Reserve : Palamu Tiger Reserve Wildlife Sanctuary : Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Gautam Budha Wildlife Sanctuary, Udhwa Lake Bird Wildlife Sanctuary Dan Bartlett, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Walmart Inc., was appointed as a board member of the Flipkart Group. Binny Bansal Resigns from PhonePe's Board of Directors The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini sailed out from Fremantle, Australia on 24 November 2024 for the second leg of the Navika Sagar Parikrama-II expedition, heading to Lyttelton, New Zealand. Crew Members: Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A are the women officers Goa Naval Area Organizes 2024 Annual Navy Education Society Conference Securities and Exchange Board of India Approves Roshni Nadar's Majority Stake Acquisition in HCLTech PSLV to Launch Two Satellites as Part of Proba-3 Mission on December 4 PSLV SLV will launch the Proba-3 mission on December 4, 2024 to deploy two satellites developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) Proba-3 is the first mission in the world where two satellites will fly in a parallel formation for long durations. Formation Flying:The satellites will maintain a distance of about 150 meters from each other for six hours per day IIFCL (India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited) has requested the government to include the space sector in the harmonized list of infrastructure to facilitate easier financing for satellite vehicle manufacturing. IFCL (In IIFCL Projects Limited (IPL) IPL has hel PL has helped ISRO with various activities, including transferring 13 satellites to NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, which involved complex legal processes. Aashish Khan, the legendary sarod maestro who popularised the instrument world overha as passed away at the age of 84 Recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2004, India's highest honor for performing arts Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship Las Vegas Grand Prix World Heritage Week 2024: November 19 to November 25 Discover and Experience Diversity Constitution Day: 26th November Aim: Mahila Samman scheme draws 4.33 million depositors Govt approves PAN 2.0 project The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), has given its approval for the PAN 2.0 Project of the Income Tax Department. The scheme offers a 7.5% interest rate on a maximum deposit of ₹2 lakh. IndusInd Bank and UNICEF Join Forces for Climate Resilience in India ndusInd Bank and UNICEF have launched a strategic initiative under the bank’s flagship. India Among Top 10 Countries for AI Readiness Report: Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) report. India ranks 2nd globally for AI specialists. India ranks 3rd globally for AI research publications Govt gives nod to National Mission on Natural Farming Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Total outlay of 2,481 crore rupees. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan unveiled the TeacherApp in New Delhi. One Nation One Subscription Union Cabinet has also approved Six thousand crore rupees have been allocated Tenure: Three calendar years – 2025, 2026, and 2027. Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated 227 Gender Resource Centres in 13 states under the Nayi Chetna 3.0 campaign The mission aims to ensure the rights of all Genders India to host 13th UN Global Geospatial Information Management Asia-Pacific Conferenc ference New Giaew Giant Radio Galaxy Discovered by MeerKAT. The Mee he MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa Pankaj Tripathi Appointed Festival Ambassador for Arunachal Rang Mahotsav 2024 13-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi Makes History as IPL’s Youngest Signing Yamandú Orsi wins close presidential election in Uruguay Union Minister Chandrakant Raghunath Patil, Ministry of Jal Shakti(MoSJ), digitally launched the newly developed “Bhu-Neer” portal during the closing ceremony of 8th edition of India Water Week (IWW)The portal was developed by Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), under MoJS, in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has launched a revised Performance-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme with an aim to reward and motivate employees for significant value creation for various stakeholders. The revised scheme also applies to senior executives in the rank of Chief Manager and above he PLI ceiling for MD & CEO and Executive Directors of nationalised banks and Chairman and Managing Directors (CMD) and Deputy Managing Directors (DMD) of State Bank of India (SBI) has been fixed at 100 % of their annual basic pay. On the other hand, the PLI ceiling for senior executives in the rank of Chief General Manager (CGM) and General Manager (GM); and Deputy General Manager (DGM) and Assistant General Manager (AGM) has been fixed at 90% and 80%, respectively, of their annual basic pay. For Chief Manger, this ceiling has been set at 70% A committee is headed by the M. Nagaraju, Secretary of Department of Financial Services (DFS), MoF. The 1st edition of ‘Sagarmanthan – The Great Oceans Dialogue’, the South Asia’s largest Maritime Thought Leadership summit was held from November 18-19, 2024 at ITC Maurya in New Delhi, Delhi It is organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Government of India(GoI) in partnership with New Delhi based global think tank, Observer Research Foundation (ORF) to foster Global Maritime Cooperation. IAF signs MoA with IISc and FSID to Advance Science and InnovationI Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID) agreement will facilitate access to both the organization’s testing facilities, Advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Digital Twin-based systems will also be explored bout Indian Air Force (IAF): Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)– Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2025, India ranked at 10th position with overall score of 67.99 index is topped by Denmark The CCPI 2025 was released at the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s “World Food and Agriculture: Statistical Yearbook 2024”, despite rising food production, global hunger continues to worsen, with 152 million more people facing hunger in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The countries with the largest agriculture, forestry and fishing sector in terms of value added in 2022 are China, India and the United States of America(USA). bout Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO): Dirrector-General (DG)- Qu Dongyu Headquarters- Rome, Italy Established- 1945 State Bank of India (SBI), India’s multinational and financial powe erhouse, has raised a fund of Rs 2000 crore (USD237 billion) through its third climate fund to the investors India’s Credit Rating Agency, ICRA Limited ( as projected that India’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to decline to 6.5% in 2nd Quarter from 6.7%% I in Q1 of FY25About ICRA Limited: Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Ramanth Krishnan Daniel Barenboim, a world-famous pianist and conductor and Ali Abu Awwad, a Palestinian peace activist were honored with the most prestigious “Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development 2023” award on Indira Gandhi’s 106th birth anniversary for their contribution towards peace and non-violence in Israel-Palestine conflictThe awardees were selected by a jury headed by former Chief Justice of India (CJI) T S Thakur Indian music composer and environmentalist Ricky Kej and Anoushka Shankar, British-American sitarist and Indian musician have been nominated at the 67th Grammy Awards. Ricky Kej has earned his 4th nomination for his album “Break of Dawn noushka Shankar received a nomination in the same category for her album “Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn”, Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov appointed as Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister for Third consecutive term LDP Leader Shigeru Ishiba Re-elected as Japan’s New Delhi(Delhi) based Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL), a Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) unit, has developed indigenous technologies for manufacturing Silicon Carbide (SiC) wafers and fabricating Gallium Nitride (GaN) High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs), along with Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs). Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024: India beats China in the final The Indian women’s hockey team won the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy(ACT) 2024 by defeating the People’s Republic of China (PRC) 1-0 in the final held at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar. This marks India’s 3rd Womens ACT title. Deepika Kumari scored the winning goal f Spain’s Rafael pain’s Rafael Nadal retires from tennis after Davis Cup Mridangam scholar Varadarao Kamalakara Rao Passed Away Bihar’s Sultanganj Railway Station Set to be Renamed as Ajgaibinath Dham Samrat Choudhary, D amrat Choudhary, Deputy Chief Minister (CM) of Bihar, announced that Sultanganj Railway Station in Bhagalpur district, Bihar, is set to be renamed after the Hindu shrine Ajgaibinath Dham, Where was the first Asian Buddhist Summit (ABS) held from 5th to 6th November-New Delhi, Delhi Which Indian Institute of Technology has recently (in November ‘24) signed an MoU with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to establish a Centre of Excellence for research in ‘Fluid and Thermal Sciences-IIT Madras Which programme has recently (in November ‘24) launched by Union Minister of Powerand Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal in New Delhi, Delhi?-EV as a Service Who has been recently (in November ‘24) re-elected as President of World Sailing?