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Current Affairs: Days and Events

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 2022

• International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed on 25 November, every year. 
• It is a day to pay tribute to the Mirabal sisters, the Dominican Republic activists who were murdered at the order of Rafael Trujillo in 1960. 
• The United Nations aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence against women.
• This year’s campaign is a 16-day initiative starting on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women and concluding on International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

Theme:

• The 2022 theme of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is ‘UNITE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls’.
• According to the United Nations’ official website, this campaign will be an initiative of 16 days of activism starting on 25 November and concluding on International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

Aim of the Campaign:

• The campaign “will aim to mobilize all society to become activists for the prevention of violence against women, to stand in solidarity with women’s rights activists and to support feminist movements around the world to resist the rollback on women’s rights and calling for a world from VAWG”.

History:

• The UN General Assembly, in 1979, adopted the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). 
• However, violence against women and girls is a problem that can still be seen worldwide. 
• To tackle this issue, the General Assembly issued resolution 48/104 to lay the foundation of a world of gender-based violence.

Significance:

• According to the United Nations’ official website, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is one of the world’s most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations today.
• Furthermore, it still remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it. 
• The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is commemorated to raise public awareness about gender-based violence issues.
• It is also a day to spread awareness about how this gender-based violence manifests itself in physical, sexual and psychological forms. 
• The United Nations hopes to raise awareness about the adverse consequences of VAWG for women of all ages.

Question:

Which of the following dates is observed as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women?

A. 27 March

B. 15 June

C. 19 September

D. 25 November

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Economy

India’s First Sticker-Based Debit Card, FIRSTAP

• IDFC FIRST Bank has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch FIRSTAP, the country’s first sticker-based debit card.

What Is a Sticker-Based Debit Card and How Will It Work?

• The sticker-based Debit Card is one-third the size of a regular debit card, thus making the sticker applicable to a wide range of devices and objects and significantly enhancing customer convenience.
• Customers can affix the Sticker-based Debit Card on any surface of their choice, such as cell phones, identity cards, wallets, tabs, AirPods cases, etc. 
• The object can be used to tap and pay, thus doing away with the need to carry a Debit Card or adapting to wearable devices such as watches and rings, or entering a UPI PIN after scanning a QR code. 
• The touch-way to pay enables payments in seconds for transactions up to ₹5,000 without a PIN, and those beyond that, with a tap and PIN.

Aim:

• The card is aimed at facilitating transactions by simply tapping the sticker on a Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled point-of-sale terminal. 

About IDFC FIRST Bank:

• IDFC FIRST Bank was formed by the merger of erstwhile IDFC Bank, promoted by renowned infrastructure financing institution IDFC Ltd., and leading technology NBFC, Capital First. 
• The Bank believed in making customer-first products and was the first universal bank to offer monthly interest credit on savings accounts, the first bank to issue lifetime credit cards with no minimum spend conditions, the first bank to offer dynamic and low APR rates, evergreen rewards points and many other such interesting products.
• The Bank’s vision is to build a world class bank in India, guided by ethics, powered by technology, and to be a force for social good. Our mission is to touch the lives of millions of Indians in a positive way by providing them high-quality banking services.

What Is the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)?

• National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was incorporated in 2008 as an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. 
• NPCI has created a robust payment and settlement infrastructure in the country. 
• It has changed the way payments are made in India through a bouquet of retail payment products such as RuPay card, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), BHIM Aadhaar, National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC FasTag) and Bharat BillPay. 
• NPCI is focused on bringing innovations in the retail payment systems through the use of technology and is relentlessly working to transform India into a digital economy. 
• It facilitates secure payment solutions with nationwide accessibility at minimal cost furthering India’s aspiration to be a fully digital society.

Question:

IDFC FIRST Bank has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch FIRSTAP, which is a _____ type of banking Service

A. Contactless ATM

B. Mobile Based monitoring system

C. Sticker-based debit card

D. On-site Banking Correspondent service.

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Science and Technology.