-Li Quanha Public Sector Banks (PSBs) have proposed raising ₹54,800 crore in FY25 through Additional Tier-1 (AT-1) and Tier-2 bonds.This amount is 37% higher than the ₹39,880 croreraised in FY24. only State Bank of India (SBI) and Canara Bank have issued AT-1 bonds totaling₹8,000 crore. Canara HSBC Life Insurance introduced OmniGen AI, a first-of-its-kind Generative AI-driven solution, leveraging Amazon Web Services (AWS) Bedrock platform The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)extended the ban on the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) forfive years for continuing to work to secede Assam from India and maintainlinks with other insurgent groups forextortion and violence A new study in The Lancet HIV journal reveals significant progress in reducing the global burden of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). New HIV infections have dropped by 22% globally. HIV-related deaths have decreased by 40% globally. President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 75th-anniversary celebrations of the adoption of India's Constitution, observed as Samvidhan Diwas, at the old Parliament building (Samvidhan Sadan). The first Sanskrit copy of the Constitution and its Maithili version were unveiled The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,has approved the PAN 2.0 Project of the Income TaxDepartment, with a financial outlay of ₹1,435 crore. Iraq launched its first nationwide population census in 37 years, marking the first general census since 1997. Ukraine claims that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) atDnipro city in central-eastUkraine, marking the first use of such a missile in the ongoing war Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena approved amendments to align the Delhi Legal Metrology Rules, 2011, with central government regulations under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023. Purpose of Amendments:The changes aim to protect consumers from fraud and malpractice by retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers. Binod Kumar has been recommended by the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) for the position of Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indian Bank. He currently serves as Executive Director of Punjab National Bank (PNB). Binod Kumar is expected to replace S L Jain India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Bank was launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology, aimed at fostering innovation and enhancing national security. Objective: The AI Data Bank will provide access to diverse and high quality datasets crucial for developing scalable and inclusive AI solutions. The AI Data Bank was launched by Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh at the 7th Edition of the ASSOCHAM AI Leadership Meet 2024 The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a landmark case against Alphabet's Google, arguing that the company holds an illegal monopoly in online search and advertising. Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan (Education)and J. P. Nadda (Health and Family Welfare) witnessed the signing of a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Education. Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister of Power, Housing & Urban Affairs, visited the Ministry of Power and NTPC pavilions at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2024. He was accompanied by Shri Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary (Power) NTPC Pavilion: Introducing 'Sukh' Eco-House Shashikant Ruia, patriarch of the billionaire Ruia family and co-founder of the Essar Group of companies November 26 as WorldSustainable Transport Day (WSTDTogether, We Can Drive Meaningful Change for a Healthier Planet and a Brighter Future Sri Lanka secured approval for the fourth tranche of the $2.9 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF). From: International Monetary Fund (IMF Voyage Sri Lanka 2024 conference on blue economy potential held in Colombo The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has established a strategy cell in Coimbatore. India has signed a landmark Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with EFTA countries—Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein. This agreement is expected to provide India access to 99.6% of EFTA’s market, generating $100 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI). Samsung R&D Institute, Noida (SRI-Noida) has signed an MoU with the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay). The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has partnered with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSETo enhance commerce-based skill courses, particularly in the Banking The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) Delhi government expanded its old-age pension scheme to include an additional 80,000 senior citizens. Total number of beneficiaries increased to 5.3 lakh. The government also introduced new pension amounts, depending on the age of the applicants. Senior citizens between the ages of 60-69 will receive Rs 2,000 monthly, while those aged 70 and above will receive Rs 2,500 per month National Milk Day is celebrated every year on November 26 India Appoints Dinesh Bhatia as Brazil Ambassador G. Balasubramanian Appointed as High Commissioner to Maldives The Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA) has announced Soumya Swaminathan as the recipient of its esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024. Writer Upamanyu Chatterjee has won the nJCB Prize for Literature for his book “Lorenzo Searches for the Meaning of Life“. Syed Modi International 2024 badminton tournament kicks off in Lucknow The 27th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS 2024) was jointly organized by Karnataka’s Electronics, Information Technology (IT), and Biotechnology Department and the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) from 19th to 21st November 2024 at Bengaluru Palace, Bengaluru, Karnataka. The central theme of BTS for 2024 event was ‘Unbound’. The Karnataka government drafted the Karnataka Space Technology Policy, 2024-29 with the aim to make the state a global attraction for space technology. As part of the initiative, the government also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to promote cooperation, support for defence startups, and access to testing facilitie Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to collaborate the domestic automobile industry for manufacturing vehicle sensors indigenously The Karnataka government launched Nipuna Karnataka, to develop the skills of local talent to make them globally competitive in emerging technologies. Karnataka is set to establish 3 dedicated global innovation districts in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Belagavi as part of its Global Capacity Centres (GCC) policy. The Indian Navy(IN) conducted the 4th edition of the Pan-India Coastal Defence Exercise ‘Sea Vigil’ in two phases. across all coastal States and Union Territories (UT) including Kerala, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Union Minister of State(MoS) (Independent Charge-IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST) inaugurated the “Viksit Bharat Initiative for Student Innovation and Outreach Network” (VISION) in New Delhi, Delhi. This initiative is designed to promote education, skill-building, and innovation among underprivileged children. The Vision Program, initiated by the Gurugram (Haryana)-based Utsav Foundation. India is the 3rd-largest startup ecosystem globally According to the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) rankings 2024, Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Hindalco Industries Limited, a firm of the Aditya Birla Group, has been ranked as the ‘world’s most sustainable aluminium company’ for the 5th consecutive year. Union Minister S. Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister (CM) of Odisha jointly launched the official website pbdindia.gov.in for the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention in New Delhi(Delhi). The launch of the PBD website marks the start of online registration for the PBD Convention 2025. It will provide detailed information on the biennial event. United Nation(UN) report titled “Charting New Paths for Gender Equality and Empowerment: Asia-Pacific Region Report on Beijing +30 Review”, India struggles with limited effectiveness of its Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) due to the lack of sex- disaggregated data and exclusion of key programmes that benefit women. The voters of Gabon have approved a new constitution in a referendum with preliminary results indicating that 91.8% of participants supported the proposed changes. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of the Durga Cooperative Urban Bank Limited, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh (AP) that had been operational for 95 years. This decision follows the bank’s failure to meet regulatory capital requirements and operational standards outlined in the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Tata Power Company Limited has partnered with Uttar Pradesh based Noida International Airport (NIA) to invest Rs 550 crore(USD 66 million) to develop solar and wind power capacities and to supply clean energy to NIA. The 25-year partnership supports the development of Net Zero Airports Mumbai(Maharashtra) based JSW Defence Private Limited, a subsidiary of JSW Group has partnered with the United States of America (USA) based defence company Shield AI to manufacture V-BAT drones, a Group 3 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) in India Professor Projit Bihari Mukharji of Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana has received the 2024 Pfizer Award for his book “Brown Skins, White Coats: Race Science in India, 1920 Coal India Limited (CIL), ‘Maharatna’ enterprise under the Ministry of Coal, Government of India, has been honored with the prestigious Green World Environment Award 2024 in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) category and named Green World Ambassador. Shriya Pilgaonkar, an Indian actress and director, has joined All Living Things Environmental Film Festival 2024” (ALT EFF 2024),India’s largest environmental film festival as the goodwill ambassador Rs 10,000–crore acquisition of debt-laden Reliance Capital Limited (RCAP), part of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, by Mauritius-based IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL), a company of the Hinduja Group Limited (HGL). World Television Day 2024 – November 21 21st November 2024 marks the 27th World Fisheries Day. Kerala was honored with the Best Marine State award. Telangana received the award for the Best Inland State. Uttarakhand was recognized as the Best Himalayan and Northeast State. Jammu & Kashmir recognized as the Best Union Territory Best Marine District Kollam, Kerala Best Inland District Kanker, Chhattisgarh Best Himalayan and North East Darrang, Assam District Best District in a UT Kulgam, Jammu & Kashmir ii.Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): Launched in May 2020, Name China's first commercial uncrewed spaceplane that was recently (in November ‘24) unveiled at the Zhuhai Air Show, Zhuhai, China –Sky Dragon Which bank has recently (in November ‘24) raised Rs 1,500 crore through its firstever issuance of redeemable, unsecured long term infrastructure bonds?-Fedral Name the former Indian polo player and Arjuna Awardee who had passed away in November 2024-HArindher sigh sodhi Who is the author of the book ‘MaaMother’ that was recently (in November ‘24) released by Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal-Dewendra kumar Groww Mutual Fund has introduced Groww Multicap Fund, an open-ended equity scheme aiming to capture growth across large, mid, and smallcap stocks CEO : Varun Gupta Indian Railways has introduced the ‘Sanraksha’ mobile application, an innovative step towards improving passenger safety and security The India International Science Festival (IISF) 2024, India’s largest science celebration, is set to take place at IIT Guwahati, Assam, from November 30 to December 3, 2024. event, organized by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Theme: “Transforming India into an S&T driven Global Manufacturing Hub The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has highlighted that Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have registered the highest number of cybercrime cases over the last three years, with Telangana leading the charge. Kerala is set to launch an insurance scheme covering the entire cattle population in the state. The Narasapur crochet lace craft has been awarded the Geographical Indications (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry (GIR).Its from Andra Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), DK Sunil, is leading a delegation to Russia to sign a deal for the licensed manufacturing of 240 AL-31FP Aero Engines for the Su-30MKI fighter jets Real GDP estimated to grow by 5.4% in Q2 of FY2024-25. The agriculture and allied sectors havebounced back by registering a growth rateof 3.5% in second Quarter Forex reserves drop $1.31 bn to $656.5 bn as ofNovember 22: RBI Ideal Insurance Brokers Join Hands withRiskcovry to Launch Digital Insurance Platform State Bank of India raises Rs 50,000 crore through bond issuance in FY25 so far The Government of India and the AsianDevelopment Bank (ADB) signed a $98million loan, To improve horticulture crop farmers’access to certified disease-free planting materials Government has fixed target to open 25,000 JanAushadhi Kendra by March 2027\ Statement of Intent signed between: Indiaand Uk Reason: Cooperation on Design and Development of Electric Propulsion Systems for the Indian Navy Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with John Cockerill India Limited(JCIL) Vijay Chandok takes over NSDL chairman & managing director 11 th New president of Asian Development Bank(ADB): Masato Kanda (Japan Curtains drawn on the 43rd edition of India International Trade Fair  Puducherry won the Gold Medal, the Silver Medal was presented to Meghalaya and the Bronze Medal to Karnataka in the States and Union Territories Category Thematic Presentation by the States gold Category-Madhya Pradesh Swachh Pavilion – Gold to Goa Where has the world’s largest coral been recently (in November ‘24) discovered –Solomon island,Pacific ocean In which port Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted a Regional Level Pollution Response Exercise (Re-PREX-24) from 12 to 14 November 2024? –Pardeep Odisha Union Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurated Conference of Chairpersons of State and UT Haj Committees in New Delhi; Launches Haj Suvidha App 2.0 conference was organised by the Haj Committee of India(HCI), Ministry of Minority Affairs(MoMA). Haj Suvidha App 2.0 was developed by Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics(BISAG-N) under the guidance of the MoMA. The Guide was published in 10 languages and will be issued to all the Haj pilgrims The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) hosted the “High-Level Policy Conference of Central Banks from the Global South” in Mumbai, Participants: Central bank governors, deputy governors, and officials from 18 Global South countries King cobra found in Western Ghats officially named as Ophiophagus Kaalinga 11th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus held in Vientiane, Lao PDR The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Laos General Chansamone Chanyalath On 22 November 2024, the Permanent Mission of India the United Nations (UN) hosted a significant event in New York, the United States of America (USA) to mark the 75th anniversary (Diamond Jubilee) of Hindi Diwas, emphasizing the global significance of Hindi. Hindi Diwas is annually celebrated on September 14th On 22nd November 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) infused funds worth Rs 25,000 crore through a Variable Repo Rate (VRR) into the banking system as the weighted average call rate, a parameter for short-term borrowing costs, increases 23 basis points (bps) above the policy repo rate (6.50%) at 6.73%. Punjab National Bank (PNB) has become a signatory to the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials(PCAF S&P Global Lowers India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 6.7% for FY26; 6.8% for FY27 However, it has retained its growth forecast for the current financial year (FY25) at 6.8%. Dr Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes, the outgoing Director General (DG) of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), headquartered in HyderabadTelangana, took over as the Secretary General(SG) of the World Agriculture ForumAbout International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT): Interim Director General (DG)- Stanford Blade Italian team captained by Filippo Volandri won the Davis Cup 2024 (the World Cup of Tennis) for the second consecutive year and for third time in their history, by defeating the Netherlands team Prajnesh Gunneswaran Announces Retirement from Professional Tennis GST collection rises by 8.5% to over Rs 1.82 lakhcrore in November UPI sets new record in October with 16.58 billiontransactions This marks 45% year-on- year growth as compared to October last year NPCI Chairman: Ajay Kumar Choudhary NPCI CEO: Dilip Asbe Bajaj Fin exits co-branded credit card biz, endstieup with DBS India, RBL Bajaj Finance has decided to exit theco-branded credit card space. It has ended its eight-year tie-up with RBL Bank and DBS Bank India Growth in bank credit to NBFCs declines sharply to 6.4%: RBI data. The outstanding bank credit to NBFCs stood at Rs 15.36 trillion Jaishankar inaugurated the new Chancery of the Indian Embassy in Rome. India has been re-elected to the UNPCommission for the 2025-2026 term, reaffirming its commitment to global peace The world’s first plastic pollution agreement in South Korea Union Minister Giriraj Singh InauguratesInternational Conference on NbSEvent: International Conference onNature-Based Solutions (NbS) forSustainability & Climate ChaInaugurated by: Union Minister of Textiles,Giriraj Sing Organized by: NTTM (NationalTechnicalTextiles Mission) and IJIRA (Indian JuteIndustries Research Association)under the Ministry of Textiles Prime Minister Narendra Modi willinaugurate the three-day AsthalakshmiMahotsav 2024 on 6th December 2024 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi ‘Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman’ Portal Portal launched on July 16, 2024, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh Aim: To raise awareness of constitutional rights and duties. Raising day of Border Security Force Date: 1st December BSF Director General: Daljit Singh Chaudhary The Defence Ministry signed a contractwith Cochin Shipyard LimitedReason: For the short refit and dry dockingof INS Vikramaditya Cost: More than 1,200 crore rupees The Joint Military Exercise Agni Warrior2024 between Indian Armed Forces and Singapore Armed Forces concluded in Devlali, Maharashtra Andhra Pradesh raises retirement age of judicial officers from 60 to 61 years Gujarat’s Gharchola Handicraft Gets GI Recognition BCCI secretary Jay Shah takes charge as Chairman of ICC. Succeed: New Zealand attorney Greg Barclay Name of Book: Tipu Sultan-The Saga of theMysore Interregnum Authored by: Vikram Sampath Arjun Erigaisi becomes 2nd Indian to achieve 2800 ELO rating in chess Syed Modi International Tournament: PV Sindhuand Lakshya Sen clinch singles titles Ace Indian Shuttlers PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen were crowned the Singles champions at the Syed Modi International Tournament in Lucknow. Ladakh’s First Ice Hockey Tournament of the Season Kicks Off in Durbuk India records 45% surge in FDI to $29.79 billion in April-SeptSingapore was the largest source of FDI for India in the July-September The Reserve Bank has decided to lift thafore-mentioned restrictions placed on Navi Finserv Limited, with immediate effect The Centre scrapped the windfall tax ondomestically produced crude oil, and the export of diesel, petrol, and aviation turbinefuel, with immediate effect.The road and infrastructure cess (RIC) on exporting petrol and diesel too has been removed The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Goodsand Services Tax (GST) rate rationalisation, led by Deputy Chief Minister of BiharSamrat Chaudhary, recommended a new slab of 35 per cent for tobacco, tobaccoproducts and aerated drinks.At present, such products are taxed at 28per cent. Fintech firm Razorpay has announced itssupport for the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) and the Indian Cyber CrimeCoordination Centre (I4C).. The World Maritime Conference 2024 isscheduled to be held in Chennai from 4th to 6th December. The Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan will be the Guest of Honour The world’s largest United NationsConvention to Combat Desertificationbegan in Riyadh.2024 theme: Our Land. Our Future The 14th Asia-Oceania MeteorologicalSatellite Users’ Conference (AOMSUC-14) is scheduled to take place from December 4–6, 2024, in New Delhi, India.Hosted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences The Prime Minister also expressedhappiness that Oxford’s Said BusinessSchool and Gates Foundation haverecognised the effectiveness of PRAGATI inthe study.Pro-Active Governance and TimelyImplementation (PRAGATI) representsamalgamation of technology and governance Uber has launched Asia’s first watertransport service, “Uber Shikara,” in the picturesque Dal Lake of Jammu and Kashmir 4th India-Malaysia Joint Military Exercise‘Harimau Shakti’ beginsThe 4th edition of India- Malaysia JointMilitary Exercise Harimau Shakticommenced, at Bentong camp in Malaysia.Indian contingent comprising 78 personnelis being represented by a Battalion of Mahar Regiment.The Malaysian contingent is beingrepresented by 123 personnel from the Royal Malaysian Regiment. The Indian Army and the Cambodian Armyhave commenced their first-ever Joint Table Top Exercise, CINBAX, at the Foreign Training Node in Pune. O2 Power has signed a Power PurchaseAgreement (PPA) with East Central Railways to supply 100 MW of renewable electricity Arunachal Pradesh launches 'Mission Himveer'to boost local economyThe Government of Arunachal Pradesh haslaunched Mission Arun Himveer. Aim: To enhance market linkages for local agricultural and horticultural producers The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, observed annually on December 2, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE), launched “The TeacherApp The app is developed by the Bharti Airtel Foundation The Theme of the event is “Elevating Teachers, Elevating India Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) under the Ministry of Science & Technology(MoS&T) introduced the ‘One Day One Genome’ initiative to showcase the enormous microbial potential of India. The launch was announced by Amitabh Kant Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise (Bharat NCX 2024), a landmark initiative to fortify India’s cybersecurity resilience, was inaugurated at a ceremony organized by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) in New Delhi(Delhi Arjun Vajpai Became 1st Indian to Conquer Mount Shishapangma in China The CARICOM Summit was hosted by Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana The first edition of India-CARICOM Summit was held in 2019 in New York, the United States of America (USA). ii.The 3rd India-CARICOM Summit is set to be hosted in IndiaTwo Dornier HAL-228 aircraft were officially commissioned into the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Air Corps at a ceremony held at Air Station London, Timehri, Guyana Muthoot Microfin Limited (MML), a microfinance institution, has commenced disbursing loans through its co-lending partnership with the State Bank of India (SBI ) SBI has approved a total loan limit of Rs 500 crore, which will be disbursed in installments of Rs 100 crore. Loans ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 3 lakh will be provided to eligible customers NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited, has partnered with ONGC Green Limited (OGL), a subsidiary of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited(ONGC), to establish ONGC NTPC Green Private Limited (ONGPL). This 50:50 Joint Venture(JV) aims to accelerate the development of Renewable Energy (RE) projects. Harbhajan joins Sania Mirza, Evra, El Khatib and Nurmagomedov as ambassadors of Dubai Sports Council. India Exports Pinaka Weapon Systems to Armenia. Armenia is one of 3 largest buyers of Indian weapons and equipment along with the (United States) US and France. Pinaka rockets are manufactured by Solar Industry’s Economic Explosives Limited(EEL), NASA partners with Microsoft For Earth Copilot AI to Simplify Access to Complex Earth Data Koima: A new genus of freshwater fish discovered in Western Ghats The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) injected ₹25,000 crore into the banking system via a variable rate repo auction (VRR) to manage liquidity. Axis Mutual Fund has launched the Axis Momentum Fund, an open-ended equity scheme based on the momentum investment strategy. The New Fund Offer (NFO) is open from November 22, 2024, to December 6, 2024. India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) is in talks with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Korean Exim Bank to raise USD 600 million. The purpose is to expand its investor base and reduce borrowing costs. Jammu and Kashmir Bank (J&K Bank) has launched the Virtual ATM (vATM) facility, aimed at leveraging technology for financial empowerment, especially in rural areas lacking ATMs and other banking channels. The vATM service is developed in collaboration with Paymart India Pvt Ltd. The virtual ATM platform was inaugurated by J&K Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Baldev Prakash. A high-level policy conference for central banks of the Global South was organized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as part of its 90th-anniversary celebrations. Delegates from 18 countries, including central bank governors and officials, attended. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the Central Bank of India’s (CBI) entry into life and non- life insurance businesses through a joint venture with Generali Group. In October, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) cleared the Central Bank of India’s acquisition of stakes in Future Generali India Insurance Company Ltd (FGIICL)—25.18% equity shares in the life insurance division and 24.91% equity shares in the non-life insurance division. Central Bank MD & CEO: Matam Venkata Rao. Punjab National Bank (PNB) has joined the globally recognized Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), signaling its commitment to sustainability and climate action. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased the transaction limit for UPI 123Pay from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, allowing users to make higher-value digital payments via feature phones. Implementation Timeline: The new transaction limit of Rs 10,000 is effective immediately, but full compliance with the new limit must be completed by January. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a scheme for awarding professors who write original books in Hindi on Economics, Banking, and Finance. Yes Bank has partnered with Vegapay, a banking software technology innovator, to launch a hyper- configurable platform called ‘Credit Line on UPI.’ Platform Features:  Enables Yes Bank to create customized credit programs tailored to customer needs.  Offers options for interest-free or interest-bearing credit.  Provides flexibility for EMI payment options.  Features rule customization through an intuitive interface. Warehousing and collateral management firm Sohan Lal Commodity Management (SLCM) has entered into a partnership with the Bank of Baroda (BoB) to provide collateral management services for agricultural financing. India is preparing to launch a $5 billion incentive scheme to promote the domestic production of essential electronic components, including printed circuit boards (PCBs), to enhance self-reliance and reduce dependence on imports, particularly from China. India is now the fourth-largest global smartphone supplier, with major players like Apple and Samsung driving growth. The 6th ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee meeting:  Took place from November 15-22, 2024, in New Delhi.  Delegations from all 10 ASEAN countries attended. India held bilateral meetings with Thailand and Indonesia to address specific trade concerns. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the News 9 Global Summit in Stuttgart, Germany, via video conference. Summit Highlights:  Jointly organized by TV9 India, F.A.U. Stuttgart, and Baden-Württemberg.  Theme: "India-Germany: A Roadmap for Sustainable Growth."  2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the Indo-German Strategic Partnership. PM Modi emphasized historical ties between India and Germany, citing:  Germany’s creation of Europe’s first Sanskrit grammar books.  German merchants introducing Tamil and Telugu printing in Europe. Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will inaugurate the third edition of Nayi Chetna – Pahal Badlaav Ki, a national campaign against gender-based violence. Campaign Highlights:  Launch event at Rang Bhawan Auditorium, All India Radio, New Delhi.  Organized under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).  Focuses on amplifying awareness, empowering communities, and fostering institutional accountability. Kenya’s president has canceled multimillion-dollar deals with the Adani Group following U.S. bribery and fraud indictments against Gautam Adani, one of Asia's richest individuals. To address tax evasion by offshore online gaming companies, the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) is collaborating with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and commercial banks to create a mechanism for real-time transaction tracking. RBL Bank has appointed Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju as its brand ambassador. The Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise (Bharat NCX 2024), a landmark initiative to fortify India’s cybersecurity resilience, was inaugurated in New Delhi.   