ISRO Completes 200th Consecutive Launch of Rohini Rocket

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its indigenously built Rohini RH-200 sounding rocket recently.  
• It was a historical moment since it was the sounding rocket’s 200th consecutive launch, having completed 100 launches in 2015.

What Is a Rohini Rocket?

• Rohini is a series of sounding rockets developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation for meteorological and atmospheric study. 
• These sounding rockets are capable of carrying payloads of 2 to 200 kilograms between altitudes of 100 to 500 kilometres.

About Rocket:

• The RH-200 is one of three sounding rockets currently operational with ISRO, the other two being the RH-300 Mk 2 and the RH-560 Mk 2. 
• The rockets are part of a series of sounding rockets developed by ISRO under the Rohini Sounding Rocket (RSR) Programme. 
• Currently, the RH-200 has had a total of over 1,600 launches.
• RH-200 is a two-stage rocket capable of climbing to a height of 70 km bearing scientific payloads.
• The first and second stages of RH-200 are powered by solid motors.
• For years, the RH-200 rocket had used a polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based propellant.
• Campaigns such as Equatorial ElectroJet (EEJ), Leonid Meteor Shower (LMS), Indian Middle Atmosphere Programme (IMAP), Monsoon Experiment (MONEX), Middle Atmosphere Dynamics (MIDAS), and Sooryagrahan-2010 have been conducted using the sounding rocket platform for scientific exploration of the Earth’s atmosphere.

What Is a Sounding Rocket?

• A sounding rocket or rocketsonde, sometimes called a research rocket or a suborbital rocket, is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight.

Question:

ISRO recently completed the 200th consecutive launch of which of the following Sounding Rockets?

A. Cartosat

B. INSAT 

C. Rohini 

D. Kalpana

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Defence

Exercise ‘Samanvay 2022’

• Indian Air Force is conducting the Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise ‘Samanvay 2022’ from 28 November to 30 November 2022 at Air Force Station Agra. 
• Along with the involvement of various stakeholders from the country, the exercise will see participation by representatives from the ASEAN countries.

Rationale: 

• The exercise also aims to provide a unique platform for the exchange of domain knowledge, experience and best practices with the participating ASEAN member countries. 
• With an aim to assess the efficacy of institutional Disaster Management structures and contingency measures, the exercise will comprise a seminar on Disaster Management, a ‘Multi-Agency Exercise’ involving static and flying displays of various HADR assets and a ‘Table Top Exercise’.  

About Exercise Samanvay:

• Samanvay 2022 will promote a synergistic approach towards HADR by various national and regional stakeholders involved in Disaster Management, including the Civil Administration, the Armed Forces, NDMA, NIDM, NDRF, DRDO, BRO, IMD, NRS and INCOIS. 
• This multi-agency engagement is expected to contribute to the evolution of institutional frameworks for effective communication, interoperability, cooperation and their application for the successful conduct of HADR. 

Question:

Indian Air Force is conducting the annual joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise ‘Samanvay 2022’ in which of the following cities?

A. Agra

B. Panjim

C. Kochi

D. Mumbai

Answer: A

Current Affairs: International

Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue

• The fourth edition of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) started in Delhi recently.
• The 2022 edition of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD-2022) is appropriately centred upon the IPOI and its operationalisation, with a particular but not exclusive focus upon the pillars of ‘Maritime Security’.

What Is IPRD ?

• IPRD is an apex-level international annual conference of the Indian Navy. 
• The National Maritime Foundation is the Navy’s knowledge partner and chief organiser of each edition of the event. 

Theme:

• The theme of IPRD-2022 is the ‘Operationalising the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative’.

About the Event:

• As part of the event, globally renowned speakers and eminent panellists will explore how the areas of maritime cooperation could be optimally and inclusively operationalised. 
• In addition, there will be a Margdarshan session which will include addresses from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav.