Organized by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU). Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has introduced AroTrack, an economical and portable device to detect harmful pollutants such as phenol, benzene, and xylenols in water. The device can complete tests in under 30 minutes. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has secured media rights for all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments from 2024 to 2031 at a base price of $170 million, a 70% increase over the previous cycle. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a cyclone named ‘Fengal’ forming in the Bay of Bengal.  Name suggested by Saudi Arabia. Other Key Highlights:  COP29 will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.  Bali celebrates the Ngusaba Goreng Festival, featuring dances like Rejang Dewa and Rejang Pucuk.  NITI Aayog recommends including coking coal in the critical minerals list. International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women:  Date: November 25. Mali’s junta has appointed Abdoulaye Maïga to replace the previous Prime Minister. The National Consumer Helpline has partnered with over 1,000 companies under its Convergence Programme to expedite grievance resolution. Prime Minister Modi received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Global Peace Award for Minority Upliftment in Washington.  Recognizing organizations: Washington Adventist University and AIAM. Hemant Soren has staked a claim to form the government in Jharkhand after the INDIA bloc secured 56 seats in an 81-member assembly. ISRO and ASA Partnership:  The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Australian Space Agency (ASA) signed an agreement for the Gaganyaan Mission.  ASA will support the search and rescue of the crew and recovery of the crew module during ascent phase contingencies near Australian waters. China Masters 2024:  Denmark’s Anders Antonsen defeated Jonatan Christie to win the men's singles title.  South Korea’s Se Young An won the women’s singles title. Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2024:   Location: Muscat, Oman.  Dates: November 26 to December 4.  India, captained by Amir Ali, is the defending champion. Wrestling:  Reetika Hooda won a gold medal at the World Military Championships in Yerevan, Armenia.  India clinched seven medals in total: three gold, one silver, and three bronze. IPL 2025 Auction Highlights:  Most expensive player: Rishabh Pant (₹27 crore to LSG).  Most expensive overseas player: Jos Buttler (₹15.75 crore to GT).  Most expensive uncapped player: Rasikh Dar. North East United Football Club became the champion of the 40th All India Governor’s Gold Cup International Football Tournament 2024 held in Gangtok, Sikkim. Tuna Cluster Development:  Location: Andaman and Nicobar Islands.  Initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Key Personalities and Appointments:  Union Minister Piyush Goyal launched EEPC India’s 70th-year celebrations and unveiled its logo in New Delhi.  Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): General Anil Chauhan.  ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines was designated as a WOAH Reference Laboratory for Equine Piroplasmosis.  Jan Zelezny was appointed as the new coach for javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra. Global Developments:  Israel is developing the “Iron Beam,” a laser-based defense system to counter aerial threats.  India’s Managing Director & CEO of Yes Bank Limited: Prashant Kumar. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI):  Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.  Managing Director & CEO: Dilip Asbe. The National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 24th Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for July to September 2024:  Unemployment Rate (UR) in urban areas (15+ years): decreased to 6.4% in Q2FY25 (from 6.6%).  Female UR: decreased to 8.4% (from 8.6%).  Male UR: decreased to 5.7% (from 6%). Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index (GRAI) 2023:   Launched by Dr. Jitendra Singh during a National Workshop in New Delhi.  Rankings: o Group-A: Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (1st), Department of Posts (2nd), Ministry of Cooperation (3rd). o Group-B: Comptroller & Auditor General of India (1st). o Group-C: Department of Investment & Public Asset Management (1st).  Average grievance resolution time reduced from 30 days to 13 days. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) Initiatives:  AIM, in partnership with Capgemini India, launched the 4th cohort of Community Innovator Fellows.  Program aims to foster grassroots innovation through Atal Community Innovation Centers (ACICs).  Each fellow receives a ₹1 lakh grant. World Economic Forum (WEF) Initiative:  The AM Green Kakinada Cluster in Andhra Pradesh, the world’s first Zero Emission Cluster, joined WEF’s Transitioning Industrial Clusters Initiative. Fintech and Banking Developments:  Bengaluru-based Rio Money, in partnership with Yes Bank and NPCI, launched the Yes Bank Rio RuPay Credit Card.  GenWise launched “GenWise UPI,” the first UPI payment solution tailored for senior citizens, in collaboration with Axis Bank. Climate Fund:  Northern Arc secured $65 million from global development banks for its inaugural climate fund. India's Financial Contributions:  India released a second tranche of $2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees. Economic Projections:  Morgan Stanley revised India’s GDP growth forecast to 6.7% for FY2024-25. Environmental and Wildlife Updates:  Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla notified as India’s 56th Tiger Reserve.  MP and Rajasthan formed a joint panel committee for the Cheetah Project The World Bank has approved a$188.28-million loan to stimulate economicgrowth in Maharashtra, especially in the lagging districts Ericsson (Sweden) has won a multi-year,multi-billion USD extension deal from Bharti Airtel (India) for 4G and 5G RAN products and solution India's total external debt has increased by$ 31 billion to $ 646.79 billion in 2023. Interest payment increased from $ 15.08 billion in 2022 to $ 22.54 billion in 2023. PhonePe has introduced a new healthinsurance plan that offers continuouscoverage for dengue, malaria, and othervector-borne diseases.Starting price: Rs 59 per year (Premium) The plan provides up to Rs 1 lakh Morgan Stanley has revised India’s GDPgrowth projection for FY25 down to 6.3%, from its previous estimate of 6.7%. SEBI Fines Reliance Securities ₹9 Lakh for Rule Violations The National Small Industries Corporation(NSIC) paid its highest-ever dividend of Rs 37.97 crore to the Government of India Sa-Dhan has partnered with the IndianInstitute of Banking & Finance (IIBF) to launch a new certification course formicrofinance professionals.The course aims to train new employees ofmicrofinance institutions and offer careeropportunities for those interested in joining the microfinance industry. Sa-Dhan is a Reserve Bank of India (RBI)-recognised Self- Regulatory Organization (SRO) for microfinance and impact finance institutions. SBI Mutual Fund has launched the SBIQuant Fund, an open-ended equity schemedesigned around a quant-based investing approach. 80%-100% to equity and equity-related instruments selected through the quantmodel.0%-20% to other equity instruments and debt instruments. 0%-10% to REITs and InvITs, in line with SEBI limits. Axis Bank's new savings account for womenAxis Bank has launched the ARISE Women’s Savings Account.It is a specialized solution designed to caterto the financial needs of women.The account was introduced by ArundhatiBhattacharya, Chairperson of Salesforce India. Indians can now apply for an e-visa,following an announcement last week bythe Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA. India and Kuwait government have decided to establish a Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) at the level of foreign ministers. The Indian government is introducing theNational Legal Metrology Portal (eMaap).Aim: To promote fair trade practices andenhance consumer protection.This initiative is aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and compliance with legal metrology standards. PMSGMBY: 10 Lakh Solar Installations by 2025, 1Crore by 2027 International Volunteer Day 2024 The United Nations (UN) celebrates International Volunteer Day for Economicand Social Development on December 5 annually.2024 Theme: Diverse Volunteers, StrongerCommunities 3. World Wildlife Conservation Day World Wildlife Conservation Day isobserved annuallyon December 4 tospread awareness about preserving Earth’sendangered Flora and fauna.Theme 2024: Connecting People andPlanet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, nicknamed"NNN," made history by becoming Namibia's first female president. India Wins 5th Junior Hockey Asia CupThe Indian men’s junior hockey team defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 to securetheir fifth Junior Asia Cup title and theirthird consecutive championship. Venue: Muscat, Oman Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), inaugurated the 18th NCB International Conference & Exhibition on Cement, Concrete, and Building materials, held from 27th to 29th November, 2024 at Yashobhoomi, India International Convention & Expo Centre (IIC) Dwarka in New Delhi, Delhi The conference was organised by the National Council for Cement and Building During the conference, Arti Bhatnagar released the ‘Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravya (BND)’, an Indian Certified Reference Material of Gypsum Standard developed by NCB in partnership with NPL, NMI of India Number of Gig and Platform Workers in India Expected to Increase to 23.5 Million by 2029-30: Government India Re-elected to UN Peacebuilding Commission for 2025-2026 Pune, Maharashtra-based Phi Commerce, a digital payments fintech has received National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) approval to offer (Unified Payment Interface) UPI Switch service for its enterprise customers to support high transaction volumes Navi Overtakes Cred to become 4th largest UPI app National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) announced that Vijay Chandok assumed charge as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL) has acquired a 60% stake in Pegatron’s (a Taiwanese Contract Manufacturer) iPhone plant in Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN), forming a Joint Venture (JV). Renowned endocrine surgeon and Padma Shri Awardee Sivapatham Vittal passes away at 83 MHA Appoints Khilli Ram Meena as Mizoram’s Chief Secretary The All India Bank Employees’Association (AIBEA) President : Rajen Nagarhas urged the Indian Banks’ Association(IBA) to blacklist customerswho attack or abuse bank staff,closing their accounts andpreventing them from opening new accounts for at least 3 years. S&P Global retained India’s GDP growth forecast for FY24-25 at 6.8%, despite the RBI’s reduction to 6.6%.India’s economy grew by 8.2% in FY 2023-24GDP growth slowed to 5.4% in Q2. Public sector banks (PSBs) wrote off approximately ₹7 lakh crore between FY2019-20 and FY2024-25 (till September) , the Finance Ministry has informed the Rajya Sabha. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) haspartially reversed its decision to disable the cash retraction facility in ATMs For the first time since at least five years, thenumber of ATMs in the country has fallen with a decrease seen across all segments. the number of ATMs in the country was pegged at 2,55,078 The rate of interest on Government of IndiaFloating Rate Bond 2031 (FRB 2031) applicable for the half year December 07, 2024 to June 06, 2025 shall be 7.59% per annum. RBI Floating Rate Savings Bonds have a seven-year lock-in period. The interest rate on these bonds is reset twice a year. The RBI floating rate savings bond has a minimum subscription amount of Rs 1,000 and in multiples of Rs 1,000, thereafter PhonePe launched a Dengue and MalariaInsurance Plan starting at ₹59 per year on its platform. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed tolink the FX-Retail platform with the BharatConnect platform of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the complete works of the legendary Tamil poet, freedom fighter, and visionary Subramania Bharati at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has introduced the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha, aiming to repeal and replace the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.Vessel ownership is permitted for: Indian citizens, including Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) or Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs The Government of India has launched a series of impactful programs aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, empowering farmers, and fostering sustainable practices. Clean Plant Programme (CPP-Budget: ₹1,765.67 crore Enhance horticultural productivity by supplying disease-free planting materials Digital Agriculture Mission-Budget: ₹2,817 croreBuild digital public infrastructure for agriculture. o Implement the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) to enhance crop planning. o Introduce IT-driven tools for precision farming and better resource \ Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) ExpansionInclusion of community farming assets. o Establishment of integrated processing units. o Integration with PM-KUSUM-A projects to ensure comprehensive agricultural growth National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-OilseedsBudget: ₹10,103 crore National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNFBudget: ₹2,481 crore Promote natural farming methods as a sustainable alternative to conventional practices Madhav Gadgil hasbeen named one of the six Champions of theEarth for 2024 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Bharati Kolli, a trailblazer in the banking sector,has been recognized as one of the Rising StarWomen Leaders of Banking for 2024 by the esteemed group, Women We Admire. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL)has entered into a memorandum of understanding(MoU) with IIT Roorkee for a Corporate SocialResponsibility (CSR) initiative valued at Rs. 20.73 crore. Ajay Seth, the Economic AffairsSecretary, has been given the additional charge of the Revenue Department Salil Hajarnis has been appointed as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Poonawalla Fincorp.Hajarnis replaces Dhiraj Saxena IISR Surasa is a new ginger varietydeveloped by the ICAR – Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) Indian Institute of Technology madras (IIT Madras) became thefirst research organizationglobally to release the mostdetailed 3D high-resolution images of the fetal brain Aryna Sabalenka, the 26-year-old Belarusiantennis star, received the prestigious WTA Player of the Year award for 2024. Most Improved Player: Emma NavarroNewcomer of the Year: Lulu Sun Doubles Team of the Year: Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini Universal Health Coverage Day 2024is observed on the 12th of December 2024. Axis Bank predicts India's Gross domesticproduct (GDP) growth will rise to 7% in FY26Current Fiscal Year Outlook (FY25):The bank expects GDP growth in FY25 to be 6.6%. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY2024-25 to 6.5%, a reduction of 50 basis points from the previous projection of 7%. Industrial growth was lower than expected at 3.6%.Growth in agriculture and services sectorsremained strong at 3.5% and 7.1%, respectively MobiKwik has reduced its Initial Public Offering(IPO) size from ₹700 crore to ₹572 crore due to volatile market conditions. IPO Price Band:The IPO price band is set at ₹265- 279 per share The World Bank has approved a $200 millionproject to help Kerala farmers adapt to climatechange and promote agri-entrepreneurship. The project is called the Kerala Climate Resilient AgriValue Chain Modernization (KERA) Karnataka Bank has launched its first 'Retail AssetsCentre' (RAC) in JP Nagara, Bengaluru, to streamline the bank's retail loan processing.\ Rubber Research Institute ofIndia (RRII), Kottayam, has introduced a genetically modified (GM) rubber clone—RRII 417—tailored specifically for the climatic conditions of India’s Northeastregion. India is poised to introduce 5G mobile connectivityat airports, a transformative step aimed at enhancing passenger services and operational efficiency. The rollout will commence at major international airports, including: ▪ Delhi ▪ Mumbai ▪ Bengaluru ▪ Chennai External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visitedQatar and Bahrain from December 6-9, 2024, tostrengthen bilateral ties and discuss varioussectors such as trade, investments, and security. Kerala Tourism launched a multi-languagemicrosite and e-brochure aimed at providingcomprehensive information about the Sabarimala templeEnglish, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. Mohammad al-Bashir was appointed as the transitional Prime Minister of Syria The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the open offer by the Burman family, the promoters of Dabur, to acquire an additional 26% stake in Religare Enterprises Limited (REL). Suryabala has been awarded the prestigious 34th VyasSamman for her novel "Kaun Des Ko Vasi: Venu Ki Diary The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco three matches will be played in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay] Saudi Arabia has been awarded hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup, Asian Development Bank approves grant of c to Solomon Islands forSustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient water supply and sanitation services in the greater Edelweiss launches India's first ETF for capital markets, insurance Sector Minimum subscription amount of Rs. 5,000 and in multiples of Re. 1 thereafter Foreign direct equity investment witnessed a 45% jump at $29.8 billion in the first six months of the current financial year. Poland President Andrzej Duda signs law to freeze electricity prices Elon Musk becomes first person to reach $400 billion in net worth US-Bahrain geospatial partnership expands as UK joins security pact India’s Renewable Energy Capacity Surges to 203 GW Indian clean energy firms will be required to use solar photovoltaic (PV) modules from cells made locally by a government-approved list of companies from June 2026. BEML wins Rs 136 cr defence ministry contract for high mobility vehicles Google partners with NCERT Reason: To launch YouTube channels in 29 Indian languages, including sign language Aim: To provide free educational content to the Indian students between grades 1-12 and to empower teachers. Abathsahayeswarar Temple & BJPCI Project bag UNESCO Heritage Award,in tamil Nadu Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Launches Book on PM Modi’s Vision and Development Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Releases Vishnukant Shastri’s Rachana Sanchayan 20th Asian Women’s Handball Championship,held in delhi Winner: Japan Defeated: South Korea Gross non-performing assets (NPAs) of public sector banks (PSBs declines to 3.12% in Sep from 14.58% in March 2018 Since 2015, the government implemented acomprehensive 4Rs (recognition, recapitalisation, resolution, and reform Sebi issues warning letter to HDFC Bank for regulatory non-compliance ADB approves $500 million loan to boost India’s sustainable infrastructure ICICI Bank has signed an MoU with theCommonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)Aim: To enhance support for customersengaged in the Australia-India business