The Six Thematically-Arranged Sessions of the IPRD-2022: 

1. Weaving the Fabric of Holistic Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific: Multilateral Options.
2. Constructing Holistic-Security Bridges across the Western and Eastern Maritime Expanse of the Indo-Pacific.
3. Building maritime Connectivity: Ports, Trade, and Transport.
4. Capacity-building and Capability Enhancement Leveraging the Physical and Social Sciences.
5. Practical approaches to a Regional Blue Economy.
6. Disaster Risk-reduction and Management; Solutions for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Vulnerable Littoral States.

Question: 

Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue is an apex-level international annual conference of which of the following?

A. Trade and commerce ministry

B. Department of Exclusive Economic Zone

C. Indian Navy

D. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

India’s Purnima Devi Barman Honoured with UN’s Highest Environmental Award

• Indian wildlife biologist Dr Purnima Devi Barman was recently awarded the Champions of the Earth award in the Entrepreneurial Vision category, the UN’s highest environmental honour. 
• She is the founder of the Hargila Army and senior project manager of the Avifauna Research and Conservation Division, Aaranyak.
• The Champions of the Earth is an appreciation for innovative ways implemented by awardees across the world to support nature’s extraordinary capacity for renewal.

What Is the Champions of the Earth Award?

• The Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour. Since 2005, the Award has recognised heroes who inspire, encourage others to join them, and defend a better, more sustainable future.

Champions of the Earth Are Celebrated in Four Categories:

• Policy leadership – individuals or organisations in the public sector leading global or national action for the environment. They shape the dialogue, lead commitments and act for the good of the planet.
• Inspiration and action – individuals or organisations taking bold steps to inspire positive change to protect our world. They lead by example, challenge behaviour and inspire millions.
• Entrepreneurial vision – individuals or organisations challenging the status quo to build a cleaner future. They build systems, create new technology and spearhead a groundbreaking vision. 
• Science and innovation– individuals or organisations who push the boundaries of technology for profound environmental benefit. They invent possibilities for a more sustainable world.

Who Is Purnima Devi Barman?

• Barman is an Indian wildlife biologist working in Assam to protect storks. 
• Her love for birds was born when she was sent to live with her grandparents on the banks of the Brahmaputra River in Assam at age five. Barman’s grandmother, a farmer, started taking her to nearby paddy fields and wetlands to teach her about the birds there, which cultivated her passion.

Why Is a Barman’s Work Important?

• The greater adjutant stork is the second-rarest stork species in the world. 
• Their population has dropped to 1,200 today, less than 1 per cent of what they numbered a century ago, due to the destruction of their natural habitat. 
• The urbanisation of rural areas is speeding up, and wetlands, where the storks thrive have been drained, polluted and degraded, replaced by buildings, roads and mobile phone towers.

How Does the Army Uplift Women?

• Over 10,000 women make up the Hargila Army today. 
• Their primary tasks are to protect nesting sites, treat injured storks that have fallen from their nests, and arrange “baby showers” to celebrate the arrival of newborn chicks.
• Barman has helped women become self-sufficient by weaving looms and yarn. 
• They now create and sell textiles decorated with motifs of the ‘hargila’. 
• This entrepreneurship is creating awareness about the birds and also making women financially independent.

Question:

In which of the following categories is Dr Purnima Devi Barman recently given the UN’s highest environmental honour called the ‘Champions of the Earth’ award by UNEP?

A. Entrepreneurial Vision

B. Inspiration and action

C. Science and innovation

D. Policy leadership 

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards for 2021

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, recently announced the National Adventure Awards for the year 2021. 
• The award will be given in four categories, Land Adventure, Water Adventure, Air Adventure and Life Time Achievement.

Award for the year: 2021

S. No.	Name	Category
1.	Ms Naina Dhakad	Land Adventure
2.	Shri Shubham Dhananjay Vanmali	Water Adventure
3.	Group Captain  Kunwar BhawaniSingh Samyal	Life Time Achievement

• The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India along with other Sports Awardees at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 30 November 2022. 
• They will receive statuettes, certificates and award money of ₹15 lakh each.

What Is the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award?

• Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards are given every year to recognise the achievements of persons in the fields of adventure and to encourage young people to develop the spirit of endurance, risk-taking, cooperative teamwork and quick, ready and effective reflexes in challenging situations. It also incentivises young people to get exposed to adventurous activities.

Question: 

Which category is not featured in the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards?

A. Water Adventure

B. Air Adventure 

C. Life Time Achievement

D. Sacrifice for nation

Answer: D

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

National Gopal Ratna Awards 2022

• The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying recently announced the National Gopal Ratna Awards 2022. The Award is conferred in three categories, namely,

1. Best Dairy Farmer Rearing Indigenous Cattle/buffalo Breeds,
2. Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) and
3. Best Dairy Cooperative/ Milk Producer Company/ Dairy Farmer Producer Organisation.

Details: 

• The award consists of a cash prize of ₹5 lakh for the first rank (1st), ₹3 lakh for the second rank (2nd) and ₹2 lakh for the third rank (3rd), along with a Certificate of merit and a memento in each category. 

What Is the National Gopal Ratna Award?

• National Gopal Ratna Award is one of the highest National Awards in the field of livestock and dairy sector, with an objective to recognise and encourage all individuals like Farmers rearing indigenous animals, AI Technicians and Dairy Cooperative Societies / Milk Producer Company / Dairy Farmers’ Producers Organisations working in this sector.

Livestock Facts:

• The livestock sector is crucial to the Indian economy today, comprising one-third of the agriculture and allied sector GVA and having over 8% CAGR. 
• At the same time, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries activities play a significant role in generating farmer income, particularly among the landless, small and marginal farmers and women, besides providing cheap and nutritious food to millions of people.

Winners in each category are as under:  

S. No.	Category	Name of the applicants selected	Rank
1.	Best Dairy farmer rearing indigenous cattle/buffalo breeds	Sh Jitendra Singh, Fatehabad, HaryanaSh Ravishankar Shashikant Sahasrabudhe, Pune, MaharashtraMs Goyal Sonalben Naran, Kachchh, Gujarat	1st 2nd  3rd
2.	Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT)	Sh Gopal  Rana, Balangir, OdishaSh Hari Singh, Ganganagar, RajasthanSh Maachepalli Basavaiah, Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh	1st 2nd   3rd
3.	Best Dairy Cooperative society/Milk Producer company/Dairy Farmer producer organisation	Mananthavady Ksheerolpadaka Sahakarana Sangam Ltd, Wayanad, KeralaArakere Milk Producers Cooperative Society Ltd, Mandya, KarnatakaMannargudi MPCS, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu	1st  2nd  3rd

Question:

Which of the following is the cash amount recently given under National Gopal Ratna Awards 2022 for the first rank (1st) winner?

A. ₹5 lakh

B. ₹10 lakh

C. ₹15 lakh

D. ₹20 lakh

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

Ravi Kumar Sagar Conferred with the Prestigious Dr Kalam Seva Puraskar

• Ravi Kumar Sagar, 22, one of the youngest founders and CEO of RK’S INNO group was conferred with the most prestigious Dr Abdul Kalam Seva Puraskar.
• The award was presented to him for his persistent service to society and is one of the youngest entrepreneurs in India.

What is Dr Kalam Seva Puraskar?

• Dr Kalam Seva Purasakar is hosted every year by Vande Bharat Foundation and Lead India Foundation to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late former President of India Dr. APJ Adul Kalam. 
• The award is conferred to the deserving candidates on Dr Kalam’s birth anniversary for recognising various people who have been doing extraordinary work for the society.

Reason he got this Award:

• When other businesses suffered huge losses due to the lockdown and the spread of the pandemic, Ravi Kumar Sagar started his entrepreneurship journey by selling PPE kits, sanitisers, and face masks to medical stores and hospitals. 
• With the initial investment of ₹50,000, Ravi Kumar Sagar was a success in generating his business turnover to a whooping ₹2 crore.

Question: 

Which of the following has recently been conferred the prestigious Dr Kalam Seva Puraskar?