corridor. ICICI Bank Chairperson: Pradeep Kumar Sinha Coca-Cola has sold a 40% stake inHindustan Coca-Cola Holdings (HCCH) to Jubilant Bhartia Group. Deal Value: ₹12,500 crore The 16th session of the Conference of theParties (COP) of the United NationsConvention to Combat Desertification(UNCCD) commenced in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 2 December 2024. The 29th Conference of Parties (CoP) of theUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held inBaku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024. The Belem City of Brazil will host the 30th CoP of the UNFCCC in November 2025. The 16th session of the Conference ofParties (CoP) of the Convention oBiological Diversity (CBD) was held in Cali,Colombia, from 21 October to 1 November2024. The 16th COP of the Convention onBiological Diversity will resume in Rome, Italy, from 25 to 27 February. Centre to Incubate 8 New Smart Cities Under New Cities SchemeAllocation of: Rs 8,000 crore Aim: To develop 8 new smart cities Fifteenth Finance Commission Grants Releasedfor the Rural Local Bodies of Himachal Pradesh and Goa India to Triple Atomic Power Capacity by 2031 Bhopal and Kurukshetra Set Historic Records on Gita Jayanti 2024 Govt clears Rs 22,000 crore for Su-30 fighter jets, 100 K-9 howitzers from L and T Defence ministry signs Rs 13,500 cr deal with HAL for 12 Sukhoi jets MoU Between: Russia’s state-owned oilfirm Rosneft and Indian upstream oil andgas major Reliance Industries (RIL) Agreement: To supply up to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil to RIL Karnataka signs MoU with Germany’s KronesTo set up a manufacturing facility at the Vemagal Industrial Park Phase 2, inKolar. Universal Sompo General Insurance hascollaborated with Child Rights and You(CRY) Aim: To foster educational opportunities for children in marginalized communities in Andhra Pradesh Legendary Gujarati Singer PurushottamUpadhyay Die Nikki Giovanni, Black Arts Icon, Dies at 81 Honorary rank of 'General of Indian Army'on Nepal's Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel Ang Lee to Receive DGA Lifetime Achievement Award Haris and Wyatt-Hodge Shine as ICC Players of the Month OpenAI Launches Sora Turbo for AI Video GenerationThe model enables users to create videos up to 20 seconds long in 1080p resolution Gukesh becomes youngest world champion Defeated: Ding Lire Afridi Becomes Youngest to Achieve 100 Wickets in All Formats The 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was held from 20th November to 28th November 2024 at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Panaji, Goa.Theme Young Filmmakers – The Future is Now organized by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation and Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG Lithuanian drama ‘Toxic’ wins Golden Peacock Award: Indian Film Personality of the Year awarded to Vikrant Massey Phillip Noyce wins Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award, ‘Crossing’ wins ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal Award, Best Web Series (OTT) Award for Marathi Web series ‘Lampan Saudi Arabia, has launched its first carbon credit exchange at the COP 29 First draft at Baku sets 2030 goal of USD 5 trillion for climate action: UAE announces world’s first ChatGPT tool for agricultural community Finland launched its first ever national soundscape titled ‘Ääniä’ on the occasion of the country’s 107th Independence Da SBI Projects India’s GDP Growth at 6.3% for FY25 Dr. Udai Shanker Awasthi, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), was honored with the ‘Rochdale Pioneers Award 2024’ by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) John Dramani Mahama elected as the President of Ghana Shammi Silva Takes Over as 29th President of ACC Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), a Central Public Sector Enterprise(CPSE) signed a contract for the construction and delivery of the second vessel in a series of four additional 7,500 DWT Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs GRSE formally handed over the “Jaldoot,” an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) The contract value for the additional four vessels is USD 54 million, taking the total for eight MPVs to USD 108 million Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed a crucial Technical Implementation Plan (TIP) aimed at providing critical ground tracking support for India’s Gaganyaan missions Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda also introduced national guidelines for the new drug- resistant TB regimen called BPaLM. These guidelines aim to streamline and standardize treatment Manohar Lal Khattar, Ministry of Power (MoP) along with Chief Minister (CM) of Andhra Pradesh (AP), Nara Chandrababu Naidu, inaugurated the ‘Urjaveer’ scheme at Poranki in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. The Urjaveer Scheme, implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), is designed to promote the use of energy-efficient appliances while offering economic benefits to individuals Urjaveer initiative, the government aims to involve and train 1,12,000 private registered electricians on the Urjaveer platform Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) conducted its 109th session from 2nd December to 6th December 2024 at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters in London, United Kingdom International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance grid interconnections and promote sustainable energy systems. 3 Indians on BBC’s 100 Most Inspiring Women List 2024: Aruna Roy, Vinesh Phogat & Pooja Sharma “Polarization” Named Merriam-Webster’s 2024 Word of the Year Rajeev Mehta becomes 1st Indian elected as Secretary General of FCA The Government of India (GoI) andthe Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $350 million policy-base loan under the second subprogram of the Strengthening Multimodal and Integrated Logistics Ecosystem (SMILE) program. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired pre-budget consultations with Finance Ministers of States and Union Territories at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, for the Union Budget FY 2025-26 Scheme for Special Assistance t States for Capital Investment (SASCI):First introduced in UnionBudget 2020-21, SASCI has beenwell-received by States for constructing capital assets. Additional Allocation Under SASCI for FY 2024-25:An additional Rs. 30,000 crore allocated as "Untied Funds" under SASCI-2024-25. Disaster Relief for States:A new dispensation under SASCI for States affected by severe natural disasters, assessed by the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Eligible States may receive up to 50% of their allocation under Part-1 (Untied) of SASCI to assist in reconstruction of damaged infrastructure Bajaj Finance has decided to exit the co-branded credit card space by ending its eight-year tie-up with RBL Bank and DBS Bank India. The Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 will takeplace from January 17 to 22 across Delhi NCR, showcasing India's growing prominence in the global mobility landscape. the world's second-largest auto show.Participation- Participation: Delegations from 13 countrie.Focus on Electric and Sustainable Technologies: Theme: “Beyond Boundaries: Co-Creating the Future of the Automotive Value Chain” The European Union (EU) has approvedBulgaria and Romania as full members of theSchengen zone, effective from the start of next year, ending a 13-year wait. Bulgaria and Romania, EU members since 2007 Moldova has officially signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement, reinforcing its commitment to promoting renewable energy. Headquarters: The ISA is headquartered in Gurugram, India. Tanzania will be the partner country for the International Gita Mahotsav held from November 28 to December 15 in Kurukshetra. Tanzania also participated as a partnercountry in the International Surajkund Crafts Fair held in February Leaders from the G20 Troika — India, Brazil, and South Africa unveiled a landmark joint declaration focused on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and data for governance. Arvind Kejriwal, the national convener of the AamAadmi Party (AAP), announced the Sanjeevani Yojana for senior citizens (60+ years) in Delhi. Under the scheme, elderly citizens will receive free treatment at both government and private hospitals with no upper limit on the treatment costs Manesar, part of Gurgaon, set to become a separate district. The Haryana government isundertaking a major administrativerestructuring, with plans to create four new districts after municipal elections. A committee headed by Cabinet Minister Krishan Lal Panwar. Proposals are also under consideration to grant district status to Assandh (Karnal), Hansi (Hisar), Dabwali (Sirsa), and Gohana (Sonipat India and Japan have formed a strategic alliance t address the increasing challenge of space debris, leveraging advanced technologies and expanding their collaboration in the space sectorTesting of the laser technology is planned post-2027. Scheduled for 2026, the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission will explore the Moon’s polar regions for water ice and other resources. oo Collaboration involves Indian space organizations and Japan’s ispace, a leader in lunar missions Indian educationist Arun Kapur has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to education in India, Bhutan, and Oman. bestowed upon Kapur the prestigious Red Scarf and the honorary title ‘Dasho’ Caitlin Sandra Neil, a 19-year-old Indian-Americanborn in Chennai, India, has been crowned Miss India USA 2024 at the annual pageant held in New Jersey. Organized by: India Festival Committee (IFC French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Francois Bayrou as the new Prime Minister of France Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been elected as Namibia’s first female president, securing 57% of the vote in the November 27, 2024 election Masato Kanda has been elected as the11th President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Actor Pankaj Tripathi has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Former football player Mikheil Kavelashvili became the President of Georgia. The Competition Commission of India(CCI) approved UltraTech Cement Ltd's (UltraTech) proposed acquisition of The India Cements Limited (India Cements). UltraTech will acquire 32.72% of India Cements The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed acontract with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for the procurement K9 VAJRA-T Self-Propelled Tracked Artillery Guns. The total cost of the procurement is Rs 7,628.70 crore. Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong set a new world record for the longest single spacewalk(9hr) Nafithromycin is India’s first indigenous Macrolideantibiotic, developed by Wockhardt with support from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). The drug is marketed as "Miqnaf" and specifically targets Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP. China's first atmospheric monitoring station in Antarctica. India's Presence in Antarctica:India has two active research stations: Maitri and Bharti India is set to host the 2025 Para Athletics World Championships for the first time, September 26 – October 5, 2025 Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Union Minister SM Krishna Economic historian Amiya Kumar Bagchi passed away National Mathematics Day 2024 is observed on the 22nd of December 2024. The theme for National Mathematics Day 2024 is "Mathematics: Bridge to innovation". Kisan Diwas 2024 is observed on the 23rd of December 2024 World Bank okays $800 million loan to develop Amaravati Final maturity period: 29 years ( The government has decided to avail the financing in Japanese Yen. Rating agency: India Ratings and Research Report title: FY2026 Macro Economic Outlook Projection: 6.6 per cent (FY26), 6.4 per cent for 2024-25 India and ADB sign $42 million loan to help fortify Maharashtra’s coastline IFC invests $75 mn in NDR InvIT's sustainability-linked bonds 7. Sebi eases rules for AMCs' scheme documents Organization: SEBI Simplified the framework for asset management companies (AMCs). Reduced the requirement to upload draft Scheme Information Documents (SIDs) to 8 working days from 21 days earlier. Sign between: Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL) and Canara Bank Aim: To promote the adoption of rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar Scheme. For systems with a capacity of up to 3 kW: Loans of up to Rs 2 lakh with a 10% margin Interest rate -7% Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has expanded partnership with Bank of Baroda.  Aim: To continue implementing its financial inclusion solution Tenure: Next five years RBI imposes Rs 27.30 lakh penalty on IndusInd Bank Non-compliance with certain provisions of ‘Reserve Bank of India Sri Lanka lifts vehicles import ban for first time in 4 years Context: Lifted the vehicles import ban to ease the pressure on foreign exchange reserves owing to the COVID-19 pandemic At $129 bn, India top recipient of remittances this year Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) has purchased its first crude oil cargo from Argentina. Acquiring 1 million barrels India Partners with France to develop Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum Location: North and South Blocks in New Delhi Bata India partners with Zepto for 10-minute footwear delivery Hyundai Motor and Kia Forge Strategic Partnership with Exide Energy. To supply lithium-ion cells and battery packs for electric vehicles in India Government of Andhra Pradesh and Physics Walla partner to establish deep-tech AI-focussed first Institute of Eminence (IoE) Masli in Gujarat's Banaskantha becomes India's first 'border solar village First-ever World Meditation Day is set to be observed 21st December 2024 Theme: Meditation for Global Peace and Harmony Kevin Vaz, CEO of Jio Star's entertainment division, has been elected president of the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF). Former Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur has been appointed as chairperson of the United Nations Internal Justice Council The National Tansen Award and Raja Mansingh Tomar Award were given in the world famous Tansen Festival organized in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Winner: Renowned tabla player of Indian classical music Pt. Swapan Choudhary of Kolkata Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD) and Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MoN&RE), launched the Credit Guarantee Scheme(CGS) for electronic-Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (e-NWR) based Pledge Financing (CGS-NPF) in New Delhi, Delhi The scheme aims to provide Rs 1,000 crore corpus to support post-harvest financing for farmers Under this scheme, loans up to Rs 75 lakh and Rs 200 lakhs (Rs 2 crore) will be provided for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes, respectively Kisan Credit Card (KCC- was launched in 1998, to provide easy access to agricultural inputs and cash for their production requirements. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had extended the KCC facility to the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries sector in 2019 Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), inaugurated the 59th Directors General of Police (DGsP) / Inspectors General of Police (IGsP) Conference in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In December 2024, Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairperson of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance(MoF), in presence of all Board Members launched a series of initiatives that aim to improve taxpayer experience and enhance transparency Iron ore production increased by 4.1% to 158.4 MMT India stands as the 4th largest producer of iron ore, ii.Manganese ore production grew by 11.1% to 2.0 MMT Bauxite production rose by 11.3% to 13.8 MMT Aluminium production in FY 2024-25 (April-October) grew by 1.2. India is the second- largest producer of aluminium globally, following China. Cu-6% World Bank (WB) approved a USD 325.10 million loan for the Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Growth and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening (UP-AGREES Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted full authorisation as a Payment Aggregator (PA), under its regulatory framework to In-Solutions Global (ISG) Limited Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Limited, an Information Technology (IT) services provider based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, collaborated with Landis+Gyr, Winners of Sahitya Akademi 2024 Announced- recognizes literary works in 24 Indian languages *Bengali, Dogri and Urdu language The award ceremony will be held on International Women’s Day, March 8 2025 English-Spirit Nights- Easterine Kire Hindi- Main Jab Tak Aai Bahar - Gagan Gill Sanskrit - Bhaskaracaritam - Dipak Kumar Sharma Malayalam - Malayalam –Jayakumar The Sahitya Akademi Award is the 2nd-highest literary honor in India, following the Jnanpith Awar IDFC First Private & Hurun India’s Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millenia 2024: DMart’s Radhakishan Damani tops the list for 2nd Consecutive Year. valuation of Rs 3.4 lakh crore Deepinder Goyal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zomato Media Private Limited is ranked at 2nd position The Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), Suman Berry was appointed as the Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) with an additional charg. He succeeded Bibek Debroy, who passed away on 1st November 2024 Justice Manmohan sworn in as Supreme Court Judge Indian Navy (IN) commissioned the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Nirdeshak (YARD 3026), the second of four Survey Vessel (large) SVL project at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP), Indian Army (IA) received the second batch of 360 loitering munitions, known as ‘Nagastra-1’, from Nagpur(Maharashtra)-based Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), a subsidiary of Solar Industries India Limited (SLIN), under a contract valued at Rs 2.12 billion. The munition has a range of 15 kilometer(km) during remote control operations and 30 km during autonomous flight, seventh Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge, Landing Ship Ammunition 14 (LSAM 14) (Yard 82), was launched at the Mira Bhayandar site in Maharashtra by M/s SECON Engineering Projects Private Limited, a Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) shipyard based in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP). Legendary Cricketer, India’s 2nd highest wicket-taker,Ravichandran Ashwin retires from International cricket. 14 year career picking up 765 wickets International Hockey Federation(FIH), headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, announced that the 11th edition of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup (WC) 2025 will be held in Santiago, Chile.will feature 24 teams The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) MonetaryPolicy Committee (MPC) decided to keep therepo rate unchanged at 6.5% for the 11th consecutive time since February 2023. (SDF) rate remains at 6.25%.MSF) rate and bank rate remain at 6.75%.FY25 GDP growth forecast was lowered to 6.6%,CPI-based inflation for FY25 revised to 4.8% from 4.5%. The Finance Ministry has reaffirmed itsGDP growth forecast for 2024-25 at 6.5- 7%, The Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $50 million loan to improve water security and reduce climate change impacts in Meghalaya through water-harvesting systems Securities and Exchange Board of India clarifies that digital platforms do not need to acquire Specified Digital Platforms status Securities and Exchange Board ofIndia (SEBI) imposed a ₹9 lakh fine on Reliance Securities for breaching market norms a