A. Ravi Kumar Sagar

B. Acharya Vasishtha

C. Murli Shridhar

D. Nancy Kumari

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Defence

Stealth-Guided Missile Destroyer Mormugao Delivered to the Indian Navy

• The second ship of Project 15B stealth-guided missile destroyers, Y12705 (Mormugao), being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in the city, was handed over to the Indian Navy on Thursday.

Details:

• The contract for four ships of Project 15B was signed on January 28, 2011. 
• This project is a continuation of the Kolkata class destroyers, which were part of Project 15A and were commissioned in the previous decade. 
• Last November, the project’s lead ship, INS Visakhapatnam, was commissioned into service.

About the Ship:

• The keel of Mormugao (Yard No. 12705), named after the port city in Goa, was laid in June 2015 and the ship was launched in September 2016. 
• The ship is 163 metres long and 17 metres wide, has a displacement of 7,400 tonnes when fully loaded, and has a maximum speed of 30 knots. 
• The overall indigenous content of the project is around 75 per cent.
• The destroyer is armed with indigenous weapons including medium-range surface-to-air missiles, BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, indigenous torpedo tube launchers, anti-submarine indigenous rocket launchers, and the 76 mm super rapid gun mount.

Increase in Marine Power of the Country:

• The early induction of the destroyer, almost three months prior to the contractual date, despite the COVID challenges, is a tribute to the collaborative efforts of a large number of stakeholders and would enhance the maritime prowess of the country in the Indian Ocean Region.

Question:

The second ship of Project 15B stealth-guided missile destroyers, Y12705 (Mormugao) recently handed over to the Navy is being built by:

A. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited 

B. Goa Shipyard Ltd

C. Hindustan Shipyard Ltd

D. Hooghly Dock & Port Engineers Ltd

Answer: A

Current Affairs: Economy

India–Gulf Cooperation Council

• India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have decided to pursue the resumption of Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. Both sides have agreed to expedite the conclusion of the requisite legal and technical requirements for the formal resumption of the FTA negotiations.

Details:

• This was announced in a joint press conference held by Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and GCC Secretary General Nayef Falah M. Al-Hajraf.
• Both sides emphasised that the FTA will create new jobs, raise living standards, and provide wider social and economic opportunities in India and all the GCC countries.
• They agreed to significantly expand and diversify the trade basket in line with the enormous potential that exists on account of the complementary business and economic ecosystems of India and the GCC.

Important Facts:

• GCC is currently India’s largest trading partner bloc with bilateral trade in 2021-22 valued at over $154 billion with exports valued at approximately $44 billion and imports of around $110 billion (non-oil exports of $33.8 billion and non-oil imports of $37.2 billion).
• Bilateral trade in services between India and the GCC was valued at around $14 billion in 2021-22, with exports valued at $5.5 billion and imports at $8.3 billion.
• GCC countries contribute almost 35 per cent of India’s oil imports and 70 per cent of its gas imports.
• India’s overall crude oil imports from the GCC in 2021-22 were about $48 billion, while LNG and LPG imports in 2021-22 were about $21 billion. Investments from the GCC in India are currently valued at over $18 billion.

What is a Trade Agreement?

• It is a pact between two or more countries, where the objective is to remove trade barriers between imports and exports and ensure hassle-trade relations as far as possible. Under a trade agreement, countries offer preferential trade terms and tariff concessions to each other.

Why does India need FTA?

• The main objective behind India’s trade negotiations is the diversification and expansion of export markets. 
• Some of the other factors that India considers when going for trade agreements are cheaper access to raw materials, attracting foreign investment, boosting competitiveness and other geo-political reasons.
• In addition to trade agreements, India has also signed six preferential trade agreements. 
• The main difference between the both is that an FTA is comprehensive, covering various areas, while a PTA is limited to only trade in goods and seeks only a tariff elimination in terms of a margin of preference.

Also check,

Daily current affairs for November 22, 2022	Daily current affairs for November 23, 2022
Daily current affairs for November 24, 2022	Daily current affairs for November 25, 2022

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